Phil Hartman will be recognized by the City of Brantford by celebrating the completion of the new A star over Brantford: A tribute to Phil Hartman mural on Monday, November 4, 2024.
The celebration, which will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., will include formal remarks that will take place outside in front of the mural followed by entertainment from local comedian Graham Chittenden and light refreshments inside the lobby of the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts.
The City commissioned DRIFT Mural Co. to create the mural to honour the late Phil Hartman, a well-known and tremendously gifted screen and voice actor, comedian, screenwriter and graphic designer originally from Brantford.
The muralists were selected through an open, two-stage process facilitated by Mural Routes, a member-based not-for-profit arts service organization dedicated to the creation, development and promotion of public wall art. A community consultation was conducted in partnership with the City of Brantford and various stakeholders, including Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services, the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, local actor and comedian Calwyn Shurgold, and the Hartmann family.
The design of the mural honours Phil Hartman’s life and legacy, reflecting on his journey from childhood through his illustrious career, and ultimately, his tragic passing. Through a blend of portraiture, nature-based imagery, and historical references, the muralists highlighted both the well-known and lesser-known aspects of Phil Hartman’s life, and the city he first called home.
“A beautiful tribute to someone who is missed by so many. Phil would be very proud and humbled by this fantastic mural,” said Paul Hartmann, brother of Phil Hartman.
Central to the mural design is a vibrant portrait of Hartman surrounded by flowers including the City’s floral emblem, the daffodil. A delicate purple ribbon near his lapel serves as a tribute to victims of domestic violence. Below his portait is a bicycle, an ode to the famous Pee-Wee Herman character that Phil Hartman helped create. The name “Mike”, is subtly added to the bike, paying homage to the community spirit embodied by “Mike on a Bike”, a beloved local resident of Brantford known for bringing people together.
“We were honoured to carry out this monumental tribute to Phil Hartman in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario. It was an incredible experience bringing so many aspects of his life and career into one visual collage, and learning from his family and the community in the process. Our collaboration with Calwyn Shurgold, a local comedian and actor, helped us appreciate the city and we hope future generations can be inspired by Hartman’s story, through the vibrant narrative we captured in the mural,” said Dominic Laporte and Anaϊs Labrèque, DRIFT Mural Co.
The mural features significant locations from Hartman’s youth, such as his childhood home and Wilkes Dam, alongside references to memorable moments from his career, including a Saturday Night Live sketch with Wayne Gretzky. At the very top, an airplane pays tribute to Phil Hartman’s lesser known passions for flying, surfing and sailing.
“The City of Brantford is thrilled to honour the life and work of the late Phil Hartman through the creation of this mural. The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts has been a destination for arts and entertainment in Brantford’s downtown since 1919 and is the perfect home for this spectacular public art piece,” said Rose Sicoli, Councillor for the City of Brantford.
A film strip emerges near a vintage ‘On Air’ sign, which is a nod to his work on NewsRadio, and chronicles key milestones in his career including some of his beloved characters and impersonations including Chick Hazard Private Eye, Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz fom The Simpsons, the Unfrozen Caveman, Bill Clinton and Bill McNeal. A selection of album covers highlight his early success in graphic design, before culminating with an image of Hartman in the film, Jingle All the Way, further symbolizing Brantford’s nickname of “The Telephone City.” The mural culminates with an iconic photo of Hartman with the City Hall bronze lions, looking back and saluting his career and reflecting on his pride in his achievements and his hometown.
“Public art benefits our city in numerous ways, it helps foster civic pride, develop a sense of place, and forge deep connections within communities. The Phil Hartman mural celebrates the remarkable achievements of one of our most famous residents and highlights the profound connection between his legacy and the City of Brantford,” added Kevin Davis, Mayor for the City of Brantford.
The A star over Brantford: A tribute to Phil Hartman mural evokes a sense of pride, and celebrates the unique identity of the Brantford community as it connects to the life and legacy of Phil Hartman. The mural can now be viewed on the east wall of the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts. Exterior lighting will be installed in the coming months.
