Platforms: The Teachers Among Us - Public Art Initiative
Public art initiative celebrating senior artists through mentorship-based nominations and citywide exhibitions across Vancouver platforms.
Platforms: The Teachers Among Us is a public art initiative that honors the invaluable contributions of senior artists who have mentored and shaped Vancouver's vibrant art scene. This program invited emerging and mid-career artists to nominate senior artists who have mentored, taught, or profoundly influenced their artistic journey. Following a citywide nomination and adjudication process, 20 senior artists were selected to create new works that reflect the importance of mentorship and intergenerational relationships in the arts community. Over 18 months, their art is showcased across civic art platforms including billboards along 6th Avenue, light boxes at šxʷƛ̓ exən Xwtl'a7shn Plaza, banners at Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, transit shelter posters throughout the city, the VanLive! video screen at Robson and Granville, and glass walls at Canada Line stations. Current featured works include pieces by Deborah Edmeades, Cheryl Hamilton, and Hank Bull, each accompanied by statements from both the artists and their nominators explaining the mentorship relationships and artistic impact.