There’s something new on the walls at No Picnik Co-Working—a mural that tells the story of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy—from its roots in the fishery to its future in the clean energy industry. The piece captures the province’s natural beauty, its evolving industries, and the people driving the growth of a vibrant and environmentally sustainable economic future.
“This artwork will serve to be an important reminder – each and every day for our staff and the many visitors we see at our office – of the purpose and importance of econext’s work and existence,” said econext’s CEO Kieran Hanley. “We have a 40-foot hallway which is traveled dozens of times everyday by our employees, others at No Picnik, and all of our visitors,” he said, “and we saw this as an opportunity to tell the important story of our association and its members.”
The mural is filled with symbols and depictions of Newfoundland and Labrador’s past, present, and future economies— from the fisheries, to the offshore, to wind and hydro power. It reflects the work that econext’s members are doing every day, moving industries forward while staying connected to the land and ocean that defines us.
The mural was designed and painted by well-known local artist Molly Margaret. “Molly worked closely with us to bring this vision to life,” said Hanley. “We were lucky that she was able and willing, and her work has already made for a brighter and more inspiring workspace.”
“Creating this mural for econext was an incredibly enjoyable experience! Collaborating to create a concept that blended the province’s imagery with achievements in the evolving green economy was a unique opportunity,” said artist Molly Margaret. “It was exciting to dive into their core values and mission, weaving them into a vibrant and meaningful illustration. Painting in the workspace was a true highlight, allowing me to bring the piece to life with bright saturated colors and energy. I’m very proud of this piece and I hope it brings some joy to everyone who steps into the office!”
Now a permanent fixture at No Picnik, the mural will reinforce with visitors Newfoundland and Labrador’s history and the bright green future that it has in front of it. “We all have a role to play in helping the province to realize this future,” said Hanley. “This artwork will be a continuous reminder of econext’s mission and the important work our staff are doing each and every day to contribute to Newfoundland and Labrador’s future.”
About No Picnik
No Picnik is a co-working space on the second floor of 235 Water Street in the heart of Downtown St. John’s. The space includes private offices, workstations, access to meetings rooms, and a wide variety of shared amenities. More information can be found at https://nopicnik.ca/.
About Molly Margaret
Molly is an Illustrator and Muralist from St. John’s, Newfoundland. She received her Bachelor of Design in Illustration at OCAD University in Toronto, Canada in 2018. Her work is largely inspired by plants and botanicals, East Coast imagery and culture, as well as architecture and people. She prioritizes creating joyous, colourful, and whimsical work for everyone to enjoy. More information can be found on her website https://mollymargaretart.com/.
About econext
econext is a not-for-profit association with a mission to accelerate clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador by: (1) stimulating research, development, and innovation; (2) preparing its workforce for a greening economy; and (3) acting as a catalyst for climate change action within its industries, businesses, and communities.
econext has been working for over 30 years on behalf of its members across many sectors to support environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.
