MOOSE JAW — The public art committee is hunting for another are no longer interested in hosting it.
City administration informed members during their recent meeting that the restaurant owners did not want to host the artwork on their property, according to the meeting minutes presented during the Dec. 16 city council meeting.
Yet, the Moose Jaw Chinese Community Network informed the committee by email that the owner of the building at 290 Fourth Avenue Northeast was interested in hosting a Chinese-themed mural. While the owner was interested, the network suggested that the committee commission a new mural to replace the existing one.
“The committee debated the proposal of a new Chinese-themed mural and determined that they would not move forward with the suggestion at this time,” the report added.
After presenting the committee’s meeting minutes, Coun. Heather Eby expressed regret that the mural wouldn’t be relocated to the restaurant even though it had been in storage “for quite some time.”
“However, the Chinese community is looking to have another mural created. It’s not approved by the public art committee, but it is a potential (project),” she said. “So hopefully, at some point, a big wall will become available in downtown Moose Jaw.”
Al Capone mural
The committee heard from Andrew Robertson, a contemporary visual artist in Shaunavon, who discussed his background and recent mural projects and presented a proposal to create an Al Capone mural on the Hammond Building downtown, the minutes said.
Robertson said he was open to working with the committee on other mural ideas if members were interested in a different subject, while he noted that he had spoken with one of the owners of the Hammond Building and learned the owner was open to a mural on the building.
The committee discussed the proposal after Robertson left and noted that the location would be good for a mural since it was on a prominent downtown wall, the minutes said. Members also agreed that the artwork would work well with the city’s “notorious” theme and tourism industry.
“Members also noted the possible controversy involved in installing a large mural of Al Capone, a convicted criminal,” the report noted. “Members decided that consultation with Tourism Moose Jaw and the Downtown Moose Jaw Association would be needed due to the controversial element of the proposal.”
Two members agreed to approach both organizations and report back at the next public art committee meeting.
Casino Moose Jaw murals
The committee received a letter from Casino Moose Jaw’s director of operations, who informed members that the business was interested in changing the two murals on the outside of the building to suit the recent interior renovations better, the minutes said.
Administration told committee members that there are no agreements between the city and the gaming and entertainment organization for these two murals, while the business was free to do what it wanted with the artworks, the report continued.
Meanwhile, committee members pointed out that the murals on the casino building are part of Tourism Moose Jaw’s mural tours.
Administration told the committee that it would contact the casino’s operations director before the end of 2024 to inquire about the venue’s plans for the murals.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
