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K-Laba Hair & Beauty Supplies Inc. Mural located at 632 Dundas Street in London, Ontario

Old East Village Main Street Murals: K-Laba Hair & Beauty Supplies Inc.

632 Dundas Street • London, Ontario N5W 2Y8
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    • Address:

      632 Dundas Street • London, Ontario N5W 2Y8

      The OEV Main Street Mural Program has the aim of building community and beautifying the Old East Village neighbourhood. This program pairs five artists together for a total of five murals.

      The program aims to facilitate new artist partnerships and mentorship opportunities. The mural installations were an integral part of the community events series, Only in OEV Fridays, which happens every second Friday in Old East Village. The high-profile and visible mural locations expand upon the existing public art found in Old East Village, creating art attractions for residents and visitors alike to enrich the experience of the neighbourhood.?

      The OEV Mural Mentorship Program was supported by Fed Dev Ontario and My Main Street through the Community Activator Program.

       

      ABOUT THE MURAL

      The mural at 632 Dundas Street by Amsa Yaro and Rain Bloodworth was created in collaboration with Angella Kyabaggu, the owner of K-laba Hair & Beauty Supplies Inc., and her daughter Ramona. Although K-laba wanted to celebrate that they are a Black-owned business that brought haircare to the Black community in London over 25 years ago, they also wanted to demonstrate that their reach extends much further. Angella explained how K-laba is for everyone and reaches a diverse range of people including the LGBTQ2S+ community, chemotherapy patients and people with Alopecia. The artists thought of the phrase “Love Starts Here” to convey the village as an inclusive community and the mural depicts a diverse group of people, celebrating their uniqueness. The mural also incorporates many recognizable Old East Village landmarks such as the Western Fair, Aeolian Hall and a nod to Old East Village’s heritage buildings. Elements of the mural also celebrate the arts and culture present in the village, such as hands holding a microphone and a paintbrush.

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    Mural Artists

    About The Artists


    Amsa Yaro

    Amsa Yaro is a mixed/multi media artist and digital illustrator. She has created original works that stem from the inspiration she gathers from the culture and current issues of her home country, Nigeria. She creates works with a variety of materials which include acrylic, paper, yarn and more. Yaro has been a part of several events in her city of London, Ontario, such as the Black History Month Arts Pop Up Show,London Arts Live shows, a Black Visual Arts Exhibition and the Fire Roasted Coffee Co. Artisan Series.

    Artistic Style:
    Yaro sees her style as colorful and vibrant stories bursting on a canvas and sculpture using layers and texture. It is ever evolving as Yaro’s practice continues, adding in new elements as she explores a variety of materials like wire, resin, etc. Yaro is inspired by artists like Peju Alatise, Laolu, Chief Nike Okundaye and indigenous Nigerian artisan skills and crafts like Adire prints, pottery, calabash markings and more.


     

    Rain Bloodworth

    Rain Fenek Bloodworth (she/they) is a mixed race, mixed media artist working and living in London, Ontario. Rain’s work seeks to build community and intersectional solidarity between various marginalized and oppressed identities, such as 2SLGBTQI+ folx, BIPOC, women and femme presenting people, as well as those living with disabilities or mental illness. Rain has exhibited with local galleries and venues such as 100 Kellogg Lane, Good Sport Studio & Gallery, Forest City Gallery and the Satellite Gallery. They graduated from Western University with their Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2022.

    Artistic Style:
    Rain describes their artistic style as “eclectic, honest and intrapersonal, if not visceral or blunt”. They enjoy making interactive drawings/paintings and non-traditional sculpture or installations. Rain is inspired by contemporary artists such as Jenny Saville, Suzzan Blac, Laurie Lipton and Kim Noble, as well as referencing the visual styles of Louis Wain, Emily Caroll, Yuko Tatsushima and the ‘ignorant’ tattoo style.

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