We Are the Clouds by Estonian artists Varvara and Mar | Photo by SITE Photograph
Because of the ongoing second wave of coronavirus, many events and festivals are being hosted online or are socially distant – below are a sampling of some of the activities happening in the next two weeks. Stay safe and healthy and have a great Halloween!
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Suitcase Stories
Now until Oct. 25
Pacific Theatre, Vancouver
The Pacific Theatre is re-hosting a socially distant seating production of the Suitcase Stories until Oct. 25. Suitcase Stories is a tale of self-discovery and hope, while at the same time being completely honest about the difficulties of living in Canada as a newcomer. While writer-performer Maki Yi refers to Canada as the land of freedom and opportunity that she hoped for, she does not avoid her experiences of racism, poverty, and the ever-disheartening immigration process in the play.
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Varvara and Mar: We Are the Clouds
Now until Jan. 3, 2021
www.surrey.ca/arts-culture/surrey-art-gallery/exhibitions/varvara-and-mar-we-are-clouds
Estonian artists Varvara & Mar is an artist duo formed by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet in 2009. Their work is often inspired by the digital age. In their practice, they confront social changes and impacts of the technological era and are fascinated by kinetics, participation and digital fabrication, which are integral parts of their work. This fall you can join them in creating a cloud community. Through the use of a camera kiosk located onsite, you can record your own live performance for the screen, and be transmuted into the clouds. Even as we take social distancing measures in our day to day lives, We Are the Clouds encourages togetherness in the warmth of a beautiful sky.
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The Writers Fest Interviews
Oct. 25, 11 a.m.
This year at the Vancouver Writers Fest, globalization and the climate crisis’s past, present and future collide with a suite of authors at the top of their game: Seth Klein’s climate change manifesto A Good War re-envisions WWII mobilization tactics for Canada’s future; Shaena Lambert revels in a fictionalized account of the captivating (and largely erased) life of Germany’s first Green Party leader and feminist in Petra; and Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf traces the roots of our global divisions – and the challenges we can still rise to – in Adrift. The French side of The Source has an article on Maalouf’s work.
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Shakespeare – A playwright for our polarized times?
Oct. 28, 12–1:30 p.m.
www.vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/5f72209c969bc02f001a571a
Is William Shakespeare an icon to be toppled? Or a playwright whose work still matters? Renowned theatre director Iqbal Khan shares his views on what Shakespeare may contribute to the political challenges of the twenty-first century – in conversation with Carolyn Sale, associate professor of English at the University of Alberta. The talk will be hosted by Ryerson University over Zoom. For more information, check out the Events page on the Vancouver Public Library website.
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Chantal Kreviazuk
Oct. 28–31, 7:30 p.m.
Massey Theatre, New Westminster
Canadian songstress Chantal Kreviazuk is coming to the Massey Theatre on Oct. 28–31. Kreviazuk – one of Canada’s most accomplished songwriters and recognizable voices – released her eighth studio album, Get to You, this summer. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kreviazuk’s voice will fill the theatre for an exclusive audience of 50 people per show. Those 50 people are set to experience a performance that will fill their hearts and their souls. For tickets and more information, check out the Massey Theatre’s website.
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17th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival
Oct. 28–Nov. 8
www.heartofthecityfestival.com
Every year, the Downtown Eastside community looks forward to the Heart of the City Festival. This year, Downtown Eastside residents and artists seek opportunities for cultural exchange and to get together. Due to the pandemic, this year’s festival will be smaller in scale with programming mostly online and outdoors. The festival will feature 12 days of online and pop-up outdoor events, including music, stories, poetry, ceremony, films, readings, forums, workshops, discussions, art talks, history talks, and visual art exhibitions.
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Little Volcano
Oct. 22–25
After a sold-out PuSh Festival premiere, East Vancouver’s very own Canadian singer-songwriter Veda Hille will fill The Cultch and your homes with music and storytelling in this intensely personal online performance. The beloved singer, pianist and songwriter takes us through her life using stories, Bach preludes, a selection of her own music, and some unique and surprising recordings – redefining autobiography as she goes along. Bracingly honest and daringly intimate, this musical memoir is a testament to love, a joyful embrace of nature, and so much more.
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I Walked the Line
Oct. 15–25
The Firehall Arts Centre is performing a play about unions, treachery, solidarity, porta potties, baked goods, and hope. Allan Morgan is a luminary of the Canadian stage, having spent a lifetime as a professional actor working with companies such as Bard on the Beach, Arts Club Theatre, and more. When his acting career slowed down, he did what he had to do – he got another job, which landed him in the mailroom of a union headquarters. In July of 2016, the union went on strike and Allan found himself on the picket line with his union sisters and brothers, which was the impetus for the play – a 70-minute performance that takes audiences on a roller coaster ride of emotions, transforming the stage to the picket line in celebration of that solidarity, the people, and the storm of emotions the fight for change brought to all those who walked the line for 132 days.
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11th Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
Oct. 23–25, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Over three days, the B.C. Sunshine Coast transforms into one large interactive art show, a celebration of displays, demonstrations and opportunities to meet the artists behind their amazing creations. ‘The Crawl’ will showcase artists on the entire Sunshine Coast from Langdale to Earls Cove or Earls Cove to Langdale. During the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic the Crawl will look a little different. To provide safety and levels of comfort for all, the Crawlers will have the opportunity to visit the artists in their venues/studios in different and creative ways. Check out the Crawl’s website for more details.
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Sharon Minemoto Quartet
Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
Burnaby’s Shadbolt Centre for the Arts will be livestreaming a performance by pianist Sharon Minemoto and her Quartet on Nov. 1. Minemoto’s memorable compositions are influenced by a wide range of composers such as Herbie Hancock, Kenny Wheeler, Stevie Wonder and Alexander Scriabin. In their tenth year of making music together, the quartet has been performing music from their most recent album, Safe Travels across Canada over the past two years. For the Shadbolt concert, they will perform some newer original music by Minemoto as well as a few from Safe Travels.
