Centre[3]’s Pop Up Shop was a dynamic, community-centered arts initiative presented in conjunction with the 2015 Pan Am Games in Hamilton, Ontario. Running from July 10 to 26, 2015, this project activated Barton Street East with a series of visual and media art installations that transformed storefronts and public spaces into accessible cultural experiences.
Curated by Rita Camacho Lomeli, the visual arts component featured seven window displays by artists including Brendan Fernandes, Shelley Niro, and Fiona Kinsella/Vesna Trukulja-Stevens. These installations explored themes related to local history, and the interplay between domestic interiors and public display.
Simultaneously, the media arts segment curated by Jim Riley showcased three installations at 749A Barton Street East. Artists June Pak, David Bobier, and Camille Turner contributed works that engaged with the sounds of stadium crowds, tactile experiences of the Barton area, and oral histories of the neighbourhood, respectively.
Complementing the exhibitions, the Art Match event on July 12 invited community members to participate in hands-on activities such as t-shirt printing, poetry, music, and dance. The event culminated in a parade along Barton Street, fostering community engagement and celebrating the intersection of art and sport during the Pan Am Games.
Through the Pop Up Shop, Centre[3] exemplified its commitment to integrating art into everyday spaces, promoting accessibility, and fostering community connections through creative expression.
