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Event Details
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
Event Details
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.
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Location
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
1825 Main Mall, Vancouver
Event Details
To turn down the noise of daily life, Fei Disbrow seeks out-of-the-way places where she can find small, unusual organisms. It is in these places where she observes and records
Event Details
To turn down the noise of daily life, Fei Disbrow seeks out-of-the-way places where she can find small, unusual organisms. It is in these places where she observes and records unfamiliar, miniature lifeforms which are integral to this body of Disbrow’s work. Her research focuses on cryptogams, resilient and ancient organisms that cover 30% of earth’s soil surface and play a foundational role in ecosystems around the globe. Found in the Arctic, the desert, forests and cities, they are global extremophiles thriving in hostile habitats, capable of surviving death-like desiccation. This exhibition explores the rich, often-overlooked world of cryptogams—mosses, lichens, and algae—through Disbrow’s sculptural work.
Using a camera as a drawing tool, Disbrow captures these organisms without disturbing them. The images are printed directly onto metal, then cut out, using outlines that are intuitively determined. Sculpted to defy traditional format, the pieces are either gently bent to echo the subjects’ undulating topographies or mounted onto monochrome panels to form photographic relief collages. By isolating these remarkable lifeforms and shifting their scale, each piece – presented not just as a biological subject but as a visual wonder – becomes a quiet contemplation.
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Location
West Vancouver Art Museum
680 17th Street, V7V 3T2
Event Details
Growing from the 2023 Gallery exhibition Invisible Fish, and inspired by the Joy Harjo poem “Remember,” remember the earth, remember the sky is a group show focusing on ancestral connections
Event Details
Growing from the 2023 Gallery exhibition Invisible Fish, and inspired by the Joy Harjo poem “Remember,” remember the earth, remember the sky is a group show focusing on ancestral connections through land, air, and memory as experienced and understood by early career artists connected to this territory and in conversation with works from the Gallery’s permanent collection by Salish artists.
Using an array of mediums, including painting, digital art, sound, sculptural installation, ceramic, and natural materials, the artists reflect on themes connected to place and environment, family history and ceremonies, migration and diasporic identities, and spirituality. This exhibition also includes hands-on experiences with art, including a visitor invitation where one can contribute to an interactive sculpture, weekly piñata breaking referencing its history of celebration and ritual, a collaborative playlist where visitors can dedicate a song to their ancestors, and more.
“remember the earth, remember the sky is partially inspired by my work with children with the Gallery’s school program Sharing Perspectives: Indigenous Contemporary Art Workshop,” says Alanna Edwards, Curator of Art & Education Initiatives. “Children are full of joy, curiosity, and wonder and are open to new ideas. I hope all who visit, no matter their age, can come and ground themselves by remembering their ancestors, their connection to place, and their journey.”
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Location
Surrey Art Gallery
13750 88 Ave
Event Details
An exhibition of approximately 40 works from the collection of Montreal collectors, Lillian and Billy Mauer. Including photography, paintings and sculptures from this impressive international collection by artists such as
Event Details
An exhibition of approximately 40 works from the collection of Montreal collectors, Lillian and Billy Mauer. Including photography, paintings and sculptures from this impressive international collection by artists such as by Carrie May Weems, Lorraine O’Grady, John Baldessari, Rosemarie Trockel, Doug Aitken, Tatiana Trouvé, Huma Bhabha, Frank Bowling, Betty Goodwin, and Annette Messager. Often drawn to politically and socially engaged art, the exhibition will present a selection of works which represent the breadth of the collection.
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Location
Griffin Art Projects
1174 Welch St
Event Details
Explore rug hooking using recycled textiles and coffee sacks. Guided by Jamie Girouard, this three-session workshop is perfect for beginners and experienced crafters. Learn simple techniques to design, create, and
Event Details
Explore rug hooking using recycled textiles and coffee sacks. Guided by Jamie Girouard, this three-session workshop is perfect for beginners and experienced crafters. Learn simple techniques to design, create, and finish a small hooked piece while developing your unique style and discovering sustainable approaches to traditional craft.
Some materials will be supplied, but feel free to bring your own. Small frames and hooks will be available for purchase from the instructor.
You will acquire simple, yet effective techniques to create your own hooked pieces from start to finish. You should be able to finish a small piece of the course of three sessions.
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Location
The Music Box
1564 Argyle Ave
Event Details
Celebrate Lunar New Year weekend with Chinese cultural live performances, tastings, family-friendly workshops, arts & crafts and more! Opening Celebration Saturday,
Event Details
Opening Celebration
Saturday, February 21
Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Last entry at 3:30 PM)
Kick off the Lunar New Year weekend with our lively opening celebration! Energetic, vibrant, family-friendly and full of creativity, this day opens the gates for the festivities to come. Enjoy hands-on activities, arts and crafts, and cultural experiences with us!
Admission
- General: $10
- Child: $8 (ages 5 to 12)
- Family: $30 (includes admission for 2 adults and 2 children)
Prices do not include tax.
All-Day Activities
- LNY Arts and Crafts
- Lantern Viewing
- SUNA – Protein Tea Latte Café
Scheduled Programs
- Lunar New Year Tea Ceremonies: 10:30 AM | 11:45 AM | 1:00 PM
- Eight Treasures Demo Box: 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM
- Calligraphy: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Nian Gao Demonstration & Tasting with Lucia Zhang from Fuye Gourmet: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Garden Derby Celebration
Sunday, February 22
Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry at 5:15 PM)
Welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with us and gallop into a festival full of energy, excitement, and luck. This vibrant celebration brings together food, art, performances, and cultural experiences for a full day of fun and discovery for all ages.
All-Day Activities
Fire Horse Arts and Crafts
Lantern Viewing
Fortune Telling
Featured Vendors:
SUNA – Protein Tea Latte Café
Garden Food Corner – Comfort foods
Butter Me Up Cookie Co. – Baked goods
Brotherhood HK Comfort Foods – all your favourite Hong Kong snacks
Toaster Lab 3D Printing – Local handmade 3D prints
Scheduled Programs
- Calligraphy: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Sugar Candy Art: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Dumplings Demonstration with Renee from The Skript Kitchen: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Guzheng and Interpretive Dance Performances: 1:30 PM & 2:30 PM
- Fire Horse Art Candy with Yee Chan: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Caricatures with House of Kewpie: 2:00 PM – 5:15 PM
- Nian Gao Demonstration and Tasting with Lucia Zhang from Fuye Gourmet: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Lion Dance Performance with Hon Hsing Athletic Group: 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
- Roving Dance Performances from Changeling Movement: 5:30 PM
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Location
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall Street, Vancouver