This past summer 2015, Mural Routes partnered with The PA System (artists Patrick Thompson and Alexa Hatanaka) on the Piliriqatigiingniq Mural Project, a collaboration with the ‘Embassy of Imagination’ collective of inuit youth from Cape Dorset, and youth from Toronto’s Oasis Skateboard Factory.
Address: 76 Church St. (just north of Church and King St E.), Toronto, Canada
In the artists words:
“Piliriqatigiingniq is an unprecedented public artwork project: a collaborative, outdoor wall painting by Cape Dorset, Nunavut youth artists and Toronto students and graduates of Oasis Skateboard Factory (TDSB). Having travelled to Cape Dorset for the past two years to create art and host art workshops for youth, Alexa Hatanaka and Patrick Thompson, Embassy of Imagination, dreamt up this mural project to share the next generation of Inuit art during the Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games in downtown Toronto.
Piliriqatigiingniq, is a pillar of Inuit traditional knowledge, meaning to work together towards a common goal. Parr, 16 year old artist from Cape Dorset, often heard stories of his grandpa carrying a broken down snowmobile, which inspired his contribution to the mural. Parr’s figure at the base of the mural not only super-humanly carries a snowmobile, but also a pile of arctic animals stacked some 50′ high. Latch (14, Cape Dorset) drew the funky caribou, and bird atop the walrus head. Cie (18, Cape Dorset) drew the bulging walrus, and Audi (15, Cape Dorset) filled the walrus with hands, bird heads, fish, dog heads, and human faces. Julieta (19, Toronto) and Moises (20, Toronto) added vibrant patterning and colours that brought the image to life.”
Artists: Aoudlaloo Qinnauyiaq, Latchaulassie Akesuk, Parr Etidloie, Cie Taqiasuk, Julieta Arias and Moises Frank
This project is a partnership with Mural Routes and Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association. We would like to acknowledge the funding support of Canada Council for the Arts, Government of Canada Department of Canadian Heritage, and StreetARToronto. Many thanks to Kinngait Studios and the West Baffin Eskimo Co-op. BIG Thank you to Well and Good, Joseph Pinguartuq, Ooloosie Ashevak, Tobin Grimshaw, Leah Mersky, Pam Jarrett, Councillor Wong-Tam, Councillor Pam McConnell, Tom Davidson, Kate Hoffman, Hostelling International Toronto, St. Lawrence Market BIA, Oasis Skateboard Factory, Lauren Hortie, and William Huffman! “
Read more about the project, and follow their youth arts collective at: http://www.embassyofimagination.co
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A StreetARToronto Partnership Project grant.
