Meet the Artist Behind HSCA’s Mural: Daniel J. Kirk
Can you describe your relationship to the community of Hillhurst Sunnyside?
Daniel: I am a long-time resident of Hillhurst Sunnyside. Currently, I live in Sunnyside and operate a creative studio in Kensington.
How would you describe your art to someone who’s never seen it?
Daniel: I work in many different mediums, exploring connections and relationships. My paintings use transitions of colour to explore natural forms and rhythms.
What are some notable past projects of yours in the neighbourhood?
Daniel:
• The HSCA mural project, to be completed in spring 2023 (currently being reworked) based upon an artist in residency in 2012.
• Dale – A pedal powered USB charging station on the corner of Memorial Dr and 10 St.
• The Kensington Mural Project – Behind the Plaza Theatre that spans five commercial buildings in the alleyway of the Kensington business district.
• Sunnyside Lift Station murals by the curling club.
How did this recent mural project come about?
Daniel: The result of my work as the artist in residence in 2012 was a mural on the exterior wall of the HSCA building. This work connects to a compilation of stories, gathered from the community that circles the main hearth room inside. Now that that mural project is 10 years old and showing its age, I was asked to rethink the outside mural, to explore and expand upon the content within the stories.
How do you hope the mural will be received? What effect do you hope it will have on the community?
Daniel: I hope that the work will be something enjoyable for folks passing by and for those who use the space regularly. I see the project as an offer of beauty to our community, something to soften the edges of the challenging times we are navigating together.
What role do you feel public art/beautification plays in urban living, more generally?
Daniel: Public art offers the opportunity to have discourse about our shared world in an open and unsolicited way. It is a vital part of an urban space and can not only connect people to each other and their world, but can function to build/create community. It beautifies spaces and creates a feeling of place for folks, as well as it provides vital economic support for artists, fabricators, designers, and other professionals to exist and make Calgary their home.
