Near the end of summer I found out that I was the second recipient of the #RacismIsAPandemicToo art grant. Thanks to the Hintonburg Community Association’ s Anti-Racism Bell box project, I was able to turn my mural idea to a reality! So early this Fall, I was working on this paint project! Location: Gladstone and Fairmont (across from @themerrydairy)

First I washed the bell box and did some plant trimming. I got my tarp down and started laying out my design:

It was fun to do a design that “wraps” around a three dimensional wall so to speak. Thankful for portable foot ladders/stools so I could go all around the top – haha.

I’ve shared some of my thoughts and inspiration for my art below:

“Racism is a pandemic too,” a statement that is unfortunately all too true. My earliest memories of stepping outside of my home include the feeling of having to diminish my “ethnicity” to fit in, to not cause trouble, to not make others uncomfortable with something unfamiliar, or to protect myself from hurtful responses. I felt I had to do this to belong and succeed. At the same time, I was expected to know my “ethnicity,” to market it so others feel more educated by my culture, often only the stereotypes. It is still like this.

As I navigate this, I can see some good intentions mixed with the bad. It is certainly not black and white. But I want change. This is how my design came to be.

An individual surrounded by different flowers and leaves. Many are in full colour, but some are colourless, in black and white paint.