Artworks

Painted with acrylic on birch wood, the four murals encompass three themes: the four elements – earth, fire water and air; the four views of Victoria – parks, city, harbour, skyline; and the four “vertical slices of wild” – underwater, shoreline, forest and sky.

The artworks symbolize “Infusing Spirits”, representing Victoria’s overlapping cultures and the importance of spirits who watch over us in our visible and invisible lives. The seawolf and salmon embody wildlife and the surrounding waters, while open hands welcome all people to the land of the camas. The branches of the Garry oak weave the connection of history and multicultural threads, and the two-spirited thunderbird crowns the mural, protecting the interconnectedness of families.

Local artists Joanne Thomson, Jennifer Johnson, and Beth Threlfall were selected for their proposal in September 2015 to collaborate with youth to create a series of murals to beautify a City parkade. The youth artists were appointed by the Victoria Youth Council, were Jody DeSchutter, Owen Anthony Parnell and GaHwi Woo.

Jody DeSchutter completed an undergraduate degree in Visual Arts and minoring in Art History at the University of Victoria. She has worked at both the Lake Country Art Gallery and the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan which have solidified her immersion ignited a love and passion for sharing and collaborating with the community.

Owen Anthony Parnell is a Cree Metis artist and graduate of the Camosun College two-year intensive Visual Arts Program. He received scholarships to study aboriginal art for a summer at Emily Carr University of Art and Design (2010), and another scholarship to study mixed media and acrylics at Metchosin International Summer School of Art (2013). Owen has shown work with Open Space's Indigenous Youth Artist Showcase (2014), with PedalBox during the Integrate Arts Festival (2014) and was part of the youth team that created the Rock Bay Mural (2014). I apprenticed with the Coast Salish carver, Curtis Christie, and studied Native Art in High School with Alex Clark.

GaHwi Woo has always been a profound part in her life from sketching to acrylic. Woo won first place in the Writing and Arts Challenge War of 1812, and second place in B.C./Yukon Legion Coloured Poster Contest. She has been painting since age nine and has participated in the City of Victoria’s Youth Council’s Art Mentorship Program and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Open Door Access.