Local artists showcase Cottonwood Island Park during city mural unveiling

One of Prince George’s most popular outdoor attractions was the inspiration of two new murals you’ll now find as you walk into the Conference and Civic Centre.

Local artists Kim Hayhurst and Erin Stagg spent the last 10 weeks showcasing the beauty Cottonwood Island Park has to offer from the wildlife to the tree carvings as well as the connecting point between the Fraser and Nechako Rivers.

Stagg told MyPGNow.com a project like this is a little unorthodox.

“It is technically more challenging because we have to have a conversation and have some sort of a middle point because we have such different styles. It was so joyful and we both learned so much, pushing our art forward.”

She added the popular outdoor space, which is enjoyed during all four seasons, holds a lot of cultural significance as well to the Indigenous population.

“Cottonwood is incredibly important to our entire city. I kind of think of it like the city’s backyard. It’s where we take all of our walks in the summer and even in the winter, Cottonwood means a lot to a lot of people. As a Metis woman, Cottonwood used to be Island Cache where a lot of Metis and other families used to live.”

“We got to celebrate the beauty of the nature that exists at Cottonwood, we get to celebrate all the little things like every animal that we have seen at Cottonwood. We are trying to celebrate as one of the parts of the city that has a lot of deep meaning.”

Hayhurst added the park itself is a special place for a lot of locals and tourists alike.

“It is such a prominent place in Prince George. It is the meeting point of the two rivers (Fraser and Nechako), our local people will go and spend time there. It is just a well-loved place in our city that represents the parkland and the Indigenous people in the area.”

“One of the murals is based on the river, the pathway along the river with the cutbanks and some wildlife in it. You can even find little hidden things that you would find on site like Elmer Gunderson’s wood carvings that are represented in the mural.”

Both murals are 24-feet long. Last winter, the City of Prince George teamed up with Two Rivers Art Gallery to find local artists to work on this project.