South Surrey pottery mural will celebrate craft and community

A colourful mural celebrating craft and community is coming to the Crescent Park Pottery Studio in South Surrey.

According to a corporate report going before Surrey city council Monday, June 29, the city's parks, recreation and culture department is recommending council authorize staff to engage artist Jillian Mundy to implement the public art project at the studio, operated by Semiahmoo Potters Society since 2022.

The mural was selected through an open artist call and a two-stage community selection process. The selection panel reviewed 43 expressions of interest and six concept proposals before unanimously recommending Mundy's design.

Mundy's concept celebrates "craft, community, and the relationship between the studio and the park." The design features botanical forms intertwined with ceramic vessels inspired by potters who work within the studio. Some pieces are drawn directly from real works made in the space, while others are original designs. "The floral designs spill across the facade with a sense of abundance and movement, echoing the way creative practice can overflow its boundaries," the report states. "Small stars and sparkles suggest moments of inspiration and the quiet magic of shared making."

Mundy is a self-taught artist with projects completed at the Chilliwack Mural Festival and the Glastonbury Mural Trail in the United Kingdom.

The $40,000 project will be funded through the Public Art Program.