I hope everyone is enjoying the crisp autumn weather. The pandemic is still ongoing unfortunately, so many of the events below are either online, outside or have reduced in-person capacity. As always, keep safe and stay vigilant. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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Surrey Art Gallery: Phyllis Atkins and Sandeep Johal
Sep. 1–Dec. 11
The Surrey Art Gallery is currently exhibiting two art installations until Dec. 11 – visual artist Sandeep Johal’s What If? and Indigenious artist Phyllis Atkins’ Divine Connection. Atkins makes paintings and sculptures that draw from both Coast Salish tradition and her own personal journey to connect with the world around her. Each work in her exhibit alludes to icons such as the moon or weaving technologies, the repeating circular shapes also evoke a handheld drum and its critical importance to Coast Salish culture and revitalization. Through textiles, paintings, drawings and animation, Johal layers her personal history with those of South Asian women she wished she knew about as a first-generation South Asian youth. These women are role models, pioneers, trailblazers, vigilantes and rebels. For more information about these artworks, check out the gallery’s website.
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Project Fire Flower
Oct. 2–Dec. 11
Immersively tactile, the Fire Flower exhibition at the Grunt Gallery serves as a window into the evolving research process of clinical psychologist and fireworks enthusiast, Collin van Uchelen. He has been developing tactile methods for translating fireworks for years and the exhibition provides a fully participatory environment in which visitors may step into van Uchelen’s research process, touching his reference points. Rigorous and passionate, van Uchelen’s efforts in Project Fire Flower educate others about the pyrotechnic arts and share his joy for fireworks, all while fueling his continuing pursuit of refining translations of these dynamic objects. Check out the gallery’s website for more information.
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Spinning You Home
Oct. 8–31
This month, the Jericho Arts Centre will present Spinning You Home, a Spinners Collective production, written by Sally Stubbs and directed by Sarah Rodgers. It is 1958. A storm rages. Trapped inside, Sarah and Grampa, a loner with a passion for history and spinning tales and a thirst for overproof rum, learn one another as they bring to life the remarkable story of legendary gold prospectors, John ‘Cariboo’ Cameron and his young wife, miner Sophia Cameron. Spinning You Home celebrates a haunting chapter in B.C. gold rush history; promises that transcend death; and the power of love and storytelling. Check out the Jericho Arts Centre’s website for tickets and more information.
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Speaking From the Heart: Translating Xinjiang’sDiverse Voices
Oct. 9, 2:30–4:30
Language can serve as an important tool in decolonization and in the creation of international solidarity and equity. For many, there is a language barrier when it comes to learning more about Xinjiang and its many cultures and current struggles. Many victim testimonies collected by grassroots agencies are only available online in the Uyghur and Kazakh languages. Furthermore, English-language reporting and academic research are seldom translated into the Chinese language. This event looks at creating an opportunity to include everyone in the conversation, regardless of language ability. The event will discuss the importance of empathy and cross-cultural communication in translating the diverse languages and experiences of Xinjiang, making sense of the Xinjiang crisis and discuss the politics and urgency in translation, empathy and cross-cultural communication.
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Vancouver Improv Festival
Oct. 12–17
The Vancouver Improv Festival is one of North America’s longest running improv festivals, aiming to celebrate spontaneity and collaboration through the art form of improvisation. Since 1999, it has showcased over 1300 international and local performers for thousands of Vancouver theatre and comedy fans. The 23rd annual Vancouver Improv Festival will be taking place from Oct. 12 – 17. The festival will feature workshops, shows and guests from near and far. For tickets, event information and the festival schedule, please check out the Improv Festival’s website.
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Latin American Heritage Month Festival
Oct. 14–Nov. 2
For the third consecutive year, Latincouver will celebrate Latin American Heritage Month in B.C., by bringing a series of interactive events that include a combination of artists performances, art exhibitions, online workshops, forums and events to commemorate the rich and fascinating Latin American heritage and its influence in B.C. and Canada. Latin American Heritage Month is the perfect time to join with the rest of Canada in honouring the richness and vitality of Latin American culture and heritage.
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Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival
Oct. 15–17
www.cacv.ca/vancouver-outsider-arts-festival-2021
The Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF) will take place at The Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre from Oct. 15–17, and will feature visual art, performances and workshops throughout the centre. The festival offers visual and performing artists facing social exclusion and other barriers opportunities for exhibition and sales, performance and participation, connection and learning. VOAF is Canada’s first and only festival for Outsider Art, which is represented by significant fairs and museums globally. The artists may be self-taught or trained: they are all devoted to their creative practices, and come from a point of view that is outside the mainstream art world trends.
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New Westminster Cultural Crawl
Oct. 16–17
The New West Cultural Crawl is an annual arts & culture festival that celebrates and exhibits the vast creative talents across New Westminster. Artist studios and venues open their doors for two days to welcome thousands of visitors from across Metro Vancouver. The 18th Annual New West Cultural Crawl will take place on October 16 and 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at venues across New Westminster. This family-friendly event invites audiences of young and old to explore the city at their own pace, and check out artworks by professional and emerging artists who reside in the city.
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Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
Oct. 22–24
The Sunshine Coast Art Crawl showcases artists on the entire Sunshine Coast from Langdale to Earls Cove and back. Over three days, the ‘Coast’ transforms into one large interactive art show. It is a celebration of displays and demonstrations and it provides an opportunity to meet the artists behind the amazing creations. During Art Crawl 2021, the event will present 164 venues (46 of them are new to the Crawl). This includes approximately 250+ artists. For more information, check out the Crawl’s website.
