Courtenay artist Kelly Everill is well known for her community murals.

They can be found on the sides of buildings, on fences, inside schools, grocery stores and other structures throughout Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 Comox Valley.

Her latest creation is, in a word, stunning.

Everill has recently completed a two-storey, 40-foot-wide tribute to veterans, on the outer wall of the Courtenay Legion (Branch 17).

B次元官网网址淚 worked many hours every day for about five days to get the background done, and then I added the lettering on the (last day), so it took me about six days in totalB次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 taken me 25 years to learn how to do it in that amount of time,B次元官网网址� Everill said.

B次元官网网址淭he Legion approached me about the job and I came up with a sketch and we carried on from there. They did some fundraising through their members, and I gave them a good deal, because it is the Legion. My dad was a member until he passed away a couple of years ago, so it was an important (project) for me, too.B次元官网网址�

While the actual creation only took a week, Mother Nature played a big role in its delay.

B次元官网网址淲e had to put it off about four times because of the weather,B次元官网网址� said Everill. B次元官网网址淲e had this planned last fall, but we ran out of time then, so we have just been waiting for a good stretch of weather and it finally happened.B次元官网网址�

Everill said peopleB次元官网网址檚 reactions to her work is what inspires her.

B次元官网网址淭his one especially,B次元官网网址� she said of the Legion mural. B次元官网网址淭his one actually brought people to tears - they were crying when they came and saw the mural, which made me cry. ItB次元官网网址檚 very moving. Also people have said it has opened up a conversation with their younger kids - a very important conversation that may not have happened.B次元官网网址�

Everill said the message she is trying to convey is written on the mural.

B次元官网网址淭he words B次元官网网址楲est We ForgetB次元官网网址� says it allB次元官网网址� and this visual piece makes it a daily statement (as opposed to one surrounding Remembrance Day),B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢any people have told me that they drove there just to see it, and they have a moment.B次元官网网址�

The public is invited to attend an official unveiling ceremony on July 30 at 11 a.m.

EverillB次元官网网址檚 next project is something at 19 Wing.

B次元官网网址淚 am working on a big one for the base, so we are working on the logistics of thatB次元官网网址� but I always have 10 or 12 projects on my plate.B次元官网网址�

EverillB次元官网网址檚 work expands beyond Vancouver Island. She has murals in the Interior as well.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e also got some in Kelowna and Vernon, that are even bigger.B次元官网网址�

For more information on EverillB次元官网网址檚 business, visit

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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