Tucked away on Wellington Street West, a vibrant peafowl fans its feathers across the side of a barbershop, a splash of colour that serves as a point of pride for area residents. Since its completion last year, \u201cThe Proudest Plumage\u201d has drawn visitors, sparked conversations and helped community members see themselves reflected in the public space around them.<\/p>\n
The mural is the result of the City of Ottawa\u2019s Paint It Up!<\/a> initiative, a youth engagement program now entering its 16th year. Through the program, artists collaborate with local youth and community groups to create murals across the city, with goals of beautification, vandalism reduction and providing a positive, skill-building experience for young people.<\/p>\n Over the past five months, residents and organizations in Kitchissippi Ward have seen those goals come to life. \u201cThe Proudest Plumage,\u201d at 1195 Wellington St. W., was created by local artist Kalkidan Assefa<\/a>, (known as DRPN Soul) in partnership with the Wellington West BIA<\/a> and community organization Jaku Konbit<\/a>.<\/p>\n An Ottawa-based non-profit organization, Jaku Konbit supports individuals and families of African and Caribbean descent. Gelila Geremew, who oversees the mentorship program, says the mural provided an invaluable experience, not only for the youth who participated, but for the broader African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was incredibly affirming, community members were really proud. It was all over our social media, people were going there visiting, they really feel seen and connected to the space,\u201d Geremew said.<\/p>\n She said Jaku Konbit too had a great experience and is encouraging other community-based organizations to apply and see themselves and their work reflected in the broader city space.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic art becomes a way to reclaim space and to tell stories that are often overlooked. Seeing culture, joy, and identity reflected in the public really sends a powerful message to these communities and it\u2019s that they\u2019re valued and integral to the city\u2019s programs,\u201d Geremew said.<\/p>\n While \u201cThe Proudest Plumage\u201d wasn\u2019t the first Paint It Up! mural to find a home in the ward, Coun. Jeff Leiper hopes it won\u2019t be the last.<\/p>\n \u201cI have lost track of the number of Paint It Up! projects that I\u2019ve seen in the ward over the course of the 12 years or so that I\u2019ve been city councillor,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Public art becomes a way to reclaim space and to tell stories that are often overlooked. Seeing culture, joy, and identity reflected in the public really sends a powerful message to these communities and it\u2019s that they\u2019re valued and integral to the city\u2019s programs.<\/p>\n Gelila Geremew, Jaku Konbit non-profit organization<\/p>\n While councillors approve funding for the program as part of the city\u2019s budget, Leiper notes they are not involved in selecting individual murals or artists. But he\u2019s always excited to see the murals.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a source of sometimes whimsy, sometimes challenge and sometimes just delight at the beautification of the ward,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople love it.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond aesthetics, Leiper says public art plays a meaningful role in residents\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n \u201cThe arts are a critical part of people\u2019s quality of life and how they experience their city,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to give people a reason to want to live in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Lepier says arts funding, festivals and public art are part of a broader ecosystem that supports artists and cultural workers and demonstrates Ottawa is a place for artists to thrive.<\/p>\n The program also carries practical benefits. Murals have been shown to deter graffiti, an issue that can be costly for business owners.<\/p>\n \u201cOur experience is that it works,\u201d Leiper says. \u201cWhat the community will tell you is that taggers are unlikely to tag murals.\u201d<\/p>\n Aron Slipacoff, executive director of the Wellington West BIA, says there are other benefits for business owners, too.<\/p>\n