The Vancouver Mural Festival August 2017

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas
Photos by Luke Tsoukalas

The festival actually takes place as a series of events over a couple of weeks and the murals are visible throughout the year. Lucky us! We went on Saturday, the 12th and what a day it was. I always dress colorfully, in keeping with the dynamic paintings on walls, dumpsters, furniture, mannequins, windows, and in company with everyone else who dresses for the murals. My entire outfit: top, skirt, shoes and bag are from our fabulous boutique thrift for a great cause: MySister's Closet, Seymour and Helmcken, Vancouver.

We spent most of the day walking up Main Street and enjoying the music and food trucks along the way. I cannot say enough about how neighborhoods are brightened and creatively defined  by murals. It is such a visual world and every picture leads to conversation. People talk while the murals are in process and this year, especially, families participated in painting, writing, photography, socializing, eating, dancing, singing and more. 78 Artists, but really, everyone was invited to be an artist for a day and to keep on looking every day. The Mural Fest, a street party for the city. Thanks to our spectacular creatives and to the ladders that hold them.

Here's last year's murals. See they keep on growing!