Some landmarks are more than structures. They become part of a community’s identity, a familiar sight that welcomes visitors, sparks memories, and reminds people what makes a place special.
For Altona, home of Friesens Corporation, one of those landmarks is the Big Easel featuring Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. For nearly three decades, it has stood as one of the community’s most recognizable symbols, welcoming visitors from Manitoba, across Canada, and around the world.
This summer, the restored Big Easel was officially presented back to the community, just in time for the Manitoba Sunflower Festival. The project brought together local leaders, businesses, donors, volunteers, tradespeople, and artist Cameron Cross, whose original vision helped create the landmark nearly 30 years ago.
Friesens was proud to be one of the business supporters that helped make the project possible. For us, supporting a project like this is more than helping preserve a local landmark. It is about investing in creativity, celebrating the arts, and contributing to the community we call home.
The Big Easel has become closely tied to Altona’s identity. Mayor Harv Schroeder described how its absence left “a hole on 10th Avenue,” noting that when people drive by, their heads turn “just like a sunflower.” He also spoke about the landmark’s importance to the community and local business, describing it as a showcase that encourages people to visit and experience the rest of the town.
That sense of connection is what makes public art so meaningful. It gives people a shared point of pride. It creates a reason to pause, gather, take photos, ask questions, and tell stories. It helps define the personality of a place.
The project, although painted by one man, became a community effort in every sense. Volunteers helped unload and move large panels, town staff worked alongside the artist, and local students visited during the painting process. One group of students even asked for a ladybug to be added to the painting – a small detail that now lives inside the finished piece.
Those are the moments that make community projects memorable. They remind us that art is not only something to look at. It is something people participate in, support, protect, and pass on.
At Friesens, we believe strong communities are built through shared effort. As an employee-owned company, we understand the value of people coming together to create something lasting. Supporting projects like the Big Easel restoration reflects our commitment to the place we live and work, and to the creative spirit that helps communities thrive.
The restored Big Easel now stands once again as a symbol of Altona’s creativity, pride, and connection to its roots. We are grateful to be part of a project that celebrates local history, supports the arts, and helps preserve something meaningful for future generations.
