Graffiti artist, Blaze Wiradharma, returned to Minto to beautify our downtown cores - this time stopping in both Harriston and Palmerston! After discovering his passion for graffiti art at a young age, Blaze decided to pursue a degree in Illustration at OCAD University in Toronto, where the stimulating city inspired him to apply his graffiti skills to the creation of interior and exterior murals.
Blaze has always known he was interested in art from a young age, and when he discovered graffiti when he was 18, “something just kind of took” him and he knew it was an artform he wanted to explore. Since then, he has founded “Blazeworks” and has worked in many different places over the years, evolving his artwork and what it means to him.
Blaze’s artwork prioritizes the narrative, focusing on concept and storytelling, particularly on culture, technology, and our human relationship with the environment. Last year, this was evident through his mural on the side of the Harriston Legion, featuring his sister daydreaming and perfectly encompassing the feeling of summertime. Throughout the past year of lockdown, Blaze has used this time to do some planning and experimenting with his own personal works. He notes that the Covid-19 pandemic has altered his work because “it’s hard as an artist to be inspired during these tough times where you don’t have the ability to see friends and be outside.”
However, upon returning to Minto he is “feeling refreshed” as he gets back into the swing of things, noting that “it’s just nice to be back here, see some familiar faces, new faces, and make some art in this awesome community.” Blaze was inspired by the various historical murals that depicted train scenes of the 81 train and the Palmerston station, sharing that he “wanted to add to the town's open mural gallery with [his] own interpretation and stylized version of this train scene”. Blaze continued to say that he “really enjoyed [his] time in Palmerston. The park was beautifully maintained and [it was] a real joy to take [his] lunch breaks during the painting process. Although much quieter than the Harriston location, the people who visited and stopped by were lovely and had the nicest words to say about the project.” Finally, Blaze adds that anyone who is interested in a career in art, particularly murals, shouldn’t “be afraid to talk to people who own properties and reach out to people” in general.” Just put up some boards and experiment and practice, and [keep looking] for opportunities.”