Hugo Bedard's artwork spreads a 'stay strong' message on boarded up doors of the Modern Cafe in downtown Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

STAY STRONG

Local graffiti artist spreads ‘stay strong’ message in downtown Nanaimo

Apr 5, 2020 | 6:49 AM

NANAIMO — A largely deserted corner of Nanaimo’s downtown core recently got a much-welcomed splash of colour from a local graffiti artist.

Hugo Bedard, a line cook at Modern Cafe, got the assignment from his chef at the restaurant who wanted to add positive messaging to the downtown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He’s known I enjoyed that kind of art and he asked me to come by and do a design for Stay Strong Nanaimo,” Bedard said. “I drew up a sketch quickly and sent it to him, he liked it. The next day I went down there and within a few hours the colourful piece was done.”

Bedard, 22, told NanaimoNewsNOW he spent around four hours on Commercial St. completing the piece, attracting the attention of people walking by.

“Within the first 30 minutes, a Nanaimo bylaw enforcement officer came by and asked what I was doing.”

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Originally from Surrey, Bedard moved to Nanaimo three years ago after graduating high school in Vancouver. He is a former skateboarder and ballet dancer who has spent his time during self-isolation cooking and playing games on a new X-Box.

Bedard said he began drawing in high school and responses to the Modern Cafe piece have been overwhelming.

“I was just painting. I didn’t think I’d get interviews…I was just doing my thing. I’m surprised how big of a reaction this got.”

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley