Always Essential
Shae Anthony, BFA
Writing from Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Stz'uminus and Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilwətaɁɬ) lands, also known as Vancouver.
Shae is a student at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute.
During the pandemic, many businesses in Vancouver have been boarded up. Plywood covers the windows of shops, some of which may never re-open. These empty, boarded up establishments contribute to a sad and strange atmosphere, palpable in most public spaces. A local shop owner saw an opportunity to use the plywood boarding up the windows as canvas for artists to create murals. Over 35 murals have been completed as I write this, and new pieces are popping up every day. I became involved with the project because I’ve always felt that public art sends a powerful message, and brings people together. Mural making brings art and the artist into the public sphere. Community members smile, ask questions, or make observations as they pass. For many who are confined to their homes because of the pandemic, a small social interaction can make a big difference. For my mural contribution, I chose to include a quote from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which read:
“Food workers. Grocery clerks. Cashiers. Delivery drivers. Warehouse stockers. They were never ‘unskilled workers.’ They were always essential.”
It is plain to see that “unskilled workers” have kept us safe through the pandemic by putting their own lives on the line. As businesses slowly begin to reopen, my hope is that we can move forward in a new way. This new way would include ensuring all people earn a fair living wage. It would include time and space for creativity and rest, especially for frontline workers who have kept us going. We have an opportunity to change our society for the better, and now is a great time to begin.
Virtual tour of all murals made for the project can be viewed here: https://gastown.org/muralsofgratitude/.