An original oil painting composed of fragments of canvas that are hand-sewn to create the large-format painting.

This piece shares the story of the Coquitlam shopping center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many established stores closed mid-way through 2020 while other, large established stores, struggled to pay their rents. The seating and play areas in the center were closed to the public, fundamentally changing the identity of the space which had been a gathering for the community since 1979. You will notice that the suggested figures in the painting are wearing facemasks.

The assembled canvas pieces reflect the insecurity that many had that goods would be available as the pandemic progressed.

Christie struggled to source sufficient materials to execute her work with the various closures of art stores and warehouses struggling with COVID-19 outbreaks.

Cadmium yellow, which Christie has used heavily since the pandemic started has proven to be a challenging colour to obtain.

Two Hundred and Seventy One tells a small story from the Covid-19 pandemic in British Columbia. The Vancouver Convention Centre, a tourist attraction, has traditionally been the location of important community gatherings for significant occasions, a portal for the sharing of ideas, and a space to celebrate community arts.

Hasting and Main street is considered the heart of Vancouver’s DTES. The corners are always well-populated with people selling various paraphernalia including cigarettes and drugs. It is also a gathering space for people who do not have access to other areas of the city.

For people not familiar with the DTES, the area can seem alienating and frightening but for the residents of the area, this corner also carries a sense of community and provides access to services that they need.

With the pressure on housing values in Vancouver, the land in this area has become valuable due to its proximity to the downtown area. With this increase in value, many owners are selling their buildings and with the sale, businesses that serve the community are displaced and trendier stores replace them.

The erosion of safe spaces for the community in China Town and the DTES is tangible.

728 – 796 Main street has been approved for development into a mixed-use building heralding the final days of the pre-1925 building that houses the Brick House Bistro and the Jimi Hendrix shrine.
The development is a project of Bonnis Properties and Studio One Architecture.