·
When asked what Canadian literature means to her, Shazia Hafiz Ramji, an emerging writer and University of British Columbia (UBC) Creative Writing Masters student, ponders for a moment. “It means so many different things,” she says. This is a main topic Ramji is interested in exploring further as a panelist at a discussion panel entitled Refuse:…
A new production of the life of famed poet and activist Gwendolyn Brooks will be performed in a variety of media. “It’s a live biopic, a music video, a poetry performance, all mixed up into one giant onstage show,” says Sarah Fornace, co-artistic director of No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. No Blue Memories: The…
Scientist and artist Steve DiPaola has dedicated his career to the interplay between human cognition and artificial intelligence (AI). Now he’s continuing this work while adding a new dichotomy. His latest site-specific artwork at Surrey Art Gallery is an example of how intertwined science and art really are, and what it means to be both…
New York-based multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily will be performing at the Western Front on Feb. 26. Having recorded and toured with artists such as Laurie Anderson, Ben Frost and Colin Stetson, the acclaimed accompanist and band member sets out to bring a more intuitive, improvisational direction in his solo shows. “I will plan to have around…
Inspired by the African artistic expressions, the African Fashion and Arts Movement Vancouver (AFAM) brings a mix of activism, culture and creativity for their bi-annual fashion show. The event brings together designers and models, uniting their talents to showcase the creativity imprinted on the African continent. “We are paying tribute to Africans in diaspora. We will be…
As part of Vancouver’s 9th annual Hot Chocolate Festival Kasama Chocolate will be hosting a workshop for chocolate lovers, including cacao with various cultural twists, at the Italian Cultural Centre on Feb. 6, 2019. At Hot Chocolates from the World, participants will explore the history and background of chocolates, with a chance to make their own…
Blood on the Dance Floor, a powerful theatre performance by Australian indigenous artist Jacob Boehme, is currently on tour in Canada. Created in collaboration with ILBIJERRI, one of Australia’s leading theatre companies known for its innovative works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, the Vancouver performance will run in at the Simon Fraser University…
A new exhibition at the Richmond Art Gallery (RAG) by Vancouver-based artist Adad Hannah uses Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th century collection of short stories, The Decameron. This time-honoured piece of literature functions as a departure point from which spectators and participants alike will gain insight into contemporary artistic working methods. “The Decameron Retold is based on the medieval work…
Traditional gender roles are questioned in the current exhibit hosted at The Italian Cultural Center in Vancouver. Princesses + Monsters, the opening exhibition to the Gendered Voices Series, looks at traditional archetypes through visions from childhood. “How does feminism address these long-held traditional roles that are being maintained in our culture?” asks Angela Clarke, curator of…
ISSAMBA, a 90-minute show filled with African music and dance, will be touring Vancouver and Vancouver Island Feb. 14–23. Produced by the Victoria African and Caribbean Cultural Society (VACCS), ISSAMBA functions as a way for some to celebrate their own heritage and for others to experience African and Caribbean culture in a fun and educational atmosphere. A sense…
When it comes to making art, each artist chooses their own styles, methods and mediums through which they can express their ideas. For Dawn Livera, a Vancouver-based artist, working with good old paper and books and other forms of media are her favorite mediums. Livera is happy to share her art-making secrets Feb. 1 at…
To mark the Chinese New Year, LunarFest will be holding several special events in various locations across Vancouver. The celebrations will include an exhibition showcasing Giuseppe Castiglione’s impact on Chinese art. “LunarFest is a legacy event from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. That was the first year we collaborated with the Cultural Olympiad to showcase…
If No One Asks is the first solo North American exhibition for Chechen artist Aslan Gaisumov. Though the specific history behind the work hails from across the globe, Contemporary Art Gallery (CAG) curator Kimberly Phillips feels the issues it wrestles with can resonate just as strongly in Vancouver. On display at the CAG now until March…
