Mural festival kicks off on St. Laurent Blvd.

The walls in and around St. Laurent Blvd. are getting more colourful as the fourth annual Public International Mural Festival is underway.

Over the course of the event, which runs until June 19, organizers said they hope to see 65 murals get completed.

Co-organizer Andre Bathalon said his wish is for the to watch artists at work, so they can appreciate the detail that goes into each piece.

“The goal is really to attract the attention, so we’re not doing any subtle concepts,” said Bathalon. “All the drawings are edgy, punchy so they really make you stop to say ‘Wow.’”

The murals are part of the St. Laurent street festival, which merchants say is a great opportunity to show off an area of the city that has been through a tough period.

"It has been through some rough times in the last few years, so we're happy to see this vibe and we hope it continues throughout the summer," said Peter Pavsek, who runs a boutique on St. Laurent.

"It's great with all the murals and the painting that's going on," said Maestro SVP owner Iline Polansky. "St. Laurent is alive again."

During the street festival, traffic will be closed on St. Laurent from Sherbrooke to Mount Royal, but will remain open to pedestrians.