Even though it just snowed recently, winter really is almost over, and spring is just around the corner! With the arrival of spring, we can look forward to longer days, warmer weather and the beauty of nature coming back to life. The trees and flowers will begin to bloom, turning the landscape into a sea of colour. It’s a perfect time to take a stroll through the park, breathe in the fresh air and appreciate the beauty of the season. Spring is also a time for renewal and growth, making it the perfect time to start new projects, take up new hobbies, or simply try something new. Whether it’s exploring a new part of the city or trying a new recipe, spring is the perfect season to embrace change and growth. So, let’s get ready to welcome spring with open arms and enjoy all the wonderful things this season has to offer!
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Amy Rice: Oh Canada
March 1–25
www.outsidersandothers.com/amy-rice-oh-canada
A new solo exhibition by self-taught Minnesota artist Amy Rice will be on display at Outsiders and Others on East Hastings this month. Rice uses nontraditional print-making methods as a starting point for original mixed media pieces, such as spray paint, acrylics, gouache and inks, printed on a variety of surfaces including wood, fabric and antique papers. This exhibition will feature 30 new original artworks all created on vintage envelopes that were mailed to Canada. For more information, check out the Outsiders and Others website.
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The Wrong Bashir
March 2–12
Zahida Rahemtulla’s The Wrong Bashir, produced by Touchstone Theatre’s Flying Start program in association with The Firehall and vAct. Bashir Ladha – wayward philosophy major leaning towards nihilism – has accidentally been selected to assume an important religious position, and his parents have dutifully accepted on his behalf. Conflict ensues over Bashir’s reaction to his appointment and the family is taken on a comedic intergenerational ride that forces them to grapple with long-avoided questions of identity and family.
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Driving Me Crazy
March 7–11
www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca/2022-23-theatre-series
Inspired by stories from three generations, Driving Me Crazy, being performed at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, follows Liz, a grandmother fighting to keep her driver’s license, her independence and her voice in society. Liz is surrounded by her family: a son and daughter-in-law who are addicted to their cars, a granddaughter who is passionate about the environmental fight against oil guzzling vehicles and a grandson on his way to learn hard lessons about drinking and driving. Anyone who has driven a car, been driven in a car or been driven mad by their own family will laugh, cry and gasp.
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Women’s Art on Women’s Day
March 8, 6–9 p.m.
The Turkish-Canadian Society (TCS) is a non-profit charitable organization, focusing on arts and culture and they will be hosting an art exhibition titled Women’s Art on Women’s Day on International Women’s Day as part of the celebrations around the 100th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic. A line of artwork by Turkish and Canadian artists focusing on women, including inspirations from the recent earthquake scenes from Türkiye and Syria, will be displayed. For more information check out their
Eventbrite link.
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Prophecy Fog
March 9–18
From award-winning Indigenous artist Jani Lauzon, Prophecy Fog takes the audience on a beautiful and intimate journey about relationships with land, family and sacred spaces. The journey begins in the Mojave Desert in search of Giant Rock, armed with the question: can a site still be sacred if it has been desecrated? Performed in the round, Prophecy Fog weaves together the captivating performance skills of veteran storyteller Jani Lauzon with evocative environmental design and projections by Melissa Joakim, along with director Franco Boni that will forever change how you appreciate the sky, the stars and even a rock. Check out the Gateway Theatre’s website for tickets and showtimes.
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34th Annual Vancouver Jewish Film Festival
March 9–26
The Vancouver Jewish Film Centre (VJFC) will be hosting the longest-running Jewish Film Festival in Canada, showcasing the diversity of Jewish culture, heritage and identity through film. Since 1988, with the help of generous community sponsors, the Centre has presented high quality comedies, dramas, thrillers, hot and timely documentaries and whimsical shorts. The festival is a community-building initiative intended to connect audiences through film and storytelling. This year the festival is back in-person. Please visit their website for a complete list of showings.
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JUBILEE
March 11, 7:30 p.m.
JUBILEE is a celebration of Afrocentric choral classics and contemporary works, including music by Canadian composer Nathaniel Dett as well as arrangements by guest conductor Rollo Dilworth. Dr. Dilworth is an internationally renowned choral conductor, clinician and composer with more than 150 original compositions and arrangements to his name. The Vancouver Chamber Choir will also be joined on stage by students from our Focus choir, adding to the jubilant atmosphere of this unique event.
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CelticFest Vancouver
March 11–18
CelticFest Vancouver is Western Canada’s biggest annual Celtic festival. CelticFest is a rich cultural celebration of the seven Celtic nations’ kinship and community. The festival showcases the best of Celtic music, dance, spoken word as well as film, food and fare and the much-anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Founded in 2004, the cornerstones of CelticFest Vancouver are community, diversity, family and civic pride. CelticFest draws its artistic direction from some 5,000 years of Celtic history and culture. This young, vibrant event has quickly, and firmly, established itself as an annual springtime tradition in downtown Vancouver. Check out their website for this year’s events.
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Bboyizm: In My Body
March 17–18, 8 p.m.
On stage at the Vancouver Playhouse, presented by DanceHouse, Bboyizm will battle hip-hop culture taboos in this award-winning, multigenerational exploration of aging and vulnerability in dance. In My Body is a profound examination of the effects of aging in a dance genre known for intense athleticism, bravado and the show of invincibility. Three generations of Canada’s top b-boys and b-girls will share the stage to embody the dancers’ evolution. Choreographed by Yvon “Crazy Smooth” Soglo, multiple knee surgeries and his own shifting stamina inspired him to examine what it means to be a “b-boy forever” in his own aging body and soul. With dancers ages 20-50, this work sheds light on how street dancers withstand the test of time and move together as one.
