One of the proposed ‘Behind the Mask’ installments at Boseman Accounting in Vernon. (image courtesy of Vernon Public Art Gallery/City of Vernon)
Behind the Mask

Vernon Council approves mural project despite concerns over ‘scary’ subjective art

Jun 1, 2022 | 7:00 AM

Murals featuring people in hand-made masks will be set up around Vernon for the next five years.

Vernon City Council approved the request by the Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG) to exhibit the ‘Behind the Mask’ pieces on city owned buildings, and granted a sign bylaw amendment allowing the murals to go up on privately owned buildings.

The proposed mural designs that feature pieces from the ‘Behind the Mask’ project were presented to Vernon City Council at the regular meeting Monday, May 30.

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The murals will be up for five years, and VPAG will be in charge of maintainance and upkeep of the pieces, including assisting in cleaning any graffiti or repairing vandalized pieces in conjunction with private businesses. The gallery also has funds set aside to cover repairs, though an exact amount was not specified.

Following the presentation, Councillor Scott Anderson said he knows art is subjective but has heard some concerns from the public that the pieces could be considered frightening, particularly for kids.

However, VPAG Executive Director, Duana Kennedy, responded by saying she disagrees and that the images chosen from the catalogue of work done by local artists are not among the scarier ones by the leading artist, Katie Green.

“On her website, [Green] has a vast body of work that she has done in the past, and I’ve heard of some that went looking [online] and found some [pieces] that were scary, but a majority of the public hasn’t seen the images that we presented [Monday],” said Kennedy.

“So in terms of comments on what we’ve presented and what we’re looking at moving forward with, the public hasn’t seen them so we haven’t received that feedback.”

Councillor Brian Quiring also noted that some of the pieces by the lead artist are frightening, but said the pieces proposed to go up in Vernon won’t have that same reaction, and that the community is ready to have this impactful artwork on display.

The project was one run by VPAG prior to applying for grants to have the work placed on walls around Vernon. Kennedy did state that VPAG received letters of support from community organizations they reached out to, though did acknowledge that there had been no official public engagement process held, which Anderson was also concerned about.

Kennedy added that VPAG is also looking at a few other privately owned buildings to mount more of the ‘Behind the Mask’ pieces, telling Council that the request for an amendment to the sign bylaw would be required if they agree to have the murals on their walls, and that the artwork chosen for the sites will also be presented to council during that process

The images will be accompanied by a QR Code for people to scan and learn more about the artists and the visions behind the specific pieces. Councillor Teresa Durning said the codes are a good idea, but stated there should be more education at the sites as some of the pieces have very interesting back stories that people should be able to read. Kennedy stated that there will be clear indications that the pieces are part of the project by the VPAG, and that resources will be provided to the businesses in the private buildings so they can inform people of the significance of the pieces.

Kennedy added that they will investigate having write ups somewhere for passerby’s to learn more about the work.

Following the presentation, Council voted unanimously in favour of accepting the delegation.

Later in the meeting, a motion was tabled to support the ‘Behind the Mask’ mural project through a City contribution of $33,000 to cover the installation costs, and Quiring put forward an amending motion to make these murals eligible for the $100,000 Mural Maintenance Fund reserve, which is jointly overseen by the City of Vernon and the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA), as they are public art pieces. He noted that, even if the DVA were not in support of this, the fund could help cover 50 per cent of maintenance costs from the City’s contribution.

Anderson was opposed to the entire motion, saying there is a need for public consultation before the murals go up in Vernon.

“We can’t make art that pleases everyone, but since our citizens have to live with this for at least the next five years, it seems to me we should ensure that at least half the public wants it. That there is some consensus or at least a majority of folks who have to live with this stuff like it,” said Anderson, adding that city staff or the VPAG should hold some form of official public engagement process to ensure the pieces will be well received.

Despite Anderson’s concerns, the original motion was put to a vote and passed. Anderson was the sole vote against.

On Quiring’s amendment, which involved contacting the DVA and asking to have the project included under the Mural Maintenance Fund, Anderson was also in opposition.

He stated he did not want taxpayers on the hook for cleaning and repairing the damaged or vandalized murals, noting that though the money is in a reserve it will have to be topped up if used on these pieces.

That motion was put to a vote and also passed, with Anderson and Akbal Mund voting in opposition.

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