Under Pressure Festival Brightens St. Cats
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
After 20 years, you’d think the pressure is off. But, finding places where graffiti can go from street crime to urban beautification isn’t easy. With its activist stance that protects the rights of graffiti artists and its communal focus, the Under Pressure festival manages to claim the sides of downtown buildings and structures for making some fine art. Not only does the festival give the public a chance to see the artists work, but it has expanded year by year to include dance competitions, djs, spaces to skateboard, and even a kids zone.
Wandering around St. Catherine on a Sunday afternoon, I saw a few local crews at artists at work on their murals.
First up, I stopped in at the Under Pressure exhibition at 256 St. Catherine to see what was on the walls. Montreal has a few spaces were street art is the focus, and this was a pretty good sampling of skate decks, sculptures, wearables and paper pieces. Those exhibiting were Odyssée Tour, Brokovich, and Frank Mekidech. I also perused the goods for sale on the street.
256 St. Catherine E. UP Gallery. Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
The North Fake. Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Skateboards. Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Then it was a tour of murals. Few were finished, so the artists were at work.
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
There was one lone dancer, but he could giver.
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
Under Pressure 2015. Photo Rachel Levine
