1 minute read
Mural artists get together for official opening of Kingsville Art Walk
By Paul Forman
The downtown murals of Kingsville were on full display on July 15 as the inaugural Kingsville Art Walk took place. The walk has come about through a partnership between Federal Development Ontario, Southwest Ontario Tourism, TRUE Kingsville, the Town of Kingsville and the Arts Society of Kingsville (ASK).
Ten artists completed 12 pieces for the public to enjoy, and an entire list of the artists’ names along with the exact locations of their creations can be found at artssociety ofkingsville.ca.
Laura Lucier, the Chair of ASK, indicated that the murals would serve as a source of pride for the town and would also be regarded as a tourist attraction for visitors to Kingsville.
“The murals highlight several features of our community,” she said, “the real pillars of Kingsville.”
Ann Ducharme, one of the 10 artists on display, has two murals on Main Street East.
“It’s always an honour for an artist to be chosen to be in a public exposure and to be a part of a celebration of what Kingsville is all about,” she said. “My one piece about monarchs and milkweed is typical of what we get to experience every summer. The piece celebrates colour, and you can’t get more colourful than monarchs and milkweed flowers.”
TRUE Kingsville, a recently formed non-profit organization, was able to secure a $100,000 Tourism Relief Fund grant to promote tourism in Kingsville through art, and through this funding the Art Walk has materialized.
ASK has a brochure available at the Carnegie Arts and Visitor Centre for those that are interested in a self-guided tour, while those that would prefer a guided tour can arrange to have a volunteer from the Arts Centre provide insight into the downtown pieces of art through a walk on Division and Main streets.
The murals will hang for three years and the intention is that more murals will be added in the upcoming years for all to enjoy.
