In downtown Windsor, eye-catching orange and black signs proclaiming “Spirit Halloween Coming Soon” adorn the windows and doors of empty buildings. However, these signs are not related to the actual opening of a Spirit Halloween store but are part of a project by local artist Daniel Bombardier, also known as Denial, to draw attention to the numerous vacant properties in the city center, many of which he describes as having a haunted appearance.
Bombardier decided to display these signs after acquiring a large number of them, noting the association of Spirit Halloween with utilizing abandoned spaces. He believes that such businesses should operate year-round, emphasizing the irony of the abundance of closed-down establishments in a downtown area that should be thriving.
The artist hopes that by showcasing the prevalence of empty buildings, it will spur initiatives to repurpose these spaces through measures like rent subsidies or incentives to prevent them from being left vacant and deteriorating. He likens the atmosphere created by these boarded-up properties to a post-apocalyptic, zombie-like scenario reminiscent of the Spirit Halloween aesthetic.
Jess Reimer, who assisted with the project, mentions that more signs are available for anyone interested in participating in a similar creative endeavor. Bombardier expresses that the initiative has brought smiles to people and encourages the community to place the signs in various locations to continue raising awareness about the issue of vacant buildings in the area.
