Two years ago this week, George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. He wasn’t the first person of colour to be killed by police, and he wasn’t the last. But something about Floyd’s death was different—it gave a visible push to the efforts of the Black Lives Matter movement, one that made waves […]
Public art
Posted inArts + Music
Three artists shortlisted for Viola Desmond monument that’s coming to Gottingen Street
Back in 2018, when Viola Desmond first graced the $10 bill, the North End Business Association was deep in revelry, with a host of events marking the occasion. However, one element missing from the celebration of the Nova Scotia civil rights icons was something, well, iconic. A permanent, public monument to Desmond. But it was […]
Posted inArts + Music
Halifax seeking a new public art installation at Alderney Gate Public Library
Behind the circulation desk at the Halifax Central Library, a massive work by the legendary artist Cliff Eyland makes your neck crane ever higher, a wave of comfort following a backbend as you feel tiny in its towering presence. Library Cards is a mixed-media piece that has proven itself to be Instagram bait and a […]
Posted inArts + Music
Halifax’s north end given $111,000 in funding for public art
Earlier today, Andy Fillmore—Halifax’s member of parliament—announced the North End Business Association will receive $111,000 from federal funding (namely, through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund). The money is earmarked for creating a permanent monument to civil rights icon Viola Desmond in her own neighbourhood, which a statement says is to be created by a local […]
Posted inArts + Music
HRM seeks African Nova Scotian artist to design panel about Black Methodist church
The Halifax Regional Municipality is seeking an African Nova Scotian artist to help create an interpretive panel that will reflect on a 19th century Black Methodist church that once stood on Gottingen Street. The chosen artist will create a rendering of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which opened in 1846 and was demolished around […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax repainting BLM mural without community involvement
Last summer, in the wake of George Floyd’s violent and public murder by a Minneapolis police officer (and the pent-up anger from many, many similar events over the years) Black Lives Matter became a continent-wide movement. Here in Halifax, after rallies held on Spring Garden Road, in front of the police station and elsewhere, city […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Pilot Picasso reflects on a tough year after Portapique
On Sunday, April 19, 2020, Dimitri Neonakis was at home with his girlfriend, stunned, as news from Portapique slowly made its way to the public. By the end of the day, he was exhausted. The pandemic was still fresh—shutdowns had begun in Nova Scotia just one month prior—and now the province was dealing with the […]
Posted inArts + Music
City nails new Halifax Explosion memorial
When Haligonians gather December 6 at Fort Needham Memorial Park to remember the blast that devastated the city 100 years ago, they will find some informative architecture has been added to the grounds around the old bell tower monument. The new commemorative elements don’t take the form of strenuous plaques droning on about the Imo, […]
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Our Common Woods resurrects trees through art
Our Common Woods unveiling Wednesday, June 21 at 10am The Halifax Commonthedeaneryproject.com Trees cut down during the North Park intersection redesign have been given a second life thanks to a new public art project. Our Common Woods is made up of five different art pieces on the Halifax Common. These wooden sculptures are made from […]
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A concrete jungle
An unassuming alleyway on Blowers Street has been converted into a tropical wonder world by Alex Thuku’s new mural. Filled with exotic leaves, flamingos, elk and lemurs, fantastical shades of yellow, turquoise and pink define the landscape. This scenery spanning the side of Blue Apples Arts and Wellness Centre (formerly The Blowers Street Paper Chase) […]
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Public art coming to the Roy Building construction site
Starfish Properties is plotting something big for the Roy Building construction site this weekend. Details are scarce, but the property management company has invited Toronto-based performance artist and live painter Jessica Gorlicky (aka Jessgo) to scale the scaffolding and spruce up the Roy Building’s exterior. Josh Lerner, vice president of Starfish Properties remains tight-lipped about […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The mural of the story
Hate it or love it—or just love to debate about it—Barrington Street has a brand- new, big, bizarre and beautiful mural. Freak Lunchbox’s decision to commission a massive piece of art for the side of its new headquarters surprisingly ended up being one of the summer’s most argued-about topics, and amidst all of the opinions […]