Projects
The Open Gallery
Project Overview
Murals make art accessible to the public while enriching communities, but traditional murals face challenges such as weather damage, restrictions imposed by existing wall surfaces, and the risk of being lost to redevelopment.
To address these limitations, we have created a network of designated public display spaces where murals are painted on removable panels rather than directly onto walls. Each location can showcase a mural for a set period, after which the panels are removed and replaced with new artwork by another artist. The original mural can then be preserved, stored, or installed at another location within the network, allowing artworks to circulate rather than be permanently painted over or destroyed.
This rotating system creates ongoing opportunities for artists, extends the lifespan of public artworks, and transforms participating locations into an evolving outdoor gallery that offers communities a changing selection of art.
Lion and Bright
In his image Drew wanted to honor this important part of Nova Scotia history and how it shaped farming in the region. In painting two oxen stand in a field surrounded by wildflowers. He wants to show viewers that the rich agricultural heritage that Nova Scotia is known for would not be possible with out the ox. The composition of the piece is reminiscent of and heavily influenced by a work by Maude Lewis entitled “Lion and Bright.” In her painting two oxen stand in a field surrounded by trees and flowers much like in Drew’s painting. The flowers that surround the oxen are diverse and not all native to the region. Common Roots is an organization that helps many people find access to farming and it has a large population of immigrants and refugees from around the world. In his piece drew wanted to draw attention to fact that beauty comes form variety and diversity, not uniform monotony.
In completing the painting Drew looked at several artists for inspiration. The composition was derived from several Maude Lewis paintings of oxen especially one entitled Oxen in Spring. The colors and paint handling were inspired by the work of Odilon Redon who layered colors, lines, and hues to create a spiritual atmosphere to his paintings. Although this image is grounded in reality, Drew used a similar technique to give the two oxen a lighter almost spiritual feel conveying the idea that this image is indeed from the past and not from the present.
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Foxes in the Grass
Another Image was created for the Common Roots Bihi Location. The image that was created depicts two foxes sitting in the grass surround by a small spray of wildflowers. Drew utilized a tonalist approach to the painting using muted, quiet colors that are used to create a sense of calm and rest. The misty, ethereal aspect of the painting is heavy influenced by the work of Thomas Wilmer Dewing. In creating the image drew wanted to convey the peaceful nature of gardens and the importance of providing the community with not only a place to produce food but a place to relax and recharge.
Foxes remain a controversial animal to gardeners. They often get into trash and will eat fallen fruits and nuts. But behind this mischief is a creature that also acts as a pest control for gardens as well. They eat many ground dwelling and burrowing rodents as well as bugs that threaten crops.
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We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Common Roots Urban Garden for generously providing the walls of their storage sheds to display our murals, and to Councillors Kathryn Morse and Shawn Cleary for their financial support in making this project possible.