By Leah Murray

Vandals destroy new art with hate filled messages

Jun 19, 2018 | 11:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT – Members of the Street Art Works Association and Medicine Hat Art Club have been busy at work after a major street art project was destroyed.

An unknown person or persons took spray paint and wrote hateful messages, along with racist notes and symbols, all over several pieces of art. The works had recently been painted in the pedestrian tunnel connecting North Railway Street and South Railway Street.

The vandals even appear to have written “we win,” in red paint.

“It was heartbreaking,” said Dina Jubrak, a Street Art Works board member. “I had a good five minute cry when I got here this morning to get all that negative energy out, then it was time to get to work.”

Tuesday night several people made their way to the tunnel, spray paint in hand, to try and repair the damage that was done.

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Around 20 artists from Medicine Hat and all over Canada gathered in May to do a big overhaul of the artwork in the tunnel. It’s been an annual event with the Tunnel Vision project running since 2012.

The goal has been to make it like an art gallery, a place people are comfortable going.

Jubrak said several people have turned out to help cover up the hate with more art. It was a last-minute plea for help and she said the turnout has been “inspiring”. 

Anyone willing to help out, donate their time or even some paint, is encouraged to reach out to the Street Art Works Association over Facebook.

The vandalism has been reported to the Medicine Hat Police Service.