Edmonton back alleys and parking lots become selfie destinations

DavinaStewart can't wait for visual artist Jill Stanton to finish her latest work,a vibrant muralon the east wall of the Varscona Theatre in Old Strathconadepicting bustling backstage life.

"It makes us feel more alive on the outside as well as on the inside, I think," says Stewart, Varsconaspokesperson.

"It gives our building a strong presence. People will see it more rather than just this salmon-coloured box," she said.

"We've now got something that is a place that people want to stand in front of and get their picture taken."

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Stanton's mural isone of a half dozen in a square block, making thealley a photographer's destination forfashion shoots, graduation photos, even family portraits.

The murals,sponsored byNextFest, Capital City Clean-Up and the OldStrathconaBusiness Association, are part of the city's efforts to showcase local artists and make Edmonton more attractive, while deterring graffiti and taggers.

Across the river,IzabellaOrzelski-Konikowskiis directing volunteers including students from OldSconaAcademic High Schooland the University of Alberta's Faculty of Extension in painting two wall murals onthe outside of Edmonton's Food Bank.

"We come together closer as artists just to give to the community and to just create a better spirit that we can all do something for each other,"shesaid.

'I love to paint and we're just having fun as a group'

6 years ago

Duration 1:55

Artistic volunteers put the finishing touches on two new murals on the side of Edmonton's Food Bank.

Working with ahost of people on a five-by-six-metre wall requires teamwork, she said.

"It'svery difficult to know if the proportions are set up right, if the colouristic nuances are created in the proper way."

So she splits the volunteers intotwo teams, one to step back and take in the big picture "consulting from a distance,"the other to attack the wall with paint and brushes.

Whether seeing the artupclose in a selfieor standing further back, the murals' goal is the same: "to bring happiness,"Orzelski-Konikowskisaid.

You can see these and many other worksof public art in this week's edition of Our Edmonton Saturday at 10 a.m., noon on Sunday and 11 a.m. on Monday on CBC TV.