Esquimalt’s trackside gallery gets a dose of fresh paint from local and national artists this month, culminating in a public celebration.
Now through the first week of September, more than 50 graffiti artists are expected to roll up and paint in an outdoor graffiti jam at the area known as the Trackside Art Gallery.
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Visitors to the Trackside Art Gallery can expect to see larger-than-life urban art pieces come together on the backs of the warehouses along the E&N Rail Trail between Hereward Road and Lampson Street.
“We received funding from the BC Arts Council and BC Healthy Communities, which meant we were able to remove the defunct panels at the top of the Trackside Art Gallery. This year we are using that recovered space to provide opportunities to a diverse group of experienced graffiti and mural artists to create large-scale works that aren’t typically done in the area,” co-organizer Jason Colville explained. “It’s a great opportunity to educate the public around the importance of urban art in our communities.”
The event follows a larger project started last year to bring renewed interest and resources to the gallery and marks the third Colville and his team have organized a Trackside Paint Jam.
This is their first year openly inviting the public.
“In past years we kept things kind of underground because there were some questions around the legality of the site, but this year we worked with the Esquimalt Community Arts Hub to get permission from the CRD, Township of Esquimalt and all the building owners to run the event. It’s been important to us that all of our artists feel safe and welcome to participate,” Colville said.
The public is invited on the final day to watch the artists paint on Sept. 4.
Follow the Trackside Paint Jam online at instagram.com/trackside_paint_jam.
