Artist Electrical Boxes 2024
Placemaking: New Artist Electrical Boxes along SPR
The Stony Plain Road Business Association continues to contribute to the vibrant community along SPR, commissioning eight artists for nine electrical box murals in the area. As you explore Stony Plain Road, we encourage you to keep an eye out for these colourful boxes!
List of artists (click to jump):
- A. Kathleen Gilera
- B. Dwayne Marineau
- C. Kristina Miko
- D. Roger Garcia
- E. & F. Chi Odashima
- G. Nicole Chik
- H. Raul Carriho
- I. Kim Huynh
Read more about each artist and their art pieces down below.
A. Kathleen Gilera: 'In Another Life'
Artist bio:
Hello, My name is Kathleen Gilera. Born in the Philippines in 1998 and raised in Canada, I am an aspiring multimedia artist. Growing up, art has become a great comfort in the midst of my struggles with mental health. Whether it be fine arts, music, dance - expression of the inner soul has always been important to me. I have always had an interest in art ever since I was young, but my mental health became a huge barrier for me. Depression steered me away from the things I always loved. Only recently, in my journey of self discovery and healing, I was able to unlock parts of myself I never knew existed. I started to paint, draw, sing and dance more when I was in the hospital.
'In Another Life' located S.E. Corner 103 Ave - 170 St
Artwork description:
This piece, “In Another Life” was actually the very first painting I’ve ever created and I dedicate it to my family, The Gilera’s. The fish symbolism was inspired by the movie, Everything Everywhere All At Once. In the movie, there is a scene representing the mother and daughter in another universe, as two rocks on a cliff.
This scene moved me and reminded me of how, I too, would love my family in every variation of life. If we were rocks, fishes, or trees. I know we’d always be together and be there for each other. Especially, their unconditional love and care for me through my mental health journey.
Follow Kathleen on Instagram: @kathy.existait.
B. Dwayne Marineau: 'Mill Creek Blue'
Artist bio:
I am a visual artist, photographer, musician and writer based in Edmonton. I'm a member of Frog Lake First Nation, of mixed Cree, French and Métis heritage. Internally, my work is a way for me to honour and ponder my conflicted blood, my rural/urban upbringing, and my favourite places.
Our family spent every summer in a camper at a northern Alberta lake. We ate the fish we caught, and I adventured with my cousins— always turned back by stories of quicksand and bears just around the corner. That feeling of awe and reverence for nature remains, and guides my work.
I’m on a mission to decolonize landscape art, and define a new mode of contemporary Indigenous landscape art. I want the loudest voice to be Nature itself, and the keepers and stewards of the land.
Artwork description:
An energetic reflection of the changing seasons, from Mill Creek Ravine in Edmonton.
In my work, my goal is to flip the gaze of the traditional landscape and let nature stare back at us. I want to crack open perspectives and challenge our relationship to nature, encouraging a more connected and humane worldview.
I use photo, video and optical experiments to create surreal yet familiar landscapes. In immersive multimedia pieces, symmetries awaken a feeling of animism and seem to reveal the hidden consciousness of the woods.
Follow Dwayne on Instagram: @dwaynemartineau.
'Mill Creek Blue' located S.W. Corner Stony Plain Rd - 170 Str S/B
C. Kristina Miko: 'Midnight Bloom'
Artist Bio:
I am a practicing artist that resides in Red Deer, AB, looking to serve the community and share my art with anyone who loves art in any medium.
My main practice is acrylic painting and sculpture. Sculpture works are mixed media though I love bronze and metal projects. I am currently looking at nature in a semi realistic form of art. I am working on a style that suits myself and what I represent. The style that I currently want to lean into is more of my line work. I also want to express flat, bold, and colourful art not representing the true colour or the true shape of that object.
'Midnight Bloom' located 100 Ave - 170 Str N/B
Artwork description:
"Midnight Bloom" is an acrylic painting of a Sunflower that represents growth and beauty that is set in a residential area. We may pass the sunflower as a common scene during summer so I chose to change the colours to give a twist in changing its natural form.
Follow Kristina on Instagram: @primaryartbykristinamiko.
D. Roger Garcia: 'Tropical Birds, Guava, and Hibiscus'
Artist bio:
I'm a Salvadoran artist and art educator based out of Edmonton. Aside from making my own art and teaching, I am involved in the Edmonton arts community giving back and sharing my skills whenever possible facilitating drawing and painting workshops for children and adults.
"Born in El Salvador and coming to Canada as a young refugee, I navigated the complexities of displacement and language barriers. Drawing was a natural tool I used to communicate as I was struggling to learn the language. I used the universal language of line and colour to transcend linguistic and cultural differences. I previously worked on drawings for books and public murals.
Currently I am navigating telling my own story through a graphic novel and am working towards growing connections with my home communities through public art.
'Tropical Birds, Guava, and Hysbiscus' located S.W. Corner Stony Plain Rd - 165 Str
Artwork description:
This image depicts all the birds that have been in my life since I came to Canada. The guava and the hibiscus flowers are my two memories I recall from my home in El Salvador.
Follow Roger on Instagram: @rogergarcia_illustration or visit his website: https://www.rogergarcia.ca/
E. Chi Odashima: 'Observer' and 'Zen Bunny'
Artist bio:
I am a Brazilian graphic designer and artist with Japanese heritage. A newcomer to Canada, I have been based in Edmonton, Alberta, since 2019. I hold Bachelor's degrees in Fine Arts and Education, as well as a degree in Graphic Design.
With a Japanese heritage that shapes her body of work, Chi is heavily inspired by manga and Japanese pop art. She traverses diverse mediums, from pottery to game art, utilising both digital and traditional tools. Her work embodies a dynamic fusion of cultural identities and creative exploration, mixing personal narratives with multiculturalism.
'Zen Bunny' located on Stony Plain Rd - 158 St
Artwork description: 'Zen Bunny'
This piece depicts a whimsical character in a dynamic pose. Their body moves in a rhythmic fashion, mirroring the motif around them. It offers a playful interpretation of wavelengths, as it is displayed within an electrical box.
Artwork description: 'Observer'
In this piece, the main figure is an observer of the city around them. Contrary to the idea that observers are passive, their expression communicates analytical thinking and responsiveness. They have a strong gaze and an open mouth, ready to express their thoughts. This work serves as a testament to resiliency and multiculturalism. When imprinted, the electrical box will become one with the figure, similar to the approach seen in Os Gemeos' artworks, where architecture becomes personified.
Follow Chi on Instagram: @chiodashima.
'Observer' located on 100 Ave - E. of 162 St
G. Nicole Chik: 'Forest'
Artist bio:
Nicole is a recent graduate from the University of Alberta, with a Bachelor's degree in Art and Design and a certificate in Game Development. She is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer in her cute and cozy era of art-making. She is also an artist vendor at several local art conventions in Edmonton such as Tomo Market, Togather Chinatown Market, and Animethon. She is interested in creating accessible art in order to create moments of empathy and connection.
'Forest' located on 100 Ave - 158 St
Artwork description:
This is a digital illustration made for a paper presented during the Royce Harder Psychology Conference. It was created in conjunction with a psychology student to convey the importance of emotions and practicing mindfulness with children. We came up with the concept of using the forest as a metaphor for feelings. It can be really scary navigating an unknown terrain all alone. However, with proper guidance and care, the forest and all its big feelings can be felt, seen, and heard.
Follow Nicole on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter): @nicklejoesc.
H. Raul Carriho: 'Ayahuasca'
Artist bio:
My name is Raul, I come from Brazil and am now living in Edmonton. I`m an independent artist that likes to work with different kinds of materials and techniques.
I have liked drawing since I was a boy. I have studied a lot in recent years to develop my work as an artist. I've worked as a tattoo artist in Brazil, I've done some murals, I have experience with different types of materials and techniques and now living in Edmonton I see that the city has a wonderful project to encourage artists to produce their work publicly and that really excites me.
'Ayahuasca' located on Stony Plain Rd - 157 St
Artwork description:
This is a painting I made to represent Ayahuasca, a very popular tea in Brazil and which brings a unique experience to those who drink it. This practice comes from the culture of a local indigenous tribe, the Yawanawás.
Follow Raul on Instagram: @raulcarrilho.art or visit his website: https://www.deviantart.com/raulcarrilho.
I. Kim Huynh: 'Sunflora'
Artist bio:
Kim Huynh is a graphic designer, illustrator, and JRPG video game fan, who loves to read manga and comics in her spare time. A huge fan of introspection and self-discovery, she hopes to encourage empathy and contemplation in the viewer through her works.
With a background in graphic design and a passion for art developed since childhood, Kim Huynh creates art inspired by her contemplative observations of the environment she lives in. She loves painting both traditionally with acrylics and gouache, as well as digitally where she emphasizes softness and cohesive colour palettes.
'Sunflora' located on 102 Ave - 156 St
Artwork description:
Sunflora emphasizes the joy of spring and summer when sunflowers grow tall and sturdy, a symbol of growth and resilience within. The character depicted holding the flowers is Kingsley, an androgynous man who has undergone much turmoil and has developed fortitude through overcoming his trials.
Follow Kim on Instagram: @knighthuntt or visit her website: kimhuynh.design