Page 10 - YGARTUA: Magnum Opus - volume three

(1990, 1992, 1994, 1995), the Canadian Heritage In addition to the thousands of works in private

Art Society (1991), the Tokyo Metropolitan Art and corporate collections, Ygartua’s works are

Museum (1991, 1992, 1997), the Sala de Cultura, also in the collections of the Carleton University

Bilbao, Spain (2003) and at the Firenze Biennale, Art Gallery, Ottawa; Simon Fraser University,

Florence, Italy (2005). Burnaby, B.C., and the University of Lethbridge

The locations of some of his largest murals Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta.

include Waikiki, Hawaii (Rodeo Club, 7x25 ft

– 1981), Chemainus, B.C. (Native Heritage, 25x

50 ft –1983 and The Hermit, 8 x16 ft –2008), Nootnotes
Vancouver, B.C. (EXPO ’86 at the United *All of Ygartua’s murals, regardless of size, were painted

Nations Pavilion “A World United”, 30x100 solely by Ygartua. His International Beachcomber

ft – 1986); Cannes, France (“La Croisette”, 5 mural, in Surrey, British Columbia, has an area of 9,000

Panels – 1995), Oshawa, Ontario (“Oshawa square feet. Murals listed as the world’s largest, by other

Generals”, 15x35 ft –1997), Whistler, B.C. artists or cities, range in area size from 346 square feet

(“Totem Village”, 15x25 ft –2000), Surrey, B.C. in Cairo, Egypt, painted by one artist, to 20,000 square
(International Beachcomber “Record Breakers”, feet in Jacksonville, Florida, painted by 12 artists. (M.D.

30x300 ft – 2000); Ely, Nevada (“United by Our Silverbrooke)

Children”, 30x110 ft – 2001); and Gorliz, Spain **Most sources say Ygartua immigrated to Canada in 1965,

(“Gorliz Gehituz”, 30x92 ft – 2010).
we have confirmed with his wife Joanne that the year was

1966. (M.D. Silverbrooke)
Ygartua’s most recent mural “Bella Bella – United

in History” was commissioned by Shearwater The author has researched and written the biographies of

Marine Group to commemorate the history of over 600 artists who have lived and worked in Canada over

Bella Bella, B.C. The 22x120 ft fresco depicts the last 200 years and he cannot recall more than a hand-
seventeen important individuals that made a full that thrived solely by creating fine art for an entire

significant contribution to the history of Bella career without any other source of income. This is not the

Bella since its founding by the Hudson’s Bay story of a starving artist. Ygartua and his wife Joanne, who

Company, as a trading post in 1833. The mural has always been his manager, have raised a family, sent

was entirely created by Ygartua on the side of a them to University and travelled the world with them for

World War II airplane hangar on Denny Island, decades, all supported by his amazing art and genius and

in 20 days (22 May to 10 June 2013). by her acumen as an agent. (M.D. Silverbrooke)

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