It is a beautiful thing when something ugly, abandoned, and disintegrating can be turned into something beautiful and striking. Fort Smith in North West Arkansas was a recent site to receive the gift of art after famous French artist, Camille Walala, teamed up with JustKids and The Unexpected to create a one-of-a-kind art display out of an abandoned 1950’s gas station.
JustKids teamed up with a French artist on an art display of epic proportions.
JustKids is an organization that teams up with artists to showcase create public art all around the world. Their projects can be seen in many forms such as buildings, sculptures, and displays for art festivals. Charlotte Dutoit is the Curator and works with the artists on their many projects.
Charlotte was excited to team up with French artist, Camille Walala, who is known for her bright and striking style bold colors and geometric prints.
“Walala’s bold and playful style incredibly enhances built space and architecture, creating welcoming gathering spaces. After five years of curating diverse visual projects in Fort Smith, I learned that a big part of good place-making is creating community and a sense of re-discovery of the beauty that was there, in the city, all along, and Camille’s work does just that,” says Charlotte Dutoit.
Work began on an abandoned 1950’s gas station in Arkansas.
At the intersection of Grand Avenue and 11th Street, work began to unfold as the artist and her team of five painters and staff from JustKids began. The project was named Walala Pump & Go and its location welcomes people toward downtown Fort Smith. Its bright and vibrant colors are impossible to ignore and seeing the effort that went into this project is inspiring.
Amazingly, it only took the team one week from start to finish on repainting the entire service station. Every inch of the gas station was covered in paint and the eye-catching design is one that no one can miss.
The newly created social space, Walala Pump & Go, is now a monument to the retro and bold style of the artist.
The Unexpected is the push behind it all as their goal is to bring “urban and contemporary art to Arkansas”. The work with JustKids to bring artists in to brighten up the city of Fort Smith and others in Arkansas to create eye-catching and striking art displays around the city. The team worked hard to bring out this fun and unique project.
Camille Walala thanked everyone for the experience on Instagram saying, “Thank you for the amazing opportunity and big love to the brilliant team for all of the hard work!! Especially that trippy ceiling!”
It is amazing what a little paint can do to completely transform an ugly eyesore into an inspiring and creative art display. It just goes to show that a little work and a bright idea can turn anything into a fun and usable area for everyone to enjoy.
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Source: Just Kids
