Do you have any drug-related artwork that you’d like to donate to our web site?


’Injecting Utopia: The View Through the Eyes of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside’

Hi, my name is Shane Hawco. I am a recent graduate from the Alberta College of Art and Design's Illustration program. One of the assignments was based around documenting information and recording it in a way that will captivate the audience. Being from Vancouver I have always been aware of the conditions of the Downtown Eastside. And after seeing the documentary "Through a Blue Lens" I felt that this was just the vehicle I needed for the illustration project. I wanted to portray a day in the life of an addict on the streets of Vancouver and felt that I could show this best through Nicola’s eyes. Her experiences in the film I'm sure only show the tip of what she has gone through but I felt that her story was compelling enough to tell. I hope you enjoy what you see. I also have a website at http://members.shaw.ca/drifterinc entailing my portfolio from ACAD. I see that you are currently working on a project focusing around the missing prostitutes in the Downtown area, and I would like to offer my skills in helping with any illustration or design work you may need for the project. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or questions you have about my work. Thank you for your time. Shane Hawco (Apr. 23, 2005)

Drugz Kills:

Cool graffiti but dangerous advice. The sure way to stay alive is not to do drugs at all.

Police Parking Only:

A police parking sign has been paved over in an obvious oversight.

Death Toker:

The specter of death and brain damage is present on every toke taken. This graffiti serves as a warning to all drug users.

Amazing Graffiti:

Vancouver police officers Roy Ang and Jen Jackman check out some amazing lane graffiti. They are part of a 65 person crew that patrols the Downtown Eastside, largely on foot.

Pigeon Park Art:

Impromptu art springs up Pigeon Park in the core of the Downtown Eastside.

‘Enjoy the Wait’ Sign:

Is this sign posted on Powell St. in Vancouver meant to mock the drug users?

Beat Man:

This is an artistically rendered digital picture of Al Arsenault at the corner of ‘Pain and Wastings’ (Main and Hastings St.), the epicenter of the drug problem in Vancouver.