SUMMERSIDE — They’ve been around so long that, for many Summerside residents, they long ago faded into the background as part of the landscape.
But how are the murals that dot the city’s landscape really holding up?
Pretty well — maybe.
Until late last week there were 10 murals on various buildings in the downtown Summerside core, all with a historical theme.
Now there are nine.
City crews took down “Sleet Storm,” which was installed on panels on one side of the Bell Aliant building on Water Street, because it had started to decay.
Lorri Laughlin, spokesperson for the City of Summerside, said Friday the last time that all the murals were inspected they appeared to be holding up well.
But some, she admitted, are doing better than others, namely murals painted directly onto their buildings.
“The painted ones are maintaining the best, and the panel ones, from all the inspections that we’ve done, are doing well,” said Laughlin.
But she added a caveat to that statement by saying, “The thing is, the other one, (‘Sleet Storm’) too, was doing OK until one of the panels came loose. Then the crews could see ‘yeah, this is really damaged’.”
The city plans on keeping a closer eye on the works of art mounted on panels, said Laughlin.
There are five of those murals remaining — on the Summerside Legion, the Holman Building (which is currently in storage), the Service Canada building, the Seafood Supreme building and on the Holland College Marine Centre.
And while it is regrettable that “Sleet Storm” couldn’t be saved, there will be an effort to salvage any of the other murals that start to show decay, said Laughlin.
“Anytime that any of them are showing ware and tear the artist would be consulted and it would be decided whether it’s salvageable or whether it can be repaired.”
The city has said previously that there are no plans as of yet to replace “Sleet Storm.”
Colin.maclean@journalpioneer.com
@journalpmaclean
