Artwork Chosen for Squamish Murals Project

Squamish will soon see the installation of two large-scale murals by Squamish-based artists Stan Matwychuk and Ciarra Douglas as part of the Squamish Murals Project. The project aims to transform public spaces throughout Squamish into permanent works of art. Installation is expected to be complete this summer in two locations, Brennan Park Recreation Centre and the Squamish Public Library. “Public art instantly sparks creativity, imagination and conversation,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “We are excited to have selected these artworks that will bring vibrancy, emotion and community attachment to these visible, high-traffic spaces.”
The site-specific Library mural will be hand-painted by Douglas and will include a focal point to pay homage to the classic, well-known fairy tales and stories beginning with the phrase ‘Once upon a time’.  “I am honoured and excited to be chosen for this public art project at the Squamish Public Library, says Ciarra Douglas, a graphic designer and Emily Carr University graduate who has painted two-dimensional works for several years. “My inspirations were drawn from nature and illuminated texts from the past. I hope to bring comfort, creativity and inspiration to the viewer.”
Matwychuk’s ‘Beyond the Sea’ mural designed for Brennan Park Recreation Centre is a nod to Squamish’s mariner history, the ‘People of the Sacred Waters’ and the Squamish resident’s gravitation to water and nautical adventures. “Whether its Indigenous Peoples canoes, sailing ships, or tugboats, Squamish has a storied past and the ocean is a part of that story,” says Matwychuk, whose mural work includes the water wall mural at the Centennial Way underpass.
“I hope to celebrate the nautical past to show that we as a community value the oceans and its marine life in order to become ambassadors and keepers of a healthy ecosystem. I am honoured and excited to get this project started, and I value being a part of the local culture threads of Squamish.”
The Squamish Murals Project is the third public art project launched by the District’s Public Art Select Committee, a committee comprised of local artists, residents, the Mayor and District staff. Submissions were reviewed by the committee earlier this year. For more information about the project visit https://squamish.ca/public-art.