City artist finds colourful way to express her gratitude

City artist says she aims to spread positivity with piece at local mall

So when Edmonton mural artist Jill Stanton was hired by Kingsway Mall to paint a tribute for National Nurses Week — a rare artist with an outside gig during COVID-19 — she put some thought into her concept.

“I knew I wanted to do some kind of flower because it’s spring, and we’re starting to go into the next phase of unrolling restrictions. So I thought something bright and punchy would be nice,” says the 33-year-old.

“Historically, flowers have all these weird meanings in them. In the olden days when you gave someone a bouquet they had all these really specific meanings, down to the colours.

“I was looking for positivity or general friendship or something,” she laughs. “But then I came across the gladiolus, which has this old connotation of strength and victory, back to the Roman arena.”

With the nearby Royal Alex hospital staff — but also all first responders — in mind, she notes, “We wanted something outdoor, something they could see if they went by. They’re showing tremendous strength during all of this, and we appreciate them very much.”

The flowers — also known as sword lilies — open successively, building on one another from below. So it’s a nice metaphor for community if you like, and even our patience as we cautiously move to open up our society again.

Stanton is starting to lose count of her outdoor murals in Edmonton, numbering six now including three around Whyte Avenue, including the back of the Varscona, and her strawberry-garter-snake delight on Apple Dental Care at 10803 124 St.

On the other ramp wall, colours matching the caution yellow on the curb below, she’s painted “appreciate you” in a beautiful, invented font built of more of the flowers.

It joins various murals inside the mall, including two more by the artist.

“While I was in Texas last year, I noticed a little salutation that’s in common use,” she notes, “for those times in the checkout lane at the end of your purchase, or in place of saying thanks when you buy a pint of beer at a bar. Texans say, ‘appreciate you’ — though the correct pronunciation is closer to ’preciate ya, with a charming Texan accent.

“I love this gentle and casual phrase in the common vernacular, and think it ties in nicely to what we’re all feeling these days: an increased appreciation for everything and everyone, the little things and the big things, seeing them much differently than before.”

Like a little mimetic seed floating in the air, it’s a good reminder to be gracious. So in that spirit, thanks for the mural, Jill — and thanks to you for reading the story about it here.

I love this gentle and casual phrase in the common vernacular, and think it ties in nicely to what we’re all feeling these days.

Edmonton artist Jill Stanton has painted a mural at Kingsway Mall with a message of gratitude in honour of National Nursing Week. Artpic artist: Jill Stanton Artwork: Appreciate You — two 2’ x 35’ latex house paint panels on Entrance 6 on the upper east side of Kingsway Mall Details: If there’s anything the patient among us have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s to give thanks to anyone helping us, including each other.

Jill Stanton’s new mural Appreciate You is located at the upper east side of Kingsway Mall. She says she wanted to do something outdoors and highly visible for first responders.

Jill Stanton says she painted gladioli in her mural because of their historical connotation of strength, victory and, of course, spring.