Landmark District x UBCO Art Mural

August 23, 2023

Inspired by the strength and freedom of wild horses, UBC Okanagan’s Public Art Project will unveil its largest project to date this Thursday.

This is the fourth mural painted by UBCO’s Visual Arts students who collaborated with instructors David and Jorden Doody to paint a colourful, large-scale mural. Throughout the course, students learned to plan, pitch and paint a public mural using projectors, mechanical lifts and various paint applications and techniques typical to large-scale artwork.

The mural’s scale is 38 metres wide by nine metres high (125 by 30 feet). The students were critical to making this large-scale project happen, putting significant time and energy into the painting, says David Doody.

“A mural of this size requires more than 400 hours of work,” he adds. “Our students are excited about the painting and are dedicated to working hard each day to create something they can be proud of. And, of course, to finish on time.”

The 18 students enrolled in the course have been busy painting a new mural outside the Landmark District Market throughout July and August. The mural will be celebrated on Thursday, August 17.

The theme for this year’s UBCO Public Art Project draws inspiration from wild horses of the Okanagan, explains Jorden Doody.

“Wild horses have long been a symbol of strength and freedom for many cultures. As our fourth mural in our local flora and fauna series, this mural uses the wide panorama of the architecture to illustrate a fantastical view of our picturesque region,” she says.

UBCO’s Department of Creative Studies partnered with Stober Group for the 2023 mural course, helping to secure a highly visible wall in the growing Landmark District.

“We are thrilled to be able to contribute to a growing body of public art in Kelowna while helping UBC Okanagan visual arts students grow and thrive through this wonderful experience,” says Ken Stober, Managing Director of Stober Group and President of the Stober Foundation. “We congratulate everyone involved in creating another amazing mural for us all to enjoy.”

The public is invited to the launch of the completed mural Thursday at the Landmark District Market parking lot from 3 to 5 pm.

“With the location being so close to the main highway through the city, this mural will receive thousands of daily views. It offers a moment of pause for passersby,” David Doody adds.

The students and instructors will be on hand to answer questions.

David Doody is currently a Lecturer in the Visual Arts program at UBCO and a 2008 alumnus. Jorden Doody recently completed her Master of Fine Arts and is also a UBCO BFA alumna. Together, they run Fresh West Official and coordinate the Uptown Mural Project in Rutland.