About the Artist: Chris Cherry

​We're back with another mural! Talented, local artist Chris Cherry just completed an origami-inspired elephant mural. Can you guess where? It's at Waterworks Park right by the splash pad! This mural has small components reminiscent of Chris' style,  including his circle rings, x's and other hidden elements (look for the mouse!), all while incorporating the warm and playful colours of yellow, orange and red. As summer is coming to an end, add this to your 2021 summer bucket list because you don't want to miss it!

What inspired you to pursue becoming an artist?

I have been an abstract artist since 2011, but I have always been into everything art related from a very young age. I graduated high school from H.B. Beal Secondary school. A school well known for its art. I currently have 4 murals around the city of St. Thomas with the intention of doing many more! I love painting large scale as it allows me to not hold back.

How do you make your art/murals? 

When I paint my abstract art I use household items, like cards, cups, straws. As well as large putty knives and scrapers. Anything to manipulate the paint in a way to form shapes, designs, different textures and layers. Painting murals I use all the same applications. 

​What are your thoughts on the Jumbo story?

The story of Jumbo is a sad but important one. Giving recognition to an elephant so large and so well loved around the world is important, and with the minds and skills of many different artists we are able to see how different their visions are of elephants, their size and beauty. 
 
My mural, called "Playfully Jumbo" Is set up in a park where just like Jumbo, can bee seen and enjoyed by adults and kids alike. The warm colours are a view of love and connection against a grey wall that reads as inviting and playful. With a couple simple elements like a hidden mouse and the bubbles coming from his trunk I want people to not only see it as a piece about Jumbo but little hints of what we know about any elephant in the past. I hope everyone enjoys the colours and the designs as it invites people to look at the mural and see what they see. Using their imagination to spot objects and items within the design and possibly have conversations with others around them about the piece. 

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Artist Bio

Chris Cherry has been practicing abstract art professionally since 2011. From a very young age, Chris was always inspired by everything art related and graduated from the well know arts school H.B. Beal Secondary. Chris currently has 4 murals around the city of St. Thomas with the intention of adding more to his portfolio. He enjoys painting large scale most of all, as it allows him to experiment and not hold back.

The ‘Track to the Future’ mural project is coordinated by Railway City Tourism in collaboration with Andrew Gunn Consulting and young & free press with generous financial support from the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell.