Town Square Mural Artist Inspired by MMIWG, Residential Schools

Monday, 26 June 2023 13:36

By Stuart Bonell

Half of Laurence Smith's mural on Main Street. The massive mural runs from Front St. up to Second Ave. Photo by S. Bonell

The lead artist wants to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women with the mural at the Main Street Town Square in Whitehorse.

One of the highlights at the newly launched Main Street Town Square is the mural painted on the road. The lead artist, Laurence Smith of Northern Cultural Expressions Society, says that his inspiration for the piece came from the the struggles that First Nations Peoples have been facing in recent years. These issues include the decline in salmon, missing children from Residential Schools, to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

"I wanted a design to open minds and open hearts, and I wanted to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. But I also wanted to honour the men, as well." said Smith.

Smith’s mural features salmon eggs and the Northern Lights in the design, which can be seen on Main Street between Front Street and Second Avenue in Whitehorse. The Main Street Town Square will run until September 5, with markets on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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