The Town of Okotoks has announced the selection of 11 artists to paint 19 murals across various locations in town over the next five months.
This initiative follows Okotoks' first-ever call to artists, issued earlier this year, for five public art mural projects. The call received 43 applications.
The selected artists and their projects are as follows:
Respect for the Land Mural at the Arts & Learning Campus Plaza
Stoney Nakoda artist Gordon Wesley will paint a mural depicting the river crossing site as it looked before colonization.
Municipal Centre Windows
Two artists will paint festive murals on the Municipal Centre's windows to celebrate the Stampede/Summer and Light-Up events:
Aly Tucker – Light-Up Mural
Komal Bishnoi – Stampede Mural
Safe Pathway Murals
Four artists will paint nine murals to add colour and communicate pathway safety messaging:
Aly Tucker
Jessica Taylor
Sarah Johnson
Stephanie Studzinski
Elevate the Elevator
Three artists will paint performing arts-themed murals on the elevator doors at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre:
Claudia Weigelsberger
Komal Bishnoi
Yiting Hui
Beautiful Bin
Four artists will design and paint four garbage receptacles for the Okotoks Recreation Centre and Foothills Centennial Centre:
Aly Tucker
Sterling Smith
Cecilia Leddy
Whitney Thompson
Okotoks council adopted a public art policy in 2023, allocating funds to create an art-rich environment while recognizing this investment goes beyond enhancing aesthetics.
The contracts for the public art projects total $43,750.
The Town believes public art acts as a catalyst for economic vitality, attracting tourists, fostering community pride and stimulating local businesses. It says public art not only beautifies our town, but also weaves narratives of our identity and enriches our cultural tapestry.
“To truly harness the transformative power of art, it's imperative to recognize and support the artists whose creativity breathes life into our streets, ensuring that Okotoks flourishes as a vibrant hub of expression and prosperity," said Okotoks Culture & Heritage team leader Allan Boss.
