Saint John, -The art of

After finding the breakwater to Partridge Island in My Quest for the Forbidden in Saint John. I want to see some culture a little less restricted. I start at Fort La Tour

This is not just another historic place but an art-lovers delight.  I park across the road so I can get a few photos of the murals that are painted on the concrete pillars of Highway 1.

Mural under the highway depicting life of Fort La Tour

Mural under the highway depicting life of Fort La Tour

Following the signs to Harbour Passage Trail, within moments I see the two new murals that have been installed.   Artists Geoff Slater, from Saint Andrews, and Susan Sacobie and Gina Brooks, from St. Mary’s First Nation, have created these wonderful images.

They were installed after the statues of Charles La Tour, Francois- Marie Jacqueline and Charles D’Aulay were removed due to their deteriorating condition.

Like the fresh, colourful murals, they brighten up the winter. I leave the murals and head into the garden of sculptures. The grass is green because I’m using pictures I took in September, they just look nicer than the ones I took on the day.

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And of course James Boyd’s Wind on the Water and Hiroshi Tanaka’s Window on the Waterfront were featured in my story about the Saint John Sculpture symposium in It All Started With Love. One more architecture feature on Harbour Passage Trail is worth a stop. I often sit down and take some photos, keeping an eye out for harbour seals, shorebirds and just enjoying this area of the Fundy coast.

Harbour Passage Ecological Hub seating and viewing of the harbour from here some interpretive items for children

You can walk the Harbour Trail all the way back to Market Square but today it is cool and I am driving.

Market Square public art Map

This area is always abuzz with new artsy projects, no matter the season. However I never miss an opportunity to go see the Moosehead Brewery moose sculpture. He is life-sized and in his own little corner with some rocks and shrubs, happy as any moose.

The Market Square Lighthouse, the Harbour Trail starting point marker and Coast Guard lighthouse. are all visible from the boardwalk.

Mareket Square Light house on board walk

Harbour front zero kilometer market starting point

Coast Guard Lighthouse

The Trade and Convention Center has several pieces. My favourite: People Moving Apart Together by John Hooper

Time Pieces created in 1984 by John Hooper sits at the Market Square entrance. I have taken a seat beside them just for fun to see if anyone notices. I have more sculptures by John Hooper featured in my story Humanity Found in Hampton, NB

There are two anchors located at the bottom of King Street, but I can’t find a title or artist for them.

And of course my featured image of People Waiting, another great John Hooper piece outside historic Barbour House at the foot of King and Prince William.

People waiting Sculpture John Hooper Prince William City Scape in the background

Historic Barbour tea house and store

This past summer a young sculptor named Hula caused a stir when he did a mural on the wall of the Coast Guard pier. He straddled a paddle board during low and high tides to paint a lady struggling to swim.  She is visible at low tide but only her fingers show at high tide. She is a must-see on my list today.

I get stopped trying to enter the Coast Guard parking lot by the guard on duty.  I tell him I am a travel blogger, then fiddle with my camera for effect and say I want to get some photos of the lady mural. He says, “You may not be able to see much, she has gotten very dirty.” I say, “I would like to try anyway if you’ll let me in.”  He grins and point me to a different access area, around the building to the other side of the fence. I see the poster for Hula immediately Indeed the mural has been taken over by clinging sea creature that have grown on her image.  I get the best shot I can, but unless she gets a good scrubbing, she wouldn’t be visible much longer.

It is almost three P.M. I am hungry and thirsty but I know just the spot: Britt’s Pub. Yes, I often grab a bite and pint from a pub, but only if it reveals something to me and this one has a story to share.

I drag myself up the hill and push through the wooden entrance door. I check left then go right, scan the walls and flop into a booth at the back.  My waiter approaches, he is clean-shaven, smiling and asks, “Can I get you a drink?” and places the menu in front of me.  His name is Darren.

I order a Britt’s IPA beer, he goes to the bar says ” A small?” holding up a small half pint glass, I say, “No get me a full big one.”  He handles the tap and pours the golden liquid into my glass.

We chat at length and I order the black bean burger.  This isn’t a restaurant review, I have planned this stop.  There are two murals on the back wall that any art lover wouldn’t want to miss.

As I sit under the Chris Lloyd Murals, I realize I still haven’t seen the fiddlehead sculpture outside The Arts Center, or Deanna Musgrave’s latest mural in the Market Square walkway or her piece Clouds at the Saint John Campus Of UNB.  I sip my pint slowly and puzzle over the fact that there is an art to seeing all the public art in Saint John. I haven’t mastered the pathway yet, but I will keep trying.

Please join me for my last instalment as I search around the city of Saint John

Happy Travels from Maritime Mac

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