It was August 6th, 2013 when I arrived in London, Ontario to help Artfusion London with an amazing vision their founder Ryan Mahy envisioned. It was on a wall near his home that is approximately 81ft in height and 160ft in length. This space was and now is the home to the "Stephen Watson Memorial Mural #SWMM". This mural will replicate the last painting Stephen Watson completed before he passed August 29th, 2011 called "Octopus Garden 2".
That day I arrived I was given the job to outline as much of the mural as I could in the time I had. This ended up being the largest "FREE=HAND" art I have ever accomplished. At first it felt overwhelming just looking at this enormous canvas in front of me. Then after Ryan broke it down for me on how to accomplish the freehand work with a spray paint can I was hooked!
I was there for two days and by the time I left on August 7th other artists and volunteers were already rolling canned paint into the lines I sprayed. By the time I was complete this day I had finished most of the giant octopus' body and the head was formed. By the time paint was being put into it the mural was starting to be visualized by all passerby.
I found myself continuing to travel from Toronto to London on every day I had off to help the other artists to get this mural completed by August 30th only 24 days total. Ryan Mahy was an inspiration having seen him as the visionary and backbone of the mural with his daily efforts and most over nighters!
If you like or even love this incredible art mural work and would be interested in helping finish the back of the building with another one of Stephen Watson's paintings called "Playtime" then go to Artfusion's Indiegogo Fundraiser :)
I compiled some photos and videos of the work and artists that were a part of such a beautiful task from the moments I was in attendance.
Check the video out:
Check out this Time Lapse of the mural from start to completion by Wyatt Pate:
Check out the Block Party Celebration of the completed mural "Octopus Garden 2" with this Breakdance competition:
The list of all the amazing volunteer contributors and donators! I am honoured to be on this list!
 |
Photo by @QuinnLawson. |
If you would like to see these murals then go to downtown London, Ontario, Canada and the parking lot they are a part of is roughly between 197 - 199 Dundas Street.
If you do see them then Snap a photo and on Twitter use @ArtistforOcean and on Instagram use @ArtistfortheOcean to tag me!
