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More colourful murals are popping up around downtown Sudbury, as part of this year’s Up Here festival.
Five new murals are being painted on buildings across the downtown area by artists commissioned from across Canada and around the world.
One of this year’s murals is being painted by JUURI, a Japanese-American artist from Oklahoma City.
JUURI is painting a historical Japanese firefighter girl on the side of Pho Noodle House at 81 Larch St.
“This one is a female 1600s firefighter. They had a very distinctive look with full-sleeve tattoos,” explained JUURI.
“I know there’s a bit of problems with fires and things lately, so I thought she was like a good inspiration or guardian to put here.”
JUURI said she has also added lotus flowers to the mural as a symbol of Vietnam, to represent the Pho Noodle House restaurant location.
She said she applied to be part of the Up Here festival and was chosen from 600 applicants.
JUURI said this is her first visit to Canada and she hoped her art would inspire people who see it.
“I really just hope whenever people see my art that it’s just kind of a calming presence. The colours are very soothing and very cheerful, so perhaps if they’re having a bad day or something, maybe they’ll feel happier.”
Another mural for this year’s festival is being painted at 57 Lisgar St. by Adeyemi Adegbesan.
The Toronto-based artist goes by the professional name Yung Yemi on Instagram, and he is painting a black-and-white mural for this year’s festival.
“The subject is going to be a woman with braids and she’s adorned in different symbols that represent Afro-Caribbean heritage, but also a few things that are mixed in that kind of represent the natural environment and the landscape here in Sudbury,” said Adegbesan.
He added the festival approached him to paint a mural, and he was impressed by the diversity of voices and perspectives that are being represented.
Adegbesan said he hopes his mural resonates with members of the black community in Sudbury.
“If you’re someone that has African or Caribbean heritage, I hope that you see a little piece of yourself in it and it makes you feel welcomed.”
One of the larger mural spaces at this year’s Up Here festival is on the side of the Sudbury Theatre Centre at 170 Shaughnessy St.
The long brick wall is being painted by Vancouver artist Jean Paul Langlois, who has decided to adorn it with a colourful, hunting-inspired painting with dogs and deer.
Langlois is getting help from volunteers to paint his mural.
“It’s going pretty well — I’m just grinding it out. It’s a lot of layers of paint, like some colours are five or seven coats, so it’s a good amount of work for sure.”
Langlois said he was approached by this year’s festival organizers after he painted a mural last summer in Sault Ste. Marie.
He said he hopes his piece provides joy to people.
“If you love dogs, it’ll make you happy. If you love deer, it’ll make you happy. If you love bright colours, it’ll make you happy.”
Murals for this year’s festival are also being painted at 422 Elgin St. and on the back of 84 Station on Elgin Street in Sudbury.
The Up Here festival runs from Aug. 18 to 20.
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