Sometimes a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can get together and make something really, really rad.
The Window Community Art Shop, spanking brand new and painted in white is somewhat of a beacon of expression and art smack dab in the middle of the bustling and busy DTES. To those of you who aren't Vancouverites, the Downtown East Side is considered to some, the poorest postal code in the Greater Vancouver Area, and to others, a place of endless possibilities, a diamond in the ruff, and the location that is very quickly becoming the very future home to the young and artistic with dreams in their heads and paintbrushes in hand.
It is no secret that more and more we are seeing unique and beautiful spaces pop up along the East Hastings corridor and it's side streets. From the funky racks at Community Thrift and Vintage to the deli counter and sandwich shop at Save-On-Meats, the design-worthy coffee stop at Revolver (edging on the outskirts of Gastown) and of course, the beloved turn-a-round multidimensional Waldorf Hotel; the downtown eastside is truly evolving, and giving the middle finger to the gentrification that is trying to take over with tear downs and condo rebuilds.
The Window Community Art Shop is non-profit venture of the crafty kind, featuring local artists in their retail space, without taking huge percentages of their sales. In the back they are housing a studio space specifically for people who are interested in making art or craft, but do not have the space or the tools to do so. Classes, equipment and materials are readily becoming available to create a space where anyone can come and create. So cool!
Tonight was the Grand Opening of The Window, and you can stop by and check the crafty wares most any day of the week:
The Window Community Art Shop
9 West Hastings
Open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10:00am - 6:00pm
