In Tune with Nature is a very different kind of mural, serving as a theatrical structure that houses a piano available for public use. Located at the front entrance of the Chemainus Public Market, this Piano Box mural encloses around the piano at night, when the market is closed, and when the market opens during the day, the artwork spreads open as a mural backdrop inviting pianists to play.
Two separate murals live in this Piano in a Box artwork; the exterior has a vibrant BC forest landscape, and the interior shows a rich underwater BC seascape. As a child, whales were one of the first things I ever drew. As a BC mural artist, it always rewarding to paint whales, especially local ones.
As a Vancouver Island mural artist it was a pleasure to paint art reflecting nature locally, above and below the ocean. I enjoyed adding my painting to the list of Chemainus murals. The mural on the outside of the Piano box has music notes playfully meandering around a tree through the woods; sheet music to the song What a Wonderful World by Lois Armstrong.
Piano in A Box is a departure from what people know as a mural, which is art painted directly on a wall or surface.
When the box is opened and the sides are outspread, viewers will see an upright grand piano, painted and blended into an underwater ocean scene.
Yes, Tomlin of Riot Brewing Co. fame had her submission picked by the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society in the ‘Name The Mural Contest’.
The competition promoted on social media and in the Chemainus Valley Courier drew 71 responses with 149 name suggestions, according to Society member Peter Collum.
In Tune With Nature Mural #C6 In Tune With Nature is a departure from what is commonly called a mural, i.e. art painted directly on a wall or surface.
The themes of this mural, painted on the inner and outer surfaces of a purpose-built box, are nature and music.
The musical score is from “What a Wonderful World”, popularized by Louis Armstrong.
Viewers see a 1905 Bell upright grand piano, painted and blended into an underwater ocean scene.
To make your visit even more memorable play the piano in our new mural In Tune With Nature and take a contemplative stroll through the Chemainus Labyrinth.
To make your visit more enjoyable, please drop by the Chemainus Visitors Centre to buy your Official Mural Guide.
The competition promoted on social media and in the Chemainus Valley Courier drew 71 responses with 149 name suggestions.
The society’s executive committee narrowed the field down to 10 names and the full board chose what they thought best represented the new mural.
Congratulations to Aly Tomlin, co-owner of Riot Brewing Co., whose submission In Tune With Nature, was selected to grace the newest piece in the Society’s outdoor art collection.
The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society is proud to announce the winner of the “Name the Mural” contest is Aly Tomlin of Riot Brewing.
Opening the enclosure reveals the panoramic underwater ocean scene and the public street piano.
In Tune With Nature was designed and painted by Kris Friesen of Duncan and the enclosure was constructed by Dean Irwin of Chemainus.
Finally, it is visual, audible and interactive since it is also a public street piano and everyone is invited to sit down and make music.
I am available for freelance. Can't wait for the next exciting project! Could be yours?
Kris Friesen