Artist(s): Wil Yee
Completed: October 2020
The Utility Box Stories project – artwork wrapped onto three utility boxes – explores the story through original artwork and historical photos. The artwork envisioned will beautify and re-vitalise the Chinatown neighbourhood by helping to create a sense of historic place as well as discourage graffiti. The traffic signal boxes are located at Centre Street S. & 2nd Avenue, and 3rd Avenue, Calgary, Alberta.
In 2020, Fung Ling Feimo was awarded a Community-Initiated Public Art Microprojects grant for Utility Box Stories. The project addresses the erasure of local histories and seeks to explore the social intersections and cultural intersectionalities that make up Calgary. The project seeks to replace existing images on the Canton Block utility box to reflect rather than erase the BIPOC who were/are here.
Wil Yee is a multi-disciplinary artist and graduate of the Alberta University of the Arts. He spent countless summers with his grandparents in the heart of Chinatown before becoming a permanent resident of Calgary. Known for his murals and public artwork in Crescent Heights and on Memorial Drive, he is also a custom tattoo artist. The “Time and Tigers”, created for utility boxes in Chinatown, is inspired by the colours of theatrical make-up and designs in Cantonese opera.
The project acknowledges the support of the City of Calgary Community-Initiated Public Art Microprojects grant, and the Calgary Chinatown Development Foundation. The Utility Box Stories project offers sincere gratitude to supporters from the community and Tomorrow’s Chinatown Advisory Group.
For More Information: http://calgarychinatowndevelopmentfoundation.com/2020/10/08/update-two-new-chinatown-murals-on-utility-boxes/
Where to Find This Mural
Location: Centre Street South & 3rd Avenue Southeast, Calgary, Alberta T2G 2B8 | Get Directions
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