Artist Eric Blais blended his love of hockey and artistry with his latest project.
One of B.C.âs largest murals was unveiled on the side of Fripp Warehousing, Wednesday, June 21 showcasing images from Âé¶čAV.
The project started three years ago, with the Âé¶čAV Minor Hockey Association.
Owner of the Fripp Warehousing, Claire Fripp was looking for someone with artistic talent to create the mural, which can be seen from Crowley Avenue.
She didnât know Blais, who coaches hockey in the association, was also a painter.
âI used to coach the midget tier 1 here in town and the sponsor was Fripp Warehousing, so I got to know Claire,â said Blais.
The pair put out a contest, selecting three ideas from the minor hockey kids to come up with an image of Âé¶čAV.
The three ideas selected were the Ogopogo, the Kettle Valley Trail and the Rockets winning the 2004 memorial cup.
The mural is more than 200 feet long and Blais is now working on phase two of the project on the south side of the building.
âItâs an expression of freedom. Itâs so liberating to paint large so I work a lot in graphics and on a computer too, this is just another way to do it,â said Blais.
âWe used the ideas (the kids decided). Itâs supposed to be the history of Âé¶čAV and what Âé¶čAV means to them.â
Fripp originally wanted to do something small, but it morphed into the mural it is today.
âIt just changed and tweaked and at one point it was missing peaches so there they are over there,â she pointed. âAnd my son sails so we had to add sails⊠It just got out of hand, but nicely out of hand.â
Mayor Colin Basran cut the ribbon in the official unveiling Wednesday, June 21.
