Indoor Skate Park painted by talented students led by local artist
The Town of Riverview partnered with local muralist Ji Hyang Ryu to help bring a new project to life at Riverview’s Indoor Skatepark and Youth Centre on Lakeside Drive. Ryu and the students she teaches through her own studio took on the task of reviving the beige ramps and walls of the skatepark.
“I have always enjoyed painting, my entire life I’ve been painting and sketching,” said Ryu.
Ryu has been teaching art in Riverview since 2014 and has been a part of numerous art projects across New Brunswick, mainly to the greater Moncton area. She has over 200 students.
Ryu worked as a medical lab assistant for seven years. During COVID, she decided to resign and focus on her career as a professional artist, which she has been since 2020.
When Ryu saw the skatepark for the first time, she saw an opportunity to shine a spotlight on local youth.
“The skatepark was bare, there was nothing on the walls, on the ramps, it was all bare wood. I wanted to give the opportunity to local youth who are really good at art but have no chance to show it or to learn how to do murals,” said Ryu.
She got permission from the Town of Riverview to transform the space, and after the park received funding from the province’s Arts in Communities program, Ryu opened applications for students to submit their designs.
She selected 17 students, who took only two weeks to transform the space. Ryu learned how to paint murals from Festival Inspire executive director Lisa Griffin. She transformed those skills into her own mural inside the skatepark, spanning from floor to ceiling, which took her two days. Ryu used a boom lift for her piece, but for safety reasons the students stuck to painting the side boards of ramps.
“The town didn’t give us a theme, so they told us to go free, whatever we want. We wanted to do more, but we just did not have enough time. There were some limitations for reaching certain walls, so I could only do one wall. The kids did the ramps; I did not want to risk their safety,” said the muralist.
Each student created their own mural, rejuvenating the ramps inside the skatepark.
“When we got together the first day, I asked, ‘Who wants this wall? Who wants this one?’ and they chose their own areas,” said Ryu.
The feedback Ryu received has been very positive.
“People send me messages like, ‘thank you for doing this, thank you for making this place brighter for kids to enjoy,’ and I want to put more colours and bright, positive messages for the kids … I don’t think we’re done yet. I feel like it needs more,” said Ryu.
Ryu plans to reapply for grants to further the progress herself and her students have made in the skatepark.
“I do not want to use the kids’ talent for free, I don’t think that’s fair. They practice at home, they study at home, so I try to make them feel like ‘oh, I can do this. I can do something positive,'” she explained. “You know, it’s changed their lives.”
To learn more about Ji Hyang Ryu and her art, please visit her website.
To learn more about the skatepark and to see more images, click here.
