The Barrie Hot Air Balloon Festival is being brought back to life in art form.
On Tuesday, work began on a new mural in downtown Barrie, located in the alleyway alongside Donaleigh's Irish Public House, that when completed will celebrate a festival that was a tradition in the city for many years.
The Clandestinos are a wife and husband team from Barrie who will be creating the mural and mentoring three local emerging artists: Monica Loney, Tiffany Szymanski and Shailie Dubois.
"There is a lot of prep work for a mural this size," said Shalak Attack, who goes by her artistic name. "We are working with the owners and the BIA, and getting local artists involved."
The mural is the latest project inspired by the Downtown Barrie BIA, and the Clandestinos have contributed several murals including the back alley at Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery on Dunlop Street East and on the side of Shak's World Community Centre on Maple Avenue.
Shalak and her husband Bruno Smoky have been working with murals for over 20 years, and before moving to Barrie, they were based in Toronto for seven years.
Their work has gone international, with murals in Latin America, Europe, Africa, the United States and in provinces across Canada.
The BIA suggested the balloon festival theme, according to Shalak.
"They told us a little bit about the history of it in Barrie, so we thought it would be a neat idea, and be kind of a part one phase of the mural."
Down the road, Shalak says there is a dream to have 3D balloon pieces hanging throughout the back alley.
If the weather behaves, the mural should be completed in about six to eight days.
Photos: Barrie 360
Balloon Photo: Downtown Barrie BIA - Facebook
