MOOSE JAW — After more than 20 years of maintaining Moose Jaw’s many murals, artist Grant McLaughlin has handed over his paint and brush to another repairer and retired from the physically demanding role.
McLaughlin, 82, reflected on his decades of climbing up and down ladders to repair murals, noting it has become more difficult to find and rent scaffolding, while most artists use scissor lifts today.
“You’re knees get worn down, and your hands and your wrists, and (so) I just thought it was time (to retire),” he said. “I’ve got other things I’d kind of like to focus on — some smaller things, too.
“I’ve done it for enough years that I just thought it was time for other people (to take on the responsibility and gain experience),” he continued. “I don’t quite have the energy I had, either.”
The artist said that, besides him, Gus Froese, Dale Cline, and others also helped launch the murals project in the early 1990s, while they were the first in Saskatchewan to do so. Moreover, their efforts helped revitalize the downtown before other projects like the spa or tunnels.
McLaughlin added that it was a great feeling knowing he contributed to the community’s history, built up people’s understanding of the past, and felt satisfaction in what he accomplished.
The murals that McLaughlin painted include Cruising Main Street, A Tribute to Lewis Rice, Fire Watch, Postcards from Moose Jaw, Hopes and Dreams, Living with the Land, Winter Carnival, Peacock Presents, The Jewels and the Royals (a multi-artist project), Centennial Mural, Tribute to Gary Hyland and Riding for the Brand.
McLaughlin said he is a history buff and enjoyed working on those types of murals, and whether he created or repaired such artworks here or in Alberta, he learned about many different topics.
Continuing, he said he enjoyed painting on big canvases, climbing up ladders, working from great heights and engaging in the physical work. He also pointed out that creating murals on the exteriors of buildings is similar to exhibiting artwork in a permanent gallery since everyone can see them.
“I’ve become known as a Mr. Fix-it, whether it’s sculptures or different types of artwork. So, I kind of like the different challenges of that,” McLaughlin said.
The artist noted that he has always enjoyed volunteering and giving back, so one way he did that over the years was by painting murals that promoted the community.
“It’s something that I enjoyed doing,” he remarked.
McLaughlin said he appreciated the compliments tourists gave him, while he enjoyed interacting with groups that wanted him to create new murals. Additionally, he regularly included his students in his projects.
“You try to do things where you’re promoting the value of art and not just the value of history,” he said.
Although McLaughlin is stepping away from maintaining the murals, he’s not quitting the art world completely. He joked that his summers “might get boring” if he didn’t do something to occupy his time, while he pointed out that artists usually have more ideas than time to complete them.
Some of his more recent projects included refurbishing a tile-covered metal-and-concrete turtle in Wakamow Valley and working with the Northwest Community Association and Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery to install a tile-covered metal-and-concrete butterfly near Spring Creek.
Meanwhile, Tonia Vermette is replacing McLaughlin as the new mural repairer, and he said she has a “gung-ho” attitude and will do well.
She’s already refurbished the backside of the “History CPR Station” mural, while she’s now working on the “Stormin’ Main Street” artwork.
Continuing, he said that at least half the murals in Moose Jaw are faded — especially “Air Force Blue” and “For The Veterans” — which means over the coming years, Vermette faces a big job of scraping and sanding. Yet, he thought she was capable since she was used to hard work.
McLaughlin — who gave Vermette his paint supplies — added that he would be available to offer her advice and provide equipment if necessary.
