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New mural a sweet treat for city

A beautiful new mural in the city was officially dedicated Wednesday with noon-hour treats from M&M Meats and Taylor Made Cakes.
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Mayor Kerry Cook (left) and artist Dwayne Davis toast the official launch of the city’s latest mural project on the side of the M&M Meats and Taylor Made Cakes building on Oliver Street.

A beautiful new mural in the city was officially dedicated Wednesday with noon-hour treats from M&M Meats and Taylor Made Cakes.

The mural, with an old-fashioned feel and old-time city names, is titled Roaring 20s and graces the side of the building occupied by both businesses.

It is one of the sweetest murals to date created by lakecity muralist Dwayne Davis.

The three businesses depicted in the street scene are named for old time hotels in the city that have burned down over the years — Ranch Meats, Lakeview Bakery, and the Maple Leaf Cafe.

“It’s kind of an ode to some of the old hotels in the city,” says Davis, who created the theme in consultation with the business owners and painted it with the help of his student, Abbi Taylor.

“It’s absolutely fantastic. The artistry is amazing,” says M&M Meats owner Uli Wittal.

“I am absolutely thrilled that we were chosen for a mural.”

Brenda Taylor, co-owner of Taylor Made Cakes agrees.

“I think it’s awesome,” Brenda says.

“Everybody does and it helps to dress up another corner of the city that people might not otherwise notice.”

She says they get quite a few out-of-town customers during the summer and the mural is a welcoming scene for people entering the city on Oliver Street from Highway 97.

Brenda and Uli were happily serving appetizers, and treats to customers who came by for the noon dedication which included visits from representatives of the various sponsor groups.

The mural is an initiative of the Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Area 2013 Alley Art Mural Mentorship Project in partnership with Davis Arts and made possible with grants from the Williams Lake and District Credit Union, Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society, Cariboo Regional District, and City of Williams Lake.

Dale Taylor, co-owner of Taylor Made Cakes, says the alley art project helps to keep tagging down in the community.

“Artists tend to respect other artists’ work,” Dale says.

BIA second vice-president Jan Hermiston says the BIA is working to spread the mural projects around the city with the idea of creating a mural cultural walk for the community.

This is the second year for the BIA’s alley art project which won two awards of excellence from the B.C./Alberta business association in May, says executive director Judy (O’Neill) Albin.

She says one award was for sustainability, given the project’s unique approach to curbing tagging, and a second award was for partnership, in teaming up with the artist, Cariboo Friendship Centre, businesses and other groups to create the first two alley art murals for the city last year.

The Roaring 20s mural is the BIA’s third alley art mural project. A mural titled Mercantile is located in the alley side of Dena’s Studio on Third Avenue.

Another mural titled A Traditional Fishing Village is located at the entrance to the Hearth Restaurant at the Cariboo Friendship Centre.

Other murals created with student help are also located inside the Friendship Centre.

Albin says Williams Lake is lucky to have a muralist such as Davis living in the community.