Montserrat Murals Project
Have you ever wondered how communities around volcanoes celebrate the history they share with the landscape?
On Montserrat, the 'Curating Crises' project has partnered with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) in sharing the research data and findings with the local population and with the decision-makers in hopes of increasing volcanic risk awareness. The Montserrat murals form part of a multi-faceted community project that could achieve these objectives, while more widely benefitting Montserrat’s youth and more generally the community in the long-term.
At the core of the community project is the establishment in January 2023 of the MVO- Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) Club, during which a group of Montserrat students, from the locally called “Volcano babies” generation, embarked on a journey to reconnect with the history of Montserrat and learn about the past and ongoing impacts of the 1995 volcanic crises through a wide range of indoors and field-work activities, and by using archives and learnings from the ‘Curating Crises’ project.
For the students to share their vision of the island and of the island history with the local and international community, including the vast Montserratian diaspora, the MVO-MSS club culminated in May 2023 by the creation of the first community mural on the island at the Montserrat Secondary School, as well as three others community murals painted across the island.
Take a look below for a quick introduction to the murals and explore them further in our dedicated Montserrat Murals Exhibit which is being continually expanded as the groups on Montserrat produce more materials!
Metamorphosis of Hope
Building on Montserrat’s rich history, local knowledge and lush environment, the mural is a representation of the challenges that have been and continue to be overcome by the people of Montserrat.
The mural features two students, a boy and a girl, depicted in graduation wear with wings of the butterfly and dragonfly symbolizing the growth and metamorphosis of the youth of the island overcoming adversity and spreading their wings in pursuit of their dreams and aspirations.
As they reach for the stars, the students are inspired by remembering the challenges overcome by their elders (particularly, as represented, during periods of volcanic unrest or crisis eg in the 1930’s and 1990’s), and in acknowledging the overall contribution of the Montserrat population to volcano-monitoring and in general to volcanology.
Finally, the students find strength in the unique biodiversity of Montserrat, that includes the Montserrat oriole (the national bird), the heliconia (the national flower), the endemic Epidendrum montserratense, and in general, a variety of fruits, flowers, and vegetation that can be found thriving as a result of the island’s fertile volcanic soil.
Sea’s-eye View
A "sea's-eye view" of Montserrat, the mural captures the volcanic origin and history of the island, with, from North to South (left to right), our 4 volcanic centers – Silver Hills, Centre Hills, Soufrière Hills and South Soufrière.
The eroded topography of the Silver Hills volcano, and the rugged slopes of the Centre Hills volcano indicate that they are the first two regions of the island to have successively emerged and that these volcanic centers are now extinct. By contrast, the smooth landscape surrounding Soufrière Hills volcano suggests that it is the youngest part of the island, with the culminating dome formed during the recent volcanic crisis started in 1995, from which escapes a persistent volcanic gas plume, one of the signals suggesting ongoing volcanic activity.
Emerald possibilities
Embodying a message of resilience, the mural features a re-imagined "Mermaid of Chances Peak", and a tribute to the housing schemes such as Look Out and Davy Hill, which were developed to house families displaced due to volcanic activity during the eruption started in 1995.
In the original Montserratian folk-tale, the one who manages to capture the golden comb of the mermaid living in the pond atop Chance’s Peak - the pre-1995 summit of Soufrière Hills volcano - will possess her treasure chest. Here, enclosed in the mermaid’s hands, it has been re-imagined as a treasure chest of "Emerald possibilities" (referring to the island's nickname 'the Emerald Isle'), for the present and future generations. An ode to the interactions and integration between tradition and the advancement of technology, and its impact on the sharing of information and keeping us all connected during crises as depicted by the captivating bio-mechanical mermaid.
Hello Salem City!
The mural pays tribute to the village of Salem, the traditions and institutions that shaped the village and its people, and recall how it was impacted by the Soufrière Hills volcano 1995 crisis.
The mural is painted on the “Walkinshaw building”, constructed during the 19th century in the local “skirt and blouse” style, in Salem city center. In the 1940s, the building was Mr and Mrs Walkinshaw’s shop, where they would sell clothes but also where Montserratians could find the best bread of Montserrat for 2 pences. Still now, many Montserratians remember the memories associated with the pleasure to eat the delicious bread of Walkinshaw.
The mural also celebrates geographical and historical benchmarks such as the first airport on island located nearby in Olveston and the foundation in Montserrat of the regional LIAT airline. The beloved Salem Primary School, and the popular Belham Valley golf course are also represented. While both have been either buried or closed due to the Soufrière Hills volcano 1995 activity and the following emigration of many Montserratians including Salemites, a new golf course is now being re-built by a local businessman and there are hopes that the school building will also soon be refurbished and used as a community center.
