A much-loved mural in Halifax has been painted black in preparation for a new piece.
Business owners on Barrington Street announced two months ago that they wanted to replace the 15-year-old Tall Ships painting with something different.
Zack Rexhepi is the artist behind the original piece. He says it was his first work of art after immigrating from Kosovo.
“It’s done, and we can do nothing,” he said.
Another artist has been paid to paint a new mural.
A business in Dartmouth offered to take the Tall Ships piece, but associated logistics, costs and timing led to the deal not going as planned.
Erin Smith, one of the building’s owners, says people can expect lots of colour in the new painting, along with some Maritime flare.
"We work here, we live here, our family is here, we want it to be beautiful, so we are taking this really seriously,” she said. “This is a gift."
Rexhepi says this isn’t the first time one of his murals was replaced.
"I came from the war, and I lost my home with all my murals, and over 100, many paintings," he said.
Building owners say Monday’s prep work is in anticipation of the new artist’s arrival. He is expected to start work on the new mural on Tuesday.
Smith says the new piece will take seven days.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Suzette Belliveau
