A crew of artists has been hard at work in downtown Chatham this week.
The third annual CK CanJam kicked off on Sunday with almost a dozen internationally renowned street artists, transforming buildings around the downtown core into vibrant, large scale murals.
Co-founder Sarah Steele says the week-long event is about building community.
“We continue to bring that back to the centrepoint: art, friendship, community, and togetherness, because we won’t do this if we’re not all together.”
This year’s participants include artists from the Netherlands, France, Michigan, Illinois, Quebec, and Ontario, including several Chatham-Kent artists.
New this year, five artists are working on panels in Tecumseh Park that will be displayed in other parts of the municipality.
“Several pieces that are going to be shipped out to outlying communities in Chatham-Kent. We wanted to incorporate other communities, but it’s difficult to send someone from France out to Wheatley to paint by themselves. This is about togetherness, community, and bringing people together.”
Funding for CanJam was provided through donations, councillor ward funding, and sponsorships – both monetary and in-kind. Steele says accommodations and meals have been provided to the artists, all of whom are donating their time.
The festival wraps up on Saturday. Residents are invited to tour the downtown and view the completed murals, while taking in live entertainment as part of the CK CanJam Jam from 6-9pm.
For more information, including artist biographies and mural locations, visit ckanjam.com.