Sudbury artists are bringing change to the community, one mural at a time

Two Sudburyers are working to bring positive change to their communities through art.

Mariah Laferriere and Grant Neegan, two artists involved with Sudbury’s community arts group, Live Love Louder, have both been named community changemakers through the 8 80 Cities program.

8 80 Cities is a Toronto-based non-profit group committed to improving people’s quality of life by transforming cities into places where people can walk, cycle, access public transit and visit places of interest. superb parks and public places.

Their Community Connections program recognizes people ages 19-35 for their innovative ideas to create more equitable, healthy, and engaged communities, and offers a $5,000 grant to help bring those ideas to life.

Neegan worked on a plan to host outdoor art sessions for people of all ages.

The final objective will be to have participants contribute to a mural.

« I hope to create opportunities to contribute, build trust, and get the community involved in physical painting, » Neegan said.

« I feel like it’s special, » Neegan said. « Even in these times like COVID we’ve all been in and away from people, I feel like it’s really nice to come together as a community and paint and s’ Express. »

« And I feel like we can do that as artists. »

Mariah Laferrière will also contribute to her community by leading the design of a large outdoor mural near the baseball diamonds in Azilda.

She said attendees of all ages and abilities will be able to participate in brainstorming, designing and physically painting the mural.

« We really want to make sure the community can come together and help out while we paint, » Laferriere said. « And I have some ideas about how I can get more people to come and share that experience with me. »

Both artists worked with Live Love Louder, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for inclusive learning, beautification and cooperative artwork in marginalized communities in the City of Greater Sudbury.

In 2021, the group led a community improvement project at Place Hurtubuise in Sudbury, creating various sketches and paintings to line the complex’s sidewalks and roadway.

On August 10, the group is holding a similar event at the 1200 Attlee social housing complex.

“The purpose of this initiative is to create games, a track and to paint the electrical box located in the courtyard,” reads on Facebook. « They will also take this time to cover up any profanity/phallic imagery that litters the walls along the exterior hallways/residence of individuals. »

Visit the Live Love Louder homepage for more details on volunteering with the group.