Commemorating the Clydesdale horse parade, the primary breed used in the fields at the Lacombe Research Station, the latest mural honouring our cities history is currently being installed on the north wall of the YU-Turn Youth Centre.

The new mural has been painted on aluminum panels which will then be installed on the wall, instead of painting it directly on the bricks. 

Red Deer artist John Ellenberger of Little Johns Airbrush Art is installing the mural, and he says this new way of mural painting will keep the paint fresher longer, and allows him to paint in the comfort of his studio.

“And that’s what is good about these panels is that it’ll last forever, cause it’s a plastic core, with aluminum on both sides… and I can paint it indoor or outdoor. As far as painting it goes, it’s easy in both places, but indoors is cleaner and allows me to work in the winter also.”

Ellenberger is a sign painter by trade, and he says that large scale murals are one of the few avenues of revenue left to him, as most modern day signs are done by computer.

He is grateful this city has given him so many opportunities to showcase his art.

“Just happy to be working in Lacombe again, and I’ve been working here over the last few years, and I really appreciated them continuing to hire me. I did the waterpark with all the teddy bears playing in the water… I finished the murals that were in the parking lot there, I redid all the lettering.”

Thanks to the new method of painting the murals on removable aluminum panels, this mural will be safely showcased for the foreseeable future, and will be able to be easily removed and relocated if need be.

Ellenberger should have the mural hung by September 14th.