Digital Stories
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Thursday October 28, 1pm-4pm
Carnegie Community Centre 3rd floor Learning Centre, 401 Main
Since February 2008 a group of seniors have been both producing digital stories about themselves and mentoring others through the process. Digital storytelling is a layering of pictures, voice recording, music and just about whatever else you want to use to tell your story. In No Particular Order is a collection of the most recent digital stories, highlighting people we may see every day without knowing their story. After the screenings, mentors Adrienne, Bob and Karenza will lead a workshop session to plant seeds for the next step of the project. The SHIRE Project (Seniors Housing and Isolation Response Experience) is a collaboration of the Carnegie Community Centre and the Carnegie Learning Centre (Capilano University) and is funded by the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Everyone welcome. Free
Book Launch
THE RETURNING JOURNERY
Dalannah Gail Bowen
Thursday October 28, 8pm
Centre A, 2 W. Hastings
Join one of Vancouver’s premier vocalists Dalannah Gail Bowen and friends to celebrate the publication of a poetry collection based on the music and songs of her original show The Returning Journey. In 2007, Dalannah and Michael Creber presented a heart-breaking and soul-stirring performance of poetry and song to share her journey through abuse, addiction, homelessness, illness and return. She has now collected that material in book form and invites you to share in the continuing journey. Dalannah, a proud Downtown Eastside resident, revived her singing career in 2003 when she participated in the landmark In The Heart Of A City: The Downtown Eastside Community Play (Vancouver Moving Theatre/Carnegie). Her first CD Mamma’s Got the Blues, of which the title track was a finalist in the 2008 International Songwriting Awards, continues to receive international airplay. Along with readings of some of the poems, this is a great opportunity to hear great music with a great singer accompanied by great musicians, including Michael Creber on piano. (www.dalannahgailbowen.com) Settle in on a cold evening and listen to some fine words and music. Free
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Film & Conversation
THE REV. CHAN FAMILY LEGACY: Five Generations of Vancouver
Chinese History 1888 to 2007
Thursday October 28, 7:30pm
Chinese Cultural Centre Museum & Archives, 555 Columbia
The Chan family first came to Canada to help start the Chinese Methodist Church and every generation since has made contributions to Canadian society. In 2007, filmmaker Halya Kuchmij interviewed members of one of the oldest families on the West Coast and made a documentary about the stories and achievements of Reverend & Mrs. Chan, their sons Luke Chan (Hollywood actor) and Jack Chan (golfer); grandchildren Helen Lee and Victor Wong (WW2 veteran); great-grandchildren Gary Lee (entertainer) and Janice Wong (artist); and great-great grandchildren Todd Wong (community and cultural activist) and Tracey Hinder (high school student). The many turns of the Chan family reflect the challenges of exclusion, the fight for rights, the strength of family and citizenship, and the right to vote. The festival is pleased to show The Chan Legacy, directed by Halya Kuchmij, from the CBC Learning Generations Series (2007, 43:37) and we are fortunate to have Todd Wong moderate the conversation afterwards. Todd is a descendent of Reverend Chan and the creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, the annual celebration of Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Day (www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com) – an event that marries two cultures that once lived completely separate in the early days of British Columbia. Everyone welcome. Free
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Documentaries
ARTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Thursday October 28, 7pm-8:30pm
Chapel Arts, 304 Dunlevy Free
The Heart of the City Festival is pleased to show a selection of documentaries made by students of the Vancouver Film School under the guidance of instructor and documentary filmmaker Cari Green. A second program of films will be shown on Saturday November 6, 4pm in the Carnegie Theatre.
No Light at Midnight (2010)
This short documentary tells the story of the Pantages Theatre on East Hastings, the oldest remaining vaudeville theatre in Canada, and its struggle for revitalization in the DTES. Directed by Jay Macmillan, No Light at Midnight is about the death of history and historical significance and speaks strongly to a specific case of preventable displacement and decay. (8:45”)
The Laughing Drum (2010)
A short film directed by Isaac Carter about Uzume Taiko, Canada’s first professional taiko drumming group. Their name is derived from taiko, the Japanese word for “big drum” and from the goddess of laughter, Ame No Uzume No Mikoto, who according to legend first began taiko drumming. The film gives a taste of the techniques, tools and drive that makes Uzume Taiko unique in the world of taiko. (9:23”)
Under Construction (2009)
Three Vancouverites with different opinions try to examine the rising construction activity over the last few years and how it affects citizens’ lives. In the film Under Construction director Alex Spyropoulos analyses how the historical site of the old Woodward’s department store is being reconstructed and asks questions about how it impacts us and how different people relate to the change surrounding us. (8:11”)
The Richest Place (2010)
Anand Raghavan’s documentary tells a story of the Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts and the Quilt project led by Dalannah Gail Bowen. DECA is a dream project for Dalannah, a long time jazz and blues singer. Having recovered from experiences of homelessness and addiction, she learned that “art can be a tool to heal” and for Dalannah, the richest place for a person is when they can connect with themselves. (7:36”)
Multi media Performance
SHADOW MACHINE
Thursday October 28, 8pm
W2 Storyeum, 151 W. Cordova
See PreFestival for show description.
For tickets call 604-684-2787
or www.ticketstonight.ca
Radio Play
ARTS RATIONAL A Girl on the Subway
Thursday October 28, 9pm-10pm
Live Broadcast Co-op Radio CFRO 102.7FM
Theatre In the Raw presents a live broadcast of an original radio drama A Girl on the Subway by Anthony Arnold. The time is the present and the drama takes place in and around a subway in a Canadian metropolis. A girl with a baby sees a man on the subway and gives him her baby. The rest is for the listener to discover … This play won 3rd Choice Category in TITR’s 6th Biennial One-Act Playwriting Contest and was well received this summer at both the Pandora’s Collective Festival in Stanley Park and at the Flying Carpet Festival in Clark Park. A Girl on the Subway is directed by Jay Hamburger with Sally Barber, Stan Fraser and Olivia Poon in the starring roles; technical assistance from Monica Normandeau and Gerry Kowalenko. Followed by Arts Notes with Gerry Kowalenko. www.coopradio.org ⁄ www.theatreintheraw.ca