Essential workers inspire mural in Warehouse District

Art may not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a pandemic, but Josh Goff spent the past week working on a mural for the essential workers on the frontlines of that pandemic.

Goff said he was commissioned to do the mural by the Regina Warehouse District. It involves bold colours and faces — one wearing a mask — painted across boards that were put up to protect the closed-down Humpty’s at Albert Street and Ninth Avenue.

Josh Goff spent a week working on a mural in the Warehouse District to recognize essential workers during the pandemic. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

“They gave me some freedom with it. They had said that they wanted something that kind of related to the workers but also was positive and bright. So I just used a lot of colour and changed it from being very plain to being very colourful and happy,” said Goff.

The paintings also include a couple of phrases: “Be kind” and “Stay positive.” Goff said he thought they were simple and powerful.

“As everything’s going on, I’ve been to the grocery store and seen people fighting over yogurt, but I’ve also seen people helping each other out and being really helpful and positive,” he said.

The pandemic has been a bit rough for Goff. He said he has mostly spent it at home on the couch and he gets a little “stir crazy” from time to time.

Josh Goff spent a week working on a mural in the Warehouse District to recognize essential workers during the pandemic. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

He’s a muralist, tattoo artist, and workshop instructor, but said this project was the first work he has had since the pandemic started.

Goff said it feels good to have such an uplifting project to work on.

“There’s a lot of people that love to honk and say hello and bring me free lunches and things like that,” he said. “It’s a great feeling seeing people out and about.”