Twenty-seven concrete barriers on a vacant lot in downtown Stratford will receive a public-art facelift thanks to the Downtown Stratford BIA.
A total of 27 concrete barriers on a vacant lot between Stratford police headquarters and Chocolate Barr’s Candies will soon receive a public art facelift as part of the Downtown Stratford BIA’s ongoing efforts to beautify the city’s core.
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Stratford council approved Monday the BIA’s plan to recruit two artists to paint murals on the concrete barriers used to prohibit parking at 39 George St. West, a lot that is currently reserved for snow storage by the city’s public works department in the winters.
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“We looked at this lot about two or three months ago,” BIA general manager Jamie Pritchard said. “The lot was there, it was kind of an eyesore and it had a lot of leaves and bushes and garbage on it, so as a first step, we cleaned it all up and we were trying to think of ways for how we could beautify this area.
“There was nothing we could do with this site permanently because it is city property and earmarked for many things, like possibly part of the police station expansion. … Obviously artwork is always a good way to do something like that, so I’ve been working with the city and they’ve been very co-operative, as always. …The nice thing about painting the barriers is, if they decided to do something on the property, they can be moved elsewhere.”
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Guided by the city’s recently approved Downtown Stratford public art plan and funded to the tune of an estimated $12,000 by the BIA, Pritchard said the deadline for applications from interested artists ended on Monday and the work itself is expected to happen between the end of October and mid-November, depending on weather.
A BIA jury will select two artists from those who applied and have them mock up some concept drawings themed around imagery such as nature, community, joy and diversity for final approval. Both of the artists will be paid $4,050, plus the cost of materials, for their work.
“We like to make things look prettier downtown and bring lots of joy. …We have a financial award for a mural (by artist Kellen Hatanaka) we (commissioned) on Ontario Street, so that covers a good portion of the budget to do this. With a little bit more money from the BIA, this is not costing the taxpayers and the general public anything,” Pritchard said.
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