Artwork telling a very Manitoban story

A large-scale art project will bring a burst of colour to a busy intersection near the University of Manitoba, prompting people to take time to savour their surroundings.

On July 15 and 16, Anders Swanson will be painting a street mural in the area of Bison Drive, Chancellor Matheson Road and Pembina Highway as part of the Cool Streets 2017 urban art project. This expansive space will be the last of seven road murals in the initiative, which aims to improve the pedestrian experience.

On the largest Cool Streets site, Swanson’s creation will feature two different components: brightly hued cranberries and blue-shadowed bison.

"The idea is to look at the things that we might otherwise miss if we’re not looking deeper or spending the time to move slowly," he said. "It’s about treading lightly on the landscape and enjoying quality time."

Initially, he gleaned inspiration by looking up the word "Pembina" to learn more about its origins. He discovered that the French Canadian word "pimbina" seems to have Cree roots for a berry growing by the water.

"I find that knowledge of language adds nuance and richness to your experience, but sometimes we forget about the history of things because we’re moving too quickly — either metaphorically through life or, in the case of transportation, by not walking," Swanson said.

"Since this project is about walking, I framed it around things that were connected to the ground. I wanted to build on a story that exists of this place."

For the bison section, he found inspiration through an unforgettable experience he had several years ago while driving to Alberta to visit his family.

"It was really early in the morning and I noticed that the shadows from sunrise are a bright blue," he said. "I just wanted to convey that little beautiful thing that you only get when you stop and take time to notice."

Formerly a painting foreman, Swanson now works as a walking and cycling policy and design expert. He is enjoying how this mural project merges his two areas of expertise.

Stéphane Dorge, project co-ordinator of Cool Streets 2017, said the other six murals were all painted on June 25, and they will likely last from two to six months depending on the traffic. The completed street murals can be seen at Provencher Boulevard and Aulneau Street; 160 Marion St.; Aulneau Street and avenue de la Cathédrale; avenue de la Cathédrale at Chez-Nous Inc.; Tache Avenue and Provencher Boulevard; and Tache Avenue and Marion Street.