If Mountains Could Talk
NELSON, BC
2021 Nelson International Mural Festival.
Steph was a selected artist for the 2021 Nelson International Mural Festival in BC. Out of 460 applicants, 6 artists were selected to participate in the festival. Located at Bigby Place, a community living centre for people with disabilities, Steph was commissioned to design and paint a 50 ft x 15ft exterior aerosol mural.
Inspired by the iconic landscape of the West Kootenays, If Mountains Could Talk highlights the beautiful majestic mountains that characterize Nelson, reimagined through abstraction, colour, and patterns found in the area to create a vibrant dreamscape.
Exploring our relationship to nature, the design illustrates both the physical and non-physical elements that make up the surrounding landscape, offering the disabled residents and passersby a moment of wonder, sensory delight and a deeper connection to nature.
"It was an absolute pleasure to get to work with Steph Payne for the Nelson International Mural Festival. She is a consummate professional, incredibly kind and easy to work with, all while adapting as she needed to overcome our rural location’s limitations. Her final piece is stunningly vibrant and something that our entire community will enjoy for years to come."
— Sydney Black, Executive Director of Nelson International Mural Festival