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Laurazee — Alexander and Main
Published: 2008-06-13 06:07:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 5110; Favourites: 195; Downloads: 4
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Description
Acrylic on Canvas, 20" x 20"Some might consider Alexander and Main to be the bad part of town. It is near the docks in the heart of Vancouver's famous but frightening Downtown East Side . The thing that people don't always notice - especially late at night - is there is a real sense of community here. People know each other. You can hear them holler greetings from open windows.
Yes, the sky is a Van Gogh ripoff. I wanted to make the tones of the buildings warm and organic with vinelike city fixtures. The sky and street are colder and more unstable.
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Comments: 115
Ha, awesomely friendly way of looking at it. The dark side is that viney things tend to strangle. So far, all happy here though.
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hahaha! that's hilarious... i hope it stays that way! good luck!
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Ha ha famous but frightening....lol I guess only if you don't live there
I love the Van Gogh rip off though, it seems to suit your style.
Do you have your stuff in vancouver anywhere? Or do any shows?
Cause I totally will own a peice of your work one day. I don't remember where I first say your stuff on DA but I fell in love with it right away. Your use of colors and lines really attracted me, plus I can say hey! I recognize that place!
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Hey, thanks! You are awesomely kind. I've got 10 paintings (including this one) up at Gregor Robertson's public MLA office on Broadway & Alder right now until July or so. He's the MLA of Fairview who is running for mayor of Vancouver with Vision. I'm planning to do a show of "smalls" (10" and under) at the North Shore credit union in September.
I love painting things that people know. And I love it when people know the views that I paint! It reinforces my sense of community.
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I really like the colour contrast between the orange buildings and beautiful blue sky. This is stunningly eye catching!
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Thank you! I was quite pleased with the colors as well. 
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Thanks, Jeff! I tend to like this one myself mostly because of the subject - this neighborhood in particular has always been fascinating to me.
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You're very welcome, but of course, you know I love your work.
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nice job! I live in BC by the way.
Yes, Downtown Eastside pretty bad, I was going through the streets when I saw crowds of homeless sitting on benches or courtyards and druggies in alleys and streets.
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Hey, a fellow 
I know what you mean. It is almost a gulag of sorts. It makes me very sad and frustrated to live in such a beautiful city but see how we don't take care of our disadvantaged. We should be able to do better, somehow (my socialist roots are showing!)
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this is delightful, the sort of thing that makes small children smile. Like a world through running water. I love it. Go you!
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i can stare at it for hours.. and actually see it movin'
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I think i hear music coming from it!
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There very often * is* music playing down there. Or at least people singing.
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It's pretty awsome 
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Thanks, Guillaume. The building in the background with the top-heavy look is actually a revolving restaurant called Harbour Center. It's one of our more distinctive buildings, so I like to use it a lot (otherwise, it's all glass rectangle boxes!).
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It's simply stunning.
I think you did an amazing job, as you usually do, but there's something different about this one. I think it's because of the warmer mid atmosphere. It feels like there are three different worlds within this.
The sky is lovely, even if Van Gogh inspired it.
Great work.
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Thanks, Amber - I appreciate your comment because you have a wonderful sensitivity and good powers of observation. There tend to be three worlds in this neighborhood: observer, participant, and police. Usually. 
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I agree that the community sense in the eastside is stronger than in any other part of Vancouver, and with a big pushoff this could be a great part to stroll.
The acrylic is really representative of the whole eastside. Good job!
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Gracias, amigo. I think so as well. The DTES is a strange little community, for sure. It fascinates me.
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Thanks, Kasey!
(
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Bravo again Laura! You RULE!!!!! 
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Always a pleasure Laura!!
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Bright and bendy, a visual treat. Shame it's a rough place.
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Strangely, I've always felt safe there. There are usually so many people around and at least the drama is all in the forefront.
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During the day, a place is different than at night.
At least that's what it's like in Toronto.
Gets worse after dark.
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Classic! You've got to stop doing these paintings though... each time I see one it reminds me how much I miss it there and should move back
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Ha! Yes, I am single-handedly trying to increase the population of Vancouver, painting by painting
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You know what I think. Super Duper. That Starry Sky reminds me of one VVG. Love it.
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You are terrrrrriffffficccc!! I mean it.
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wow...your stuff is so fun to look at...GOOD JOB!
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Thanks so much; I appreciate it.
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Thanks Neil! Was fun to do, definitely.
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