Vanoc is looking for Canadian artists for a street-style art demonstration during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Up to 140 artists are needed from February 13 to 27, 2010, to create works of art on-site at Cypress Mountain, the freestyle skiing and snowboarding competition venue.

"[The idea for this project] kind of came from the culture and demographic of the sports at Cypress," said Christy Nicolay, Vanoc's vice president of sport production and Victory Ceremonies, in an interview with the Straight. "We're looking for all kinds of artists—graffiti, tattoo artists, Sharpie, paint pen, airbrush, you name it."

Using inspirational words and phrases such as progressive, peace through sport, and respect, up to 10 artists per day will paint 120 pre-primed canvases and 23 snowboards with works that represent "the spirit of the Olympics, the athletes, and culture of the sport," according to the Vanoc artist submission package.

Completed pieces will be auctioned off at the end of the Olympics, with artists receiving 60 percent of the profits from the auction. The remaining 40 percent will go to the Vancouver chapter of CHILL, a non-profit organization aimed at getting disadvantaged youth out of the city and up on the mountain.

Respirator masks and 12 cans of spray paint will be supplied to artists along with a choice of different nozzles. Artists are permitted to bring their own supplies, but all items brought will go through a security check.

The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2010. Artists are asked to submit two to three renderings for each canvas that they want to paint, which will be reviewed by a judging panel. Artists chosen to participate will have to undergo a background check. The artist application form is on-line here and completed forms can be sent to graffitiart@sportproduction.vancouver2010.com