A Steveston mural, described by city staff as “deteriorated beyond repair,” could be replicated in the future elsewhere in the village.
The mural replica of John M. Horton’s Arrival of the S.V. Titania, a painting displayed at Richmond City Hall, was painted on the south side of the Steveston Hotel in 2017 as part of the Canada 150 Public Art Program.
However, its condition has deteriorated with parts of the surface peeling off, and city staff recommended painting over it.
The exposure to sun and heat on the south-facing wall is causing further deterioration, according to a city staff report.
Richmond city council has now asked city staff to see whether there would be an opportunity to have it repainted elsewhere in Steveston Village, whether using sponsorship or other funds.
The cost of creating a replica of the mural is estimated at $30,000.
Both Couns. Michael Wolfe and Laura Gillanders spoke in favour of having the mural redone at its current location, something Gillanders said was supported by the parks and recreation committee.
"I think this is fundamentally the greatest location for a mural in the heart of Steveston," Wolfe said at last week's city council meeting.
"I don't really want to see it go somewhere else."
Replicating the mural elsewhere in Steveston village would be a commissioned project, and would not fall under the mural program, explained Marie Fenwick, director of Arts, Culture and Heritage Services with the city.
In the end, city council voted to have the mural painted over and to ask city staff to explore how it could be painted elsewhere and how that could be paid for. Only Wolfe voted in opposition.
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