SPRING EXHIBITIONS
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art presents GEORGE CLUTESI: ḥašaḥʔap / ʔaapḥii / ʕc̓ik / ḥaaʔaksuqƛ / ʔiiḥmisʔap,
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art presents the Vancouver premiere of the retrospective exhibition GEORGE CLUTESI: ḥašaḥʔap / ʔaapḥii / ʕc̓ik / ḥaaʔaksuqƛ / ʔiiḥmisʔap from January 20, 2024 – January 19, 2025. The exhibition is an exploration of the life and legacy of Clutesi, whose actions have left an indelible mark on the preservation and celebration of the Nuu-chah-nulth community’s cultural traditions and customs. Featuring an extensive collection of Clutesi’s artworks, the exhibition further honours his legacy through striking displays of archival photographs and news clippings of his varied achievements, a documentary film about his long-lasting impact, and a curated selection of artworks from contemporary Nuu-chah-nulth artists and scholars, inspired by Clutesi’s activism and scholarship. The name of the exhibition, written in the Tseshaht language, honours Clutesi’s many celebrated traits: ḥašaḥʔap (keep, protective) / ʔaapḥii (generous) / ʕac̓ik (talented) / ḥaaʔaksuqƛ (strong willed) / ʔiiḥmisʔap (treasure). A series of ancillary events will support the exhibition, including an opening celebration on Saturday, January 20, 2024, an artist panel discussion, workshops, a curatorial tour, and a book club event. For admission information and a full list of events and registration details, visit: billreidgallery.ca
(Bill Reid Gallery, 639 Hornby Street, Jan. 20 - Jan. 19, 2025)
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art presents XIÁM, February 7 - May 19, 2024
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art presents the Canadian premiere of XIÁM from February 7 - May 19, 2024. Curated by BRG guest curator Jordanna George, the striking exhibition combines traditional storytelling and the contemporary medium of comics through the work of five Indigenous artists who come from a range of backgrounds across the Northwest Coast: Jordanna George (T’sou-ke), Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Haida), Gord Hill (Kwakwaka’wakw), Whess Harman (Carrier Wit’at), and Cole Pauls (Tahltan). While comics have only recently begun to be widely seen as a sophisticated form of art and literature, they have a long history of acting as a tool for people on the fringes of society to share education, news, lived experiences, opinions, or a much-needed laugh. XIÁM includes traditionally drawn works alongside digital pieces, both English and native languages, humour, and drama. XIÁM in the SENĆOŦEN language means “to tell stories, specifically fictional or traditional stories.” Admission information and a full list of events and registration details at: billreidgallery.ca
(Bill Reid Gallery, 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver, Feb. 7 - May. 19)
Bounty
Gardens are ancient symbols of sustenance & serenity, from practical patches for growing vegetables to cultivated tranquil retreats. Two talented North Shore painters offer diverse perspectives on what gardens are & what they symbolize, inviting us to partake in a feast for the senses & the soul. Mahtab Firouzabadi, inspired by classic Persian poetry in which gardens are often employed as symbols of paradise or places of sanctuary, transforms ideas of still perfection into energetic brushstrokes & chaotic colours, reflecting the fast-paced disruption of contemporary life. Through abstracted trees & flowers these gardens invite us inside to contemplate our place in the ever-changing world. Kim Rosin, interested in how plants grow, took up a community garden plot which has inspired this body of work. Documenting the flowers, plants & vegetables with vibrant colours & bold brushstrokes, she hopes to draw attention to issues of food scarcity & the vulnerability of nature. Through vivid micro views of these lovingly tended gardens, we are invited to enjoy their beauty while examining our own effects on the local ecosystems. Presented by West Vancouver Community Arts Council & Kay Meek Arts Centre.
(Kay Meek Arts Centre, 1700 Mathers Ave, West Vancouver, Apr. 9 - May 19)
True Colours Youth Pride Exhibition
The True Colours exhibition is a celebration of youth artists who identify as queer, questioning or allies of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. With a purpose of encouraging and promoting inclusivity and diversity within the Tri-Cities, True Colours is a youth initiative that uses art to connect us and create safer, more welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and families.
Opening Reception May 16, 2024 6-8pm. Light refreshments served.
Exhibition runs May 16 – July 8, 2024
(2425 St Johns Street, Port Moody, May. 16 - Jul. 8)
Even If I Wasn't Here - Leanne M. Christie
As an urban oil painter, Christie is fascinated by the idea that our memories are inextricably linked to the anchors in our environment and that as these anchors disappear through development, our memories fade with them and inevitably, we forget to remember. Her new body of work for “Even if I Wasn’t Here” weaves together the experience of the space of the gallery with the experience of the zones of the urban environment, using it to interpret the feelings of belonging, confusion, alienation, and possession that we feel as humans living in a part of the world that is undergoing dynamic change.
Opening reception May 16, 2024 6-8pm
(PoMoArts, 2425 St Johns Street, Port Moody, May. 16 - Jul. 8)
Connecting With our Culture Through the Places We Sit - Pat Calihou
Métis woodcarver and artisan Pat Calihou is passionate about connecting to his heritage and building the cultural footprints that that were hard to find when he was growing up. Each of his wooden “places to sit” have connections to Métis culture. They are places where family gather, places to share stories, and places to ask questions. Calihou’s work presents opportunities to educate the public and for a new generation to connect with Métis culture.
Reception May 16, 2024 6-8pm
(PoMoArts, 2425 St Johns Street, Port Moody, May. 16 - Jul. 8)
Fall Flat - Kosar Movahedi
Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Recipient
Fall Flat, a solo exhibition by visual artist Kosar Movahedi, plays with the boundary between exhibition spaces and image-based work. She brings to our attention ignored or unseen elements of the buildings where we view art by combining source photos from the exhibition space with drawing and collage. Kosar employs humour and play to complicate our perception of space, time and surfaces through photography, drawing, video and sculpture.
Reception May 16, 2024 6-8pm
(PoMoArts, 2425 St Johns Street, Port Moody, May. 16 - Jul. 8)
The Prop House: A Collection of One Million Objects
The Prop House: A Collection of One Million Objects
Curated by Paul Wong and Lisa Baldissera
Exhibition dates: May 18 - August 18, 2024
Opening reception: May 17, 6 - 8 PM
Mount Pleasant Furniture (MPF) is a family-owned business, a wonderland for the film, television, stage and art communities for decades located in the heart of the Mount Pleasant Warehouse district. Curated by Lisa Baldissera and Paul Wong, The Prop House: A Collection of One Million Objects offers an opportunity to celebrate and explore this extraordinary collection with the public for the first time.
The Prop House is a collaborative project between On Main Gallery and Griffin Art Projects in collaboration with grunt gallery that invites Vancouver-based artists Cathy Busby, Jay Senetchko, Germaine Koh, Charlene Vickers, Parvin Peivandi and Bagua Artist Association as well as both curators, to respond to this extraordinary collection, and features photography of MPF by Vancouver Sun photographer Jason Payne.
(Griffin Art Projects, 1174 Welch St, North Vancouver, May. 18 – Aug. 18)
A Closer Look
The West Vancouver Arts Council presents an exhibition of smaller works that invite viewers to get up close & really explore the themes & techniques of each piece. From painting to embroidery to assemblage, these artists investigate themes of home, women's work, traditional craft & change. Emily Cowan aims to elevate the work of creating a home traditionally done by women, through colourful & stylized paintings of houses’ exteriors & interiors, & domestic scenes while also bringing the ever increasing housing crisis to the fore; Mallory Donen explores the intersection of digital art & embroidery through processes rooted in traditional craft passed down from generations of women in her family to create pixelated images using the distinct format of cross-stitching; Joanne Frewer creates miniature shadow boxed assemblage works of imagined yet familiar spaces - Mexican kitchen, Paris flat, Buddhist shrine - inspiring us to pause our ever-changing lives to examine the worlds we've created for ourselves.
(Kay Meek Arts Centre, 1700 Mathers Ave, West Vancouver, May. 22-Jun. 30)
Fort Gallery - "Hacking the Third Wave II"
Sang Chul Nam’s exhibition, "Hacking The Third Wave II", blends sculpture, projections, and abstract paintings into an immersive installation at the historic Fort Langley Community Hall. Examining our evolving connection to nature amidst technological advancement, Nam offers a space to contemplate climate change and local ecologies. Through a juxtaposition of artificial and organic forms, this exhibit envisions potential futures, presenting a nuanced exploration of transformation over time.
Exhibition Opening hours: June 1, 2, 7, 8 & 9: 12-4pm June 3-6: By appointment, email fortgalleryarc@gmail.com to book. Artist Talk and Opening Reception: Saturday June 1, talk at 2pm reception to follow at 3pm. All-ages, hands-on workshop with the artist: Sun. June 9, 2:00pm, RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/paint-pouring-workshop-tickets-859701760107?aff=oddtdtcreator
(Fort Langley Community Hall, 9167 Glover Road, Langley Twp, Jun. 1, 2, 7, 8 & 9, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m)
Civilian Impressions: Remnants of Conflict Online Art Exhibit
War and conflict permeate the lives of everyone, not just those on the front lines. This art exhibit illustrates the experiences of civilians during conflict, including first-hand lived and viewed second-hand experiences. Featured in this exhibit are artistic interpretations in various mediums, including paint, sculpture, textile, and more. Presented by Coquitlam Heritage Society.
(Online)
OTHER EVENTS
The Earring Show 2024
The Craft Council of BC presents year 11 of The Earring Show, an annual fundraiser, juried exhibition and sales opportunity for makers to showcase wearable art in a whole host of mediums.
Starting as a local, one-day fundraiser event, The Earring Show has grown each year, first accepting artists throughout North America and later accepting artists from around the world since 2021. The show has now adapted to the current world situation, transitioning to a virtual setting.
In 2024, The Earring Show remains a hybrid event, displaying earring submissions both at the CCBC Gallery in Vancouver and online. An opening event will be hosted on May 9, 2024 at the CCBC Gallery where winners will be announced.
(1386 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, May. 9 - 23)
Tūngur | EXchanges Gathering with Mamerto
A public gathering, connecting and conversation of Philippines indigenous knowledges and way of life centered in the works and teaching of Mumbaki’s Mamerto Lagitan Tindongan.
Baki is Ifugao’s spirituality which is a way of relating with nature spirits, deities, and ancestors. We invite you to this intimate sharing of arts, dialogue, conversation, prayers and food to bring healing to oneself, the community and to the world.
(What Lab, 1814 Pandora St, Vancouver, May. 25)
Arts in the Garden
Arts in the Garden is an annual outdoor, all-ages community event celebrating nature and the arts. Taking place on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, the event brings visual arts, art activities and demonstrations, live music, performances, and workshops to ten outdoor spaces across the North Shore. Through play, creativity, learning, and engagement, the event invites community to reflect on their relationship to the land and to place, and hopes to inspire us to care for the natural world and for all those sharing the land with us. We invite you to join us for this special weekend of play, connection and delight on May 25 and 26, 2024. Gardens have an entrance fee of $5 cash; some gardens have entrance by donation. All-access garden passes are available for purchase before the event or at any garden during the weekend. Visit northvanarts.ca to learn more.
(Multiple Venues on the North Shore, May. 25 - 26)
The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC reopens its doors to the public on June 13, 2024 at 5pm
The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC reopens its doors to the public on June 13, 2024 at 5pm, following an 18-month closure that saw the successful completion of cutting-edge seismic upgrades to its Great Hall, coupled with updated interpretations and new displays of Northwest Coast Indigenous art. As part of the reopening, MOA will present two new exhibitions sharing Indigenous perspectives on colonial history: To Be Seen, To Be Heard: First Nations in Public Spaces, 1900–1965 and in Pursuit of Venus [infected] by famed Māori artist Lisa Reihana. MOA’s reopening weekend will include a host of special events and activities, including dance and musical performances, hands-on workshops, staff tours and family-friendly activities. MOA’s reopening this summer coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Museum’s opening to the public. For further reopening details and exhibition information, visit: moa.ubc.ca
(6393 NW Marine Drive,
Vancouver, Jun. 13)
WORKSHOPS
Spontaneous Ink Pen Drawing with Wan Li Zhang
Explore your creativity & develop drawing skills by creating an intuitive ink drawing guided by an experienced artist. With just a black pen & blank piece of paper, start your artistic adventure by drawing an object as simple as a strawberry or a teapot. From there, filling the page with lines, dots, shapes, and even magical creatures. There are no rules, just endless possibilities waiting to be explored. Celebrated artist and experienced instructor Wan Li Zhang will guide us through the creative process, offering prompts to unlock your imagination and helpful hints to create your spontaneous drawing. All materials provided. Presented by West Vancouver Community Arts Council
(Silk Purse Arts Centre, 1570 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver, May. 13, 1:30 p.m)
Grounding and Harmonizing Our Energetic Bodies | EXchanges Workshop
We are pleased to invite healer and shaman Mamerto Lagitan Tindongan from the Cordillera region of the Northern Philippines to Co.ERASGA’s EXchanges 2024. In this collective learning and gathering of our physical energy and spiritual journey together, Lagitan will lead to teach daily Tinūngur Qigong, breathing techniques, shaking meditation and spiritual journeying to meet with spiritual allies/teachers and ancestral spirits.
(What Lab, 1814 Pandora St, Vancouver, May 20 - 24)
