The vibrant energy of Ambleside Skatepark is being captured in a new public artwork.
A mural is being painted at the popular West Vancouver skateboarding destination, on a panoramic stretch of wall overlooking the park and an adjacent basketball court.
After a process involving 48 submissions, Canadian-Armenian artist Andrew Tavukciyan was chosen to design and paint the mural. The project is funded by a grant from the West Vancouver Foundation and by the municipality’s public art reserve fund.
Tavukciyan visited the spot in June during a Boardroom-hosted Skate Jam, to connect with members of the skateboarding community for ideas.
Starting last week, he started putting paint to the Ambleside wall, right as an August heat wave descended on the West Coast.
“It’s brutal,” he said. “It’s been interesting dealing with the heat. I’m an inside boy.”
Tavukciyan has been working mostly under the shade of an umbrella, but the scorching sun has still managed to burn his legs a few times.
“You never think about covering the back of your calves with sunscreen,” he said.
Fortunately, there’s been a source of relief nearby.
“I’ve been just hopping in the ocean … to cool down a bit,” he said.
'I just want people to feel like it fits here'
On Tuesday, Tavukciyan’s mural was beginning to take shape. Much of the artwork’s background and outlines were drawn, and the bright twisting shapes of the foreground were filling in on the left side of the piece.
At first, Tavukciyan thought there might be more direct skateboarding references in the mural, but he settled on a more abstract design in the end.
“It was more about capturing the energy and the vibe of the place, as opposed to just like putting things on the mural that happen here,” he said. “It’s not really representative of anything in particular. It’s more about just dynamic, flowing, vibrant shapes.”
The piece will take about another two weeks to finish, he said.
Tavukciyan – who grew up in West Van but now lives in Vancouver – said he was excited by the idea of leaving a mark on his hometown. After graduating from West Vancouver Secondary, he completed the industrial design program at Emily Carr University.
Tavukciyan, 31, has been painting murals professionally since 2017, and has lent his artistry to festivals including Vancouver Mural Festival, Nelson International Mural Festival, and Calgary's BUMP Festival.
For the Ambleside piece, there’s nothing in particular the art is trying to evoke, Tavukciyan said.
“Whatever they see in it, whatever they pull out of it, it’s cool with me,” he said. “I just want people to feel like it fits here.”
[email protected]
twitter.com/nick_laba
@nicklaba.bsky.social
Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
