Mural: Reach
Location: Sidewalkers Boutique
Address: 4548 Lazelle Avenue
Noreen Spence lead a team of local artists in the creation of this gorgeous fall scene of trees in full fall colour. Located on the east facing wall of the Mills stationery building located off Kalum St. on Lazelle Ave. next door to the Sidewalkers clothing store. This mural was commissioned by Lori Merrill, owner of Sidewalkers. Her request was that the mural honour the maple tree growing by the boutique (known as the Mother Tree), and be a tribute to the forest that had once stood there.
Six Terrace artists including Noreen Spence, Lori Merrill, Alison Webb, Allison Sharp, Mickey McCulley and Denise McGillivray collaborated on the project. Noreen Spence, the lead artist, created a rough design and each participating artist took a tree or group of trees and made their own mark. This was the artists' first attempt at a mural and it required each of them to reach for new skills and new confidences.
Trees provided encouragement and inspiration with what they do - reach for the sky. When the Mother Tree drops her leaves in the fall, they blend in like they are a part of the mural. If you time it right in the fall, photos of freshly fallen leaves from the maple trees in front of the mural make it almost seem as if the painting itself extends on to the ground. As Noreen says, when Mother Tree drops her leaves, it’s like a seventh artist plays her part.