Prince George artist unveils new mural at CN Centre

Prince George artist Mercedes "Merk" Minck has unveiled her newest mural.

Commissioned by the CN Centre and measuring 16 feet by 12 feet, the mural is full of vibrant colours and uses the esthetics of stained glass and mosaic artwork to showcase the relationship between wildlife and the community of Prince George. It's located inside the arena.

Minck told The Citizen that this new mural is now one of her favourite pieces that she's done so far.

“I feel like lots of times when I get asked to do stuff like this, It's usually with a few caveats,” said Minck. “People are like 'can you put a drone? Can you put in my sister? Can you put 15 bears in it?' However, this time (CN Centre manager) Glenn Mikkelsen and everyone that I was working with gave me free reign artistically, which is rare. I got to go in a direction that I wanted to go in … So this is one of my favourite pieces right now.”

Minck said she has a strong connection to the wilderness surrounding Prince George and her work at the CN centre is meant to reflect that.

“Prince George has inspired my work,” said Minck. “I grew up here and we had an empty lot across from our house and I was always running around in there with my family and friends. We were flipping over rocks to find worms and building forts and I feel like I never really grew out of that … I'm a nerd about animals, I like being outside and Prince George is a good place for that, go in any direction you go you can find something beautiful.”

Minck got her start as a freelance graphic designer but soon found work making a trail map for the Pidherny Recreation Site in order to raise money for a adaptive mountain biking trail. With her help, close to $3,000 was raised.

The map got her work noticed by a representative from lululemon during the construction of the chain's store at the Pine Centre Mall, and she was quickly approached with an offer to paint a mural for the company.

“I had never painted a mural at that point," said Minck. “I was very confidently like, 'of course I can do that!' So I got that opportunity and somehow I did it. I don't know how I managed. My sister helped me for most of it, she's a great assistant and great person to have with me in the process but I kind of got my first opportunity doing murals by stretching the truth a little bit and saying I can do it.”

Since then, her murals can be found from Colorado to Vancouver Island. She has also designed everything from jerseys to stickers.

Minck thanked both her sister and her mother for help with the mural and for the support during the process.