To mark what would have been the 11th annual O+ Kingston Festival, but was put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, O+ asked Vince Ballantine to paint a mural portrait of a Kingston figure of his choosing. Ballentine decided to paint local bon vivant Uncle Willy, a fixture in both Kingston and nearby Rosendale, particularly in their dive bars, festivals and music venues. Uncle Willy is known for a costume-like wardrobe that often includes colorful robes, sparkly glasses and a crown. Ballantine mentored talented local teen (at the time) artist Tafari Saunders through this project, giving him access to his first mural making opportunity.