Summerside mermaid
Seasonal resident adds colourful mural to Summerside home
A sizable mural, painted on the side of a home on Second Street and featuring a mermaid holding a lighthouse, has been catching a lot of attention from passersby.
Take a drive along the west end of Water Street these days and you’ll notice a colourful new addition to the landscape. A sizable mural featuring a mermaid holding a lighthouse has been added to a home on Second Street. Painted in vibrant colours, the art piece is eye catching from any angle.
Its creator, Kiele Poirier, was enjoying the sunshine Tuesday and putting the finishing touches (for now) on her work.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve had a strange, obnoxious canvas like this. I’ve done murals before, but those are just small, little projects. But this is fun. I get to do whatever I want,” she said as she looked over her work.
Kiele purchased 389 Second St. with her father Gerry Poirier last year.
She grew up on P.E.I. but now lives in Toronto. She likes to spend as much time here as she can with her spouse and young child.
She is self-employed as a graphic artist so she often has the freedom to come here when her schedule allows. She and her dad bought the property so they could fix it up over time and her family could have a place of their own when they visit.
Step one of the renovations was to paint the exterior, which got her artist’s imagination going.
“Why can’t a house be a giant blank canvas?
“So we put some plywood up and started painting.” Kiele decided on a mermaid theme because she wanted something whimsical and connected to the ocean, which is just across the road.
“It’s a great location; the water is right there,” said Gerry.
There is so much artistic talent in Summerside, added Kiele, but few examples of public art. She hopes her mural will give people passing by a few moments of happiness as they go about their lives.
“I really think it’s important to bring out the artistic side of P.E.I. and Islanders and give them a reason to smile while they’re on the waterfront. So far, the reviews have been pretty positive, added Gerry. “It’s surprising how many have walked by, driven by and are commenting.”
“People have been calling it ‘the mermaid house.’ But it’s in a little rough shape so we’ve been calling it ‘the mermaid shack.”