For Curtains Up by Samantha Wexler
There is scaffolding up along the sides of select buildings just east of St Laurent near and behind Les Foufounes Électriques between St Dominique and St Elizabeth.. Many of these walls have been painted black in anticipation for this weekend. Now, there is a distinct scent of spray paint in the air and the sound of hip hop music playing in the street as graffiti and street artists, DJs and skateboarders from all over the world take part in the 18th annual Under Pressure Festival which was founded by Sterling Downey in 1996.
Many people have come together as volunteers to make this weekend happen, from the Fresh Paint volunteers who look after the gallery, where some of the participants in the festival have works on display, to the Under Pressure volunteers who make sure that the festival itself runs smoothly. This is the longest running festival of its kind in the world, making Montreal a hub for amazing street art attracting thousands of people from around the world to come and see this unique and very dynamic event whose aim is to bring colour and wonder to the city which would not otherwise be there and to bring a different type of awareness to street art, that the artists are there to create something beautiful, not to deface or destroy.
At the beginning of the festival, passers by could watch the beginning of the works forming and slowly taking shape. As the hours passed, guests were able to see how the painted black walls are being transformed into stunningly colorful works of art. That is the interesting part about being able to watch an artist create a work live, the viewer can witness the evolution. These pieces are created to make the viewer stop, even if for a moment, to question, admire or even laugh at what they are experiencing. There are works ranging from little personal panels to large full wall murals that are created by multiple artists. There is even one building that has been covered in what appears to be a red, patterned paper that has also has different designs and animals painted on the surface. Every inch of the walls are being put to use.
The images that have been painted on the walls will remain there until next year when they will be painted over during the next Under Pressure festival, until then we are fortunate enough to be able to admire the works created this weekend as we walk through that part of the city.
