Artists to paint downtown infrastructure as part of art tour project

Main Street could look more vibrant and colourful this summer based on a project that the Downtown Moose Jaw Association Inc. wants to pursue to beautify the area.

During its April 12 regular meeting, city council unanimously approved the organization’s request to paint eight benches and nine other items — such as garbage cans, bike racks and fire hydrants — along Main Street between Manitoba Street and Oxford Street. Furthermore, council approved the request under city hall’s Main Street Adopt-a-Bench program and guidelines.

The eight benches are near Capone’s Hideaway Motel, River Street and Main Street, TD Bank, City Hall, Scotiabank, Subway, Seaborn Insurance and Victory Church.

The nine objects include the fire hydrant near the Ultimate Fan Zone, a garbage can near River Street and Main Street, a garbage can near the cultural centre, the fire hydrant near city hall, the bike rack near Ottawa Realty and Insurance, the bike rack near Joe’s Place Youth Centre, a garbage can near Vision Travel, and the fire hydrant near Vision Travel.

The 2019 adopt-a-bench program covers all benches along Main Street between Manitoba and Oxford streets, a council report said. However, this proposal did not qualify under the existing program since the limit is one bench per organization or individual, while other municipal infrastructure assets are not included. That is why city council had to approve this request.

Beautifying these objects is part of a downtown art tour that the association wants to pursue this year, representative Alex Carleton explained. The project takes existing objects such as benches, electrical boxes, garbage cans, water meters, pipes and energy meters and turns them into creative artwork.

“One of the first projects the downtown group decided to look at is to create a little more vibrancy for our downtown, a little more of something [to look at and enjoy] for our tourists that come to town, as well as the people of Moose Jaw to enjoy it, [too]” he said.

The association wants children to enjoy the colourful and cartoonish creations, so it has named this initiative the Kinsmen Kids’ Art Project, Carleton continued. Four local artists have been hired — although more are certainly welcome — to complete up to 40 projects this year. Tourism Saskatchewan and the Kinsmen Club have provided funding and the Moose Jaw Co-op has donated the paint. SaskPower and SaskEnergy have also given approval to paint electrical and water meters.

The association has not demanded that the artists paint on a certain theme or ethnic background, Carleton told council. The organization wants to keep this project fun and ensure everyone enjoys the end results, whether it’s animals or cartoon aliens.

“I love this idea. I’m excited about it… ,” said Coun. Heather Eby. “I think it will dovetail nicely with our public art committee. It will be part of the same direction.”

There was a fire hydrant painting program on South Hill when Eby moved there in 1990, she recalled. At the end of her block was a hydrant with a figure skater drawn on it. She looked forward to seeing similar drawings on downtown infrastructure. This project is a good way to promote positivity in the community, said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. It also ensures that children who visit with their parents will want to come back as adults.

“Kids want to see something (to) keep their interest going,” he added.

This project is one reason why the downtown association is important, since it is committed to the city, said Coun. Crystal Froese. She liked seeing the collaboration between the association, the Kinsmen Club and Co-op since it demonstrated teamwork.

“I can’t hardly wait to see it all done and finished,” she added.