WINTER ARTS Festival 2022 - PIXEL MOMENTS’ AR MURAL IN SUPPORT OF THE ST. PAUL’S FOUNDATION AND MENTAL HEALTH
During VMF Winter Arts (Feb 11-27, 2022), you can experience Pixel Moments’ AR mural in support of the St. Paul’s Foundation and mental health.
Pixel Moments is an initiative of the St. Paul’s Foundation with the goal of bringing more awareness to mental health and raising funds for mental health resources at St. Paul’s Hospital.
This year, they’re collaborating with VMF Winter Arts to bring people together and celebrate local art.
Pixel Moments’ 2022 Mural Experience
Created by Chase Gray (VMF alumni and Winter Arts artist), Pixel Moments’ mural, “Breathe”, will bring donor selfies together into an interactive mosaic.
During VMF Winter Arts (Feb 11-27) the mural is located at the Winter Arts Hub, an open-air venue at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Then, in March 2022, the giant final mural will be installed above London Drugs at Granville & W. Georgia.
How to donate
Every donation, big or small, goes to mental health inpatient services at St. Paul's Hospital.
COVID has affected all of us, whether physically, mentally, or both. So this year, St. Paul’s Hospital is even more focused on providing inpatients with services that support recovery and maintain connections with loved ones while on the journey to wellness.
Take a selfie and donate as little as $5 to contribute a pixel for the mural. Your selfie will be added as a pixel in the final mural that will be unveiled in March 2022.
The mosaic artwork encompassing all of Pixel Moment donors' photos will be installed at 710 Granville Street (South East corner of Granville and West Georgia, above London Drugs). While we will have a physical location during VMF Winter Arts, anyone can participate from anywhere in the world, making participation easy, accessible, and shareable.
Step 1: Make A Donation
Head to pixelmoments.org and donate directly from your phone! As little as $5 and you're in.
Step 2: Snap A Selfie
Take a selfie or upload an image to make your mark in the mural. Every donor image becomes a pixel in the ever-growing Pixel Moments mural.
Step 3: Share You Support on Social Media
Spread the word and inspire your community to join you as mental health advocates.
GO TO PIXELMOMENTS.ORG TO DONATE NOW!
About the Artist: Chase Gray
Chase Gray is a trans-Indigiqueer or 2 Spirit xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Tsimshian artist. At 12 years old, he was introduced to mask-dancing and has danced along with the Git Hayetsk Dancers: "The People of the Copper Shield", who have greatly influenced his art.
In 2021, Chase revived his lifelong dream—drawing, formline drawing in particular. He took inspiration from the Indigenous characters and stories of his childhood and blended them with mainstream concepts. Chase believes people from every culture can understand and appreciate Indigenous artwork in some way, and hopes his work captivates a wide audience.
His mural for Pixel Moments, “Breathe”, is designed in Coast Salish style as he is trying to learn more about his Musqueam heritage.
The centre figure in the mural is exhaling breath with the killer whales that surround it as the two side figures are taking breaths in. They are surrounded by cultural images, protecting and guiding. Their minds wrapped in orange, still on the children they keep finding. Emotions about who they are and what they have gone through as people can come like rivers, just taking that moment to feel the inhale and exhale, can help cope with some of the emotions. The sides depict these emotions, but the bright colours are still there to remind people of their healing and resilience.
“Inhale and exhale, breathe, find yourself in your own safe and happy place. These are words that are heard so much that many are almost sick of them, but they do hold a lot of value - a huge part of mental health care is breath work.
While so many have found their lost ancestors at residential schools in their minds, hopefully they take a moment to just close their eyes, think of all the things that survived and are thriving and resilient today. They are living; their culture, languages, art. They are still here, as they always have been. Their resurgence is powerful.”
— Chase Gray
