New Folklorama mural rises in Winnipeg’s West End

A Métis sash, Chinese dragon, Japanese lanterns, Scottish bagpipes and an Italian Vespa scooter are just a few of the cultural symbols taking shape on a new Folklorama mural in [...]

To continue reading, please subscribe: Digital Subscription One year of digital access for only $205* - Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com - Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper - Access News Break, our award-winning app - Play interactive puzzles To continue reading, please subscribe: Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional $1 for the first 4 weeks* A Métis sash, Chinese dragon, Japanese lanterns, Scottish bagpipes and an Italian Vespa scooter are just a few of the cultural symbols taking shape on a new Folklorama mural in Winnipeg’s West End, celebrating the annual festival and the communities that have helped define it.

The project revives an idea first created for Folklorama’s 50th anniversary in 2019, when Winnipeg artist Mandy van Leeuwen painted a mural at 847 Notre Dame Ave. It quickly became a celebrated piece of public art, earning local 2019 Mural of the Year honours. But it later disappeared after a neighbouring building went up, obscuring it from sight.

For Folklorama’s 55th anniversary, Take Pride Winnipeg approached the festival about recreating the mural, bringing van Leeuwen back to paint a new version — this time on the west wall of chocolates maker Morden’s of Winnipeg on Sargent Avenue. The artwork features symbols chosen with input from Folklorama pavilions and committee members. “It’s so important to represent all the cultures the best way we can,” said van Leeuwen, who has been a professional mural artist for 28 years.

“We’re doing it without borders and without saying specific countries. It’s just to do it in a visual way, it’s more unified.” Van Leeuwen is about four weeks into the expected six-week project.

For Fred Morden, owner of Morden’s of Winnipeg, making his building home to the mural was an easy decision. “I’ve been going to Folklorama for years,” Morden said. “It’s a great multicultural event, and I thought that’s what we need in the West End.

We’re trying to make Sargent Avenue beautiful again, one step at a time.” Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) said the location reflects the history of the West End as a first home for many newcomers to Canada.

“It’s really fitting that the Folklorama mural that really celebrates our cultural identity is right here in the home of the heartland in the West End,” she said. Mayor Scott Gillingham, who joined the artists and added a stroke of paint himself, said the project is another example of Winnipeg’s strong mural scene. “We have so many talented mural artists in Winnipeg, and if you go around our city, you’ll see all these outstanding murals that beautify our community,” Gillingham said.

“I think this one, that highlights Folklorama, is just really fitting for Sargent Avenue. “The world comes together around Sargent Avenue.” Folklorama — the longest-running and largest multicultural festival in the world — runs from Aug. 2 to Aug. 15, featuring 45 ethno-cultural pavilions across the city.