The story behind Vernon’s new street art

VERNON – There’s some eye-catching and thought-provoking new art in downtown Vernon.

‘I am’ alphabet boards were recently installed along 31 Street in downtown Vernon.

The Respect Lives Here project is a series of poetic boards which answer a simple question: Who am I? 

Several diverse groups worked with artist Ryan Robson to find the words that best described themselves and then painted the poetic prose onto large black boards.

“The resulting art pieces are poignant, powerful and absolutely beautiful. They need to be experienced to be appreciated,” Annette Sharkey with the Social Planning Council of the North Okanagan says.

The Vernon Women’s Transition House, Vernon District Immigrants Service Society, the Vernon Community School, an LGBQT group from WL Seaton School, artists from Canadian Mental Health Association, youth from NOYFSS and moms from the Pregnancy Outreach Program at the First Nations Friendship Centre participated in the project.

The boards can be viewed on Nolan’s Pharmasave, It’s Bath Time – Dog Grooming and North Okanagan Youth and Family Services during the summer and fall of 2016. 

The project was funded by the province and hosted by the social planning council in partnership with the DVA, City of Vernon and Vernon Public Art Gallery.

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