Please briefly introduce yourself with your name, where you live, and what you do?
Hi, I’m Lakyn Barton and I live in Kitchener-Waterloo. I currently work as the Festival and Events Specialist for the City of Waterloo in the Arts and Creative Industries division.
What was your involvement with the creation/installation of Luke’s ground mural?
The mural installed on the ground of Waterloo Public Square began as a project in 2018 as part of National Indigenous People’s Day. The Arts and Creative Industries team had been hosting a NIPD event since 2016 and wanted to add a more long-standing piece that would exist beyond the single day event. Local Indigenous artist August Swinson was approached to create and install one of his art pieces on the surface of the Square. Since 2018, each year a new mural is installed on the ground on or around National Indigenous Peoples Day. Each mural is created and installed by a local Indigenous artist. They also provide an artist statement.
2018: August Swinson & Luke Swinson
2019: Luke Swinson
2020: Luke Swinson
2021: Luke Swinson and Alanah Jewell
2022: Luke Swinson
2023: Maddie Resmer
Was there any community backlash or vandalism on these pieces?
No, there has not been any backlash or vandalism to any of the murals. It’s been great to see that most public art, specifically painted pieces, are left alone from vandalism.
Why was Waterloo Public Square chosen for the mural?
It is a highly visible space that the Arts and Creative Industries team oversee. The mural is meant to remind us all daily of the traditional land that we are living and working on. This was one way that the Arts and Creative Industries team at the City of Waterloo can acknowledge and reflect and work towards reconciliation.
Valerie Chong 