In their book Wall Murals : Vancouver Alfresco Art, Joan Tyldesley and Tom Grant have carefully archived murals from all around the city.
Their work includes a few pieces from Chinatown, one of which has already disappeared (“Welcome to Chinatown”, at 245 East Pender).
The Lao Tsu mural at 311 East Pender will soon be gone as well.
They have generously agreed to share their pictures and description of Chinatown murals here.
Click the pictures for full size.
- 311 East Pender St. : “Lao Tsu” Designed by Kenson Seto. Painted by Alex Li and Falk in 2010.
- 245 East Pender St. : “Welcome to Chinatown” Designed by Chi Ho Yeung in 2009.
- 245 East Pender St. : “Welcome to Chinatown” Designed by Chi Ho Yeung in 2009.
- 11 West Pender St. This collage style mural documents some of the events in the history of Vancouver’s Chinatown. It begins with the arrival of the Chinese in Vancouver after the gold rush about 1860 through to when David Lam was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of BC from 1988 to 1995.
- 490 Columbia St. : “1884” by Arthur Cheng in 2010. The Wah Chong family outside their laundry business on Water Street.
- 490 Columbia St. : “1905” by Arthur Cheng in 2010. A proprietor standing in a store front. There are stairs leading to living quarters on the second floor.
- 490 Columbia St. : “1936” by Arthur Cheng in 2010. Men seated in front of the Sam Kee building, known today as the narrowest building in the world.
Captions and images are copyright Joan Tyldesley & Tom Grant.
The book can be ordered from blurb.ca or borrowed from the Vancouver Public Library.