A new mural depicting strawberry plants and dandelions will blossom on the YES Shelter for Youth and Families in downtown Peterborough.
The City of Peterborough Public Art Program chose the painting among 26 selections for the downtown mural project (three respondents were invited to present their proposals to the selection).
Toronto artists Andrea Manica and Caitlin Taguibao were selected for the 1,271-square-foot mural on the entire east brick facade of the building at 196 Brock Street. They say their painted wall serve as a “metaphor for compassion, kindness, and a belief that people can grow and change.”
“The dandelion can often be seen growing between cracks in the sidewalk, in abandoned industrial spaces and abundantly on the sides of roads,” stated Manica and Taguibao in a city release.
“Sometimes considered a pesky plant, we would like to instead celebrate the resilience of its growth and recognize the many nurturing and medicinal properties it holds.”
The artists say the strawberry plant is the first fruit of the Ontario season and a symbol of birth.
“When viewing our mural, we hope the takeaway is a sense of joy and playfulness — that refreshing feeling you get when you bite into a strawberry,” they said.
The artwork is expected to be completed this fall with a project budget of $20,000.
“We are so excited to have Andrea and Caitlin’s art coming to YES,” said Meagan La Plante, YES executive director. “We were drawn to Andrea and Caitlin’s commitment to celebrating resilience under challenging circumstances, something that we see in the youth and families we serve every single day.”
The City of Peterborough Public Art Program produces contemporary artwork to enhance public spaces, create landmarks and gathering places, and commemorate events and sites of historical significance. The public art murals on private sites in the city’s core are intended to generate continued interest and awareness of public art in the downtown.
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