The YMCA and Clean, Green Beautiful North Bay combined forces on Wednesday to unveil a mural located at the side of the YMCA building off Chippewa Street in North Bay.
This collaboration for public art included the YMCA, Clean Green Beautiful North Bay, The Stockfish Family Foundation and Artist Carissa MacIntosh.
MacIntosh admits it was a challenge trying to put all the ideas from the organizations onto one mural.
"I think that was the most pressure that I felt when doing this because I want this to be accessible to everybody," said MacIntosh.
"It was very subjective so what I might like might not be something someone else likes so how can I do this in a very open honest way that can be interpreted by people and every individual can take from it something that they felt meant something to them so that was most important to me. From there the colours, the lines, it just kind of flowed from there."
MacIntosh encompassed the YMCA values in this unique and very colourful mural, with soft design and symbols that reflect the YMCA’s slogan, "Better Together."
“My vision for the mural 'Better Together' grew out of the inspirational words that the YMCA felt were intrinsic to their core values, to which I brought to life through symbolism, vibrant colours, and rhythmic design. My goal was to create a piece that was aesthetically pleasing both from afar and up-close, as well as meaningful. I hope the public enjoys it as much as I enjoyed being part of the experience.”
Hariett Madigan is the chair of Clean Green Beautiful.
She believes the mural is a piece of public art that belongs to everyone.
"To me it represents stewardship, that everybody in the community, wherever they come from, whoever they are, all have something to bring to our community to be part of it and have that sense of belonging," said Madigan.
“Clean Green Beautiful Committee are strong proponents of public art, simply because it’s public, available for the whole community to enjoy. Public art enriches our street scapes, downtown, and public spaces offering a sense of belonging, culture, creativity, and beauty.”
Jay Mater, branch manager of the North Bay YMCA was impressed.
"The YMCA is a charitable organization and we welcome all walks of life so it is part of our community so it is just a beautiful painting to have up within our community to be able to see," he said.
