After three years of planning and painting, a new mural covers the side of West End Resource Centre (WERC). Painted by local artist Jen Mosienko with assistance from Emmit McGregor, it is a radiant portrayal of five individuals in eye-catching colours looking towards the future.
The mural is one of 600 put up around the city by Take Pride Winnipeg! as a part of the organization’s commitment to beautifying the city.
WERC’s executive director, Hortense Coffi, spoke at the unveiling saying the mural is representative of the changes the organization has undertaken since it was renamed from the Daniel McIntyre St. Matthews Community Association.
“It represents our community and what we do here,” Coffi said.
Coffi said that the new piece means that WERC’s building showcases their work “inside and outside.”
During the unveiling on Nov 22nd, Coun. Cindy Gilroy, who was instrumental in the commissioning of the mural highlighted how much care the West End takes in these public art pieces.
“They don’t get touched, they don’t get tagged,” Coun. Gilroy said. “They emphasize our community.”
Mosienko echoed Gilroy’s sentiments highlighting the importance of representing diversity in the mural.
“Basically, [the mural] illustrates diversity and a range of individuals, different age groups, programs and basically everyone,” Mosienko said. “We’re all different, but we’re all part of this same thing. We’re all part of human nature.”
Mosienko spoke further on how WERC’s organizing influenced the design of the piece, with elements representing WERC’s jobs, education and foods programs.
“West End Resource Centre is such an amazing and worthy organization,” Mosienko said. “For the amount that they do for the community and the outreach and programs they have for all ages from children, after school programs to senior and work programs, it’s an honour to have worked on something here.”