Art rises from ugly rampage
Lithographs, prints to aid charity
A Langley artist has recreated the resilient, big-hearted spirit of Vancouver prominently displayed after the Stanley Cup riot — and turned the ugly event into a cause for good.
Like most Lower Mainland residents, Gina Kling watched horrified and helpless as destruction unfolded in downtown Vancouver after the Canucks lost Game 7 to Boston last June.
“But I know that wasn’t representative of who Vancouverites are and who Canadians are,” said Kling.
She went downtown to take photos of volunteers cleaning up, but was struck by the plywood panels that sprouted in front of The Bay windows and the spontaneous outpouring of emotions etched on them.
Eventually dubbed the “Citizen Wall,” the panels became an outlet of community catharsis that conveyed love, gratitude, hope for the city’s future (and Stanley Cup prospects) as well as some frustration and anger.
“They spoke what they thought. It’s wonderful,” said Kling on Thursday. “I expected I might have to edit out some profanities, but there were none.”
One of the more memorable messages, she recalled, was a cheeky “Don’t blame Surrey.”
“I laughed, but when you look at Surrey as a whole, there are so many wonderful, talented, progressive people. I thought ‘you’re right.’ We shouldn’t blame any community.”
Over four months, Kling recreated two oil canvases — one with a large “We Heart Van” and another with “Louuuu!” — painstakingly copying the handwriting and drawings.
The work is as close as possible to the original, said Kling.
She is now selling Impression of Love online as a two-piece set of 50 x 75 centimetre lithographs or canvas prints for $150 and $250 respectively.
After covering costs, all proceeds will go to Covenant House Vancouver, which helps homeless and runaway youth.
About 50 panels of the original wall were donated by the Bay and other businesses to the City of Vancouver. They are stored in the Museum of Vancouver.
Joan Seidl, director of collections and exhibitions, said there are plans to mount a small exhibition commemorating the riot this June.
To see Kling’s gallery, visit www.absolutelyart.ca.