Join us for a six-month, multi-themed art challenge celebrating the iconic Pattullo Bridge through different creative lenses, exploring its shape, setting, history, and impact on the community.
Participate in all of the monthly challenges or just a few!
At the end of each month you can submit your art to be shared on Arts New West social media channels.
This art challenge is open to everyone! No experience required.
Have fun and push yourself to try something new! Paintings, photographs, doodles, abstract, realism, sketches, poems, prose, music, videos and everything in between are all accepted mediums for the monthly challenges.
Prepare one final piece to be featured in our October exhibition at Anvil Centre.
Monthly Themes and Creative Prompts
Each month’s theme encourages a different artistic exploration:
February – Shape and Structure
- Capture the bridge’s unique arches, lines, and geometric forms.
- Suggested mediums: architectural drawings, abstract art, photography
- Prompt: How does the structure of the bridge inspire design and creativity?
April – History and Memory
- Explore the bridge’s nearly 90-year history.
- Suggested mediums: historical photography mashups, storytelling, poetry.
- Prompt: What memories, events, or stories does the bridge hold?
June – Connection and Journey
- Highlight the bridge as a backdrop to everyday life
- Suggested mediums: portraits, street photography, community mural concepts.
- Prompt: What role does the bridge play in the lives of New Westminster’s residents?
March – Water and Flow
- Reflect on the connection between the bridge and the Fraser River.
- Suggested mediums: watercolor paintings, photography of reflections, mixed media symbolizing flow, music or poetic movement
- Prompt: How does the river beneath the Pattullo shape its story?
May – Connection and Journey
- Focus on movement and transportation.
- Suggested mediums: time-lapse videos, illustrations of vehicles crossing and boats moving underneath.
- Prompt: How does the bridge connect people, places, and journeys?
July – Farewell and Future
- Imagine saying goodbye to the bridge and envisioning what comes next.
- Suggested mediums: farewell-themed collages, art featuring the new bridge.
- Prompt: What emotions and hopes are tied to the bridge’s farewell?
Interested in joining this fun art challenge! Email programs@artsnewwest.ca to get on the list of participants.
