Blackfalds Library Commission

This body of work was created to honour the Blackfalds Public Library as a place of gathering, learning, and transformation. Through layered imagery across canvas and wood, the artworks explore themes of intellectual freedom, cultural diversity, and the evolving identity and connection of the library within the community.

The large-scale canvas painting features a group of multicultural youth reading in an open field—an expansive and symbolic space of imagination and potential. Above them, clouds take the form of symbols representing intellectual freedom, hinting at the limitless ideas that books carry. A decommissioned local bridge is re-imagined here as a metaphor for transitions between generations, cultures, and ways of knowing.

Additional painted elements on wood offer deeper historical and cultural reflections:

– Flowers inspired by Judy Carleton’s historical accounts of Blackfalds’ pay tribute to the land and the personal stories rooted here.

– A stack of books features the spines marked with the various addresses the library has held over the years—acknowledging its adaptability and enduring role.

– A close-up painting of beaded moccasins made by a local Métis artist brings forward Indigenous presence and artistry, honouring both past and present contributions to the cultural fabric of Blackfalds.

Together, these works aim to celebrate the library not only as a place for books but as a living archive of a community of voices, memories, and futures. I am grateful to contribute to this space where ideas are shared freely, stories are respected, and all community members are invited to belong.

Blackfalds Library Mural: Commissioned by the Blackfalds & Area Historical Society. Installation Fall 2025