Civic significance at the heart of art and community
On September 16, 2025, the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension unveiled a monumental mural to mark the centennial of Parc Jarry. The project transforms the “pavillon des baigneurs,” which houses the pool at the centre of the park, into a living canvas. More than an aesthetic gesture, the mural stands as a symbol of community pride, shared heritage, and the ongoing dialogue between nature and urban life.
The work was entrusted to MU, the Montreal non-profit known for turning public space into a vibrant, open-air museum. The artist chosen, Italian multidisciplinary creator Gola Hundun, has gained international recognition for his ecological vision. His mural in Parc Jarry flows across three façades, with vegetal and organic forms evoking harmony between people, fauna, and flora. It is a celebration of the living world, right at the heart of the city, transforming the pool pavilion into a meditative landmark.
The project extended beyond paint on walls. A community workshop invited local residents to create clay bird nests, a symbolic act that echoes the themes of the mural. By shaping nests with their own hands, citizens contributed to a collective reflection on the ways urban life and biodiversity intersect. The involvement of community members ensured that the centennial was not just commemorated but lived and shared, rooting the project in the daily reality of the neighbourhood.
The civic importance of this initiative lies in its ability to connect art with everyday life. Public art democratizes access to culture, offering moments of beauty to anyone who walks by. In celebrating the park’s hundred years, the mural reinforces a sense of shared identity and belonging, reminding residents that the park is not simply a green space but a place of memory, encounters, and civic life. It also serves as a call to awareness, urging passersby to reflect on their relationship with the natural world and to recognize the ecological responsibilities embedded in urban living.
The mural was made possible through a wide network of partners, including the borough, the City of Montréal’s Service des grands parcs, the Italian Cultural Institute of Montréal, Benjamin Moore, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. This collaborative framework underscores that civic culture thrives when municipalities, cultural institutions, and citizens work together.
For MU, this project continues a long tradition of integrating art into the fabric of the city. Since 2007, the organization has produced over 300 permanent murals while maintaining a strong educational mission. Their work has turned Montreal into a vast gallery under the open sky, where art does not belong to a select few but is woven into the streets, schools, and public parks.
The centennial mural of Parc Jarry is, above all, a civic act. It honours the past century of community life in the park, enriches the present with beauty and reflection, and offers future generations a renewed sense of belonging. In doing so, it reminds us that public spaces are not neutral backdrops but living places where culture, history, and ecology meet and flourish together.
