“What a Ride”
Mural Magic Speaks for and to Community
As you’ll gather, until recently I didn’t consider myself an artist, unless organizing in the name of community is an art, a listener for community and a vision enabler…
Steve Hornung is one of those guys you instantly like, a creative entrepreneur and brilliant artist, a playful man with a generous heart. We first met through Whistler actor/comedian friend Razza Ryan Harris, Steve had a studio not far off Main St in Vancouver where he printed his artwork as roll up murals he’d mail to folks to paste up on their own walls at home. A few weeks later we were back in his studio space dancing, he’s also a DJ who loves to see his friends move and shake their booty.
A wonderful tribe of people in love with life and creative expression.
This mural “What a Ride” came about as Vancouver, a city undertaking rapid change, was drafting their redevelopment plan for the downtown West End neighbourhood of some 40,000 people that included roughly 4,000 artists. The high school wall adjacent to the Library and Community Centre was chosen. Steve left this beautiful mark on the city, one of a few you’ll find of his in downtown Vancouver, including inside the Hyatt Hotel where you climb the staircase to the roof, another on a neighbouring schoolyard wall, a collaboration with the students.
What a Ride was created to launch the West End Art Plan, the hopes of a future that would include affordable housing, artist co-ops, laneway housing and studios, an art strip on Robson was envisioned, places for community and community artists to gather, create and share.
The WEArts local art market came of it all, a pop-up gallery, Summer Sounds in Alexandra Park, I’m excited to see the Art Market return this summer after 2 years of pandemic shut-downs.
Eight years later I’m not sure how much there is to see for artists downtown other than new high-rise towers, fancy homes for the rich, many of the long time resident artists leaving for more affordable communities. There’s a new artist hub and smattering of murals thanks to Vancouver Mural Fest spreading into new neighbourhoods beyond their origins around Main Street, great splashes of colour for all to enjoy. Here’s their 11 days of free events Aug 4-14 2022.
Mural fest came from artists working with the city seeking solutions to a rise in graffiti, the theory being less tagging of art than naked or scruffy alley walls.
Why share all this, you may ask ?
Other than being a wonderful piece of art, Steve’s mural also demonstraights how art shares hope for the future, as well as capturing the past, an escape from the pressures of daily life, art captures the spirit of people, of play, both reflecting and inspiring life.
My deepest hope is that Vancouver delivers on promises to support the arts at community and all levels, art encourages the creative human spirit, it is our expression that creates dialogue, connection and hope, a vision for life that works for us all. Inclusive, diverse, accessible, and true to who we are.
Thank you Steve. Thank you Razza. Thank you WEArts. And thank you to all my artist friends along the way, even if we haven’t met yet...
Do you have a favourite mural in your neighbourhood ? Would you like to see more ?
The resulting Art Plan Vision for the West End
Artist Steve Horning @artiststeve https://www.instagram.com/artiststeve/ https://www.facebook.com/steve.t.hornung
What a Ride, mural by Steve Hornung located on Denman St outside the West End Community Centre & Library in downtown Vancouver.
The concept sketch… Thank you Steve, the City of Vancouver, West End BIA, WEArts and King George Secondary School, “What a Ride” collaboration for art in the city.
