More Public Art in the Strathcon

Joe Weinberger was the most sociable person on our block - and unfailingly positive about all of his neighbours. He was full of conversation and always was saying good things about people, behind their backs.

When Joe died in a car accident, in 1985, we wanted to memorialize him -and honour the community spirit that he exemplified. A bench - which invites conversation - seemed to capture the spirit.

Architect Terry Frost, a close neighbour of Joe's, created an original design and arranged to have it cut from sheet steel, bent, and painted. He also designed the cocker spaniel dog that sits alongside. Joe's wife, Suzette, raised Briards, but they also had a spaniel. Terry donated his time, and the cost of manufacturing and moving the bench -about $1,000 - was quickly contributed by a couple dozen neighbours and friends. Terry has also maintained and re-painted the bench.

Students who were taking art courses or a business course called Enterprise & Innovation ...decided that the idea of leaving something permanent behind as well as something creative to look at...appealed to all of us. We worked out the theme of small patchwork-like areas that students could work on even if they weren't artistically inclined. Ex-students...bring their friends and family over to the Whyte Avenue area to see our contribution to the Strathcona Market scene and the Cosmopolitan Music Society building. Considering that the students in our Fresh Start program were struggling kids who didn't always have too many positive educational experiences, it does my heart good to see how proud they are of their work.

The wall was an eyesore with very graphic nasty graffiti. We went to The Paint Spot for help and David and Sidsel arranged for one of their paint companies to supply the paint. We set up a competition to choose an artist and Tim Heimdal from Grand Prairie was the winner. He spent much of that summer on that mural.

The rest of us set about raising the money to pay him. We did that by selling the faces on the mural.

Gerry Wright had just died and his family asked friends to donate to the mural in memory of Gerry. That's him at the piano in his white tie and tails. Carole Halko is the damsel next to him. Sidsel and David are there, Ted and Nancy Power are there; me too!. Elly and Herman deJong are there as are Harriet Winspear and various others from Cosmopolitan and businesses on Whyte.

The artist sketches are at The Paint Spot.

- Judy Berghofer, OSF Supporter