BRAVO! NEW MURALS GREAT ‘IDEA’ THAT REFLECT EMERGING MUSKOKA BEYOND LAKES AND LANDSCAPES

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Jim Bravo had an idea for Gravenhurst’s main street.

And the Toronto muralist is realizing it on the north side of the Bethune Bistro.

A 15- x 30-foot canvas wall that’s been ripe for the painting for years.

A prized commission from District of Muskoka commission for the award-winning artist that will incorporate messages to support its goal to become a more inclusive, diverse, equitable and anti-racist community.

The district’s Idea Advisory Group (IAG) came up with the basic concept, which Bravo expanded upon with an enlarged vision.

Jim Bravo is turning this drab grey wall in Gravenhurst in to his and Muskoka’s vision of inclusivity, diversity, equity and anti-racism.

Muskoka solicited submissions putting the contest out on Akimbo — an artist’s resource group.

“Kind of like a Craig’s List for artists,” added assistant Steph Schofield, of Gravenhurst, this afternoon.

They’ve been laying the colourful foundation on the drab grey wall since Monday.

Schofield is an aspiring muralist and was making waves this afternoon while he was up a 10-foot ladder painting the sky.

They’re using exterior latex — preferably Benjamin Moore, Bravo joked.

It’s been “brutally hot” this week, “but not paralytic,” he said today, adding the little rain helped them work, but didn’t hurt the project.

Bravo is a Toronto and Ontario award-winning muralist with a large, impressive list of major corporate and community clientele. He’s bringing his vision to Muskoka twice this summer.

Municipal murals — massive artworks — have gained growing global prominence and acceptance in recent years as the artistry has become more bold often political.

Gravenhurst — and Muskoka — have had no shortage.

Indeed a much older one on the opposite side of the Bistro reflects the town’s lumbering days at the Wharf with a logger leaping across jammed log jams with a pike pole.

The new ones by Bravo, in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge, are different than those of the Group of Seven in Huntsville and reflect an emerging Muskoka.

Bravo has created a number of stunning murals in the Toronto neighbourhoods of Parkdale, Regent Park and Roncesvalles for which he has been recognized. Clientele for his vivid works have included the Queen Street West BIA, Bell, Telus, Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, TTC, UofT, Metrolinx and Random House of Canada and Doubleday books among many. In 2022 he won awards from the Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council.

His Muskoka vision mixes past, present and future — its beginnings bringing out shadows of the steamships.

It’s early days and is already turning the heads of drivers and stopping pedestrians in their tracks to take a look. You can’t miss it.

You can follow Bravo and Schofield’s paint brush progress until the end of next week. He expects it will take 14 days to complete.

Next month starts another district commission inside the new Bracebridge Muskoka Lumber Community Centre arena/library, which is opening in August.

Steph Schofield, of Gravenhurst, is an inspiring mural artist who has followed Bravo’s career and is excited to be working with him in her hometown. Even if it means starting at the bottom and working her way up.
Bravo’s breadth of experience is coming to life this week and next on Muskoka Road in Gravenhurst. He says the heat has been “brutal, but not paralytic.” Next month he’s putting brushes and talent to work in Bracebridge at the new arena and library
The corner artistry, at Muskoka Road and Hotchkiss Street, is already stunning and stopping cars and pedestrians at the intersection with its ideal message.

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