The Murals of Winnipeg

Winnipeg is home to a wonderful assortment of outdoor murals. It is a spectacular free art gallery for the whole city and all its visitors. The styles of the artwork range from the most simple small murals to huge amazing paintings on the side of multi story buildings. You never know what is going to appear around any given corner ,or on any particular street. That is part of the charm of the Winnipeg Murals. The art is a surprise which can appear at any part of the city, on just about any building. You never know what to expect. There are over 400 murals and some are added or disappear each year.

Some of them catch the eye of every passer by, even from far away. Others are tucked away inside the grounds of various businesses. You may not even be aware of those hidden pieces of art, until you happen to have a need to visit the inner workings of that establishment.

The Murals of Winnipeg are renditions of every imaginable subject. Some represent specific stores or businesses . Some depict famous people or historical events. Some are of local celebrities or just everyday people. There are animals and insects. There are gardens full of flowers and simple symbolic renditions. There is in fact some piece of art for everyone's individual interests or tastes. If you don't find one that appeals to you, you can always create one yourself or hire any one of the numerous skilled mural painters to perform their artistic magic for you.

The Murals of Winnipeg are a lovely feature of the city from the most expensive areas to the lowest income housing neighbourhoods. They are the ultimate in democratic artwork. They are free to view. There is no limit to who can look at and enjoy the many creations around the city.

They often become landmarks and points of direction and familiarity themselves., even beyond the buildings they adorn. They can add a lot of character to spots that have very little to begin with and brighten up dreary areas. They even add more interest to buildings that are already visually interesting.

They are created by professionals and amateurs alike. There are even some done by groups of children.

The time each mural will last, depends on a number of things . These are temporary works of art that should be enjoyed and acknowledged while they exist. The methods used to paint the murals , the techniques used to prepare the surfaces for painting, the different ways the murals are protected, the types of paint used, the location of each mural and the extreme weather conditions, all can affect the life of the individual paintings. Some last many years, and some wear out very quickly. It is sad when a favourite one is gone, but the fun is finding new ones to enjoy.

This is a vast improvement over the eyes sores of graffiti. It adds character to the city of Winnipeg. Surprisingly even though there are occasions of vandalism and graffiti that do strike some murals, they are more often left alone.

There is a wonderful detailed site dedicated to the many outdoor artworks in Winnipeg. They focus on the murals, but also include other pieces of outdoor art. Each mural is photographed and added to the site. Every artist is acknowledged. They list the specific location for every mural. They even have a "rest in peace" section for the Murals of Winnipeg which have disappeared for various reasons. It is full of information and history. It is definitely worth a look. Even when the individual Murals of Winnipeg disappear, there is a historical record of their existence on this website. It is obviously a labour of love.
Take a look if you are interested. http://themuralsofwinnipeg.com/index.php

One thing that no website can do, is to give the real, in person, experience that goes with viewing these interesting, and sometimes phenomenal murals. If you are in the city of Winnipeg, take a look around and check out some of the artwork. Some people just rush by them and never really take a good look. They are worth the time it takes to stop and admire the creations. If you like one, search out the artist and let them know that their work made an impression on you . Keep the artwork coming.