The Mustard Seed Church's new southside centre isn't open yet, but executive director Dean Kurpjuweit is already thinking ahead to its first day open and its first visitors.
With that in mind, he has been decorating.
On June 14, the church unveiled North, a piece of visual art produced by St. Albert's Lewis Lavoie, Paul Lavoie, and Tracy Oliver, along with the many artists on the Mural Mosaic team.
"This building isn’t quite finished, but we expect it to be finished in the next couple of weeks. When it is done, it will be a community health centre and shelter for the most vulnerable Edmontonians who are experiencing poverty and homelessness on the southside," Kurpjuweit said.
"Part of the reason why we’re so excited about this is that we believe that all people deserve dignity. All people deserve a sense of worth and a sense of value. Adding art to places like this really demonstrates that we believe that when you walk into a place, no matter where you are in life, you should see beauty. You should see something that makes you feel that this is a place that offers warmth, not just of food but of spirit and of emotions."
The building, located at 10050 81 Ave. in Edmonton, will offer meals and other social programs. The mural features more than 1,150 individual tiles each painted with a unique image. Collectively, they come together like a big, blocky jigsaw puzzle to form the larger image of a vibrant tree beset with the Rocky Mountains on the one side and grain elevators on the other. Along the bottom is the big word "NORTH."
The mural represents the second of four in a themed series called Canada Connects that Mural Mosaic produced, with each one to be placed in select locations around the country: True is in B.C., Strong is in Ontario, and Free is in the Maritimes. Each big picture image features a tree and recognizable geographical landmarks from those distinct regions of the country. The mural is one of many being installed around North America as part of Mural Mosaic's Global Roots Initiative.
The project "set out to reconnect the world through the joy of art. This installation collaboration with The Mustard Seed is a wonderful opportunity to connect the art painted by our participants in a mosaic of shared expressions of creativity," according to Mural Mosaic's website.
The mural was donated to the Mustard Seed to provide beauty and an inspiring image, highlighting "the community spirit of a nation working together to create unity through art while lifting up others within the community."
"Every time I’m painting, I’m always thinking about the people who are going to be viewing these pieces and the overall mural. That it’s part of this community that gets to enjoy it where it’s not just sequestered away somewhere in a back room or a basement ... and people can interact with it and hopefully get some inspiration," said frequent Mural Mosaic contributor and nationally-exhibited artist Julie Kaldenhoven.
The murals and details can be seen online at muralmosaic.com. In person, the mural is a sight to behold and an image that could easily capture viewers' gazes and imaginations for many hours.
"We’re just thrilled that Lewis was willing to put this here, that we get to have this not just for ourselves, but more importantly for our clients so that when they walk in here, they’re not just walking into a place where they’re going to get some food or a place to sleep," Kurpjuweit added.
"Without the Mustard Seed ... we wouldn’t have a great home for this mural to be viewed and enjoyed by people," said Lewis Lavoie.
