Connaught Youth Center Mural
Spanning an exterior two-story side wall of the Connaught Youth Centre (CYC), the CYC mural pays tribute to the natural and cultural history of Prince George. Painted in 2006 by artist Larry Hunter with the help of Jerry Houghton, this collage-style mural depicts the old Cameron Street Bridge juxtaposed against the historic Huble Homestead.
The old-fashioned truss system of the bridge that supported the immense weight of steam-engine trains is a defining feature of the painting. The city’s characteristic cutbanks, iconic Nechako River and native flora — birch, white pine, lupine and Indian paintbrush — provide a natural contrast to the built components in the piece.
In a painting style inspired by California Impressionism, the artist used loose three and four inch brush strokes to create a realistic portrayal of an imaginary scene, with particular attention paid to the precise rendering of the bridge. The mural was painted using Benjamin Moore exterior latex paint and, with the help of a scissor lift, took one week to complete.
Beautifully blending key aspects of the city’s natural environment and cultural heritage, the CYC mural is a symbolic representation that authentically captures the essence of Prince George.
