Cap Vei Fora del Barri

Historical narrative

Walking in Barceloneta was always a treat. Steve would round a corner, never knowing what he might find. Here he encountered a sign bearing the slogan “CAP VEÍ FORA DEL BARRI,” Catalan for “No resident should be forced out of the neighborhood.” It became a major slogan of the Barceloneta residents’ movement opposing displacement, gentrification, and redevelopment proposals that threatened the neighborhood’s traditional character. The scene is on Carrer dels Pescadors, between Carrer de l’Almirall Aixada and Carrer de l’Almirall Cervera in La Barceloneta, Barcelona. Above the street and sidewalks hangs a spectacular canopy of colorful decorations resembling brightly wrapped pieces of hard candy. The original photograph was taken looking upward from beneath this decorative canopy, capturing the buildings, balconies, and brilliant colors surrounding the narrow street. For Steve, the combination of the spirited neighborhood message and the extraordinary canopy transformed an ordinary walk through Barceloneta into a memorable encounter with the character and community of this historic seaside district.

Oil

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved