Radius mural, Firehall Arts Centre

A new mural called Radius, was completed in summer 2013, at the Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver. It was launched with a Salish ceremony and is visible both from the theatre inner courtyard as well as from Gore St. The outreach included sessions in the Japanese community, Chinese community and Aboriginal community. The artists, coming from each, also mentored younger artists wanting to learn the process of collaborative murals.
The final 1500 square foot mural is an expression of the conjunction of these cultures, geographically and historically, in this part of the city. Bright Mountains, Shining Water, and Harmony appear in Chinese Characters on the left side, four large Salish paddles, referencing the four directions, run through the central axis, with one in flames. This relates to an historical event, the fire of Vancouver, where Salish canoeists rescued trapped citizens from the shores of Burrard Inlet. A canoe, centrally located, carries the song that the indians sang during the rescue.
A large wave unifies the mural along the bottom. the Japanese community is represented by Origami cranes, two large Koi, and a Japanese kimono sash, or Obi, emulating the north shore mountains. The quality of folded paper forms the underlying motif of the mural.
Artists Jerry Whitehead, Eri Ishii, June Yun, Richard Tetrault (project director) Esther Rausenberg (coordinator and documentation) mentored youth Christine Chung, Mayuka Hisata and Marissa Nahanee. Funded through City of Vancouver Great Beginnings, Year of Reconciliation.

Radius, Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova st. Vancouver

Mexico Suite -
This series of paintings is based on various trips to Oaxaca, Chiapas and other regions of southern Mexico. I am drawn particularly to the highlands of the country. 
The work explores my experiences of the layered culture and rich qualities of Mexico. As well as providing me with the impetus for murals, (originating in trips starting in the mid-70's and my encounter with the murals of Rivera, Orozco and Siqueiros, Delgadillo and others), I have generated many paintings during numerous overland trips. Esther and I followed 'La Ruta Maya' in 1992/93,  from the valley of Oaxaca and Monte Alban, to the ruins of Palenque, Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba, far into the Guatamalan highlands to Tikal.
The mirror device in many of these paintings provides a gateway for me to reflect upon some of the fragmented, quixotic, humorous and often-times overwhelming experiences that I have had there. More works can be viewed on my newly revised website, www.richard-tetrault.ca

Continuing series of paintings with natural pigments/woodprint/textured elements on Mylar, this series expands on the previous works and are based on gesture drawings from Kokoro Dance, a Vancouver-based Butoh inspired dance company.