'Bring in some light and sound!': Alleyway behind Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre to get interactive makeover
An interactive art installation will take over an alleyway between Granville and Seymour streets
A wall of dumpsters, some broken glass, and a steady stream of commercial trucks — there's not much to look at in the grey alleyway behind Vancouver's famed Orpheum Theatre.
But if local artist Alex Beim gets his way, the laneway will receive a much-needed makeover, complete with colourful walls, art displays and more than 30 spiraling lights that dance as people walk beneath them.
"[The lights] will have a sensor that can see when people are under them," Beim said. "They'll change colours and make sounds, becoming this large musical instrument."
Beim's vision is part of a plan spearheaded by the collective More Awesome Now to revamp the alleyway into an artistic and cultural hub that would be called Ackery's Alley.
Organizers say the space could host concerts and other performances. They hope to get it up and running this summer, pending funding.
Past success
Last summer the group redeveloped an alley near West Hastings and Granville streets, called Alley-Oop. The walls are painted bright pink and yellow, and it features several basketball hoops.
It's also become ground-zero for selfies and artsy social media posts.
"The synergy is awesome, it gives people this 'full of colour' thing, and they feel happy," said Saba Pakdel, an international student who stopped by to snap a few pictures.
"We want to just put it on Instagram."
Charles Gauthier, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association CEO and More Awesome Now member, says the new space will take selfies to the next level.
"[We want to] add some colour, bring in some light and sound!" said Gauthier. "People are going to take video selfies, and they're going to send them all over the world."
Ackery's Alley
Gauthier says the success of Alley-Oop is proof that alleys across the city are under-utilized, and that by simply adding colour to the often drab lane ways can improve people's moods, and turn the areas into hangouts.
He says Ackery's Alley would have a painted red carpet over the roadway, and gold foil above the light display.
A performance area would even open the door for live shows.
"We could potentially have block parties in the future with DJs and light and sound and people having fun — and yes, maybe even people being able to have a drink."
Engaged walkers
The group is currently working to raise $35,000 to finance the space.
Beim hopes the project will come to fruition sooner rather than later. He says Ackery's Alley will help people become engaged with their surroundings.
"I would want people to feel like this is different, inspiring, to be surprised, talk to other people, just to really bring them back to the moment they're living in ... instead of being distracted and walking kind of like zombies on the street."
Follow Jon Hernandez on Twitter: @jonvhernandez