Lloydminster artist Brandi Hofer is optimistic a solution will be found soon to fix a coating issue on the iconic mural she painted on the north side of the Prairie North Plaza last July.
She plans to apply a new product on Aug. 30 from supplier, Sherwin Williams, to repel dust and dust from her Choose Love: Join Hands in Truth and Reconciliation public artwork.
The first batch of coating from Sherwin Williams applied last summer didn’t worked as hoped.
“We invested in this very expensive product that is supposed to coat the mural, but it’s a very dusty, high-traffic area,” said Hofer.
“It’s a siloxane-based product, so it actually ended up attracting a bit of dust and dirt. You can see it on the mural and it totally breaks my heart.”
Hofer says on her very first small mural at Assure Occupational Testing downtown, she used four coats of a different product and it worked very well.
“I didn’t want to do four coats on my 3,000 sq. ft. mural so I was seeking an alternative product,” she said.
“It didn’t go as planned.”
Hofer is thrilled Sherwin Williams is providing financial support, product support and is sending some members of their team to make things right.
“Their rep is flying from Winnipeg to Saskatoon and they are sending us a product to help give it a nice coating so it resists our prairie dust,” said Hofer.
She says this a product you blend together then adhere to the surface so it’s not an easy fix.
“If that doesn’t work, we will have to go back to the drawing board. Sherwin Williams may have to cook up something in their lab,” Hofer said, noting it’s a big challenge with a mural so large.
“We’re working it. I want to find a solution because I want to guarantee my murals,” she said.
Hofer says her team of supporters is going through every measure possible to preserve the beauty of the mural.
“It’s part of Truth and Reconciliation for our community, so it’s very impactful that way and it means a lot to so many people,” explained Hofer.
She says it it also stands for facing north and breaking that invisible boundary and building bridges for people to come together.
“It’s huge in meaning and representation, so we wanted to go through every step to make it long lasting and as beautiful as possible,” added Hofer.
The plan is to test the coating then give it a couple of weeks to see if that product adheres to the surface and resists dirt and dust.
“Once we find a product that works, then we’ll have a team installing,” said Hofer.
“Bioclean has committed to washing it and we’ll have all the lifts there and we’ll be washing, drying and installing all at once.
“We are trying to get this solved by the time the snow flies.”
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