The backs of a row of warehouses along the E&N Rail Trail have once again been turned into an outdoor art gallery, the blank walls serving as canvases for works by more than 50 graffiti artists.
This is the third year for the Trackside Art Gallery, where local and nationally renowned graffiti artists come together for an outdoor “graffiti jam,” creating pieces of art approximately 30 metres wide and six metres tall.
Megan Sandover-Sly, the event’s co-organizer, said the opportunity attracts both artists and tourists from all over North America. “There was even one from Europe.”
She said the biggest change this year is that the event is co-produced by her store, Thrift/Craft Alternative Art Supply, and the Esquimalt Community Arts Hub, which got permission from the Capital Regional District, Township of Esquimalt and warehouse owners to stage it.
“Graffiti artists have peen painting on the buildings for years, on an informal basis,” she said. “Most of the businesses, like Driftwood Brewing or The Wholesale Club, seem to enjoy the colourful pieces. We offer a nice service for them, painting their walls — using good-quality paint — and then weatherproofing it for free.”
The artists are given free rein to paint their visions — as long as they’re not offensive and don’t feature violence.
Artists range from amateurs to professionals trained in production design who paint murals for a living.
About 11 have been on site since the middle of the month, working on their pieces on rented aerial work platforms. The rest, close to 40, have been working at ground level.
Most graffiti artists locally know each other and each other’s art. For the event, some would seek permission from the previous artist to paint over an older piece. Others would just paint over some of their earlier work.
Sandover-Sly said the community has been very supportive, including someone who set up an outdoor barbecue and offered food to the artists. Others have brought along their folding chairs to watch the artists paint.
The art on display sometimes lasts only a few weeks, but it can also stay up for a whole year.
“There can be disagreements between artists, a piece may get vandalized or an artist will sometimes paint over their own work,” said Sandover-Sly. “The pieces that can only be accessed using an aerial work platform usually last longer.”
The Trackside Art Gallery is hosting a public outdoor festival on Monday where people can watch the artists paint on the backs of the warehouses between Hereward Road and Lampson Street.
For more information, including updates on the artists and activities, go to
