Michael Robinson, Gleaner Writer

Participants in the Red Rubber Band Project paint a mural while being observed by passers-by, on North Street, last Saturday. - photo by Michael Robinson

Have you ever felt like getting in touch with your inner artist and just letting loose with some paint on a wall? Ever wanted to beautify a community with some colour but weren't quite sure how? Well, here's some good news for artists, closet artists and communities alike.

The Red Rubber Band Project (RRBP) is a mural series that allows anyone to participate. The idea was born as part of the recently-concluded Kingston On The Edge art festival, and received such encouraging feedback that the organisers decided to keep it going. The result is an interactive mural series that targets a different location every month.

Last Saturday, RRBP participants took their tools to a wall on the corner of North Street and South Camp Road. The location was at a traffic light, and the painters received much attention from passing drivers, sometimes a little too much for those at the back of the line.

'Everyone totting'

"Almost every second, there was somebody tooting," said one participant, "because (the drivers at the light) were stopping and talking too much, or looking and watching. So whenever we heard car horns while we were painting, we just laughed, 'cause we knew exactly what was happening."

RRBP is a shining example of art in action. It shows how art can unify people while actually making qualitative change to people's lives in a very real way. The act of painting, itself, is liberating. Participants can paint anything they want. Uplifting themes, like love and unity, are predominant in the RRBP murals.

For the viewers and members of the surrounding community, research has shown that the presence of art lowers stress levels and stimulates creativity.

In general, the feedback on the murals has been very good. About two dozen participants turned out on Saturday, and the response from passers-by was always positive. "Everybody liked it," said another participant. "One lady actually offered us a wall across the roadway. When she saw us, she said we should be doing the whole place, so we'll be doing that wall probably in September."