City of Brantford announced the completion of the new The Pages of the Grand River mural located on the west wall of the Brantford Public Library on Monday, October 28, 2024.
The City commissioned Blaze Wiradharma, who operates under the artist alias Blazeworks, to create this mural as part of a larger project that will see a community performance space developed in Brantford’s downtown. The mural was installed alongside the existing La Landscape de Kanata public art piece and will function as a visual element and backdrop for performing artists. Upon completion next year, the area will include a performance stage, picnic tables, and garden landscaping under the mural wall.
“We are thrilled to announce the completion of The Pages of the Grand River mural,” said Kara Davey, Manager of Tourism, Culture and Sport for the City of Brantford. “The mural will complement the artists performing on the new performance stage, which will be installed in 2025, and help activate this underutilized space by creating a place for live music in Brantford’s downtown.”
The mural celebrates Brantford’s rich history, honours the beauty and significance of the Grand River, and emphasizes the importance of libraries, learning, and education. A winding river flows through the composition, surrounded by lush trees and greenery. Local wildlife inhabit the scene including a cotton-tailed deer, largemouth bass, and a monarch butterfly. The deer, positioned on the left, symbolizes the Indigenous people of the Neutral Nation, known as the Chonnonton or “People of the Deer”, who were the area’s first settlers.
At the heart of the mural are two children reading a book. Dressed in orange, the children serve as a poignant reminder of Indigenous children who were forcibly taken to residential schools. As they read, pages from their book swirl around the composition, revealing key figures, moments, and landmarks from Brantford’s history. This dynamic movement not only guides the viewer’s eye but also highlights the transformative power of reading, libraries, and education. To the left, the green space seamlessly transitions into a library setting, further reinforcing this theme.
Brantford Public Library will be hosting an artist talk with Blaze Wiradharma at the Main Branch on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
