Urban canvas: Halifax murals and the city that inspires them

Local muralists make Halifax's walls and buildings a part of the city's vibrant arts scene

4 min read
caption A passerby steps into local muralist Daniel Burt’s mural of Miles Davis playing a tune on Gottingen Street on March 14.
V. Patterson

 

The Halifax Mural Festival, organized by local artist Michael Burt and his company, Trackside Studios, has played a significant role in making Halifax an urban art landscape. 

caption Halifax’s Boma Nnaji @bomatheartist piece celebrating “Black is Beautiful” through legendary west African Queen Idia uplifts Quinpool Road on March 17.
V. Patterson

Murals, commissioned as public art pieces, are carefully planned with themes that are meant to be universally appealing. 

 “To beautify our city, give back to the community, and allow our work to be displayed for everyone to enjoy,” Burt said of the purpose of the projects. 

caption Hunter Fournier’s @wetnoodlesigns floral dynamic design decorates The Black Market Boutique on Grafton Street on March 17.
V. Patterson

Burt said that the time it takes to complete a mural can vary, ranging from two days to two weeks, depending on the complexity and size of the artwork, as well as the number of artists involved. 

caption Local muralist John McPartland aka ABSEN @absenarchives large scale piece on Gottingen Street brings the street into its vibrant world on March 14.
V. Patterson

As Burt explains, street art — particularly murals — has become a popular and growing feature of Halifax’s urban canvas. What sets Halifax’s mural scene apart is the high number of talented local artists who contribute to this ever-expanding collection, giving the city its distinctive and unique East Coast artistic character. 

 “I love seeing everybody, creating and taking back some space in our city and the things we have to look at,” Burt commented. “I hope it keeps going.”

caption Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy’s commemorative piece outside the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic pay’s homage to his ancestors. “Every part [of Kjipuktuk] is a story and I feel that our story needs to be told,” Syliboy told The Signal. “That’s really one of the main reasons that I do my art, is that we are not forgotten, that we are still here and that we have a history that needs to have more of a light on it.”
V. Patterson
caption Visual artist Matty Brew’s (@matty_brew) mural on Quinpool Road displays eye-catching colours and a design that stand out in the area.
caption Artists Dan Metcalf @thehigherups and Christian Toth @christiantothart collaborative piece on Portland St. Dartmouth on March 15.
caption A well worn and enjoyed mysterious mural complements a family day out on Grafton St. March 14.

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