Quesnel Farmers’ Market is sporting a new mural behind the entertainment stage.
It was brought to the attention of Harvest, the administrative body of the Farmers’ Market, that the view of performers from any distance would be enhanced with a backdrop.
“We consulted with mural artist Leigh Cassidy on how to remedy this,” Harvest president Rob Borsato said.
“She suggested we use a photo of our choice, blown up and attached to the wall.”
He said the Harvest board decided an agricultural theme was most appropriate.
“We wanted to recognize the role agriculture has had on the Cariboo over the last 150 years,” Borsato said.
The final photo selection was a picture of Grant Knauf, local rancher, using a sulky plow pulled by a team of black heavy horses.
“It was a favourite and also met the approval of the administration of Helen Dixon School,” he said.
Cassidy said she consulted with the board on several issues of the proposed mural.
Painting versus photograph, resilience of materials and that it be local and agricultural.
“We chose to use photography as a medium as the material the mural is printed on has a much longer life span than most other materials,” Cassidy said.
“As digital photography isn’t always what it seems, blowing up a small photograph into a large mural can have its challenges.
“The end result is that when up close, the mural looks like a painting and from beyond the stage it stands as a photograph.”
Now in place, the mural has been receiving a lot of positive attention.
Cassidy reported that board members she’s talked to have been very enthusiastic and quite pleased with the results.
Borsato said they were also hearing from their customers that the photo
mural “warms up” the stage.
“We agree,” he said.
Borsato added, funding for the project came from Harvest and is part of their ongoing
enhancement strategy.