Communities in Bloom Mural

The Work

An exuberant display of local flora and fauna commemorates the award-winning efforts of the local Communities in Bloom Committee.

The Project

Originally formed in 1996 to support involvement in provincial and national competitions, the Communities in Bloom Committee was established as an advisory committee of Council in January 2011.

At the national and provincial level, Communities in Bloom is a non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility, and beautification through community involvement and promotion of green spaces in community settings. Participating cities choose to become involved in the annual competition that evaluates communities based on a series of environmental, aesthetic and community spirit criteria. Kelowna was named a national finalist in 1998 and 2003 and a Canadian Classic national winner in 2006.

The Artist

With a fine art education from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and 18 years of experience in spray paint, oil, acrylics, pastel, chalk, ink and watercolour, Scott Tobin is one of Canada's top character-graffiti artists. Tobin's work includes large-scale interior/exterior wall murals, fine art, and live painting performances, often in collaboration with DJs.

Tobin has participated in the prominent graffiti events including Under Pressure (Montreal), 416 Jam (Toronto), and Style in Progress (Toronto). Whatever the environment, Tobin says, “It is my passion to paint visual-antidepressants, to create beautiful work that has a positive impact on people and a positive contribution to the world.” While animated flowers, birds and other glimpses into organic life have become trademark Tobin subjects, his pursuit of visual antidepressants includes character portraits and word pieces as well.

Previous contracts include Gravis (Burton) Bell, Telus, Red Bull, Whistler World Ski and Snowboard Festival, Shambhala Music Festival, Pontiac, City of Toronto and the City of Halifax. In spring 2007, Tobin painted a Pontiac G6 on location at the Whistler World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Reach for the Stars is another mural in the City’s Public Art Collection by Scott Tobin.