Vancouver serves as a source of inspiration for many artists and creatives.
From Vancouver-inspired tattoos to being the subject of cool digital art, the city, oftentimes its impressive skyline of skyscrapers under looming mountain ranges, is the muse of many creative folks.
While Vancouver itself is a beautiful city, two artists, David Vegt and M W. Bowen, found inspiration in one of its quaint neighbourhoods and the change-making locals that reside there.
The project, titled Habitual, spotlights 22 unique East Vancouver residents who help shape the neighbourhood. The 25 oil paintings capture the lives of a fashion pioneer, tattoo artist, baker, and many more inspiring locals.
Among the subjects are CBC journalist and creator of the Land Back podcast Angela Sterritt, Dr. Christy Sutherland who operates the only clinic offering family doctors to the Downtown Eastside, and Natasha Jung, the creator of a blog that showcases Asian Americans in Canada, Cold Tea Collective.
The project interviewed, photographed, and then painted each resident. Each painting includes a biography of the individual.
"The point of the project was to give some shine to people who aren't always in the spotlight, but who make impactful contributions to the local communities," says M W. Bowen, one of the two artists behind Habitual. "At first I thought it would just be a good project to motivate me and create some work, but the interactions I ended up having were profound."
The collection of paintings will be on display March 6 through March 24 at the Pendulum Gallery (885 West Georgia St), with an opening night on March 9 and an Artist's Talk evening on March 17. All portrait subjects have been invited to attend.
