London-based textile, graphic and interior designer Camille Walala was recently invited by JustKids to participate of The Unexpected for the first time; for which she took over a 1950’s neglected service station at the main intersection of Grand Avenue and 11th street in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The Walala Pump & Go gas station, as the installation was called, embodies the artist’s eclectic tribal pop style, with a sea of vibrant geometric patterns enriching the existing architectural elements that give shape to a bright and immersive art installation The result is an eye-catching social space made possible during the course of one week and that brought together the community and a collaboration with local artist Nate Meyers, as well as a group of skilful volunteers.
“After five years of curating diverse visual projects in Fort Smith, I learned that a big part of good place-making is creating community and a sense of re-discovery of the beauty that is there, in the city, all along, and Camille’s work does just that” – Charlotte Dutoit on the decision to bring forward this artist project.
Author: Fran
Founder and editor of Urbanite. Street Art lover who after the finishing her MA thesis on the Mexican and Norwegian muralist movement in the 1920-50s, developed a fascination for street art and graffiti that eventually led to collaborations with different art blogs, including the creation of this one.
