Meet the artists bringing a burst of colour back to Maritime communities
Summer is a popular time of year for a makeover, and two artists in the Maritimes are taking that to a whole new level by rejuvenating old buildings through art.
Jake Seibert hasn’t always put brush to brick to make a living. Seibert used to work in a laboratory for the federal government, but when he found himself laid off one year, he ended up doing Christmas window paintings to pay the bills. Now, Seibert has turned his back-up plan into a full-fledged career.
“I have a pretty good pedigree to rely on,” he said. “My mom is a retired art teacher, so I was pretty much grown up with the medium around the house. I always did it in my spare time and finally managed to make the leap and do it full-time.”
Seibert is teaming up with fellow artist, Kristen de Palma, to bring new life to some of the Maritimes’ oldest structures.
After leaving a corporate job where she led a marketing team in Nova Scotia, de Palma took the risk and decided to go all-in on her design business. After applying for a project with the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, de Palma found herself in charge of creating a mural in the city centre.
“I had a moment that was excitement followed quickly by like, ‘Oh god, how do I actually make this happen?’”
That’s where Seibert came in.
“I like to use the materials like a house painter, so I use all the same rollers, brushes, cutting-in techniques,” he said. “I like to use really bright colours and use the transparency in the paint to achieve that.”
The best part about the job, according to Seibert, is that he’s constantly “peddling joy” and “bringing a burst of colour” back to the community.
“You’re selling a product or a message but you’re doing it in the most fun, engaging way possible.”
De Palma agrees.
“When something goes up that has such a large scale and that is really intended just for the sake of beauty or adding colour to the community, I think that has a huge impact,” de Palma said. “It has people stop in their tracks and really appreciate it, as well as creating a sense of belonging and community. I think it’s really powerful.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.