Earlier this year, fabric partnered with East Van artist Kate MacDonald to create an original art piece for our Left Field project, celebrating its one-of-a-kind backyard – Clark Park! This amazing 10.5-acre urban greenspace, tucked between Knight Street and Commercial Drive, is Vancouver’s second oldest park – and it has a gritty history. This park has certainly seen some things!

Back in the 1970s, Clark Park was home turf to the notorious Clark Park gang, a rebellious group of youth known for wreaking havoc across the city. Kate’s unique piece, “The Kids Are Alright,” pays tribute to the many eras of Clark Park, capturing its transformation into the calm, peaceful space now enjoyed by East Van families, joggers and dog walkers.

Kate shares her inspiration for the piece:

“This project for Fabric Living allowed me to combine some of my favourite things – digital art, collage, and my love of Vancouver’s heritage and stories. East Van, in particular, has such a rich past and a strong sense of family neighbourhoods. I wanted to share my nostalgia for long summer nights and the freedom of being a kid on a bike – a kid who could admire the Clark Park Gang from afar while still making it home before dark.”

Watch the video below to see how the piece came together...

You can view Kate’s work, including “The Kids Are Alright,” at The Hamilton Bank Building during Vancouver’s Eastside Culture Crawl, an annual four-day visual arts festival where over 500 artists open their studios to showcase their talents. This year’s festival runs November 20 – 23, 2025!