Penticton has been chosen to help create and host contributions to an event celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary, the Canada 150 Mosaic Tile Project.
The goal is to create a mural involving all provinces and territories, which will include over 80,000 paintings and 150 individual murals, representing both a cultural mosaic and a visual portrayal of history. Each individual mural represents a train car, which will join the other murals to form a 365-metre long virtual mosaic train representing the Confederation.
The concept is for local artists to create a mural depicting the community, with each tile representing an individual vision.
The Canada 150 Mosaic team is hosting two tile painting workshops for community members: On July 30 at the Downtown Community Market and on August 1 at B.C. Day celebrations in Gyro Park.
As well, 48 tiles were sent in advance to be painted by local artists on first come, first serve basis. Artists can paint a tile on site at the Shatford Centre from July 11 to 15 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or take a tile home and return them by July 27.
The actual mural created by Penticton participants will remain in the community as a historic legacy commemorating the anniversary.
The project is led and inspired by artist Lewis Lavoie, creator of the Mural Mosaic concept along with the City of Penticton Arts, Creative and Cultural Innovations Committee on a local level with funding support from the Penticton & District Arts Council, Okanagan School of the Arts and the Downtown Penticton Association.
For more information call 250-770-7668 or email info@shatfordcentre.com. For more information on the overall mural project, visit www.Canada150Mosaic.com.