Cash Akoza’s mural in progress, August 10, 2015. PHOTO: C. Cassidy
Winnipeg’s West End is already famous for its outdoor murals, boasting nearly 70 of them. The West End Biz’s summer mural walking tours are as popular as ever taking locals and tourists alike through the streets to see them.
One of the area’s newest murals is in progress at the corner of Arlington Street and Ellice Avenue, on the south wall of Telesky Taxidermist.
Cash Akoza beside mural in progress. PHOTO: C. Cassidy
The artist is Brian Gasenzer, who paints under the name Cash Akoza. You may have read about him earlier this week when the tribute to Zimbabwe’s Cecil the Lion he painted on his Wolseley garage garnered media attention.
Gasenzer started out as a graffiti artist and still loves using aerosol, this mural being a combination of aerosol and acrylic. He chose an Aboriginal style because he feels that that we need to see much more of it in our city, and for its beautiful style and blocking of colours.
Animals are a favourite subject of his because “…we all have a connection with different animals and animal spirits … they are part of our consciousness.”
Cash Akoza’s mural in progress, August 10, 2015. PHOTO: C. Cassidy
For this mural, the artist is working from a drawing, a must in order to get funding approval from a BIZ or, in this case, Take Pride Winnipeg. Most of the time, though, he will approach a large surface without a preconceived notion of what the finished product will look like.
Gasenzer is currently finalizing plans with a couple of organizations for other murals. Keep an eye out on a blank wall near you or check out his Instagram page for other examples of his work.
