Artist working to revitalize back alleys in Burnaby
Back alleys are typically seen as dark and dangerous areas but the City of Burnaby is hoping a local artist can help change that perception – one can of spray paint at a time.
Chris Allen is a professional artist who spends most of his time tattooing out of Grapevine Tattoo. But his love of art sparked his idea to ask the city of Burnaby to help him expand his work onto the city's walls.
"Anything that can brighten up somebody's day, whether it's a surprise wall that they can walk through and see or that they can relate to it's really cool to lend my hand to it."
Working in a tunnel just off Kingsway, Allen is working to transform the grey walls into a colourful walkway.
It's an approach he says makes the space not only vibrant but safer as well.
"I've probably had about four different women of various ages stop and say they love the work but also that they're really excited just because they feel safer on their daily walk to the SkyTrain and home."
Two women walking through the path agreed the new artwork brings life to the neighbourhood.
"Anything to help us feel a little bit more secure. I think it just makes it a bit brighter and makes it a bit safer for sure," one woman said walking by.
It's a plan the city hopes will help revitalize neighbourhoods.
"When you change a visual dynamic of an area, people become more engaged with upkeeping the area, take more responsible for it, take more ownership of it," said Todd Polich, the mural coordinator of the city of Burnaby.
"It's so dynamic and vibrant that it makes people get away from their phones and go check things out. It's the whole element of bringing something beautiful to the community and encouraging the community to keep it beautiful."
Allen's passion for art took off more than 20 years ago, after he decided to get sober. From tattooing to drawing – he creates on any canvas he can find.
"I knew from a young age, whether it was drawing on walls, or in the back of a classroom, or when I started pulling out my brushes and paints that this was my dream," said Allen.
But even though his latest installation is sanctioned by the local government, he says he's been mistaken for a vandal because he uses spray-paint.
"I had somebody call security on me, so security came up and I had to show them my contract," said Allen.
He plans to put a few more hours into this particular art piece before it's complete but hopes he can continue the project and bring colour and beauty to more empty walls around the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.