THE ATTENTION GRABBING Legends of the Millennium by artist Paul Ygartua transports us into pivotal moments in history with larger-than-life famous faces painted on a wall at the Beachcomber Hot Tubs factory by a parking lot near a busy street in Surrey, BC.
Most of the people depicted are known worldwide. They have planted themselves into our consciousness with their unforgettable stories as though they were family or good friends. Many had an impact on society or became icons of cultural shifts.
Since the vehicles obstructing the mural could not be hung out of the way like the ones I saw at a mall recently, I suggest visiting Lynette at Imagination Lane to enjoy her photographs of the art minus the cars. Meanwhile, the wheels blocking my view made me wonder ... what drives fame.
I noticed a Canadian hero from BC on a corner of the wall. Terry Fox lost his leg and eventually his life to cancer in 1981 at the age of 22. His Marathon Of Hope raises funds for research to this day. Terry's unfinished journey across country with an artificial leg, his bravery, charisma and willingness to share frustrations captured our imagination. He wished for health, not fame, but gained respect and recognition due to his reaction to a tragic situation.
Some people blow us away with their seemingly god-given gifts, incredible talents or extreme acts of selflessness and ability to inspire.
Others travel beyond ordinary dreams and touch the stars or create life-changing gateways for mankind. Explorers, innovators and inventors of memorable commentary or captivating art earn our appreciation through dedication and hard work. Some (like Walt Disney in the cowboy hat) seem to play all day and get known for making characters like Donald Duck famous.
Donald seems completely unruffled by the fact that millions of children on the planet know his name. Undoubtedly some individuals get more than fifteen minutes of fame simply because they are cute or squawk a lot.
From athletes and artists to humanitarians and politicians, some achieve long lasting celebrity because they touched the human heart or showed vulnerabilities amid the sway of their powerful personalities.
We are moved and encouraged by people who refuse to be ignored or put down and fight relentlessly through obstacles to meet challenges. While some gain fame through fate others desperately seek and (on rare occasions) find it.
We can't help but marvel at those who rise from a sea of anonymity as we go about our daily humdrum lives. The fellow with a cap (pictured above) is also portrayed on the building. He appears to be carving a totem. I was told his name is Simon Charles, a respected artist that passed away in 2005 and was a friend to Keith Scott, the founder of Beachcomber Hot Tubs who commissioned the mural in 2000. I am reminded that few faces gain fame without less recognizable folk bringing the people they admire to the top.To view more sights from around the globe visit Our World.
Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms
What a fabulous post! Simply fascinating.
ReplyDeleteSee you in a couple of weeks.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Great mural with, you are so correct, many well-known faces. It's a fun idea for a mural.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I love the murals and also your narrative. I'll admit that I wonder sometimes at people who get famous for bizarre reasons. Others I understand in terms of their fame but the whole idea of celebrity is kind of odd.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! What a terrific mural and a fantastic post for the day, Penelope! Definitely a great idea! I would love to roam around there for a while. Your photos are the next best thing! Hope your week is off to a good start! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Really interesting post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous post. Wonderful images and lots to think about. What does drive fame?!! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThat's an awesome mural, great shots. I know many, but not all, of those faces. And I certainly know Donald!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an iteresting mural, I have never seen this before, thanks for showing it to us. What a huge painting project this must have ben.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic for the post, and I like the images you presented along with the text.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant post. Wonderful thoughts about people who have risen to touch the stars and inspire others.
ReplyDeleteHow intriguing! This mural is so interesting and does feature many icons of the past. It's fun to reminisce about where we were and what we were doing in our own lives when these famous folk were alive.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite subjects in photography is murals. This is something extraordinary, depicting famous people from all over.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I visited Lynnette's link.
So many different paths to fame - but why is it that sports and entertainment seem to be most often given the publicity? A fascinating and insightful post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing me your world...
ReplyDeleteGisela,
Toronto Canada
What a huge work and selection of well known people. Some artists really go in for the super sized projects. Also love your shot of the VW mobiles.
ReplyDeleteSnap, an interesting thought ... if I had explored what drives people to become famous rather than what drives fame, qualities such as ambition, ego, a talent demanding attention, a global cause or a personal hunger that won’t be ignored might be just a few motivating factors behind the faces we have fondly come to know. :)
ReplyDeleteA well-thought out post. I doubt many, if any, of the personalities honoured on this amazing mural (it's not easy to paint good likenesses) did what they did to make the world a better place for fame.
ReplyDeleteHi Penelope,
ReplyDeleteThis was a thoughtful and beautifully photographed look at some of the aspects of fame. I especially loved the way you segued to the suspended cars hung above the crowds:) Something I often wonder about is why humans love to idolize a famous person, but once he or she reaches the pinnacle of their fame, we begin to look for flaws in their character or appearance, and try to bring them down from their pedestal. It seems a sad commentary on the fickleness of human nature.
A wonderfulpost! I love how you interpersed so much thoughtful commentary in with the pictures...very well done.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the mention of my page...much appreciated...:)
Great to see these beautiful faces. Some of my favourites are there; Gandhi, Einstein and of course Mother Theresa
ReplyDeleteThese peoples on the mural are well known for their encouraging and inspiring the world. There are countless unsung heroes, too. Their names are remembered at least in their families and their photos would be hung on the wall. What a lovely planet, we have so many stars on the earth! Thank you for this post, Penelope.
ReplyDeleteYoko