The Path To Reconciliation Mural Project
The Path To Reconciliation mural project is a collaborative initiative between the Creative City Centre and Regina Downtown.
This mural is installed on the paving stones of a pedestrian-only city block, in an 8-foot-wide path down the centre of the FW Hill Mall, on the 1800 block of Scarth Street. The mural was designed and installed by lead artists, Geanna Dunbar and Brandy Jones, supported by Elder Brenda Dubois and Cultural/Indigenous Art Advisor Audrey Dreaver (First Nations University of Canada). The mural painting was incorporated into the opening ceremony for the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations that occurred in the adjacent Victoria Park.
Regina Downtown has led numerous public art programs including the Footprints Commemorative Indigenous Art Project to honour victims and survivors of residential schools; art{outside} with the Mackenzie Art Gallery; an expanded Urban Canvas program with Economic Development Regina, and many others. RDBID and Creative City Centre have worked together on initiatives like Pop Up Downtown, the Regina Tornado Legacy Project, Art in the Park and Frost Festival Regina.
This project has been financially supported through a grant from the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative. For more information, please contact Jill Schmidt (jschmidt@reginadowntown.ca) or Marian Donnelly (marian@creativecitycentre.ca)
CREATIVE CITY CENTRE STATEMENT:
The vision for this project is centered within our moral obligation to contribute to reconciliation efforts in Regina and Saskatchewan, reflected in the vision statement of our organization:
“The Creative City Centre will be recognized internationally as an artist-run cultural hub, and as a catalyst for public engagement and participation in the arts, through collaboration, professional development, performance and exhibition opportunities for Saskatchewan and Canadian artists that are shared digitally and utilized to best support the growth of the Saskatchewan arts ecology. The Creative City Centre will also be recognized for efforts to support reconciliation of all Treaty peoples through art initiatives that promote changing the narrative of Canadian colonial and Indigenous histories.”
The Path To Reconciliation Mural Project: Lead Artists
Geanna Dunbar
Geanna Dunbar is a Cree-Métis spoken word artist, visual artist and entrepreneur from Regina, Saskatchewan. She works in mixed media collage, sculpture, acrylic, street art, chalkboard and window painting, and large-scale murals. Her poetry often reflects real life issues and art. With a special interest in sustainable art and interdisciplinary community collaboration, Geanna often sets personal challenges that help her grow and deepen her relationship with her environment and with others. Geanna’s chalkboard work can be found at venues like Bonzinni’s Brew Pub, Vintage Vinyl and Fresh & Sweet, while her mural projects are on display in the Albert Street underpass at Saskatchewan Drive, the Wascana Park pedestrian underpass at 19th Avenue and Albert, and on the side of the building at the corner of Saskatchewan Drive and Elphinstone Street. Geanna has organized events like Art In the Park (Fall 2021) and the snow and ice sculptures at the Regina Frost Festival for the past two years.
Brandy Jones
Brandy Jones is an Inuvialuit and Gwitchin artist originally from Williams Lake, British Columbia who now makes her home on Treaty 4 Territory in Regina, Saskatchewan. She is inspired by several forms of Native art. Her use of abstract mixed mediums challenges the viewer to explore the layers of beauty that lie within her culture. Brandy’s work represents the unity of all Indigenous nations and forms a unique style of her own while honoring traditional styles. Her work is a celebration of the beauty, success, hardships, and perseverance of Indigenous peoples. She uses her gifts to educate, inspire and motivate people to explore Indigenous art. Brandy is privileged to work full time as an artist. Her work has been used as the main brand for the Regina Frost Festival for the past two years, and she has also participated in Frost Festival as a snow and ice sculptor.
