Arts Features

Photos: Artists take to the streets at Mural Fest party, where newspaper boxes get fresh designs

by Amanda Siebert on June 24th, 2017 at 6:30 PM
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      Today, artists participating in this year's Vancouver Mural Festival took to the streets in Strathcona for an afternoon of art, music, and craft beer. 

      Four artists, Cristian Fowlie, Elyse Dodge, Andre Barnwell, and Simon Roy, are putting fresh coats of paint and snazzy designs on Georgia Straight newspaper boxes, as a nod to our 50th anniversary. 

      They began their designs this afternoon, and will be putting the finishing touches on the boxes during the Vancouver Mural Festival (August 7 to 12), when eight more artists will be painting boxes as well. The project is a partnership between the Straight, Vancouver Mural Festival, and Opus Art supplies, which is also celebrating its 43rd anniversary.

      Opus supplied artists with materials and will be paying them in kind with supplies from its store. 

      The family-friendly street party brought live DJs, breakdancing, food, and a craft beer garden to East Cordova Street between Campbell and Hawks Avenue. Two brand new murals were also unveiled.

      Browse throught the images below and be sure to check out the Vancouver Mural Festival in Mount Pleasant and Strathcona between August 7 and 12.

      A number of artists worked on special VMF boards as part of the street party.
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      Paramedics working the street party took part in a little painting too.
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      One of two murals unveiled at the street party, on Campbell Avenue.
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      The second mural is located on East Cordova at Campbell Avenue.
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      Cristian Fowlie told the Straight he didn't really have a specific inspiration behind his design, except that he wanted to use pink, and that he wanted to build a scene with a lot of interesting details.
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      More of Cristian Fowlie's newspaper box design.
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      Cristian Fowlie, Elyse Dodge, and Andre Barnwell painting their newspaper boxes.
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      Elyse Dodge: "I am actually painting the Lions. We'll see how much detail I can get but it was inspire by the fact that when you go around the corner to get a beer, you can see the Lions peaking out of the corner."
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      Elyse Dodge adds detail to her design.
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      More of Elyse Dodge's newspaper box.
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      Andre Barnwell told the Straight he was exploring the dichotomy of "intimacy, lovers, and sexist images" in his design.
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      (Notice the nipples on the back of the box.)
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      Andre Bramwell getting detailed.
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      Cristian Fowlie.
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      Another artists paints a VMF board.
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      Newspaper boxes getting fancy.
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      The heat didn't keep some street party-goers from playing a game of Ping Pong.
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      Live DJs spun modern and old-school hip hop for battling break dancers.
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      Simon Roy: "I'm kind of just freestyling it. My plan was to have bugs fighting little dudes... just little purple silhouettes, and maybe a spear stabbing the bugs."
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      Simon Roy.
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      Simon Roy.
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      Talented break dancers showed off their impeccable balance.
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      Look, ma, no hands!
      Amanda Siebert

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