Kokoro Dance explores human experience through movement.| Photo by Chris Randle.
Autumn begins this year on Sept. 22, bringing with it falling leaves, cooling temperatures and shorter days. But while the days of summer may be over for now, the events continue! From art gallery openings and literary readings to movie nights and youth fests, there are plenty of festivities, celebrations, exhibits, conversations, roundtables and performances to check out throughout the city. Have a great September everyone!
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Place des Arts Gallery Exhibitions
Sept. 8–Oct. 7
Place des Arts, Coquitlam
The Place des Arts Gallery are currently showcasing three new exhibits this month. Check out industrial machinery artist Ross Hayduk’s visually intriguing and functionally illuminating lamps, which explore forms in classic, antique, futuristic and abstract styles. Artist Barb Pearson’s thought-provoking series of mixed-media art forces the viewer to contemplate the effect of infobesity (information overload) on our society. Finally, Inspiration 45 showcases the various artworks of the best of Place des Arts’ vibrant and creative community.
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Tania Willard: dissimulation
Sept. 15–Nov. 5
Burnaby Art Gallery
The Burnaby Art Gallery will host Secwépemc Nation artist Tania Willard’s multidisciplinary work dissimulation until Nov. 5. Willard operates within the shifting ideas of the contemporary and traditional as they relate to cultural arts and production, often working with bodies of knowledge and skills that are conceptually linked to her interest in intersections between Indigenous and other cultures. There will be an artist talk and exhibition opening on Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. For more information, please check out the BAG website.
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Country Celebration
Sept. 16–17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Campbell Valley Regional Park, Township of Langley
www.metrovancouver.org/
Is city life too hectic? Dragging you down? Well, why not come on down to Langley’s Campbell Valley Regional Park for the 39th annual Country Celebration, featuring all things country with food, live music, entertainment, activities and demonstrations. Navigate a straw bale maze, paint and fire up your own Raku pottery, eat some old country-style pierogis and check out the many exhibits showcasing the best that country life has to offer.
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Salman Rushdie in Conversation with Hal Wake
Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, University of British Columbia
One of the most celebrated public thinkers of our time, the multi-award-winning and bestselling author Salman Rushdie discusses his latest, brilliant epic, The Golden House, at UBC’s Chan Centre on Sept. 19. With Vancouver Writers Festival director Hal Wake, Rushdie will chat about the novel in the context of the current U.S. political climate, probing key moments in recent history from the inauguration of Obama to post-election Trump. For tickets and more information, please visit the website.
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Word Vancouver 2017
Sept. 19–24
Various venues
Returning to the city for the 23rd time, the Word Vancouver festival strives to promote literacy by bringing the literature of Canadian and British Columbian word artists to a broad audience. Enjoy free readings, panel discussions and live performances. Activities include writing workshops as well as a variety of literacy activities. Featured authors include Rodney DeCroo, Grant Lawrence and Sheri-D Wilson. Check out their website for a complete schedule of events.
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Aabiziingwashi: The Road Forward
Sept. 20, 7 p.m.
SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, Vancouver
On Sept. 20, the SFU Goldcorp Centre will be screening the National Film Board film The Road Forward, a musical documentary by playwright Marie Clements. The film connects a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history – the beginnings of Indian Nationalism in the 1930s – with the powerful momentum of First Nations activism today. The film is a rousing tribute to the fighters for First Nations rights, a soul-resounding historical experience and a visceral call to action. For additional information, check out the website.
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Kokoro Dance: Embryotrophic Cavatina
Sept. 20–23, 26–29, 8 p.m.
Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Vancouver
Kokoro Dance will present the world premiere of the provocative and primal Embryotrophic Cavatina, the company’s latest full-length butoh work, 20 years in the making. Choreographed by Kokoro Dance Directors Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi and set to the heartrending but uplifting music of Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner, four dancers will strip themselves bare – literally and figuratively – in breathless motion and stillness, embodying the rawness of humanity, while transcending all superficial layers of persona and ego in true butoh style. Please visit the website for tickets and more information.
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LiterASIAN 2017
Sept. 21–24
Various locations including VPL Central Branch and UBC
The Asian Canadian Writers Society is putting on LiterASIAN 2017, a four day conference celebrating and honouring Asian Canadian Writing. This year’s theme examines storytelling and the art of the novel. There will be book launches, author readings, writing workshops and cultural panels featuring authors such as Eleanor Guerrero-Campbell, Terry Watada, Janie Chang and Catherine Hernandez. Please visit their website for a complete list of events.
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Hapa-palooza Festival
Sept. 22–24
Various sites in Vancouver
Returning for the seventh time, the Hapa-palooza Festival celebrates and stimulates awareness of mixed-heritage and cultural hybrid identity. A vibrant fusion of music, dance, literary, artistic and film performances, Hapa-palooza is the first mixed roots festival in Canada and is currently one of the largest festivals celebrating mixed heritage in the world. For a complete list of performances and events, please check out the festival website.
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Surrey Youth Fest
Sept. 23, 1–11 p.m.
Guildford Recreation Centre, Surrey
Surrey Youth Fest is the city’s largest free youth celebration of the year. Drop by with your friends or family – there’s something fun for everyone. Activities include an all-styles dance battle, skateboard, scooter and BMX jam and demos, cooking competitions with MasterChef and over 40 interactive exhibits. Please visit their website for more information.
