June 27, 2023
The City of Edmonton and the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights have partnered on a 127-foot public mural that brings to life the stories of Edmonton’s diverse cultural communities.
This permanent art installation, unveiled on June 27 to honour Canadian Multiculturalism Day and National Indigenous History Month, is located in the underground pedway that connects Churchill LRT station and Edmonton City Centre East.
Fifteen diverse local artists, led by Carla Rae Taylor, collaborated on the elaborate mural with a central theme of "Our Mother As Earth." The artwork is composed of 32 circular panels, each with a unique interpretation of the theme.
"The YEG Dignity Mural is a wonderful addition to our City. It complements the many efforts underway to showcase our beautiful, vibrant and welcoming downtown," said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. "Art plays a powerful and important role in our lives. This breathtaking installation furthers our commitment to create more inclusive and attractive public spaces for transit riders and the public."
“The creation of the mural is led by a team of primarily young and emerging artists who represent an intersection of identities including Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, immigrants, refugees, gender and sexual diversity, and people with disabilities,” said Nexi Alarcon, Director of Communications and Marketing, John Humphrey Centre. “This mural will positively impact our city by offering opportunities to bring awareness to the quality and variety of art in Edmonton and create a space of collective storytelling, diversity, inclusion and introspection.”
The YEG Dignity Mural is the latest addition to Edmonton's public transit art installations, which began with the Paint the Rails initiative launched in 2018 for Canada's 150th anniversary. The initiative is a collaboration between the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and Edmonton Transit Service (ETS), which has resulted in art installations within the City’s transit system. The previous murals were inspired by the knowledge and teachings of Indigenous elders, as well as the diverse viewpoints within the community. These murals are titled “Returning Home” (Churchill LRT Station), “The River” (University LRT Station), “Strong as a Forest” (Corona LRT Station), “Stories that Weave Us” (Kingsway Transit Centre), and “Fabric of the City” (Clareview LRT Station).
“We’re thrilled our ongoing partnership has resulted in another stunning project that will be enjoyed by riders and members of the public alike,” said Sarah Feldman, Director of Business Integration and Workforce Development, ETS. “The YEG Dignity Mural represents our commitment to bringing the stories of Edmonton’s diverse cultural communities to life through art and education. Displaying these works of art throughout our public transit network helps beautify public spaces and increases feelings of safety and security.”
The collaboration with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights - an organization that strives to advance dignity, freedom, justice and security through collaborative relationships and transformative education on peace and human rights - helps to highlight the diverse cultural contributions of Edmonton's communities, creating a connection between artists, members of the public and Edmonton's history.
To learn more about the YEG Dignity Mural and its contributing artists, watch a video produced by the John Humphrey Centre,
2023 YEG Dignity Mural.
