Of all the murals in Sidney, one in particular always catches the eye of passersby.
The Ocean is a mural painted by renowned artist IceBear, located on the side of the Fairway Market. It was originally painted in 1999, in celebration of the ‘International Year of the Ocean.’
This now-iconic mural features a montage of captivating oceanic imagery, such as viperfish and a storm-tossed Coast Guard vessel. All elements of this mural tell the story of the ever-evolving story of ocean science and understanding.
Given that the mural was originally painted 26-years-ago, it has seen some natural wear-and-tear over the years.
In an endeavour to restore the mural, the ArtSea Community Arts Council sought out a grant to have IceBear bring his original vision back to its former glory.
“It is an honour to have IceBear back in Sidney reviving this awe-inspiring ocean mural,” said Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith.
“I appreciate IceBear’s incredible talent and dedication, and I appreciate all ArtSea does as a volunteer-based organization to support the arts in our community, including administering this important grant.”
IceBear has already gotten started and will be restoring the mural throughout this spring and summer.
The process will involve work to clean, rebuild and restore the mural, while also mentoring another emerging artist as part of the project, to ensure skills are passed along and mural maintenance knowledge remains rooted in the region.
“Being an artist is my life. To share art, you need opportunities. The Town of Sidney, local sponsors, and volunteers at organizations like ArtSea have helped create opportunities that allow me to create and maintain murals like The Ocean,” said IceBear.
“I have really enjoyed reconnecting with the people of Sidney while restoring The Ocean. I can see how, over the past 25 years, residents have taken ownership of this mural that bridges cultures, bridges science and art, and bridges past with present.
IceBear has also painted two additional murals in downtown Sidney: NIL/TU’O at 2340 Beacon Avenue, and The Cannery at 9768 Third Street.
