Vernon gallery to begin public consultation on controversial mask murals

Photo: Turning Points

The Vernon Public Gallery is answering city council's call for more public input on a series controversial mask murals.

A public consultation process will be launched next week.

Meanwhile, the gallery is also spreading the word about the story behind the project.

The gallery will hold a media preview of the associated Behind the Mask exhibit on Monday.

It's billing the public art education and consultation event as an opportunity to help the public "learn more about this important public art project and how they can participate in a consultation process being launched next week."

The three-part public art project saw 10 local people living with mental health challenges explore the unseen sides of themselves with masks they created and were photographed wearing.

The final phase of the project would see mural versions of the photographs go up at locations around downtown Vernon.

On Monday, city council back-stepped on its previous approval, asking the gallery for further public engagement in the wake of widespread opposition to the murals.

The gallery says "Vernon residents will have a unique way to learn more and provide feedback about this project."

They are also encouraged to "learn the story of the people behind the masks, and the entirety of their experience with the project.

"(That) is the most meaningful and effective way for the public to truly understand what it’s really about and why it has a place in Vernon’s public art," says executive director Dauna Kennedy.