Nearly 12 years have elapsed since the emergency removal of five large murals was undertaken prior to the demolition of the historic waterfront Malaspina Hotel in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The representative piece of this collection of rescued murals, Captain Malaspina Sketching the Galleries of Gabriola, was painted in 1938, by the renowned artist, Edward J. Hughes.
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E.J. Hughes mural prior to removal from Malaspina Hotel. Wood stud attached to front of mural.
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This large mural depicts a number of figures gathered along a shoreline to study naturally formed sandstone galleries. Due to the size of the mural, 2.75 x 5.2 x .216 metres (9 x 17 x 0.71 feet), and to other considerations, this mural was removed from the hotel in sections, weighing nearly 20,000 lbs.
After many unsuccessful attempts to display this culturally significant mural, an ideal project site at the newly constructed Nanaimo Conference Centre, along with adequate public art funding, and the enthusiastic support of the City of Nanaimo, presented itself. Still, it required public outcry, national radio coverage, newspaper articles, and declarations submitted by respected art historians, collectors, cultural groups, plus, two city council meetings, to achieve approval for the mural's conservation and installation into its new home.
This mural project combines the expertise of two specialists: myself as the conservator and concrete structural expert, Rory Le Brocq, of Cancor Cutting. The conservation and preparation of this mural for its installation into the Conference Centre is presently underway.
The conservation treatment includes the repair of pre-existing nail holes, structural cracks, paint loss, damage from an earlier boiler explosion, and the results of years of use, environment, and age. Additional repairs are required as the mural sections were moved and stored in a number of locations, and were subjected to freezing temperatures and wet conditions. After conservation is completed, the murals will be secured within a custom metal framework and hanging armature, followed by installation at the Conference Centre site.
The conservation and installation of E.J. Hughes' mural, completes the cycle of a preservation project, and serves to illustrate the patience and commitment required to safeguard our heritage. It is essential that our culture exists as more than mere photographs or pages within a book. We need our history to surround us, and to lend value and inspiration to our everyday lives.
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Conservator Cheryle Harrison, and concrete specialist Rory Le Brocq at the conservation worksite.
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Previously: For the Artist: Testing Your Materials
Next issue: The Collaborative Emily Carr Project
