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Face-Lift for New Water Tower
Recently, high atop the hill known as White Rock, the town of Bonavista got a new water tower to replace the old one that supplied the town with water for over 25 years. The blue structure seemed to just blend into the sky, and didn't attract much attention - until now. Artist Peter Breckon works on a huge set of scaffolding, painting a massive tribute to the heritage and history of Bonavista. He has depicted three scenes stretching continuously around the circular water tower. The first shows John Cabot's landing on Cape Bonavista, the event that marks the discovery of Newfoundland. The second, is of a man bending over an old fish flake, salting codfish - at one time a staple food for Newfoundlanders. The third is of a Newfoundland husband and wife, and shows how important women and families were in early Newfoundland life. Before Breckon began painting the murals upon the water tower, he drew small versions of them onto grids. These grids were used to ensure that the pictures came out in proper proportion, a feat not easy when working on such a large scale. The artist has chosen to paint only in three different shades of blue and a small amount of white, to blend into the blue of the water tower. Assisting Breckon is Larry Templeman of Bonavista. He began working with the Vista 97 beautification committee but is now actually painting on the water tower. Breckon was not approached by Vista 97 to do this project but, instead, came to them with an idea and a desire to paint on the water tower for all to see. He is originally from St. John's and is staying in a small building next to the water tower so that he can paint when he chooses. The murals are now near completion and are visible when you enter Bonavista, whether you choose to enter from the Bonavista Bay highway or the Trinity Bay side. These beautiful paintings are a must-see if you visit Bonavista, and the view of the town from White Rock is amazing.
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