Public art in the form of marigolds, murals rejuvenates Vancouver’s Punjabi Market
Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective introduces new installations to honour the historic area’s legacy, combat racism
Marigolds symbolize brightness and positive energy. Photo by Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective
A NEW PUBLIC art installation at the Punjabi Market is just one of more to come that’s celebrating the neighbourhood’s history and sparking conversations about racism and discrimination.
Marigolds in the Market is now on view at Main Street at 51st Avenue. Golden garlands sway in the breeze, dangling from a large tree by the bus stop on the Sunset Community Centre grounds.
Volunteers and board members from the Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective (PMRC) chose marigolds for their significance in South Asian culture. The orange and yellow blossoms are used in festivities and celebrations year-round, representing the sun while symbolizing brightness and positive energy.
With support from the City of Vancouver, United Way of the Lower Mainland, Bombay Bazaar, and BC Rentals and Club Card, Marigolds in the Market aims to spark joy after a difficult year amid the pandemic.
“Seeing folks taking in the vibrancy and beauty of the marigolds has been so wonderful,” the PMRC said on Instagram. “Our goal is to help create a sense of place in Punjabi Market and to bring community together and this is a great way to do that.”
The collective is also now raising funds for Murals in the Market, a project happening in partnership with Vancouver Mural Festival. The initiative will help facilitate storytelling and discussions on racism and discrimination through public art by local BIPOC artists.
The murals will be painted this August.
May 23 marks the 107th anniversary of the SS Komagata Maru landing. The 376 Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus aboard the ship from British India were in search of a better life when they arrived in Burrard Inlet, only to be denied entry by Canadian immigration officials. They were eventually sent back to British India, where 19 people were killed and many others were imprisoned.
Today’s date also marks the beginning of the newly announced Anti-Racism Awareness Week in British Columbia.
The campaign runs May 23 to 29, the dates selected because the anniversaries of the Komagata Maru and the murder of George Floyd, as well as Asian Heritage Month, all fall during this week.
The BC Government announced it will work closely with community partners and Resilience BC, the provincial anti-racism network, to promote educational opportunities to help people better understand racism, learn how to respond to racist incidents, and tackle discrimination in their communities.
Marigolds in the Market is at Main Street and 51st Avenue. Photo by Punjabi Market Regeneration Collecitve
Related Articles
