Stina Baudin, a Montreal‑based artist, announced plans to transform the roof of a 19th‑century barn in Quebec’s Eastern Townships into a night‑sky mural. The work is intended to draw public attention to the region’s largely forgotten Black heritage.
The proposed artwork will depict a night‑sky scene across the barn’s historic roof, using the structure’s age and rural setting as a backdrop for the visual narrative. Baudin’s choice of a barn, a building type common to the area, links the project to the local landscape while the celestial theme offers a symbolic canvas for remembrance.
The Eastern Townships have a Black community history that stretches back to the 1800s, yet this legacy remains under‑represented in mainstream accounts of the region. Historical records indicate that Black families settled in the area during the 19th century, contributing to its agricultural and cultural development, but their stories have rarely been highlighted.
By placing a night‑sky mural on a visible, historic structure, Baudin aims to make the hidden past more apparent to residents and visitors alike. The project is presented as a visual reminder that the Black presence in the Eastern Townships is an integral part of the area’s heritage, deserving recognition alongside other historical narratives.
The announcement was made on Saturday, 18 July 2026, and the artist hopes the mural will serve both as an aesthetic addition to the countryside and as a catalyst for broader discussion about the region’s diverse past. Baudin’s initiative reflects a growing interest in using public art to surface overlooked histories and to foster a more inclusive understanding of local identity.