Winnipeg, Manitoba— The Murals of Winnipeg website has selected the mural entitled ‘Folklorama 50’ at 847 Notre Dame Avenue as its 2019 Mural of the Year.
Artists Mandy van Leeuwen and Franklin Fernando painted the colourful 1136 sq. ft. rendering on the east wall of the building last summer. The 70 foot long mural is a celebration of 50 years of Folklorama, which is the world’s largest and longest running multicultural festival.
The ‘Folklorama 50’ mural was the leading vote-getter from 31 independent judges who scrutinized the field of 36 new outdoor murals from 2019 during the month of May. “Once again our judges have done a wonderful job in making such a worthy selection for this award,” said Bob Buchanan, who created themuralsofwinnipeg.com as well as coordinating judging for the yearly honour.
Buchanan also said that the mural has resonated with many, and generated an abundance and wide range of enthusiastic remarks from the judges. “In today’s world and these troubling times, people want and need more of what Folklorama has and is.”
Folklorama Executive Director Teresa Cotroneo said that “this legacy piece celebrates Folklorama as a community – together – celebrating cultural diversity not only with our Festival in August, but year-round through our Folklorama At Home, Folklorama At School, Folklorama At Work, and Folklorama At Play programs.”
The awards will be presented to the organizers and clients, and to the mural artists at a celebratory luncheon Thursday at noon in the parking lot of Laufman’s Blueprinting Services, 847 Notre Dame Avenue.
Members of the media are invited to attend the luncheon and photo op at the wall on Thursday June 18 at 12 noon (parking lot, 847 Notre Dame Avenue). The Mural Artists will be available, as will be spokepersons for West End BIZ, Take Pride Winnipeg and Folklorama. At 12:20 p.m., there will be a 25-minute program for the awards presentations. For more information on the mural, see
http://www.themuralsofwinnipeg.com/Mpages/muraloftheyear.php?action=search&year=39
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Contacts:
Sponsors/Organizers:
West End BIZ
Joe Kornelsen, Executive Director
Ph. (204) 960-0265 (C)
[email protected]
Take Pride Winnipeg!
Tom Ethans, Executive Director
Ph. (204) 792-5464 (C)
[email protected]
Folklorama
Tanya Williams, Director of Marketing and Communications
Ph. (204)982-6212
[email protected]
Mural of the Year Award
Bob Buchanan, The Murals of Winnipeg website
Ph: (204)255-5137
[email protected]