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Ian Mulder
Ian Mulder is an Edmonton-based public artist, muralist, and art educator. His main interest is the improvement of public space through murals and other forms of post-architectural design. His work is strongly influenced by the art of the great Mexican Muralists, (Rivera, Siqueros, Camarena), as well as the popular community murals of California of the 1960's and 70's. Various forms of Street Art and Graffiti are also important to his thought and style, as are the questions they raise regarding the control and manipulation of Public Space. Through his studio in the Jasper East part of Edmonton, Ian often facilitates community-based projects with groups as diverse as the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, the Bissell Centre, and various Frist Nations and Metis communities in Northern Alberta. Recent projects can be found at the University of Alberta (International Centre), the Boys and Girls Club (Caboto Park), and Chez Pierre Nightclub, as well as the series of portraits of well-known Edmontonians- Giants of Edmonton. Activist Art- Citizen Art - Street Art What is the nature of public art and what does it's various manifestations say about our public space and urban areas? What role can artists play in the political process? Can art affect change today? Through the examination of various forms of public art, from sanctionned civic works to Graffiti and other forms of Street Art, artist Ian Mulder will examine these questions with slides and examples through history and in contemporary practice. He will look at the broad range of actions available to artists, and how their opposition and complicity works to create the city spaces and public art monuments within them. Ian will speak of his own experience working with communities, arts organizations, and city government here in Canada and abroad.
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