‘Bad portraits’ good enough for Parliament Hill
Mandy Stobo’s “bad portraits” are about to find a home on Parliament Hill.
The local artist has been commissioned by the federal government to paint a mural that represents Calgary as a “cultural capital of Canada.”
Stobo has gained notoriety for the thousands of poorly rendered watercolour paintings given out as part of a social media experiment.
She’s done splashy, neon portraits of everyone from Stephen Harper to Lanny McDonald and Conan O’Brien.
The “badness” comes from speedy, loosely constrained designs.
“I think the beauty is in our flaws,” Stobo said. “Once we just allow our entire selves to just be and try and fail and explore, without trying to contain it or hold it up to ideals, then our beauty can shine and be celebrated.”
On Canada Day, Stobo will show off her self-taught style in front of 70,000 onlookers at Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa. The mural will be eventually be displayed in the capital.
It’s a chance to blend Calgary’s best features, from the mountains to “noodles at Charcut,” she said.
“I just want to represent Calgary in a joyful, fun way.” Stobo said, “and not with the stereotypical things.”
Stobo has fielded ideas for the painting from her Twitter followers, who suggest paying homage to cowboy roots, sports heroes and landmark buildings.
Fellow artists have said it’s a chance to make a political statement in the nation’s capital.
While hoping to avoid cliches, Stobo also doesn’t want to disparage the city she loves.
“If people actually looked at the city, those stereotypes would fall away,” said Stobo.
“I wouldn’t be able to present those harshly because I can’t even see them.”
Stobo flew to Ottawa on Friday and will join Calgary 2012’s curator Michael Green, and the installation team of architect David Tyl, musician Sam Masterton and actor Celine-Renee Amber, for the Canada Day celebration.