Community Mural for Highlandpark Community Center by Chris Olguin Art in Calgary

Artist-initiated community mural for her community center in Highlandpark. Acrylic on primed plywood, varnished for UV protection. Artist spray painted the sky. Painted in July of 2021 to help bring community together by making a community mural together. Inviting neighbours from all ages from 2-years-old to 100 everyone joined as they felt guided by a leading artist. I designed the mural to be like paint by numbers so even people who had never held a brush would feel confident enough to be part of painting this mural and proud to be part of it. The mural depicts part of the history of the community. Research was done with an indigenous archeologist to tell us about the area before settlers because it is not well documented before settlers. We found that there were trails where the famous Deerfoot used to run from Ramsay community area up to Nosehill park passing through Highlandpark area for its water streams. We found that from it being an indigenous campsite where water used to run above ground, it then transitioned into a big farm and settlers from Scotland felt a familiar feeling from the Highlands, calling it the Highlandpark. A painting of that farm was used as inspiration to depict in the mural. Years after, it got populated by bungalow homes and now the tall homes we can see are being built. The mural also shows the local trees and wild flowers in the area that you can still find in the Golf Course and alleys. Now the mural can be appreciated outside of the Highlandpark Community Centre(East End).