Exhibition
BIG PRINT PROJECT CHINATOWN
Wednesday October 26, 11am – 3pm
Raven’ s Eye Studio, 456 E. Hastings
Free
Big Print Project Chinatown took place at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen plaza last August on the BC Day weekend and focused on the richness of Vancouver’s Chinese and Aboriginal cultures. The project featured a team of artists and printmakers who carved and printed dramatic 4ft x 8ft woodcuts that highlighted the possibilities of large wood-relief printmaking that were pressed with a full-size steamroller! Artists include Corey Bulpitt, Haisla Collins, Kee Toy Joseph, Jeanette Lee, Sharifah Marsden, Gerald Pedros, Susan Point, Connie Sabo, Jerry Whitehead, Sylvia Wong and June Yun. Come and see some of the works now on display during the Heart of the City Festival! For more information contact Jerry Whitehead at 604-716-1339.
Workshop
REALMS OF REFUGE DROP IN
Wednesday October 26, 1pm – 4pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings, entrance on Carrall
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 artists at today’s drop-in include Ruth Howard (Toronto) and Bill Beauregarde. The public is invited to co-create the miniature worlds at this afternoon’ s drop-in workshop.
Workshop
DAY OF THE DEAD CREATIVE SESSION
Wednesday October 26, 1pm – 4pm
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell
Free
Join Diane Wood, Rosemary Georgeson, Jesus Cristobal and Karen Thorpe who lead four simultaneous workshops to make rattles and traditional Latin American decorations in preparation for the Day of the Dead Fiesta on November 2. Share memories of our missing and murdered friends as part of the DTES Women’s Memorial Quilt project. http://thisvancouver.vpl.ca/#remembering-our-dtes-women
Special Event
FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY
Wednesday October 26, 2pm – 3:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
Join friends from the Downtown Eastsideneighbourhood and special guests for this year’s Festival Opening Ceremony which features the unveiling of the newly commissioned stage mural banner (11ft high x 18ft wide) by award-winning Downtown Eastside artist Richard Tetrault. This outstanding mural banner powerfully evokes the theme of this year’ s festival “Living on Shared Territory” and pays tribute to the extraordinary artists, activists, people, art forms and cultures of the Downtown Eastside community. Other guests include: Les Nelson, Carnegie’ s new Elder-in-Residence; Blues Hall of Fame singer Dalannah Gail Bowen accompanied on virtuoso piano by Michael Creber; M’Girl all-female First Nations a cappella group sings their beautiful harmonies; and Giles Cyrenne will read a poem by late beloved Sandy Cameron. Refreshments! Everyone welcome.
Exhibit & Reception
FROM BUFFALO MEAT TO BALONEY Bill Quinn
Wednesday October 26, 5pm – 6pm
Carnegie 3rd Floor Gallery, 401 Main
Exhibition to October 30
Free
This powerful series of artwork by longtime DTES resident and First Nation elder Bill Quinn is the result of a lifetime of experience on the underside of colonialism. Bill’s collages make an unequivocal statement about the nature of imperialism and global capitalism and the impact these forces have had on the indigenous people of the world. Fifteen years ago Bill took an original approach to collage art, and began to transcribe his rich understanding of contemporary society into a visual discourse that layers tragedy and humour into this one-of-a-kind exploration of the journey – and the story – of buffalo meat to baloney. Today is an opportunity to share some time with Bill and his work.
Music Performance
JAM FOR SAM
Wednesday October 26, 7pm – 9:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
Last November the Downtown Eastside community lost the much beloved Carnegie Centre regular and music lover Sam Snobelen. In honour of Sam, the Festival invites music lovers to this evening of jazz, music improvisation and jamming. This evening features the Carnegie Jazz Band and their finger snappin’ hot music under the wonderful tutelage of multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger Brad Muirhead. We invite you to sing along as community favourite Mike Richter leads local musicians including John Cote to play classic songs that Sam loved and was inspired by. Other guests include Carnegie’ s Elder in Residence Les Nelson who will welcome us to the evening and Joyce Morgan will play a favourite piano selection. Local charmer Lisa David will host and MC the evening. Refreshments!
