Art has found a way to be presented even in the face of COVID-19 and the current lockdown measures.
The Downtown Barrie Mural Project began in October 2019 and has added art and poetry to areas downtown that were previously stale and blank.
Each installation presents poetry from former City of Barrie poet laureate Bruce Meyer as well as Victoria Butler, who currently holds the position. Along with the poetry are paintings from artists Katie Green, Leandra Almeida, Cody D'Amico, and Angela Aujla.
Butler told BarrieToday the initiative was led by a trio of Barrie Public Art Committee (BPAC) members called the 320 Collective — Butler, Carol-Ann Ryan and Janet Lougheed — as a way to spruce up some downtown areas.
“I work downtown and during the early part of COVID, I was walking around and noticed there were many blank walls, blank corners,” Butler said. “At first, I thought it would be great to just have some poems up, but after talking with others, we realized art could be added to really liven it up even more.”
Partnering up with the Downtown Barrie Business Improvement Association (BIA) and the MacLaren Art Centre, six pieces of art and poetry to coincide with them were installed throughout the downtown.
The first piece was erected on Oct. 6 and the latest went up in December.
Butler hopes everyone will take time to view the art and take something from them, but insists you don’t have to get something from every piece of work.
“I think people believe that art is this pretentious thing that happens in galleries for certain people, and it is not at all. Art can be and should be enjoyed anywhere by any one individual," said Butler. “You may not get anything from these pieces, and that's totally OK. But I sure hope you do and if not, keep appreciating art that does speak to you.”
Some of the spots the murals can be found are in the alleyway beside Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, at the southwest corner of Dunlop and Mary streets, and even at the former BMO building near Meridian Place on the wall facing Simcoe Street.
The printing of the pieces and installation costs were covered, along with payment to the artists, by the Barrie BIA and BPAC, along with sponsors Pratt Homes, Liz and Barry Peacock, and the City of Barrie.
Butler also extended a "special thanks to Glenn Coulson who secured two sponsors for us, and Wayne Hay who connected us with most of the business owners who graciously let us use their property for our murals.
“It was great to have people step up and financially assist this initiative because without that kind of help, it is near impossible for art to exist," Butler added. "Truthfully, we need art more than ever to help make things beautiful at a time they seem so bleak.”
The poems beside each mural are excerpts of full pieces that can be read on the Mulcaster Street windows of the MacLaren Art Centre.
