VMF2021 Neighbourhood: Downtown
The Downtown neighbourhood is proudly home to a collection of VMF murals. Should you find yourself wandering around Dunsmuir and Thurlow, keep your eyes up! Five of our large-scale murals dot the perimeters of neighbouring walls, all five painted during our 2020 Festival in collaboration with the Bentall Centre. A new light installation called ‘Parasol’ by the group Tangible now graces the plaza along Dunsmuir, showcasing haunting structures that glow blue at night.
Transforming and reimagining public space is an integral component of the work the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association does, supported in part by their laneway projects and newly incorporated ‘Perch Program’. Alley Oop, Ackery’s Alley, and Canvas Corridor in Eihu Lane all beautifully showcase the ways in which art can breathe new life into the utilitarian and the mundane. As these spaces evolve, new opportunities for spatial interaction and public enjoyment continue to blossom.
The Downtown Perch Program works to reinvigorate spaces that are privately owned but publicly accessible. Brightly coloured tables and chairs invite people to ‘perch’ and enjoy a moment of reprieve amid the hustle and bustle of Downtown. Cathedral Square, a newly incorporated perch, showcases art created under VMF’s ongoing project, Blanketing The City. Blanketing The City is a public art mural series and Reconciliation process designed by acclaimed xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Weaver and Graphic Designer, Debra Sparrow in collaboration with Vancouver Mural Festival.
Downtown is getting some truly special mural additions for this year’s festival. Joe average, a nationally respected artist and activist has designed a mural for Helmcken House, a building that provides affordable housing for those living with HIV/AIDS, led by the Mclaren Housing Society of British Columbia. The mural image, titled One World, One Hope - 40 Years Later, was originally commissioned and designed in 1994 for the 11th international conference on AIDS held in Vancouver in1996. The image was also used for Canada’s first postage stamp recognizing AIDS. The design has a beautiful stained glass effect, as though looking through a colourful window.
As an ode to Granville street and the many concerts that come and go, Nada Hayek’s mural titled With Special Guests aims to capture the lively spirit of these live events and showcase some of the impressive acts that walked Granville’s path. In Hayek’s own words, “the mural has a scrapbook-collage feel where candid shots, polaroids and used ticket stubs litter the page. Just like a scrapbook from our youth, this mural acts as an homage and public declaration of Granville Street's importance to Vancouver’s music scene. If you listen closely, you can almost hear someone saying, "Yeah, I was at that show in '75."
ENTER TO WIN THE DOWNTOWN PRIZE GIVEAWAY:
Discover Vancouver’s diverse neighbourhoods while having a chance to win some incredible prizes! This summer, participating neighbourhoods are generously providing gift packs curated from local businesses in their area. Download the VMF App and use the interactive map to help you find this year’s new murals and more across Vancouver!
Enter to WIN the Downtown prize giveaway that includes $150 gift card to Reflections with the instructions below:
Post a photo of a mural from Downtown
Tag @downtownvan @vanmuralfest in the photo and/or caption
Make sure to use #vmfdowntown and #vanmuralfest
Every carousel post equals another entry!
Winners for the neighbourhood giveaways will be chosen by August 25th.
Read the Terms and Conditions here.
MEET THE DOWNTOWN MURAL ARTISTS:
