Festival Inspire continued strong this summer by bringing in artists from all over the world to paint Dieppe and Moncton for its fifth year. The week long event saw many visitors who enjoyed watching the progression of the pieces from start to finish. In addition to the murals giving local buildings a facelift, this year several large, but far more portable, paintings were also included in the festival which will be auctioned off later, and a new hotel will soon be revealing some very special pieces that were completed before its opening.
We picked our favourite pieces from this year’s Festival Inspire. If you haven’t already been out to see all the murals around Moncton, let this be your guided tour to the ones we liked best.
Chelsea MacCormack & Kristen Crewe – Untitled
A collaboration between Chelsea MacCormack and Kristen Crewe, two Maritime artists who will be familiar to many in the Atlantic Canada’s festival scene, this piece was completed as a standalone to be included in their festival’s auction. It has a soft, peaceful feel, full of surreal colours and exaggerated proportions that combine that large-than-life feel of a music festival with the more down-to-earth subject matter of the nearby Bay of Fundy.
Oakoak – Old Man Yelling At Clouds
Oakoak’s art takes the form of urban interventions, meaning he finds inspiration from things he sees on the street and inserts it into his art, causing the viewer to see things and places in a new way. Consulat Général de France dans les Provinces Atlantiques sponsored his trip from France so that he could sprinkle tidbits of art all over the city. While a few of his pieces are larger, most of his pieces essentially comprise a colourful treasure hunt for those who want to search for them. This particular piece, Old Man Yelling At Clouds, becomes more and more relatable every day.
Hil le Frank – Untitled
Another piece up for auction was this psychedelic demon completed by Moncton’s own winged-messenger of tinfoil hats, Hil le Frank. Another regular of many music festivals, the strong vibes
Taroe – Untitled
The first piece Nicolas Masterson, otherwise known as Taroe, completed is located at Place 1604 in Dieppe. This shipping container was painted inside and out and will possibly serve as a pop up bar this winter at the outdoor skating rink located there. It was inspired by the idea to paint an abstract city, but he did not plan his work much in advance as he likes to explore the region he is painting in first to try to reflect the local people and flavour. This piece was also done in a style that is quite different than the style of Le monde à l’envers, his other Inspire piece.
“When you do always the same thing it’s good because people can recognize you easily, but when you change styles it’s like fresh air,” says Masterson.
Beehive Collective – The True Cost of Coal
The most politically charged piece included in Festival Inspire this year was the Beehive Collective’s The True Cost of Coal. A standalone piece that illustrates the narrative of mountaintop removal coal mining and the complex web of interactions created by it: who comes out on top and who suffers.
Sens – Luna la Protectora
Mexican street artist Sens painted a stunning mural for Tire Shack Brewing Co. at 190 John St. Before arriving, he researched the Moncton area to aid his creative process. He opted to include a fox, as an animal native to our region, and the northern lights, which he learned can sometimes be viewed here. He had the idea to include a girl as a protector of the spirit of Moncton, which he now feels is even more fitting after experiencing the stereotypical maritime hospitality.
“I could not be happier with the people of Moncton,” says Sens. “The volunteers and organizers were so kind and it was one of the best organized festivals that I have participated in. I think this helps a lot in achieving a good mural. If they invited me again I would accept without a second thought.”
Taroe – Le monde à l’envers
Located at 347 Mountain road, this second piece by Taroe needs to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. “Le monde à l’envers” is inspired by a real bookshop in France. From the photo, it appears that he simply painted a storefront; but in reality, that storefront is not there. This remarkable 3D pieces requires close examination in order to determine which parts of the building are real and which parts were painted on. Try giving it a guess and then go check it out in person to see if you are right!
Midas Well Creations – Who
Kennedy McKeen and Ryna Hourihan, who together form Midas Well Creations, painted a large piece for auction this year. Containing two inquisitive owls and an eye affixed on a cathedral-style pane, “Who” boasts a primary colour scheme and a symmetry that makes it very visually appealing. This piece contains few objects and clean lines, yet the viewer can easily get lost staring at its details for long periods of time.
“It’s a piece of art made to look at the viewer with the same sense of inspection and curiosity that one looks at art with — a kind of mirror to imply interest back onto the person investigating the art,” says Hourihan. “As if to encourage self inquiry, the painting says, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Who are you?’ ‘Why are you looking at me?'”
Kiri Leigh – The Lion
After viewing this remarkable fan favourite, it might surprise you to learn that Colorado artist Kiri Leigh started out as a nail artist! Her trip to Festival Inspire was her first time ever visiting Canada, and she was paired up by the festival with the Queen E. school. The school worked long and hard to gather the funding they needed to bring Kiri Leigh to Moncton to transform the building’s exterior. The kids all got to play a part by hosting and participating in theme days and Barbeques as fundraising efforts. The finished product is breathtakingly beautiful with its larger-than-life size and appealing colour choices. It won’t be surprising if the school starts turning out talented artists now that the students will be getting daily exposure to such an… inspiring… piece.