Latest mural in “Art Alley” highlights local Black history

Harrow artist Jermaine Baylis is creating a new mural in “Art Alley” in downtown Amherstburg.

Another art installation is being created in Amherstburg.

Artist Jermaine Baylis has been busy creating a new mural in “Art Alley” that runs between Dalhousie St. and Ramsay St. His work commemorates local Black history and is going up on one of the shipping containers at the back of Hotel STRY, facing the alley.

“They asked me to do a Black history mural about Amherstburg,” said Baylis.

Four faces are featured on the mural, the two in the middle being Melvin “Mac” Simpson and his wife Betty. They founded the North American Black Historical Museum in 1975, a museum that is now known as the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Also featured on the mural is former Amherstburg Mayor Wayne Hurst, with Baylis pointing out Hurst is the first Black mayor in the town’s history. Baylis said he has told Hurst that he wanted to do something to honour him, and now has him on a mural.

“I wanted to give him his flowers while he was still around,” said Baylis.

Donald Harris is also featured on the mural, with Harris being Baylis’ great uncle.

“He was very active in the community,” Baylis said of Harris. “He was involved with the museum. I wanted to honour him.”

Baylis explained that Harris passed away at age 99, but as his passing occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, very few people were able to attend his funeral.

Baylis said he has enjoyed art since he was five-years-old and has been a professional artist since the age of 16. The Harrow resident said he has been working in various mediums, including painting, air brushing, 3-D design, graphic design and VR design, the latter involving gaming. He has painted murals, houses, garages and hockey helmets.

The freedom of expression is what Baylis said he enjoys most.

No stranger to mural art, Baylis said he has two murals in Windsor – one on Sandwich St. and another on Erie St. The Sandwich St. mural in Windsor also features Mac and Betty Simpson.

“There are some in Toronto that I’ve done,” he added.

Baylis said that, as of last Saturday morning, he has been working on and off over the last two weeks on the mural with weather having caused some delays. He plans to take his time working on it but homes to have it done within a week or two. 

“I’ve been telling people to be patient,” he said. 

There have also been words of praise as he works.

“I’m getting my love out here,” said Baylis.

The mural will officially be unveiled as part of the Amherstburg Art Crawl July 18-20.

Latest mural in “Art Alley” highlights local Black history

By Ron Giofu