Famed Freak Lunchbox artist creating massive mural in Windsor, N.S.

October 19, 2023

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A massive new mural, taking shape on the outside of Avonian Place in downtown Windsor, is creating quite a buzz in the community.

Jason Botkin, an internationally known artist and muralist, was commissioned to create something new and fresh for the weathered old building — something that encapsulates the West Hants region. He’s been working 10- to 12-hour days since late September.

“I pick my projects carefully. I’m in a nice position to be able to do that,” said Botkin, who was born in Denver, Colo. While he’s lived in Montreal for two decades, he considers himself more of a “travelling wilbury” – with special projects taking him from coast to coast.

What drew him to Nova Scotia this year was the Windsor Township Business Association’s (WTBA) pitch.

“I’m really interested in projects that afford an opportunity to ask some unique questions around value, especially value in relationship to how art services the community,” Botkin said, taking a brief break from painting corn kernels.

“The people that presented the project to me here in Windsor were really on board and seemed really savvy with the way this art would be a tool to affect change in the community somehow,” said Botkin.

“They were also willing to work with my eccentricities as an artist.”

Since the beginning of fall, residents and visitors to Windsor have been enthralled watching Jason Botkin transform this wall into a piece of art. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Since the beginning of fall, residents and visitors to Windsor have been enthralled watching Jason Botkin transform this wall into a piece of art. – Carole Morris-Underhill

World-Class Talent

Botkin has created only one other mural in Nova Scotia – the iconic Freak Lunchbox mural in downtown Halifax in 2015. That mural, which depicts a blue heron and octopus battling over a fish, is soon to be dwarfed by a nine-storey tall development next door.

To date, he’s created more than 200 murals worldwide.

Earlier this year, Botkin said he had already turned down three other offers in the province.

For Pierre Tabbiner, the WTBA program director, it was clear Botkin was the right man for the job.

“He has such a great sense of energy and vibrancy in his work. I can’t wait to see that Avonian Place building … be something that is very bright and eye-catching,” said Tabbiner.

“It’s wonderful to have a world-class talent working here for this particular thing.”

In 2022, the WTBA embarked on an effort to beautify downtown Windsor, with five new murals being created by five different artists.

They added just the right pop of colour.

When the weather co-operates, Jason Botkin spends 10 to 12 hours per day outside working on a giant mural in Windsor. Although he has created more than 200 murals in his lifetime, when this mural is completed, it will only be his second one in Nova Scotia. - Carole Morris-Underhill — When the weather co-operates, Jason Botkin spends 10 to 12 hours per day outside working on a giant mural in Windsor. Although he has created more than 200 murals in his lifetime, when this mural is completed, it will only be his second one in Nova Scotia. – Carole Morris-Underhill

New Mural

Some funding remained, and the organization sought to tackle the crumbling mural located on the parking lot side of Avonian Place, 40 Water St.

That mural, originally painted by Ken Spearing in 1993, featured Windsor’s historic waterfront – back when shipping vessels travelled along the Avon River to get to town. While the mural was touched up about 15 years ago, Tabbiner said it was showing its age.

“This wall has been waiting for something for a long time. It’s been in pretty rough shape,” said Tabbiner.

Botkin said the exterior wall needed to be restored before he could start his mural so he volunteered to do the work. He spent about five days chipping away at the damaged wall and then closing up the “open wounds” of the brick wall.

“This building is like a 100-year-old building. They have issues when they age, as we all do,” said Botkin, noting the building has character and was worth preserving.

“When we started working, the feedback from the community was immediate and effusively positive. People were just stoked to see this old battered wall being loved and really cared for.”

Once the wall was restored, 32 mural panels were installed over top of the existing mural, measuring 64 feet by 68 feet. He immediately painted them black.

“The way that I work, typically, is from a dark background to a lighter finish so I’m working with progressively lighter colours and building a layer on top of another and another,” explained Botkin.

It didn’t take long for residents to notice.

“I have a sketch that kind of guides the ship on this one but it’s just a ticket to the show. The wall has a lot to say in terms of what kind of content gets unpacked, especially as the connections and connective tissue begins to take shape. All of that, for me, is very organic,” said Botkin.

People have been stopping by Avonian Place in Windsor to watch artist Jason Botkin transform the wall into a vibrant masterpiece. He says he enjoys the interactions with the community, noting it helps fuel his creativity. - Carole Morris-Underhill — People have been stopping by Avonian Place in Windsor to watch artist Jason Botkin transform the wall into a vibrant masterpiece. He says he enjoys the interactions with the community, noting it helps fuel his creativity. – Carole Morris-Underhill

Sparking Conversation

The mural will feature a number of plants and animals that are indigenous to the region – something Botkin refers to as “an asymmetric portrait of this town and the landscape that surrounds it and the animals that are there.”

He said he appreciates the creative freedom that’s been granted by the WBTA and is hoping the final product will be appreciated by the community and tourists for years to come.

“I think it’s really cool to be in the community with others as you kind of fix things up. There is a real vibe to it, a real buzz. It brings a real value to my life,” he said.

And, he’s hopeful the mural will spark a conversation around how creative pursuits add to the health and vibrancy of a community.

“I would invite people to come down, have continued conversations about the ways in which art and culture can really create change, especially in small towns, when leveraged correctly with intelligent design and interest,” said Botkin.

“I’d invite readers to reflect on the possibilities of shared creativity and doing something together that more than one could do on your own.”

Pierre Tabbiner, the program director Windsor Township Business Association, was gifting printed copies of the Ken Spearing mural that used to be on the wall outside Avonian Place to visitors of the Windsor Garlic Festival and encouraging them to check out Jason Botkin while he worked on the new mural downtown. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Pierre Tabbiner, the program director Windsor Township Business Association, was gifting printed copies of the Ken Spearing mural that used to be on the wall outside Avonian Place to visitors of the Windsor Garlic Festival and encouraging them to check out Jason Botkin while he worked on the new mural downtown. – Carole Morris-Underhill

Here’s where you can find Windsor’s other murals:

The Salmon at Strum Insurance
Know Hope on The Wilcox
Beautiful Moments at the Windsor Mall
The Cardinal on the Windsor Coach House
New & Old on The Pineo
Black Watch on the old Hants Journal building
Downtown Windsor on the former credit union building
Coca-Cola on the Blanchard Building
Acadians at the Windsor Mall
Two Sisters on the Noble Grape building