Eastside Culture Crawl November 16 – 19, 2017

The Eastside Culture Crawl is back for 4 days starting Thursday, November 16^th.  This 4 day arts extravaganza now in its 21st year features over 480 artists in and around East Vancouver. Artists with a variety of mediums open their studio doors so you can see first hand their working space, their creative process and of course meet and talk to the artisans about their work. On the Crawl, you will find painters, jewelers, sculptors, textile artists, furniture makers, weavers, potters, printmakers, wood carvers, photographers and much more. The event grows each year and now comprises over 80 buildings from Main Street to Victoria Drive and First Avenue to Powell Street.

If time is not on your side and you want to take in as many artists in one fell swoop, 1000 Parker Street and the Mergatroid is your spot and a hub of action which includes some food trucks for those that get hungry. The Mergatroid, 975 Vernon Drive has glass blowing demonstrations on view at the main level, but be sure to check out the other studio spaces within the building. This part of The Crawl is busy, so if crowds are not your thing, there are many other studios around East Vancouver. Some that we’ll be checking out include Octopus Studios, located in Railtown as well as The Wood Shop Worker’s Co-op which is opening its doors for the first time this year. The Wood Shop features many workshops where you can create something. They provide the space, the materials and the tools, you bring your creative ideas and away you go. The Eastside Culture Crawl has prepared a great map that sets out all the studios and how many artists are in each area.  We invite you to check it out.  If you are unsure where you wish to start, check out the Program Guide for more information.

Each year we pick a different area of The Crawl to tackle, last year we travelled from to studios on Clark Drive and then down to Vernon Drive towards the Downtown Eastside.  This year, Octopus Studios will be on our list, as Em’Say featuring concrete work is on our list, as is Mezulejo Furniture creating unique pieces of furniture some new, some restored.  We always make time for a stop in the MakerLabs which also features a coffee bar, as we all  need a bit of a refreshment during the Crawl, as well as the Kyubu Market which features a host of talented artisans all under one roof.

What we love about the Eastside Culture Crawl is that there is no set schedule. You go where you want on The Crawl for as long as you want. There are mny great spots to stop for a bite and drink along the way. Whether you are in Strathcona, off the Drive, Railtown, Hastings Sunrise, Downtown Eastside or off the growing stretch off Clark Drive, there are countless options for coffee, beer, food and wine. To help guide you through some of the art available, the Eastside Culture Crawl has a great rundown of all the artists on their website including a printable .PDF map to help you find your way. Don’t miss this opportunity to check out the amazing talent in this City. The Crawl runs November 16th and 17th from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 18^th  and Sunday, November 19^th from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. See you on the Crawl.

Tags: 1000 Parker Street, Art, Artists, East Vancouver, Eastside Culture Crawl, Em'Say, Kyubu Market, Maker Labs, Mergatroid Building, Mezulejo Furniture, Octopus Studios, Studios, The Crawl, Vancouver