Urban Art and Culture
“Art is an evolutionary act. The shape of art and its role in society is constantly changing. At no point is art static. There are no rules.”
― Raymond Salvatore Harmon, BOMB: A Manifesto of Art Terrorism
― Raymond Salvatore Harmon, BOMB: A Manifesto of Art Terrorism
Every year at Dunbar bridge’s legal graffiti walls there is a paint festival that showcases and represents urban art and culture. The annual festival runs for four days in the late summer. It has a wide range of events including concerts, competitions, workshops, conferences and information areas where people can celebrate, learn and elevate hip hop culture. Every artist from break dancers, DJ’s and MC’s to graffiti artists attend to express their own form of art to best represent their culture.
On the walls just beneath the bridge, the art is forever changing. As the city of Ottawa has ruled this a legal graffiti spot, artists are continually displaying their work. The vibrant colours and creativity never cease to amaze the eye.
Coming from a place of passion for music and art, this spot really spoke to me. Being new to Ottawa and knowing very little about the area’s, history and different cultural backgrounds in the city, I felt as if I was back in my element upon discovering this location. The artwork others express really inspires me with my genre of art, not only in my music but my photography as well. I really admire how different artist can bring out a creative side to you that you never knew you had. This spot is perfect for anyone looking to channel their inner artist and creativity. At first I just thought it was a regular spot for people to come express their art but after some research I soon discovered the encouraging ways the city of Ottawa has made this acceptable and celebrated.
