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Painting up the trash Ramble and Ride commissions dumpster artwork
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, August 7, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Old Town residents will have tangible daily reminders of this year's Ramble and Ride thanks to a unique art project.
Chrissy Taylor paints wildlife on the side of the dumpster at the Dancing Moose Cafe during Ramble & Ride on Sunday. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo |
Nicole Garbutt, the co-ordinator for the festival, commissioned city artists to beautify some normally less-than-beautiful dumpsters in Old Town.
"It leaves something after the festival," Garbutt said. "It's all so much at once but then when it's over it's nice there's some remaining factor."
Joel Maillet splashed some colour on a dumpster across from the Gallery of the Midnight Sun on Sunday.
"I was quite flattered in fact," Maillet said of being asked to paint for the festival, "It's such a nice location."
Maillet applauds the idea of painting in public spaces, something he's done in the past. He said he was happy Ramble and Ride decided to allot money for the artists.
"It was a great, great way to be involved in the festival."
Garbutt said they paid each artist a set rate, but allowed them to paint whatever they'd like on the dumpsters.
Chrissy Taylor worked on a dumpster at the Dancing Moose Cafe, starting Saturday morning and finishing Sunday evening.
"I felt like a moose would be appropriate," Taylor said of her painting. "I wasn't really sure how it'd go. I just thought I'd throw some sunglasses on it."
Even though she hasn't painted in about eight years, Taylor said she set time restrictions and got to it.
"A lot of people wanted to come up and talk during the festival. It added to the whole spirit of Ramble and Ride," Taylor said.
Maillet said he was inspired by the positive potential of text and hand painting for his dumpster.
"We're so inundated by text everywhere," he said. "We don't have text and slogans that suggest good vibes or thoughtful messages."
When he's done with his dumpster, Maillet says he hopes it brightens up the area. He said the city could use more of this type of thing.
"I'd like to see more invitations to do this on the part of local business and the city," Maillet said. "We can transform something that's just a void in space to something that has an idea and message and resonates something in our minds."
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