Stina Baudin will begin work on a night‑sky mural painted on the roof of a 19th‑century barn in Quebec's Eastern Townships on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 4 a.m. EDT. The project is intended to draw public attention to the region’s largely forgotten Black heritage.
The chosen barn, dating back to the 1800s, will serve as a canvas for a depiction of the night sky, a visual element Baudin hopes will resonate with viewers and prompt reflection on the hidden stories of Black residents who have long lived in the area. By placing the artwork on a historic agricultural structure, the artist links the region’s built environment with its cultural past.
Black history in the Eastern Townships is seldom represented in local public art. While the area is known for its picturesque landscapes and historic farms, the contributions and presence of Black communities have remained largely undocumented in visual media. Baudin’s mural seeks to address this gap by providing a prominent, publicly visible reminder of that legacy.
The timing of the installation, set for the early hours of July 18, aligns with the artist’s intention to capture the transition from night to day, mirroring the shift from obscurity to recognition for the Black narratives of the region. The mural will be visible from the surrounding fields and roads, offering both residents and visitors an opportunity to encounter the artwork as part of the everyday landscape.
Local observers note that the initiative adds a new dimension to the cultural fabric of the Eastern Townships, where historic sites often focus on European settlement patterns. By foregrounding Black history through a striking visual piece, Baudin’s work may encourage further exploration and acknowledgment of the diverse peoples who have shaped the area.
The project stands as a concrete step toward integrating underrepresented histories into the public sphere, using art to illuminate stories that have long been overlooked.