Sudbury muralist Monique Legault is hard at work on another project designed to enhance the viewscape of downtown Sudbury. Legault, who painted a popular mural on the west wall of the entrance to the Elgin Street tunnel last summer, has been commissioned to create another mural in the same location, on the opposite wall.
Legault said she was told there was a positive community reaction to the first mural, which was a tribute to the work of late Sudbury artist and architect Oryst Sawchuk who died in 2019.
She said she had suggested the idea of creating a second mural on the opposite wall and the idea was endorsed by the city.
"So they're giving me the chance to finish the underpass," she said, adding that the commission was only approved in the last couple of weeks.
Legault admitted there is a bit of a time crunch now because it is late in the season for working on outdoor murals. She said that brings a bit of pressure to the job.
"Well a little bit. Usually you can't work when it's under 10 degrees. But I've got a really good propane heater and a tarp," she said.
"And so with working in the underpass, I can actually extend my season a little bit."
She said she is hoping to be finished by mid-October.
Legault said the Sawchuk tribute was based on watercolours that reflected a vintage look of some well-known scenes in downtown Sudbury.
"And so what I wanted to do is my version of it now, because I did paint in his style. It was great, it was wonderful, but it wasn't me," she said.
"I was really proud to have done it, and in honour of him, I will hopefully be doing a view of Borgia Street from back in the day," she revealed.
Legault said the scene will be a nighttime view similar to walking at night after a rain. She said it will be a bright scene on a dark background.
Part of her job involves using paint that can be absorbed into the surface of the concrete so that the paint won't peel. She said it was a technique she used in 2019 successfully.
So in the coming days and weeks, people walking along Elgin Street will be able to see the work in progress.
"It's all about people walking, and some old cars. I'm very excited. This is a style I have been doing at home on my own as a collection so now I will finally get to show what I have been working on.
