Gastown’s Murals of Gratitude show businesses are down, but not out

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Many shops in Downtown Vancouver have been boarded-up due to a spike in commercial break and enters since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, some Gastown merchants are using the opportunity to showcase public artwork honouring provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C.’s other healthcare heroes.

A mural by artist Abi Taylor is painted of Dr. Bonnie Henry in Gastown. (Courtesy Gastown BIA)

The Murals of Gratitude, as they have come to be known, all began with Kim Briscoe, owner-operator of Kimprints.

“She started the idea, had some boarded-up windows, thought they don’t look very nice, and what can we do, both to make it look a little nicer, but I think also, show some support to all of the healthcare workers and our leaders out there,” explains Wally Wargolet, with the Gastown Business Improvement Association.

Wargolet is also a co-owner of nearby Dutil Denim.

“So, what started with one business and a few windows has now grown to over 20 businesses and 35 pieces of art that have been created in our neighbourhood,” he says. “It’s really kind of a grassroots effort here and kind of shows what can happen in our neighbourhood with businesses and artists getting together, getting creative, and how can we turn what is a negative into a positive.”

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He adds you don’t necessarily have to come and look at them in person. “I do encourage anyone who’s out there, who can’t, because of social distancing, get to Gastown, our BIA at Gastown.org, the website, we have all the murals photographed up there, so folks can enjoy them via a virtual gallery,” he says.  “There’s some thoughts about what we might want to do after COVID-19 with the pieces of art.  At this stage there’s a lot of different ideas but nothing set in stone.”

Ultimately, Wargolet says it’s Gastown’s way of sending a message of strength and solidarity to the outer world. “While we’re not open to the levels we wish, our neighbourhood is still open in some way and we appreciate any support that we can get from the local community.”

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