Uptown Waterloo BIA public art projects showcase local artists
Window Walkers and Hughes Lane Art Walk projects call on local artists to paint businesses' windows and doors
The Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) is supporting local artists and businesses through several public art projects.
The BIA, with the help of the City of Waterloo, put a call out for artists to participate in the The Hughes Lane Art Walk project and the Uptown Window Walkers project, which is currently underway.
"Our local artists, like our local businesses have been greatly impacted by the pandemic and all could use our support," said Tracy Van Kalsbeek, executive director of the Uptown Waterloo BIA.
"I think art is a start of a conversation and it gets people talking and checking out new things. And for us it's getting people to come to uptown and explore uptown."
Back door decor
The Hughes Lane Art Walk project called on local artists to paint the back doors of businesses along King Street.
Van Kalsbeek said the project was to launch originally in June during the city's Open Streets event, but the pandemic pushed the date to August.
She said the BIA hopes to launch a virtual tour of Hughes Lane that will showcase each door and provide information on the piece and the artist.
Nikolina Kupcevic is one of eight local artists who participated in the Hughes Lane project. She painted her piece on the back door of Zero Waste Bulk.
"I like to explore conceptual themes. I'm fascinated by the power of art and how it's able to pull a viewer in," she said.
Kupcevic says this was her first public art project. Her piece, Enlightened, depicts a side portrait of a woman lighting a candle resting on her forehead.
"With that, I really wanted to explore the theme of empowerment and self evolution," she said.
"She realizes the strength of her spirit and the strength of her own light. She didn't need anybody else to light that candle for her."
The piece is crossed by black lines to represent barriers in the woman's life, Kupcevic said.
Window Walkers
The Uptown Window Walkers project is also currently underway.
Dana Shortt Gourmet and Gifts recently had their storefront painted, said Van Kalsbeek, adding that more storefronts in the uptown area will be painted next week.
Van Kalsbeek said the BIA may run a similar project for the holidays.
