A lot of people are going to miss Siya Ghaffari down at the southeast corner of Westminster and Martin.
The accommodating Iranian-Canadian artist arrived Sunday with one task in mind -- to transform the highly visible north wall of Slackwater Brewing from bland to beautiful. To add a little colour and vibrancy to one of Penticton's busiest intersections.
And when he slaps on the final few brushstrokes Friday morning, he will have done just that.
But along the way Ghaffari became an attraction all on his own.
He enthusiastically chatted with passers-by. He smiled to the grown-ups and waved to the kids. And he kept the corner alive from morning to night with his boombox. From jazz to blues, it was a constant serenade.
"It's been beautiful," said Ghaffari, who fled a nation under siege three decades ago yet remains haunted by the mental images.
"I have a very good feeling here because I'm free. I listen to music, people come and talk with me and enjoy what I've done on the wall.
"But it's such a hard time for all businesses right now. So this has been really important for me to do."
Slackwater co-owner Doug Guerard is thrilled with the experience.
"It’s been absolutely fantastic," he said Thursday evening. "We're overwhelmed with gratitude toward everyone that's helped put this together. Renee Matheson (art gallery owner and Ghaffari's mentor), HSBC, which generously gave us use of their lot to do it, and a special thank-you to Anthony and Sue from Spot On Painting Co for going out of their way to prepare this project."
But Guerard reserved his heftiest props for the artist himself.
"Siya's remarkable," he said. "He wanted to take it even a few steps further than we anticipated, and he's done that. And not with spray paint, but all done by hand. He's a true artist."
To see more of Siya Ghaffari's works, contact Matheson & Grove Fine Art Gallery here.
