SFU’s exploration of land use through art.| Photo courtesy of Audain Gallery.
It’s June, and summer is right around the corner! The weather is warm and sunny, the smell of outdoor barbecues is in the air and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor festivals and events around the city. Attend a film fest, art exhibit, dance workshop and more! Here is a sample of the events happening soon.
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Maps and Dreams
June 1–July 29
Audain Gallery, Vancouver
www.sfu.ca/galleries/audain-
The Audain Gallery will unveil Maps and Dreams, a group exhibition of work by contemporary artists exploring conceptions and implications of land use through cultural and industrial lenses. The exhibition specifically considers the territory of the Dane-zaa people of northeastern British Columbia, now in Treaty 8. The exhibition includes work by artists who consider how this land and its intersection with human use is articulated, represented and contested. On May 31 there will be an artist talk from 4–5 p.m. and an opening reception from 7–9 p.m. For more information, please visit the SFU Galleries website.
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Creative Visions: Hong Kong Cinema 1997–2017
June 1–23
The Cinematheque, Vancouver
This month the Cinematheque will be hosting Hong Kong films and filmmakers to recognize cinematic filmmaking in the 20 years since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Technological innovation, financial shifts and the coming of age of young Hong Kong filmmakers and audiences have made post-1997 cinema extremely creative and provocative. June 1 is opening night, with a reception and opening night movie filmmakers in attendance. For tickets, showtimes and more information, please visit the Cinematheque’s website.
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Tara Nicholson: Arctic Claims
June 2–July 2
Burnaby Art Gallery
Explore the Arctic with photo artist Tara Nicholson, whose exhibit, Arctic Claims, will be on display at the Burnaby Art Gallery this month. Nicholson incorporates large-scale photography to document, question and visualize the reality and processes surrounding scientific work currently taking place in remote and often disputed territories. Travelling to Greenland and the Northwest Territories, her work reveals the aesthetic of taxonomies – the process of collection and classification that develop scientific data, helping us understand what is occurring in our changing environment. There will be an opening reception on June 8 and a talk with the artist on June 11. For more information, please visit the gallery website.
Arctic exploration.| Photo by Tara Nicholson.
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Concrete Culture Clash
June 3, 1–8 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
www.facebook.com/events/
There will be free outdoor street dance workshops on June 3 at the plaza at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver. Concrete Culture Clash is a dance party featuring five beginner-friendly street dance workshops in House, Hip-Hop, Locking, Top Rock and Waacking. Every workshop will be 45 minutes followed by a 15 minute open-floor break where DJ Arthurstorm will set the vibes. For more information, please check out their Facebook page.
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Doors Open Richmond
June 3–4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Various sites around Richmond
The 10th annual Doors Open Richmond is a free weekend-long, city-wide public celebration of arts, heritage and culture. There will be 42 sites open to the public, including heritage sites, museums, places of worship, green spaces, wineries, specialty business, art galleries and artist studios. There will be an opening celebration at the Richmond Cultural Centre on June 2, 5:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, please visit the City of Richmond’s website.
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Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir: Soul Gospel II
June 3, 3 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver
Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir presents Soul Gospel II, a concert uniting two timeless genres. Rising-star R&B sensation Warren Dean Flandez, recent JUNO nominee and two-time winner at the 2017 Canadian Gospel Music Awards, will charm audiences with his rich vocals alongside the mighty voices of Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir. This musical event will combine the best of soul and gospel, with inspirational classics made famous by Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and more. To purchase tickets, check out brownpapertickets.com or call 1.800.838.3006.
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Aboriginal Arts and Culture Day 2017
June 4, 1 –5 p.m.
Kariton Art Gallery at Mill Lake Park, Abbotsford
www.abbotsfordartscouncil.com/
The second annual Aboriginal Arts and Culture Day returns to Abbotsford, showcasing Aboriginal arts, culture, history and traditions. See Aboriginal artists create their work onsite and purchase directly from the artist. The centre stage will present traditional Sto:lo storytellers, holistic teachings, Metis jiggers, drummers and dancers. There will also be plenty of food and drinks, including a bannock food truck. Check out their website for a list of performances and further information.
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Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival
June 9–11
Vancity Theatre, Vancouver
The Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival will be screening many short and feature-length films showcasing some of the best cinematic work being produced in Taiwan. Over the past 11 years, the festival has presented more than a hundred Taiwanese films and invited many filmmakers and directors to entertain Vancouver audiences. The festival hopes to build a bridge connecting the art of Taiwanese films with Canada to create an even more diverse community. Check out the festival website for a list of films and ticket purchases.
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Turkish Film Festival
June 9–11
SFU Woodward’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, Vancouver
www.vancouverturkishfilmfest.
The Turkish Canadian Society is pleased to announce the fourth annual Turkish Film Festival, Starry Crescent Nights. The festival will provide a contemporary window into Turkish cinema and its dynamic culture by exploring Turkey’s past to understand its present. During the festival, there will be eight screenings, an opening gala reception and a panel on the Turkish Republic and its historical roots from Ottoman Empire. The festival is using a mobile app with augement reality to showcase the film festival. The mobile app will bring to life the posters and brochures of the festival with movie trailers and other information. Check out their website for further information.
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Surrey Greek Food Festival
June 9–18
Greek Orthodox Church, Surrey
Have some souvlaki with hummus and tzatziki at the 26th annual Surrey Greek Food Festival, from June 9–19 at the Greek Orthodox Church in Surrey. The festival features folk dancing, food competitions, live entertainment and, of course, plenty of Greek food! Please visit their website for more information about the festival.
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Cloverdale Antique and Collectible Show
June 10, 9 a.m–3 p.m.
Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Surrey
The Canadian Antique and Collectible Club will host the Cloverdale Antique and Collectible Show at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds on June 10. Check out the interesting memorabilia and paraphernalia that the antique dealers are selling; there may be a hidden treasure waiting just for you! Please visit their website for further information.
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Italian Day
June 11, 12–8 p.m.
Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Italian Day returns to The Drive on June 11. Italian Day is a vibrant cultural street festival celebrating Italian culture, heritage and respective immigrant contributions in Vancouver. This year’s festival offers over 200 street participants comprised of: sponsors, merchants, retail booths, food vendors and restaurant patios, as well as stages with live music and theatre, street performers, classic cars, activities and displays, children’s amusement zones and more. For highlights and more information, please visit their website.
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City of Bhangra
June 11–17
Various venues in Vancouver and Surrey
The Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society will be hosting a six day celebration of Bhangra, music, art and dance from the Punjab region. There will be a short film fest, workshops, singers, dancers, and plenty of food and drinks. Be sure to catch their marquee event: Downtown Bhangra, a daylong family celebration on June 17 at Surrey’s City Hall Plaza, featuring world-class headliners, local bhangra teams, talented B.C. artists and more. For a complete list of events, please check out their website.
Vancouver and Surrey celebrate Bhangra this June.| Photo by Tracy Bains.
