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Street Art comes to life with a North Bay twist

“When you invite the kids from the neighbourhood or anyone in general from the area to come out and paint it makes it theirs it becomes ownership to the neighbourhood."

After three days of painting, a wall which was victimized by graffiti has been turned into a unique mural with a North Bay flavour. 

For three days artists have congregated behind the Mac’s Convenience store on Cassells and O’Brien to work on the giant painting - with all the spray paint and supplies there to use in the spirit of street art.  

The Mac’s StreetART Mural Initiative is led by Toronto street artist Magic “Finnga” Wong. 

See his story here: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/magic-finnga-brings-street-art-to-north-bay-372896

Wong led the artists as they created a gateway arch on the wall to signify the city of North Bay.  

“They came up with all the ideas, this is what they wanted to see,” said Wong. 

“I was given a bunch of different graphics from a design competition. From that competition I was able to implement different images from North Bay, and one mural that represents all of them.”

Wong also got help from a Team 1305 robot which finished the masterpiece with a "robotic" created smiley face.  Wong believes murals like this become a deterrent for the unpopular form of graffiti known as ‘tagging.’ 

“When you invite the kids from the neighbourhood or anyone in general from the area to come out and paint it makes it theirs. It becomes ownership to the neighbourhood,” said Wong. 

While the gateway arch was a perfect symbol of North Bay, there was also some impromptu art that made it even more unique.    

A cartoon skunk holding a froster cup was another creative part of the new mural.  That inspiration came from two female police officers who removed a froster from the head of a distressed skunk recently.    

See that story here:     

https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/north-bay-cops-film-skunk-rescue-video-354841

“My favourite part of this one would probably be the skunk,” admitted Wong.  

“I think it’s the funniest.  I am not a big fan of skunks so to hear the story about how the skunk was rescued from a froster cup.  It was meant to be.”

Mac’s officials say this forward-thinking concept has seen positive results in other jurisdictions, not only in the reduction of crime at the locations where the murals have been painted, but also through community beautification.


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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