Beverly Heights Community Mural
“Welcoming Waters” 2024
"Welcoming Waters" is a vibrant tribute to the Beverly Heights community, rooted in the natural beauty of the North Saskatchewan River, which flows around the neighborhood. Over the past year, I, Christina Hamer, have had the privilege of collaborating with the Beverly Heights Community League and numerous neighborhood stakeholders to bring this mural to life.
The base of the mural’s composition is an abstract depiction of the North Saskatchewan River and the rocks along the shore, symbolizing the life and connection that this body of water brings to our community. The river serves as a metaphor for the ongoing journey of welcoming and embracing the diverse cultures, backgrounds, and stories that converge in Beverly Heights.
Throughout the river, colorful river rocks are depicted, adorned with imagery inspired by the ideas and values shared by the community. These rocks represent the cultural welcome and diversity that define Beverly Heights, with patterns and symbols from various cultures interwoven into the design. The rocks also reflect the community’s commitment to unity, inclusivity, and representation, with each stone contributing to the larger mosaic of their shared identity.
The colorful expressions throughout the mural are a nod to the artistic spirit of the community, celebrating the creativity and vibrancy that make Beverly Heights a unique and welcoming place to live.
"Welcoming Waters" is not just a piece of art; it is a symbol of the collective pride and connection of Beverly Heights. My hope is that this mural will continue to inspire and unite the community, serving as a reminder of the strength we find in the diversity and the beauty of our shared environment.
Community Garden
All of the flowers depicted in our mural were ideas gathered in our first week of painting from neighbours who we had conversations with and from the apprentice artists contributing to this work.
Flowers include: roses, zinnia, yarrow, shepherd’s purse, yarrow, peonies, tiger lilies, black eyed susans, forget me knots, sunflowers and wild roses.
Pictured above: Betty of the Beverly Gardening Club and her Pink Peonies
Mohamed Muyne Tribute
This image is from a community member who asked if we could memorialize her friend who had died too young and was a thriving member of the Beverly Community. Pictured here Mohamed is playing handball in an Eastglen jersey with a globe that includes both his home countries of Somalia and Canada. The wings holding him up are from a drawing collected from Fiona a member of the Beverly Girl Guides.
Why Blue?
The decision to use blue in the medicine wheel for this artwork is rooted in Cree teachings. In Cree tradition, blue holds significant meaning as it is a rare color in nature and is regarded as sacred. This understanding, shared by one of our indigenous artists and community members, reflects the teachings of both the Cree and Ojibway nations, who incorporate blue in their medicine wheels. Additionally, discussions with Indigenous collaborators emphasized the appropriateness of blue for this particular representation. Colonization has contributed to a generalized approach to Indigenous teachings, often leading to a pan-Indigenous understanding that overlooks the rich diversity of voices and teachings across nations. This artwork seeks to honor the specific cultural teachings and perspectives that guided its creation.
A MASSIVE Thank you to my artistic team that made this mural possible!
Alyssa Demers, Ryan Plante, Tyler-Rose Arden, Camile Gordon, Deb Bok, Aylie Mohr, & Andrea Trueman
