A University of Victoria graduate and artist has completed her most recent community map showcasing the sights and gems of the Burnside-Gorge neighbourhood using hand-drawn illustration and watercolour techniques.
Masami Teramachi, born and raised in Gifu B次元官网网址� a small city in Japan B次元官网网址� came to the Island to study at UVic in 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Teramachi spent much of her time walking around and exploring different neighbourhoods across Greater Victoria, taking mental notes of all the sights, sounds, characters and unique features she observed.
B次元官网网址淓verything had gone online and I was feeling depressed, but I got a lot of pleasure from going on walks and talking to local business owners,B次元官网网址� she told the Saanich B次元官网网址.
B次元官网网址淛ust interacting with actual people in person really helped my mental health and I kept doing it every day. I walked every single street in my neighbourhood and realized there are so many interesting things like murals, little libraries, trees or even just the houses.B次元官网网址�
Last year, Teramachi started Walk with Masami, a passion project of hers that aims to help locals rediscover their own backyards with a fresh set of eyes.
Before finishing her latest Burnside-Gorge community map, she drew maps of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 North Park, Fernwood and Oaklands neighbourhoods, as well as a special map for a community event, JaneB次元官网网址檚 Walk B次元官网网址� an annual walking tour done by locals.
Her work, which she often posts to Instagram, caught the attention of the Burnside-Gorge Community Association, which invited her to sit with local residents to learn about what they valued about their neighbourhood for a community mapping project last September.
The new hand-drawn community map illustrates localsB次元官网网址� favourite spots, shops, little free libraries, historical sites, old trees and the Galloping Goose Trail.
Teramachi, who started drawing walking maps in Japan over a decade ago, said each community has its own unique character and hopes her maps can help people find the beauty in things that typically go unnoticed.
B次元官网网址淚 want people to feel some joy and excitement with it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd hopefully get people out and walking and supporting local businesses.B次元官网网址�
Anyone wanting to go on TeramachiB次元官网网址檚 walking tour can pick up one of her hand-drawn maps from the Burnside-Gorge Community Centre.
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