A new mural now illuminates the walls of Southport Bowl, capturing the community’s past, present, and personality in vivid, glowing colour. Spearheaded by Southport Aerospace Centre’s Digital Marketing Coordinator Anyssa Gates and brought to life by Winnipeg muralist Rachel Lancaster, the large-scale artwork is already drawing eyes, both in person and online.
Social media inspiration
Inspired by Lancaster’s dynamic social media portfolio, Gates says the idea came to her during a casual walk through the bowling alley.
“Rachel had found her way onto my TikTok algorithm, and I thought this was such a great idea,” Gates says. “Her work is exquisite, and it lights up every space she touches, so I thought ‘how can I apply it to Southport in the best way possible?”
Seeing a blank wall at the bowling alley sparked her vision for Southport’s vibrant first mural.
“This isn’t just a mural, it’s a long-term investment in atmosphere, in community, and in making Southport an even more inviting place to visit,” notes Gates.
A story of community and culture
The mural is a vibrant blend of Southport history and modern recreation, featuring aircraft that reflect the area’s deep military and aviation roots, alongside imagery of the amenities people love at Central Plains RexPlex.
“There's a rock-climbing wall, gym scenes, ‘Brews N’ Bites’ and, of course, bowling, all lit up in glow paint. There's a fun Canadian twist, too, because Manitoba Wildlife is worked into the design. Kids love spotting the animals, and honestly, adults do.”
Gates adds that Peggy May, the longtime CEO of Southport, who passed away last year, had long dreamed of having a mural installed in the community.
“I’m glad I get to carry that torch forward,” she says.
Freehand creativity
For Lancaster, who brought the wall to life, murals are an immersive process. The freehand artist doesn’t work from sketches and prefers to let the wall guide her.
“I get to the wall with hardly any idea,” Lancaster says. “Every mural I paint is kind of a representation of the mood I’m in that day. It’s great because then I get to live in each moment.”
Lancaster received some guiding notes from Gates, but the rest evolved naturally as she painted.
“I gave her the history of Southport and why the aircraft has such deep meaning, and she just free-handed everything. She knew what we wanted, and she over-delivered,” says Gates.
The mural features neon and glow paint, which reacts to black light. Lancaster spent nearly 24 hours over multiple days completing the piece, ensuring every detail glowed as intended once the bowling alley lights were dimmed.
“I went to the store with a black light, shined it on the paint, and bought whatever paint glowed the brightest,” Lancaster explains. “I didn't know what it looked like until it was all done. So, I turned off all the lights. And then I added extra glow where I thought it needed more with the black lights on.”
Viral views to visionary plans
Beyond the local impact, the mural is gaining serious online traction. Lancaster's short video showcasing the project has drawn nearly a million views across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, with strong engagement in the comments.
“Everyone seems to love it,” Lancaster says. “Some comments of people saying, ‘that's pretty close to where I live – I should go check it out!’”
Gates agrees, adding that the mural is boosting interest in Southport and sparking excitement about future possibilities.
“Collectively, it's almost at one million views. I've been reading the comments, and there's been nothing but great things being said. A lot of people wish they lived closer to go bowling here, and a lot of people have shared their story of bowling in Southport and how they are excited to come back.”
Gates says she is already dreaming up more projects, pointing to other blank walls around Southport that could benefit from Lancaster’s creative touch.
“Of course, now all I see are white walls, and I'd love to invite Rachel back and to get more murals done. We have a gymnasium upstairs and it's quite large. So, I think something up there would brighten up that space.”
As Southport’s first mural continues to light up both the bowling alley and the internet, proving that one colourful wall can open the door to a whole new vision for the community.
“This mural adds so much life and energy to the space,” says Gates. “It’s a celebration of who we are and where we’re going.”
