Workshop
RATTLE MAKING WORKSHOP
Friday October 28, 10:30am – 1pm
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell
Free
Join local artisan and creative maker Tina Eastman for a workshop on how to make traditional rattles using natural materials. Everyone welcome.
Community
ST. JAMES’ WOMEN’S GUILD BARGAIN SALE
Friday October 28, 11am – 12:30pm
St. James’ Parish Hall, 230 Gore
An hour-and-a-half in bargain sale heaven! Eagerly anticipated, the Women’s Guild Bargain Sale is a gold mine; here’s your chance to pick up household items, gifts, Christmas presents and decorations, books, music, electronics, clothes, a last minute Hallowe’en costume and oodles of other items for cheap, cheap prices. It’s fast and furious so come early!
Workshop
SHADOW THEATRE with Will Weigler
Friday October 28, 11am – 2:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
A workshop led by award-winning theatre
director Will Weigler brings Bud Osborn’s poems to life through shadow theatre. Bud’s poetry speaks to the reality of life in the DTES. In the first part of the workshop you will learn a variety of techniques for creating vivid and astonishing shadow theatre performances using flashlights, old-fashioned transparency projectors, objects from thrift stores, and “special effects” materials like mirrored and coloured plastic. In the second half, everyone will work together to apply the techniques, creating shadow theatre adaptations of several of Bud’s poems. Those who want to stay will have a chance to perform what we have created for the public at 3pm. No experience required, just a willingness to try.
Exhibition
BIG PRINT PROJECT CHINATOWN
Friday October 28, 11am – 3pm
Raven’ s Eye Studio, 456 E. Hastings
Free
See description Wednesday October 26
Art in the Streets
STREET VENDORS IN THE ATRIUM
Friday October 28, 11am – 6pm
Woodward’ s Atrium. 111 W. Hastings
Free
See description Thursday October 27
Workshop
REALMS OF REFUGE DROP IN
Friday October 28, 1pm – 4pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings, entrance on Carrall
Free
See description Wednesday October 26
Showcase
SLAM POETRY & MUSIC THERAPY
Friday October 28, 2pm – 3pm
Drug Users Resource Centre, 412 E. Cordova
Free
Artists from the Downtown Eastside craft poetry, mix it with music and perform their own original work. Led by Devon Martin aka “Dr. Metro”, the leader of the regular Slam Poetry and Music Therapy program at the Drug Users Resource Centre (DURC). For the Festival, they open their doors to an audience. Participate or sit back and enjoy. Everyone welcome!
Presentation
SHADOW THEATRE PUBLIC PRESENTATION
Friday October 28, 3pm – 4pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
Presentation of Bud Osborn’s poetry performed as shadow puppetry, as created by the participants of this morning’s Shadow Theatre workshop. Bud Osborn, the long-time community activist and poet of the Downtown Eastside, died in 2014. To honour the man and his poetry, volunteers who have spent the morning learning techniques for creating shadow theatre will present their own adaptations of several of Bud’s poems as told through shadow and light. Come witness these stories seen and heard in an exciting new way and then join in a conversation afterwards about what Bud’s poems have meant to you.
Community Celebration
HALLOWE’EN CARNIVAL & HAUNTED HOUSE 萬聖節嘉年華及鬼屋
Friday October 28, 3:15pm – 5pm 下午三時十五分至五時
Strathcona Community Centre Gym, 601 Keefer 運動場
Cost is 50 cents or a can of food for the Food Bank
Come out to the annual Hallowe’en Carnival and Haunted House and have a Spooktacular time! Organized by the Strathcona Youth Council and Leadership Groups, the Carnival will have fun games and challenges. Participate and play and you will have a chance to win a big prize. Everyone leaves with a candy bag! Do your best to help out the Food Bank and families in need; if you can’t, that is all right too!
Workshop
DREAM CATCHER WORKSHOP with Louisa Starr
Friday October 28, 6pm – 8pm
DTES Women’ s Centre, 302 Columbia
Free
Louisa Starr will be sharing her knowledge and teaching a step-by-step practice on
making dream catchers with leather, beads and more. Louisa is a well-respected elder in the Downtown Eastside community and the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. She’s an artist and teacher possessing knowledge, experience and stories of learning First Nations art and crafts along the west coast. You will learn how to make a dream catcher and keep it or give it away as a gift! Twenty spots available, first-come, first-served. Women and men welcome!
Exhibit & Reception
ST. JAMES’ COMMUNITY ART SHOW
Friday October 28, 7pm – 9pm
St. James’ Anglican Church, 303 E. Cordova
Free
Join St. James’ for something new this year – the opening reception of an Art Show. Come and view works by an array of artists practicing in Vancouver and BC. The theme of the art show, Living on Shared Territory, explores this year’s festival theme and showcases the diverse interpretation of this theme set in the heart of the Downtown Eastside. Visitors will enjoy the unique opportunity of viewing thought-provoking art works displayed in the main worship space of the church, which combines all the forms of Christian tradition in a modernized Gothic idiom. Escape the business of the streets for a few minutes or a few hours and meditate on the art within. The art will also be on view Saturday October 29. All are welcome.
Comedy
IT’S A JOKE!
Friday October 28, 7pm – 9pm
Gallery Gachet, 88 E. Cordova
Free
Need to laugh? Lots to laugh about! Join host David Granirer and comics from Stand Up for Mental Health, including local funny guy Paul Decarie. Special guests for this Festival evening of comedy are members of The Assembly, a playful and lofty collective of process-oriented, performance-driven, self-identifying women clowns. Stand Up For Mental Health was founded by award-winning counselor, stand-up comic and author David Granirer, who teaches stand-up comedy to people with mental illness. David and his comics look at the lighter side of taking meds, seeing counselors, getting diagnosed and surviving the mental health system. For more info: www.standupformentalhealth.com.
Tea & Conversation
REALMS OF REFUGE: Reconciliation and Cross-cultural Collaboration
Friday October 28, 8pm – 9:30pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings
Free
Realms of Refuge is a two-week residency produced by Vancouver Moving Theatre and Jumblies Theatre (Toronto) that involves artists and community participants working together to create and animate miniature worlds that explore and express different ways we find, create and imagine places of refuge, shelter and comfort. The public is invited to co-create the miniature worlds and participate in a series of free events, including this evening’s tea and conversation about reconciliation and cross-cultural collaboration, with Renae Morriseau, Rose Georgeson, and host Ruth Howard (Jumblies Theatre).
Music
SBC RESTAURANT IS BACK!
Friday October 28, 8pm – midnight
SBC Restaurant (aka Smilin’ Buddha), 109 E. Hastings
Free
It’s a costume party! The skateboard ramp is up and ready; the stage is new and improved; and the SBC and the Heart of the City Festival are pleased to present an evening of live music to celebrate the re-opening! Costumes are welcome and encouraged; it is Hallowe’en! Hosted by the SBC Restaurant, located in the former home of the Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret, and now the home of the DTES Skateboard Society. The kitchen and bar will be open. Bring your skateboard; everyone welcome!