Blog
July 23rd, 2008
I learned a new thing today…. Sometimes when the paper calls to ask you about an Art event, you should just say two words…… “no comment”.
White Rock artists are upset that murals along White Rock beach are to be painted over.
Chung Chow photo
Peace Arch News
Painting over murals disrespectful: artists
By Laura Baziuk – Peace Arch News
Published: July 22, 2008 1:00 PM
Updated: July 22, 2008 2:32 PM
Artists who contributed to two murals on White Rock beach last year are upset because the walls will be painted over.
“I was hoping they wouldn’t,” said Nicci Battilana, who helped create the Mermaids at Play mural on the East Beach washroom wall, as part of the August long-weekend Spirit of the Sea Festival activities.
Alicia M.B. Ballard, who also painted the mermaids, said the group that set up and paid for the murals, the Community of Lights Events Society, “never told” her the works would be painted over.
“I find it very disrespectful,” she told the Peace Arch News Monday.
However, the agreement was always to keep the murals for only a year, said Coun. Matt Todd, president of Community of Lights.
Having a new mural repainted each year “made the city feel more comfortable.”
Todd said some people were worried “about the quality of the artwork” when the society proposed the mural idea to city council last year.
“There was never any intention to leave them up permanently. We thought that that was part of the fun,” Todd said.
Battilana said the artists who contributed knew before the project started that the murals “could possibly get painted over,” but hoped that wouldn’t be the case.
Ballard questioned why the mural had to be covered up, calling it an “enchantment” for all to see.
“I can live with a painted-over mural in my portfolio. What I find hard to come to terms with is how these secretive arrangements are being made,” Ballard said.
Todd said he selected the artists who will paint the new murals at this year’s sea festival.
He chose Elizabeth Hollick to oversee the mural painting at the East Beach washrooms – where she will invite passersby to paint a fish – and Judy Jordison to treat the West Beach facilities to a mural commemorating B.C.’s 150th birthday.
Both Battilana and Ballard wondered why a new mural couldn’t just be painted on the washroom’s other blank walls, instead of over their mermaids.
“That’s not the point of the program. The point is to have new murals,” Todd said.
He said the walls are slated to be whitewashed early next week, and new murals will be painted on Aug. 2 during the festival.
UGH!, I think I am going to be sick. My stomach is turned and I feel like I am on a tilt-a-whirl ride. Can somebody please get me off this thing????
So, in response I have sent this Letter into the Newspapers Editor in hopes that it will be published in Saturdays paper:
I just wanted to clarify where I stand and what I knew would happen to our murals. As advised to Laura Baziuk when she called me, we were all fully aware that the murals would eventually be painted over. We were even told that they might have only lasted until the end of October 2007. Since they have stayed up longer than that… I began hoping, in the back of my mind, that those involved had changed their minds and decided to leave the murals up and paint the other walls during the 2008 Spirit of the Sea Festival. Unfortunately that is not the case. I will be sad to see our mural gone, but at the same time I am very excited to see the new ones. Truth be told though, I will have to avoid the beach for the next week or so, as it might hurt a bit to see our wall get painted over white before the new mural begins. I wish the new teams great weather to work in and smooth team work. Keep smiling and creating! - Nicci Battilana
I hope they print it.
I think I need a drink!
Oh well, such is life with it’s twists and turns hey?
On a happier note…..
I have been accepted as an Artisan Vendor at the upcoming PRIDE DAY FESTIVAL!
Yeah!
I guess I had better get to work on my four commissioned art pieces (a bra, a tank top and two cushion covers), so I can then start on more necklaces and a sparkling belt buckle or two for Aug 3rd.
See you at Sunset Beach!
Keep smiling and creating!
Nicci
July 22nd, 2008
Hoping to take a big leap showcasing my art in Vancouver on Sunday August 3rd.
I have sent in an application for an Artisan vendor space at this years PRIDE DAY FESTIVAL at Sunset Beach. (detailed info below was borrowed from the Vancouver Pride website)
Pride Festival
Sunday, August 3, 2008 12:00 – 6:00PM
Place: Sunset Beach
Map: Google Map
Price: Free for all
Event Type: Official 
Celebrations continue after the Parade at Sunset Beach festival site. Vancouver Pride has a crowd that reaches over 80,000 people in the park listening to the live music on the Vancity Festival Stage, viewing the diverse selection of products and services provided by vendors and a Pride beer garden.
I should hopefully have an answer this afternoon.
Wish me luck!
(PHOTO: The photo is of the small display I had up last Saturday at the White Rock Five Corners Block Party.)
Keep smiling and creating,
Nicci
July 21st, 2008
Today’s correspondence regarding the MURALS at WHITE ROCK BEACH:
Hi Matt,
Thank you Matt for your quick response.
Is there any way we can get the City to allow Artists to paint the other sides of the bathrooms, rather than over top of the existing murals?
I really hate to see them disappear and I still get comments every few weeks when new people come across my work and tell me how they have seen it before down on the beach and how much they love all the murals.
Regards,
Nicci
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The whole point of the program is to have the murals change each year. None of the murals painted by the festival will be permanent. If you would like to participate again, you can apply to the festival organizers next spring.
Please note that this is a Spirit of the Sea Festival program run by the Community of Lights Events Society. While the City has given the festival permission to paint certain walls, it is the festival that selects the artists and pays for the program. Having the murals be replaced each year was a key component of the initial proposal.
This is much like the fence. We each had our favourites but knew it would get painted over soon. Sometimes we didn’t like what replaced it as much but other people liked it more. The same will be true of the festival murals. The difference is that the muralists for these walls will be invited rather than an open drop-in.
I’m glad you’ve had such great feedback from having your work on the festival’s wall for this past year.
The Balsam washroom will be primed later this week in preparation for the 2008 festival.
–
Matt
July 20th, 2008
My Art Adventure this weekend in
White Rock, BC.
White Rock, BC.
I was planning on talking about the effects of an unknown couple and their crass remarks & what a shame it is that the negative remarks stay on the forefront of ones mind for hours rather than the lovely and encouraging remarks made by 98% of the rest of the passerby’s and customers.
However, that has now been placed into file 13, the worthless “pity those people and their low self worth that they must put it on to others” file.
A much more pressing matter has come into play…
SAVE THE WHITE ROCK MURALS!
There are a few large city murals that are apparently resting on the sharp edge at dangers door.
Firstly, the one close to my heart is the Mermaids at Play wall which was created last BC Day Weekend (during the Spirit of the Sea Festival) by myself, Joanna Bevis & Alicia Ballard.
The word through the grapevine is that the beach side murals are going to be painted over.
The City also plans on taking away one of the major grass areas along the White Rock Promenade to build a cement “Spirit Square”, but then they may actually be taking away the cities Playful, Artful spirit by painting over murals? What’s up White Rock????
I have sent an e-mail to City Counsillor Matt Todd asking him if this rumour has any truth to it and what the details are. I will let you know what he responds with.
Here is the response I rcvd from Matt Todd today:
“Yes. New murals will be painted during the festival. That was always the plan — to have the walls repainted every year so there’s new waterfront murals after each festival. The Balsam wall will be painted by Elizabeth Hollick and festival visitors. She will be helping people paint their own small fish on the wall. Judy Jordison will be painting the Oxford wall, likely will something to commemorate BC’s 150th anniversary of becoming a British colony. ” – Matt Todd, Councillor, City of White Rock
Thank you for the quick detailed response today (Sunday) Matt.
I beg all of you to please take a moment and write to the City of White Rock and let them know in a positive way how important the Murals are to our Residents, Neighbours and Tourists alike.
Maybe we can get them to add murals on all sides of the beach washroom facilities, etc in White Rock rather than painting over existing ones.
Via E-Mail Matt Todd (City Counsillor)
Mayor’s E-Mail Judy Forster
Thank you for your support!
Keep smiling and creating!
Nicci