5th Avenue flyover tunnel transformed into wall of art
Spot near Drop-In Centre known to locals as the 'Crack Wall'
It might not be the most beautiful part of the city — yet — but a new project by homeless artists is aiming to transform the tunnel under the Fifth Avenue flyover.
Known to locals as the 'Crack Wall,' the spot near the Calgary Drop-In Centre has been the site of violence over the past few years. For the artists working on the project, the goal is to see beyond that reality and give some new life to the area.
"We know there's been some incidents of violence over the last year, much higher than there ever has been before, and that's all part of this area so we wanted to see if we cold clean this up a little bit," said one of the artists, who goes simply by Bill.
Bill says he discovered his love for art through a program at the Drop-In Centre two years ago.
The design being painted on the tunnel wall was his idea — it's called This Is My City: Helping Hands.
Ryan Delve was once a successful tattoo artist and is now an ex-addict living at the Drop-In Centre.
He says the project is giving him a second chance.
"I'm just happy, life is content," Delve said. "This is what I was meant to do and finally see that now, and it's just bliss."
