Home > AHA Media, April Smith, Community Engagement, Downtown Eastside, DTES, Soul Gardens Public Art Project, Vancouver, Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Vancouver DTES, W2, W2 Community Media Arts > Wayde Compton shares history of the African American community for W2 Soul Garden in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)

Wayde Compton shares history of the African American community for W2 Soul Garden in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)

August 20, 2011 ahamedia Leave a comment Go to comments

Soul Gardens Public Art Project

Time: July 5, 2011 to September 21, 2011
Location: W2 Media Cafe, DTES locations
Event Type: project, exhibition, workshop
Organized By: W2 Woodwards

Event Description

Soul Gardens is a W2 community public art project that investigates the cultural history of the Downtown Eastside as told through stories of food, gardening and community.

A collaboration between five muralists and five artist researchers, the project draw heavily on individual and shared narratives within founding DTES cultural groups including the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations, and African, Chinese, Japanese and European settlers. In addition to a large public mural, Soul Gardens will create a dynamic online interface inviting individuals to share recipes, stories, photos and other information about how food has played a role in shaping their experience of Vancouver.

Muralists: Jordan Bent, Indigo, Scott Sueme, Melanie Shambach, Take5. Researchers: Wayde Compton, Lani Russwurm, Anne Marie Slater, Sid Tan and Cease Wyss. Project Coordinators: Irwin Oostindie, Lianne Payne.

Look here for further event updates on the project as they are announced, including long table dinners, recipe card collections, and public talks and workshops on cultural heritage and community history.

With support from the City of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary Grants Program and the participation of the Government of Canada. Artwork design: Jordan Bent.

Below are photos and videos of Wayde Compton sharing history of the African American community in the DTES from a writer and historian’s perspective.