Since 2014, Festival Inspire has been delivering colour to the streets of Riverview, Dieppe and Moncton in an annual week-long event. This year’s festival brought a total of 13 new murals to these streets and continued toward Festival Inspire’s goal to turn Greater Moncton into a visual wonderland for all to enjoy.
While every mural and art piece created at Festival Inspire this year demonstrated outstanding talent, we chose some of our favourite murals to highlight for those who may have missed out on the action.
Jon Fox
This mural by Moncton’s own Jon Fox is located at the St. George Street post office in Moncton. The almost monochrome colour scheme is contrasted with some orange to enhance the colours. The detail in the image is very clear and has a classic street-art feel. The drips in the paint remind you that the medium is spray paint and gives the spectator a higher appreciation for the lifelike quality of the piece.
Opire and Olivier Bonnard
Painted by Opire and Olivier Bonnard, this piece of a canoe portage by Mi’kmaq men and women is located at 32 King Street in Moncton. The artists collaborated their efforts to give us another mural that portrays elements of our country’s rich history.
SENKOE
Mexican artist SENKOE’s mural that represents Tlaloc, the Aztec rain god, is nothing short of an eye catcher. The piece was also painted using Aztec-style patterns. The design has so much detail that each time you look at it, you notice something new.
Wasp Elder
Wasp Elder’s portrait of Molly Muise on Université de Moncton’s Lafrance residence is something to marvel. As an artist from the UK who is living in Germany, the research Wasp Elder put into Canadian history before taking on this mural has impressed many. One of the first Mi’kmaq people documented by photograph, Molly Muise is an important figure to our country and is now commemorated in stunning detail on the Université de Moncton campus.
Shantz
The Inspire Bus by Montreal-based artist Shantz is going to become Festival Inspire’s mobile HQ and a venue for exhibitions, concerts and events. For the summer, the bus will be in the parking lot between 14 Rabbi Lippa Medjuck Street and 434 Main Street in Moncton. This bus is a renovated and upgraded former Codiac Transpo bus that now sports a colourful and lively body. And best of all, it is a mobile surrealist masterpiece.
WD
This surrealist mural by on 198 Lutz Street in Moncton does not lack creativity or vibrance. Currently based in Athens, Greece, WD Street Art’s intricacy in his art is mind boggling. This piece’s contrasting colours flow together effortlessly, creating an image that is sure to catch attention and brighten up the street for a long time to come.
Étien’
The giant blue jay by French artist Étien’ is located on the corner of Archibald Street and St. George Street in Moncton. The detail in the mural makes it look almost lifelike and the vibrant blue really makes the image pop. The can of spray paint that the bird is perched on is a clever incorporation of the medium into the actual image.
Bordalo II
This turtle mural by Portuguese artist Bordalo II was the first mural completed at the festival this year and has won our vote for best piece of 2017. This guy is located at 80 Assomption Boulevard in Moncton and was made out of one tonne of plastic that was saved from the dump. As a whole, this piece serves as an awareness message to our wasteful society about the negative impacts our trash has on our wildlife. On top of the powerful message this mural gives, the artist also managed to incorporate a fantastic amount of detail for such a difficult medium.