Through the lens of contemporary artists’ engagement with the metaphorical and literal processes of fire and the spaces it creates and displaces, The Structure of Smoke includes works that problematize the poetic, structural and political aspects of fire. These works complicate the inherent contradictions of wildness and domestication, technological progress and social control, colonial conditions, rebirth and death. Holding a smoked mirror to contemporary society, the works in this exhibition offer ways to undo the familiar in how we approach our uncertain future.

Speculative in nature, The Structure of Smoke is associative, contextual and driven by artistic practices that disturb existing power relations and question their own conditions and structures. With a focus on ecologies, interconnectedness and relationality the works and curatorial premise consider relating to land, community, family and wildfire ecologies including the non-human. As we have seen with the migration of smoke across the globe and the birth of a regular fire season, the ways in which we live with fire require new strategies that embrace specific Indigenous and ecological knowledges and the ability to develop relations with fire beyond the spectacle and devastation of its impacts.

The Structure of Smoke is curated by Melanie O’Brian and Tania Willard and made possible with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council and our Belkin Curator’s Forum members.

Bizarre Bazaar is a fashion-forward vintage and antique marketplace celebrating style across eras. Discover a curated selection of clothing, hats, jewelry, watches, shoes, bags, and distinctive accessories—each piece chosen for its craftsmanship, character, and wearability.

From timeless silhouettes to bold statement finds, this is a treasure hunt for fashion lovers who appreciate history, individuality, and dressing with intention.

This event is a fundraiser for the BC Society for the Museum of Original Costume. Please consider adding a donation to your ticket purchase to help support their work preserving and celebrating historic fashion.

The Dance Centre’s series of talks Dance Dialogues features a presentation by Indigenous artist Tasha Faye Evans.

Tasha’s work initiates a choreographic study of Coast Salish art and design with master carvers and cultural mentors. Through dialogue and demonstration, Tasha will introduce her dance making methodology of landing and presencing based on the fundamental shapes and cultural teachings of the Salish eye. In this intimate gathering, witness ancestral shapes and storytelling translated in the body and carved into space, connecting us to these lands, culture, and all our relations.

She will be joined by special guests including Sḵwx̱wú7mesh master carver Xwalacktun OBC.