. Old Growth Island :: @mec Vancouver . #jessagilbertart . I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to create murals in public spaces for communities near and far from me. It was an honor to work on this mural in Vancouver - my first city upon moving to British Columbia. I wanted to capture the awe inspiring textures of a thick, old growth coastal rainforest juxtaposed to an open ocean and floating islands that we are fortunate to call home here in BC. . This past Fall I was working there, in the new @mec Vancouver store on two large murals that would greet each member as they entered the parking garage. Personally, I was grieving a loss at the time, and put all my emotional energy into creating something bright, bold, and beautiful. The goal of my artwork is to celebrate wilderness and adventure, and I aimed everyday to visually tell that story. I remember each day, while it’s own challenge, feeling softer and more optimistic, and equated that to these murals becoming more complete and full of color and energy. . I share that personal point with you now, as many of us today may be feeling more tender, uncertain, or confused with the daily changes to life as we knew it. I know the act of creating something out of my own grief helps me to find joy and optimism. Surround yourself with beauty, color, and textures that light you up. Smile. Be kind to yourself, a lesson that has been echoed to me more often than I ever thought I needed. . Progress is a process, a daily practice, and a tender voice to yourself and others that says “you are loved”. . Thank you @mec for allowing me to create a joyful, colorful, and playful work of art in your new Vancouver space. It was a great pleasure. 🙏 . #grannyonthecans #whenimnotinthemtns #goodtimesinside @burton @skidagram (at Vancouver, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-NFTdQhBWR/?igshid=1j8oekeqh5zsx
