Local News

Living color: Fraser mural festival draws crowds to watch artists compete

July 26, 2019

UC Sepia of Fairplay paints on despite two fans hanging on her every stroke.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
Artist Helena Martin of Austin, Texas gets technical on her portrait of Doc Susie.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
One canvas was left blank and invited visitors to paint what represents Fraser to them.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
One of the artists competing in Fraser’s Mountain Mural Festival Walter Onver Macias utilizing spray paint on his canvas.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
Around 3 p.m. Friday the festival got some rain forcing participants to protect their canvases with tarps and umbrellas.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
Competing artists were given themes that celebrate the Fraser Valley, such as local history, local preservation, transportation and outdoor life.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com

Fraser kicked off its Mountain Mural Festival on Friday with the event drawing local, regional and out-of-state artists competing for cash and prizes.

Altogether, 19 artists began customizing eight-foot square panels with their work on Friday. Shortly before 3 p.m, however, rain drops forced them to cover their canvases with tarps or an umbrella, though many kept working.

The weather didn’t keep visitors away either, as Friday afternoon saw a busy downtown with people wandering in and out of the festival and surrounding businesses.

The creativity and festivities continue Saturday with live music, including a performance by Hunker Down, before culminating in an awards ceremony Saturday evening.

The judges — Mayor Philip Vandernail and artists Karen Vance and Emanuel Martinez — will pick the top three pieces, and a people’s choice award will also be given out.

All of the proceeds from the event will go to the Fraser Center for Creative Arts, a Public Arts Committee project that would encompass an art gallery, studios, makerspaces and seven apartments.