Okay, Lacombe. You got my attention. And I just can’t take my eyes off this new mural on 50 Avenue, the one that was commissioned by the City of Camrose, created by Lauren Cowles. It's beautiful, sure. But I see something more. Something deeper. Something decentralized.

Digital Identity Needs A Hometown Touch

We're drowning in digital identities. Facebook profiles, Google accounts, government-issued IDs. Centralized. Controlled. Vulnerable. Imagine if who we are, where we belong, was no longer determined by an uncaring Silicon Valley tube or DMV table … What if it was based on something real, something near home.

That mural, that’s Lacombe’s identity painted on a wall. Cowles continued to work with the city for eight months on that collaboration. That’s community. And that’s a principle that reflects the individualistic, decentralized ethos of blockchain.

Could this mural be an NFT? A non-fungible token? I know, sounds crazy. But now picture fractional ownership of this digital representation being given out to Lacombe residents. You possess a unique part of what makes your town special. You have a say in its future. An investment in the community, literally.

NFTs Unlock Community Ownership

It's not about replacing the physical mural. It’s not just about capturing it, it’s about augmenting it, it’s about giving it a digital life, it’s about empowering the community along the way.

Now, let's take it a step further. If the mural were a digital asset, how would the community manage its usage and development over time? Cue the DAO – the Decentralized Autonomous Organization. A community-led, democratic structure in which the community decides everything together, transparently, and in an immutable way on the blockchain.

  • Verification: The mural, as an NFT, could serve as a digital key to unlock exclusive community benefits, events, or even discounts at local businesses.
  • Fundraising: Proceeds from the NFT sale could fund future public art projects, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of community expression.
  • Legacy: The NFT preserves a digital record of the mural for future generations, ensuring its story and significance are never forgotten.

The citizens of Lacombe will vote on each subsequent version of the mural’s NFT. They have the option to select limited edition prints or to commission wholly new digital works informed by the original. The possibilities are limitless.

DAO Governs The Community's Art?

The City of Lacombe is inviting residents to come check out the new mural. They do not intend for viewers to recognize its symbolic aspects by means of a Facebook post. What if all of that engagement was fueled by a DAO? Now imagine that each time you correctly identified those elements you received tokens for it, increasing your voting power within their community even more.

Reclaiming our digital selves and building our communities from the bottom up.

Okay, okay. I hear the critics. "Rajiv, you're overthinking this. It's just a mural!"

You're right, to a degree. First, art should be experienced on its own terms. But art reflects the times. And in this moment, as loudly as possible, the times are calling for decentralization, for ownership, for community.

Overthinking Art Or Future Thinking?

Lauren Cowles painted this mural digitally on her iPad. It was subsequently printed full-size on a dibond sign! The only thing that I did that just fundamentally opens up to more things was the digital nature of it.

This isn't about replacing the artist's vision. It's about amplifying it. It’s more than just building new technology, it’s about using this technology to better connect people to their community in new, exciting, and meaningful ways. We’re creating a world where the future is no longer determined by centralized powers who decide who we are. Rather, our identities lie in our homes and families – the places and people we love most.

To be sure, Lacombe’s mural is a lovely work of art. But it's a symbol. A testament to the magic that happens when we harness the potential of decentralization and community ownership. Picture a world in which our online personas take on the richness. They are a testament to the originality of the culture that decorates the walls of our museum.

Perhaps Lacombe is just about to blow up big like Nanton did before them. Perhaps this mural is more than some cool paint on a wall, but rather, a literal blueprint for a decentralized future. I, for one, can’t wait to see where it takes us.

Lacombe's mural is a beautiful piece of art, no doubt. But it's also a symbol. A symbol of what's possible when we embrace the power of decentralization and community ownership. It's a glimpse into a future where our digital identities are as vibrant and authentic as the art on our walls.

Maybe Lacombe is on the verge of something big. Maybe this mural isn't just paint on a wall, but a blueprint for a decentralized future. I, for one, am excited to see where it leads.