Artist Background: Ian Mulder was born in
Ottawa in 1978 and has studied art, design and architecture at a number of universities including the University of British Columbia,
University of Alberta, the Middle Eastern Technical University and the
University of Toronto. He currently operates Mulder Design
Studios in Toronto where he focuses on public art and design projects. Mulder
uses the experiences he has gained abroad to influence his philosophy about
living spaces and urban architecture. He believes buildings in Edmonton area
created on a ‘need basis’ with little thought to the community or architectural
design. Having lived in Australia and Europe, Mulder feels Edmontonians live
separated from their communities and only come outside of their social circle
during Festival time. He hopes community art projects will enhance this feeling
of togetherness within Edmonton.
The Varscona
Theatre is one of Edmonton’s major live theatres and the central hub for the
city’s Fringe Festival. The structure used by Mulder for his mural is a 60 foot
tower that was historically used for drying firehoses. The mural began in 2004
and was finished in 2009. During the daytime people can see the multicoloured
painted boxes adorning the tower and at night Mulder has installed an LED light
curtain to provide a completely different artwork while in the dark.
My Thoughts:
I strongly agree with Mulder that Edmonton doesn’t have a good community vibe
outside of Festival season. Other than on Whyte Ave, many of the neighbourhoods
within the city just feel like spaces people occupy while trying to get to
their destination, instead of communities with their own unique experiences to
offer. While I am not particularly drawn to the mod-style colour blocking of
the mural, I think it matches the mid-20th Century feel of Whyte
Ave very well. I have yet to see the LED lights but I will have to go and check
it out when it is dark. (Darkness? What is that? I love these long summer
days!!)
Have you seen
the LED light design? What do you think of this mural or Mulder’s philosophy
about Edmonton? Post your comments below or on the facebook page! This Mural is
on 83 Ave between Calgary Trail and Gateway Blvd.
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