Helmcken Road Trestle Mural Proposals - Attachment "A"
A collection of design renderings and artist project proposals from Jesse Campbell, Collin Elder, and Jean Bradbury for the trestle mural project.
Attachment "A"
Jesse Campbell
South East Side
North West Side
Note: The locomotive could be moved from the South East wall to this North West wall should RCMP or ICBC have safety concerns for drivers exiting the traffic circle.
Project Proposal
For this project proposal I wish to highlight the diversity of tree species creating a calming environment as well as push my creativity with an optical illusion of a historic train in the distance. Central to my design consideration is backdrop which will provide contrast and visibility for young ones crossing the road. My main concern is having a dense understory camouflage the silhouettes of the children from the nearby school. As you can see in the render attached I tried to provide a low shrubby understory with the main section filling the space with tree trunks. The idea is that the movement of the kids against the vertical bars would actually increase their visibility as opposed to obscure it. The proposed pallet focuses on the light bark of alders contrasting against the broad trunks of Douglas Fir and Spruce.
Keeping the majority of the mural lighter colours should help contrast dark clothing in the winter while still providing an appealing aesthetic. The canopy is a mix of deciduous trees and evergreens to provide brightness, contrast, and movement.
The optical illusion is a concept I’m proposing in order to provide a personal challenge to the work. I’d like to create an Easter egg where the old E&N Locomotive is coming down the tracks towards the road and the tracks are receding away on the opposite side of the underpass. I think this would be a fun challenge and something playful for the kids. I understand that the history of the railway is not of keen interest to the residents who responded to the poll for the mural, so I’m open to removing that part from the installation if there’s any hesitation.
About the Artist: Jesse Campbell
Notes:
- Experienced with multi surfaced outdoor murals in major mural festivals.
- Local Métis artist.
- Attended View Royal school through the Home Learners Link program in grade 8.
- 2010 worked as team member on the Unity Wall / Breakwater – 400ft mural.
- Morgan Macaullay assistant painter, also worked on the View Royal Elementary Mural.
Collin Elder
South East Side
North West Side
Project Proposal
My mural design for this project combines my unique experience in botany through ecological restoration, scientific illustration and mural creation to provide a design that will beautify the area, highlight two of the most important tree species in our eco-region, and magnify them, to educate and bring environmental awareness, to the community and the nearby school.
I’ve chosen to create two mirrored designs of Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar, on either side of the overpass, including magnified branches, cones and bark, in a design that is appealing, and subtle in colour, so as to not distract cyclists and motorists.
Because the proposal is digital, colour and composition revisions would be easy, if necessary. The design will be installed using high quality exterior latex paint, by brush and roller, and protected with Amershield VOC Clear Coat Resin (anti-graffiti).
About the Artist: Collin Elder
Notes:
- Experienced with multi surfaced outdoor murals in major mural festivals.
- Organized mural festivals in Fernwood and Esquimalt.
- Local Artist
Jean Bradbury
South East Side
Depicts a Garry Oak and arbutus forest. An understory of camas meadow and many other species of plants and animals will be included, after consultation with local botanists.
Small creatures, blossoms, mushrooms and butterflies will be included at the eyelevel of a child.
North West Side
Depicts a west coast rainforest including big leaf maple, Western red cedar, Douglas fir, hemlock and alder. Understory plants and animals will be included after consultation with local botanists.
Project Proposal
For View Royal I propose to create a colourful depiction of two important ecosystems the Garry oak forest and the west coast rain forest.
Each ecosystem provides habitat for its specific companion understory and fauna. Each forest will have its own side of the road and will educate the public that every environment is specific to its geographic situation. There is no such thing as a "generic forest". An awareness of the local specificity of an ecosystem is primary in appreciating and protecting nature. I would also welcome input from local experts as to the inclusion of riparian environments in the murals in reference to Craigflower Creek and the particular importance of celebrating our waterways and wetlands.
About the Artist: Jean Bradbury
Notes:
- Experienced with large murals projects in Canada and Internationally
- Complex outdoor panel layered murals.
- Bowen Island resident.
- Broad colour palette potentially problematic for long term maintenance.
Notes:
- Top three artists are ranked according to experience with large, multi-surface outdoor mural experience, safety considerations / certifications and adherence to the theme of Forest and Trees.
- Link to a study on the deterioration of urban art murals: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-03473-1