Soul Gardens is a community public art project led by W2 Community Media Arts that investigates the cultural history of the Downtown Eastside (DTES) as told through stories of food, gardening, and community. A collaboration between five muralists and five artist researchers the project draws heavily on individual and shared narratives within founding DTES cultural groups including the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations, and African, Chinese, Japanese and European settlers.
Muralists: Jordan Bent, Indigo, Scott Sueme, Melanie Shambach, Take5.
Researchers: Wayde Compton, Lani Russwurm, Anne Marie Slater, Sid Tan and Cease Wyss.
The mural is located on a wall of the Astoria Hotel building and can be viewed at the intersection of East Hastings Street and Hawks Avenue.