Karl Schutz always had ChemainusB次元官网网址� best interests at heart.
The man who was a visionary for what murals on the walls around town would mean for the community died at the age of 92 Thursday. He wanted to make Chemainus a primary spot on the global arts map and thatB次元官网网址檚 precisely what happened when the first murals started to go up around town in 1982.
Born in Germany but a longtime resident of Chemainus, Schutz caught on to the mural idea during his travels with wife Betty in Eastern Europe in the 1970s.
Tributes have been pouring in since people have been hearing the news about his death.
B次元官网网址淜arl Schutz was the biggest community booster North Cowichan B次元官网网址� and particularly Chemainus B次元官网网址� has ever had,B次元官网网址� praised Municipality of North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring. B次元官网网址淭he character of Chemainus today B次元官网网址� in particular the attraction that the murals have become for visitors from around the world B次元官网网址� is a direct result of his vision and passion to improve the community.
B次元官网网址淭he thing IB次元官网网址檒l remember most about Karl was his persuasiveness. Whenever he made a presentation to council, it was almost impossible not to get caught up in his enthusiasm. His legacy will live on for many years, not just in the form of the murals themselves, but also in the example he set in terms of motivating people to improve their community.
B次元官网网址淭he people of Chemainus, generally speaking, are more engaged in the affairs of North Cowichan than the citizens of any part of our municipality, and I honestly believe this is a direct result of the path blazed by Dr. Schutz when he began his seminal work on the murals project back in the B次元官网网址�80s. He showed us all whatB次元官网网址檚 possible when citizens with a positive vision get involved in their community.B次元官网网址�
The mural project became the ideal transition to a tourist-oriented town from mainly industrial after the previous Chemainus sawmill closed in 1983. It prevented Chemainus from becoming a ghost town, drawing visitors from around the world and the current more refined sawmill eventually opened to ensure the townB次元官网网址檚 diversity for a long time to come.
Huge crowds would gather around the artists to watch each of the murals come to life before their very eyes on building locations.
The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society was established in 1987 after six years as a municipal project and continues to thrive today, with new additions being made to the outdoor art gallery on a regular basis under the community series, historical series, Emily Carr inspired series and sculptures. ItB次元官网网址檚 all part of the phenomenal growth of the project Schutz helped facilitate.
B次元官网网址淒r. Karl Schutz believed that ChemainusB次元官网网址� history and heritage deserved to be celebrated, and that ChemainusB次元官网网址� people deserved beautiful public art,B次元官网网址� pointed out current Festival of Murals Society vice president Shannon Bellamy and director Peter Collum in a statement.
B次元官网网址淗is vision, perseverance and dedication led to the creation of the Chemainus mural project. What started with five murals in 1982 has grown to 61 murals today. The project has inspired our community and attracted world-wide attention, and KarlB次元官网网址檚 promotion of the Chemainus mural project spoke to his determination to make Chemainus a world-renowned tourist destination and CanadaB次元官网网址檚 mural capital.
B次元官网网址淭he Chemainus Festival of Murals Society is indebted to Karl for his decades-long dedication to, and involvement with, the society. He was a force to be reckoned with and will be greatly missed.B次元官网网址�
Former reporter Peter W. Rusland interviewed Schutz many times over the years for articles in the Cowichan B次元官网网址 Leader.
B次元官网网址淭he late, great Karl Schutz embodied what became affectionately known as The Little Town That Did,B次元官网网址� noted Rusland. B次元官网网址淗e tirelessly rallied others, such as then-mayor Graham Bruce, to use arts tourism B次元官网网址� namely giant outdoor murals depicting ChemainusB次元官网网址� colourful history B次元官网网址� to rejuvenate the mill townB次元官网网址檚 wilting economy. It worked in spades. Town business folks and civic leaders climbed onboard his shared vision.
B次元官网网址淜arl was a true visionary. His prescient ideas helped spawn a mural movement across the continent and beyond, attracting tourists and stimulating local interest in the townB次元官网网址檚 past. He also created jobs for artists. They flocked to Chemainus to complete imposing, commissioned murals, and later sculpture, as magnets of interest in The Little TownB次元官网网址檚 unique characters and events.B次元官网网址�
Schutz was interviewed last summer for the Still Standing CBC-TV program on Chemainus. The program just aired in February of this year.
Host Jonny Harris joked that he could portray a younger Schutz in a TV special someday. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be called, He Schutz, He Scores,B次元官网网址� chuckled Harris.
B次元官网网址淜arl Schutz was indeed a true original and an inspiration to those who dare to dream big,B次元官网网址� summed up Rusland.
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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