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The Muskoka Community Mural Project: #HateFreeMuskoka

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In 2023, as part of its annual work-planning activities, the IDEA Advisory Group (IAG) elected to create two community murals to help promote the importance of the IDEA principles, and in particular, to encourage a #HateFreeMuskoka.

IDEA = Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-racism or Anti-hate.

Based on the availability of spaces for public art in high-traffic areas, IAG members chose to create one mural in Gravenhurst and a second one in Bracebridge.

After a public bidding process that favoured artists with lived experience of discrimination, as well as artists with ties to Muskoka, the IAG selected two artists to complete the murals: Jim Bravo as the lead artist and Steph Schofield as the assistant artist. In total, 14 proposals were received from across Ontario.

Viewers are encouraged to pose with the murals and post their photos to social media using #HateFreeMuskoka to ensure everyone knows they belong in Muskoka!

About the Artists

Jim Bravo AOCAD – Lead Artist



Jim Bravo was born in Ecuador, South America, and is of Afrolatino descent. He is a graduate of The Ontario College of Art and Design University where he majored in Fine Art and public monument painting.

A multi-award-winning painter, including first honour for the prestigious 2023 Kingston Prize for Contemporary Canadian Portraiture, Bravo is also the recipient of the Toronto Art Council’s Black Projects grant for 2022 and 2023, an Ontario Arts Council creation grant for 2022, and is a four-year consecutive winner of the city of Toronto’s prestigious TABIA Mural Award.

Jim lives and works in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For more information on Jim’s private and public art, as well as previous awards: Jim Bravo

You can follow Jim on Instagram @jimpaintermanbravo

Steph Schofield – Assistant Artist


Steph Schofield is a local painter who explores colourful, contemporary, Canadian landscapes, many of which will be familiar to those who have spent time in Muskoka.

She graduated from Sheridan College’s Visual and Creative Arts Program and has since been involved in exhibits in Toronto, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, including a debut solo show in July 2022 at the Auburn Gallery of Fine Art in Gravenhurst.

Steph's awards include Best Use of Colour – Honourable Mention from the 2024 Muskoka Arts & Crafts Spring Members Show, and Best Use of Colour – Winner at the 2023 Muskoka Arts & Crafts Spring Member’s Show. Steph’s artwork can be found at The Annex at 27 Manitoba Street, Bracebridge.

For more information about Steph’s artistic experiences and credentials: Steph Schofield

You can follow Steph on Instagram @stephschofieldart

About the Murals

Overview
Much of Jim’s public art mimics the effect of stained-glass, so colour is one of the most important elements in his work. In both murals, the sunrise/sunset palette is based on the colors found on a traditional Ribbon Skirt owned by his girlfriend, who is Cree. He felt the colour spectrum was a natural fit for reflecting the theme of growth and change. He also felt the colour palette was particularly relevant since orange is the official colour of Orange Shirt Day and has been adopted as the colour for Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which takes place on September 30 each year.

Along with the colour scheme, a bottom "frieze" of water depicting various local fish ties the two murals together. Fish have been a timeless and important food source for Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial, as well as for generations of Muskoka’s residents and visitors.

Water, another element sacred to Indigenous cultures, frames both murals in order to emphasize its importance as the source of growth. Women are the water keepers in Indigenous culture and water ensures that the IDEA seeds being planted in the Bracebridge mural are able to grow and thrive in the Gravenhurst mural.

For a place like Muskoka, it is impossible not to honour lakes and nature, both of which are a large part of the Muskoka image and reality. For that reason, lake vistas are shown in the background of both murals and the flora and fauna depicted are all found locally.

Both murals also incorporate elements of summer and cottage life, and include iconic images such as the Muskoka’s steamships, as well as the landscape, rocks and majestic pine trees that make Muskoka famous.

Bracebridge Mural: Muskoka Lumber Community Centre (on Salmon Avenue)

The Bracebridge mural is located in the lobby of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre on Salmon Avenue.

The characters depicted show diversity in ability, race and gender. The gentleman using a walking aid is modelled off Jim’s uncle. He is carrying a bag of IDEA seeds to plant. Included in the mural is a pregnant woman. She represents the birth of a new generation who will bring with them tolerance, respect and acceptance of new cultures, races, religions and gender identities.

The red dress worn by one of the planters was included to acknowledge the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG / MMIWG2S), the orange shirts acknowledge the Every Child Matters movement (Orange Shirt Day), the pink shirt acknowledges the importance of combatting bullying and discrimination in our communities, the dark blue shirt recognizes deaf awareness, and purple is the colour of epilepsy awareness. As a subtle shout out to the 2S-LGBTQI+ community, Jim has included a rainbow bracelet on the arm of one of the planters.

The Bracebridge mural is meant to be at the end of the day with both the moon and sun visible in the sky and with longer shadows stretching across the landscape.

The ‘floating’ trowel at the bottom of the mural allows viewers to interact with the mural by becoming a planter of the IDEA seeds, have their photo taken, and shared on social media using #HateFreeMuskoka. We want everyone to know they belong in Muskoka!.

Gravenhurst Mural: 205 Muskoka Road South (facing Hotchkiss Street)

The Gravenhurst Mural is located outside and is painted on a wall facing Hotchkiss Street, just off the main street of the town.

The colourful letters of I, D, E, and A, as well as the people painting them, represent different backgrounds and illustrate how people with different points of diversity can come together to grow and create beauty. The Gravenhurst mural shows a change of season as the seeds from the Bracebridge mural have now grown into mature plants, ideas and acceptance.

In the Gravenhurst mural, an Indigenous woman is handing a cedar branch to one of the painters and in this way is sharing Indigenous ways of knowing and being to other cultures and future generations. Cedar, along with tobacco, sage and sweet grass, is one of four sacred medicines recognized in many Indigenous cultures for ceremony, healing, and wellness.

As in the Bracebridge mural, this mural is full of symbolism. The red shirt worn by one of the painters is meant to acknowledge persons living with disabilities, the orange shirt acknowledges the Every Child Matters movement (Orange Shirt Day) and the pink shirt acknowledges the importance of combatting bullying and discrimination in our communities. As a subtle shout out to the 2S-LGBTQ+ community, Jim has included a rainbow colour swatch which is being held by the painter on the standing atop the letter E.

The 'floating' Rubberset paintbrush in the middle of the E allows viewers to interact with the mural by becoming a painter of the IDEA letters. It is also an historic reference to Gravenhurst’s industrial past. Viewers are encouraged to pose with the mural and post their photos to social media using #HateFreeMuskoka to ensure everyone knows they belong in Muskoka!

Artist statement: Jim Bravo
I am honored to have been entrusted to work on this exciting mural project for the District of Muskoka and explore themes and narratives around inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism. Engaging with IAG members, as well as with community representatives from the towns of Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, has been an illuminating experience, and allowed me to establish a unique cross-town mural dialogue.

Diptychs are traditionally side-by-side, and the location of these two works – one in Gravenhurst and one in Bracebridge - will brand this undertaking as unique in the history of mural culture.

Embarking on this endeavor at this time in my career, where I have had the opportunity to mentor a new generation of muralists as part of the effort, elicits a feeling of pride and brings me full circle, as I was once an apprentice too.

At the heart of the design is the respect for sacred environments, the celebration of racial and lifestyle diversity, and a path toward a greater harmony. I believe I speak for all involved in this twin campaign when I state that the goal is that it will spark a renewed interest in the merit of public art, and an increased sense of belonging for residents and visitors alike.

In 2023, as part of its annual work-planning activities, the IDEA Advisory Group (IAG) elected to create two community murals to help promote the importance of the IDEA principles, and in particular, to encourage a #HateFreeMuskoka.

IDEA = Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-racism or Anti-hate.

Based on the availability of spaces for public art in high-traffic areas, IAG members chose to create one mural in Gravenhurst and a second one in Bracebridge.

After a public bidding process that favoured artists with lived experience of discrimination, as well as artists with ties to Muskoka, the IAG selected two artists to complete the murals: Jim Bravo as the lead artist and Steph Schofield as the assistant artist. In total, 14 proposals were received from across Ontario.

Viewers are encouraged to pose with the murals and post their photos to social media using #HateFreeMuskoka to ensure everyone knows they belong in Muskoka!

About the Artists

Jim Bravo AOCAD – Lead Artist



Jim Bravo was born in Ecuador, South America, and is of Afrolatino descent. He is a graduate of The Ontario College of Art and Design University where he majored in Fine Art and public monument painting.

A multi-award-winning painter, including first honour for the prestigious 2023 Kingston Prize for Contemporary Canadian Portraiture, Bravo is also the recipient of the Toronto Art Council’s Black Projects grant for 2022 and 2023, an Ontario Arts Council creation grant for 2022, and is a four-year consecutive winner of the city of Toronto’s prestigious TABIA Mural Award.

Jim lives and works in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For more information on Jim’s private and public art, as well as previous awards: Jim Bravo

You can follow Jim on Instagram @jimpaintermanbravo

Steph Schofield – Assistant Artist


Steph Schofield is a local painter who explores colourful, contemporary, Canadian landscapes, many of which will be familiar to those who have spent time in Muskoka.

She graduated from Sheridan College’s Visual and Creative Arts Program and has since been involved in exhibits in Toronto, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, including a debut solo show in July 2022 at the Auburn Gallery of Fine Art in Gravenhurst.

Steph's awards include Best Use of Colour – Honourable Mention from the 2024 Muskoka Arts & Crafts Spring Members Show, and Best Use of Colour – Winner at the 2023 Muskoka Arts & Crafts Spring Member’s Show. Steph’s artwork can be found at The Annex at 27 Manitoba Street, Bracebridge.

For more information about Steph’s artistic experiences and credentials: Steph Schofield

You can follow Steph on Instagram @stephschofieldart

About the Murals

Overview
Much of Jim’s public art mimics the effect of stained-glass, so colour is one of the most important elements in his work. In both murals, the sunrise/sunset palette is based on the colors found on a traditional Ribbon Skirt owned by his girlfriend, who is Cree. He felt the colour spectrum was a natural fit for reflecting the theme of growth and change. He also felt the colour palette was particularly relevant since orange is the official colour of Orange Shirt Day and has been adopted as the colour for Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which takes place on September 30 each year.

Along with the colour scheme, a bottom "frieze" of water depicting various local fish ties the two murals together. Fish have been a timeless and important food source for Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial, as well as for generations of Muskoka’s residents and visitors.

Water, another element sacred to Indigenous cultures, frames both murals in order to emphasize its importance as the source of growth. Women are the water keepers in Indigenous culture and water ensures that the IDEA seeds being planted in the Bracebridge mural are able to grow and thrive in the Gravenhurst mural.

For a place like Muskoka, it is impossible not to honour lakes and nature, both of which are a large part of the Muskoka image and reality. For that reason, lake vistas are shown in the background of both murals and the flora and fauna depicted are all found locally.

Both murals also incorporate elements of summer and cottage life, and include iconic images such as the Muskoka’s steamships, as well as the landscape, rocks and majestic pine trees that make Muskoka famous.

Bracebridge Mural: Muskoka Lumber Community Centre (on Salmon Avenue)

The Bracebridge mural is located in the lobby of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre on Salmon Avenue.

The characters depicted show diversity in ability, race and gender. The gentleman using a walking aid is modelled off Jim’s uncle. He is carrying a bag of IDEA seeds to plant. Included in the mural is a pregnant woman. She represents the birth of a new generation who will bring with them tolerance, respect and acceptance of new cultures, races, religions and gender identities.

The red dress worn by one of the planters was included to acknowledge the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG / MMIWG2S), the orange shirts acknowledge the Every Child Matters movement (Orange Shirt Day), the pink shirt acknowledges the importance of combatting bullying and discrimination in our communities, the dark blue shirt recognizes deaf awareness, and purple is the colour of epilepsy awareness. As a subtle shout out to the 2S-LGBTQI+ community, Jim has included a rainbow bracelet on the arm of one of the planters.

The Bracebridge mural is meant to be at the end of the day with both the moon and sun visible in the sky and with longer shadows stretching across the landscape.

The ‘floating’ trowel at the bottom of the mural allows viewers to interact with the mural by becoming a planter of the IDEA seeds, have their photo taken, and shared on social media using #HateFreeMuskoka. We want everyone to know they belong in Muskoka!.

Gravenhurst Mural: 205 Muskoka Road South (facing Hotchkiss Street)

The Gravenhurst Mural is located outside and is painted on a wall facing Hotchkiss Street, just off the main street of the town.

The colourful letters of I, D, E, and A, as well as the people painting them, represent different backgrounds and illustrate how people with different points of diversity can come together to grow and create beauty. The Gravenhurst mural shows a change of season as the seeds from the Bracebridge mural have now grown into mature plants, ideas and acceptance.

In the Gravenhurst mural, an Indigenous woman is handing a cedar branch to one of the painters and in this way is sharing Indigenous ways of knowing and being to other cultures and future generations. Cedar, along with tobacco, sage and sweet grass, is one of four sacred medicines recognized in many Indigenous cultures for ceremony, healing, and wellness.

As in the Bracebridge mural, this mural is full of symbolism. The red shirt worn by one of the painters is meant to acknowledge persons living with disabilities, the orange shirt acknowledges the Every Child Matters movement (Orange Shirt Day) and the pink shirt acknowledges the importance of combatting bullying and discrimination in our communities. As a subtle shout out to the 2S-LGBTQ+ community, Jim has included a rainbow colour swatch which is being held by the painter on the standing atop the letter E.

The 'floating' Rubberset paintbrush in the middle of the E allows viewers to interact with the mural by becoming a painter of the IDEA letters. It is also an historic reference to Gravenhurst’s industrial past. Viewers are encouraged to pose with the mural and post their photos to social media using #HateFreeMuskoka to ensure everyone knows they belong in Muskoka!

Artist statement: Jim Bravo
I am honored to have been entrusted to work on this exciting mural project for the District of Muskoka and explore themes and narratives around inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism. Engaging with IAG members, as well as with community representatives from the towns of Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, has been an illuminating experience, and allowed me to establish a unique cross-town mural dialogue.

Diptychs are traditionally side-by-side, and the location of these two works – one in Gravenhurst and one in Bracebridge - will brand this undertaking as unique in the history of mural culture.

Embarking on this endeavor at this time in my career, where I have had the opportunity to mentor a new generation of muralists as part of the effort, elicits a feeling of pride and brings me full circle, as I was once an apprentice too.

At the heart of the design is the respect for sacred environments, the celebration of racial and lifestyle diversity, and a path toward a greater harmony. I believe I speak for all involved in this twin campaign when I state that the goal is that it will spark a renewed interest in the merit of public art, and an increased sense of belonging for residents and visitors alike.

Page last updated: 16 Sep 2024, 10:12 AM