A week after a famous mural in downtown Galt was replaced by a sea of green paint, the artist who travelled to Cambridge to create it says he's saddened by its loss.
South African artist Sonny Behan found out about the mural's demise after reading about it in CambridgeToday earlier this week and calls the loss "a double-edged sword."
"Although it really saddens me to hear that the mural has been buffed over, I’m glad that it was able to stay up for six years and that it was such a loved artwork by the community," Behan wrote in an email.
The mural, 'Kicking Up Dust,' was originally painted during the 2017 Cambridge International Street Art Festival.
Behan travelled to countries all over the world that year painting murals of endangered animals to raise awareness in a series called 'To The Bone.'
The mural of the great bear was the only work of Behan's in Canada and joined other works in the United States, Russia, Ireland and South Africa.
The reasoning behind the mural cover-up remains a mystery.
Behan says he was not notified of any changes or damage to the artwork that could have prompted the cover-up, but adds this is not the first time he has seen his work disappear under a fresh blanket of paint.
"Having painted in the streets for many years I do understand that public art is, and should be, constantly changing to allow space for new creativity and conversations," he adds.
The owners of the building that hosted 'Kicking Up Dust,' did not respond to requests for comment about the cover up.
Brian Kennedy, executive director of the downtown BIA, says it can be difficult when a popular work of art disappears without a trace.
"The bear mural was no exception; it was a wonderful asset to our catalogue of murals downtown that is no more," wrote Kennedy in an email to CambridgeToday. "These murals mean a lot to our business community and the broader community."
Kennedy sees this as an opportunity to connect with stakeholders and property owners to bring the topic of outdoor street art to the forefront and discuss how the space they have offered for art can be preserved for the future.
"The murals around our downtown are one of the reasons people visit. Tourism-led initiatives like Stroll Walking Tours showcase these beautiful murals and their history, bringing people to downtown Cambridge and supporting our local business economy," added Kennedy.
"We are known, in part, for our vibrant murals, which have continued to grow with the opening of The Galtway."
The Galtway recently opened to provide a colourful space in the downtown core and to be a gallery for local artists and local history while providing another layer of depth to the area.
Unlike the Galtway, which was created in partnership with the BIA, most of the murals that were done in the downtown area during the 2017 street art festival do not have any agreements for preservation.
Juanita Metzger, organizer for Stroll Walking Tours in Cambridge said the topic of the ownership of the murals comes up a lot during her guided tours of different mural sites in the city.
"We talk about this issue a lot. Who owns this artwork, is it the artist, the building owner or does the city have any say in the matter," said Metzger.
In the case of the bear and some of the other amazing murals, they are only one bad decision or coat of paint away from disappearing forever, she said.
With the wall now a blank, green canvas, Behan is hopeful that with some community support and direction, a new artwork that starts conversation and delivers a message will be painted in its place.
"I really enjoyed my time in Cambridge and hopefully I’ll be back one day to paint again," he added.
