The Vancouver Fringe Festival is back and runs from September 10th to 20th at various venues around the Lower Mainland. The Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, is one of the venues in which performances will be held. One show that caught our eye is Mrs. Singh & Me which runs from September 11-13, 15, 18 and the 20th which is being presented by the South Asian Arts Society. What’s with this story and why is it unique? Well imagine if Romeo had kidnapped Juliet’s mother. What do you think would have happened next? In this dark comedy by playwright Munish Sharma explores that idea. In Mrs. Singh & Me, love is truly is in the air, but Mrs. Kuldeep Singh is having none of it. Her instincts could be right or she could be missing out on the best son-in-law she could ever ask for namely Raj, whose methods are as extreme as his heart is sure. Mrs. Singh & Me confronts cultural traditions and tackles generational differences along with a generous helping of chai and cookies. Tickets are available online at Vancouver Fringe or in person from September 8-20 at the Fringe Box Office located at 1398 Cartwright Street on Granville Island.
Mrs. Singh & Me Kicks Off At The Cultch September 11th
9 Sep
June Hunter Hosts Summer End’s Studio Sale September 12 & 13
4 Sep
East Van artist June Hunter is having a Summer End’s Studio Sale September 12th & 13th. For those that aren’t familiar with June’s work, she has a way with nature that shows in all her pieces. Her work has been featured in Style at Home House and Home and Where Vancouver as well as on CBC’s Living Vancouver.
At next week’s Summer End’s Studio Sale, you can expect to find sale prices on art, jewellery, tiles, magnets and one of a kind mixed media miniatures. June will be featuring some new jewellery including her hummingbird series as well as some new bold colourful pieces. If you happen to follow June on Twitter or Instagram, you will have become very familiar with her cat, Edgar, and a visiting crow she’s named Eric. Edgar and Eric now have their own calendars which will be available at her Studio Sale. And from what we’ve heard, the calendars are flying off the shelves heading across the globe. June Hunter’s Studio is located at 2785 Parker Street (one block west of Renfrew – between Hastings St. and First Avenue). The Studio Sale runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th.
If you are not able to make the Studio Sale, you can also visit her Shop Online or find some of her work at Doctor Vigari Gallery, 1816 Commercial Drive.
Photos Courtesy of June Hunter Images
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Opening Reception Of Works by Jack Procter August 6th
5 Aug
You are invited to the Opening Reception of Works by Jack Procter Thursday, August 6th. The event takes place at The Cultch, 1895 Venables Street from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This exhibition will show a variety of work representing Jack Procter’s favoured forms and mediums which are collage, sculpture, painting and mobiles. They are very different in form and you will see first hand his attention to detail, composition, and colour is masterful. Jack has been creating his whole life. His father was an artist and a big influence. He worked primarily in sculpture with a love of colour. This is a free event that everyone is welcome to attend. If you missing the Opening Reception, the exhibit will run till August 27th.
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Artful Sundays Return To The Napier Greenway August 9-30
22 Jul
Artful Sundays return to the Britannia Community Centre this summer. This is an outdoor visual arts market that begins Sunday, August 9th and will run every consecutive Sunday until August 30th. This event now in its 15th year will feature local artists, special events, artist demonstrations, workshops and more. There will also be lots of live music on hand and we’ve set out below who will be on hand for each Sunday. The event will take place in the Napier Greenway at Napier Street & Commercial Drive from Noon – 5:00 p.m.
August 9
East Van Letter Writing Club – Resurrecting The Lost Art of Letter Writing
Live Music With Backspin Band Noon – 2:30 pm &
Russell Shumsky & Bud Kurz 2:30 – 5:00 pm
August 16
Workshop with Magpie’s Nest Community Art Space –
Making flowers from recycled plastic bottles
Live Music with Doug Thordarson Noon – 2:30 pm &
Rio Samaya 2:30 – 5:00 pm
August 23
Workshop with Avenue for/des Arts (AVA) Community Arts Table
Live Music with Lindy & the Crows Nest Noon – 2:30 pm
Katheryn Petersen 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Caitlan Read 4:00 – 5:00 pm
August 30
Workshop with Helen Spaxman & Diane Wood
Mixed Media Button Making Workshop
Live Music with Tim Sars Duo Noon – 2:30 pm &
Cosmic Wink 2:30 – 5:00 pm
Come out and support the local artists, musicians and workshops.
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The Play ‘Six’ At The Havana Theatre July 8 – 11
3 Jul
VanArts Production presents Six at the Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive for a short run from Wednesday, July 8th to Saturday, July 11th. Six features six undergraduates who spend a summer in the isolated wilderness. They are there to study their surrounding ecosystem under the tutelage of two graduate teaching assistants. They will learn of the five global mass extinctions that life on Earth has suffered in its history to date and the sixth that may be upon them. They get to know each other and themselves. Unrequited love is also in the air along with the mosquitoes. The show runs nightly at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available at the door.
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Collingwood International Film Festival Starts July 3rd
29 Jun
Collingwood BIA and Community Policing Centre invite you to enjoy the warm summer evening with a free movie and popcorn. They are kicking off an International Film Festival on Friday, July 3rd. Bring down your blankets, lawn chairs and any other movie snacks you’d like to have and don’t forget the bug repellant. Movies start at about 8:30 pm, but there will be some family friendly events prior to the movie. The Collingwood International Film Festival will feature four international movies over the course of the summer. We have set out the movies and locations below:
July 3rd – SPAIN ‘The Book of Life’
Gaston Park, 3470 Crowley Drive
July 24th – PHILIPPINES ‘Bob Ong’s ABNKKBSNPAL AKO ‘
Gaston Park, 3470 Crowley Drive
August 14th – CHINA ‘The Midas Touch’
Aberdeen Park, 3525 Foster Avenue
August 21st – INDIA ‘The Blue Umbrella’
Collingwood Park, 5275 McKinnon Street
As the events take place in public parks, please remember to take out what you bring in and help keep our parks clean. If you need further information, please contact Collingwood Community Policing Centre at info@collingwoodcpc.com or T: 604-717-2935. Note: movies are weather permitting. To keep up on the latest updates on movie showings and possible changes due to weather, visit Collingwood International Film Festival’s Facebook page.
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Opening Reception At Studio 126 For Illustrations By Jordan Cooper July 2nd
26 Jun
Studio 126 at 126 East Pender Street is a very cool studio with a variety of locally made goods including reclaimed furniture, handmade items by local artisans including Brand & Iron, Woodlot, Hobo Woodworks, Say It With Sarcasm, Sue Griese Ceramics, LISSU Linen and East Van Jam. On Thursday, July 2nd, Studio 126 and Paris Forrer will be hosting an Opening Reception of Illustrations by Jordan Cooper. Jordan Cooper is a self-taught illustrator from New Westminster, BC and began drawing at a young age. He mainly uses graphite on whatever paper he’s fond of at the time. This is Jordan’s first show that will showcase a variety of his illustrations. The reception kicks off at 7:00 pm and runs till 10:00 pm. Admission is free, but an RSVP is requested. There will also be a cash bar with beer, wine & vodka lemonade for the Opening Reception. Lemonade is provided courtesy of The Juice Truck. You can also expect a musical appearance by Ben Rowley. If you miss the Opening Reception, Illustrations will be showing until July 26th and can be viewed Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 6:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00 pm.
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East FEAST: A Micro Funding Event For Artists At Britannia Community Centre June 28
24 Jun
East FEAST (Funding Emerging Artists through Sustainable Tactics) is a micro-funding event that supports artists living and working in the neighbourhoods of Grandview-Woodland and Strathcona. East FEAST is hosting a Feast on Sunday June 28th at the Britannia Community Centre from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. During the course of the event, you will have the opportunity to meet and listen to 3 artists, each of whom will make a 5-7 minute presentation. At the end of the FEAST, attendees will vote on which artist they would like to see funded. The chosen artist will receive a grant from the funds raised by the event ticket sales of up to $1000. Tickets for the event are $20.00 per person and available in person at Britannia Info Centre, 1661 Napier Street or by phone at 604.718.5800 (1). Come out and support the local arts.
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Pandora and The Locksmiths: Awakenings At The Rio Theatre June 20
12 Jun
Well East Van, you are in for a treat on Saturday, June 20th. Pandora & The Locksmiths present “Awakenings” featuring New York City headliner Peekaboo Pointe and special guest musicians Black Dog String Quartet. A Gastown fixture for four years, Pandora & The Locksmiths is now producing their first independent large-scale show in East Vancouver. The Black String Quartet has been dubbed “Vancouver’s Hottest String Quartet” and their members have performed and recorded with acts like Kanye West, Mariana’s Trench, Mariah Carey, and 54-40. Peekaboo Pointe is based in New York City and is an internationally renowned burlesque star and has competed for “Queen of Burlesque” at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival and Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender. Awakenings will celebrate the many facets of femininity as inspired by the natural world through glamorous striptease that follows the course of a day from sunrise to midnight. You can expect fierce and beautiful burlesque that unfolds to the lush interpretations of a 10 piece orchestra playing classical, jazz and modern day music. This is a one night event only taking place at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, June 20th at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets for $25. Some tickets will available at the door for $30.
Feature Photo Credit: Reckless Photography
Photo Credit Below: Fubarfoto
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Italian Film Festival At The Rio Theatre June 6 – 13
2 Jun
June is Italian Heritage Month and that means in true Italian form, you can expect a colourful celebration of this heritage from food to art to film and everything in between. Outside of Italian Day coming on Sunday, June 14th, The Italian Cultural Centre will also be hosting a great line of activities which include the Italian Market, but will feature a few extra events to celebrate their heritage. The Rio Theatre has also jumped on board to celebrate the Italian spirit and partnered with Italian Day, the Italian Cultural Centre and the Vancouver Italian Film Festival. In case you hadn’t heard, the theme for this year’s Italian Day is “Art”, so we think it very fitting that the Rio Theatre will be showcasing some favourite Italian films. And for those that wish to see them all, they are even offering a $50 festival pass. The films they have lined up for the Italian Film Festival include:
Saturday, June 6: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly “Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo” (Sergio Leone, 1966) | Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and Lee Van Cleef star in Sergio Leone’s masterpiece, a “spaghetti Western” that is generally considered to be the most influential (if not thoroughly entertaining!) in the genre.
Saturday, June 6: Black Sabbath “I tre volti della paura” (Mario Bava, 1963) | Mario Bava’s stylistic influence on cinema can not be understated, and Black Sabbath is a prime example of how his innovative visual and structural aesthetic permeated the horror genre. Black Sabbath is one of the most influential anthology films of the 20th Century, composed of a “trio of terror” whose narrative is held together by its powerful and very colourful narrator, Boris Karloff. Quentin Tarantino cited the structural style of the film as one of his influences on Pulp Fiction and the title of the film was, quite famously, lifted by English metal band Black Sabbath.
Tuesday, June 9: Bicycle Thieves “Ladri di biciclette” (Vittorio De Sica, 1948) | In spite of Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves being, at its core, a simple story of a father and his young son searching for a stolen bicycle [vital to the father’s] job, the film is frequently cited as one of the best films ever made. De Sica opted to cast his film with amateurs, their honest performances as fresh and natural today as they were upon release in 1948.
Tuesday, June 9: Cinema Paradiso “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988) | With its sweeping cinematography, gorgeous performances, and a heart-tugging nostalgic storyline about childhood and coming-of-age, the Oscar-winning Cinema Paradiso (Best Foreign Film, 1990) remains one of Italy’s most popular and best-loved cinematic exports. Loosely based on writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore’s own life, the story follows a prominent filmmaker recalling the days of his magical boyhood, when he fell in love with movies and formed a deep friendship with the projectionist at his village’s theatre.
Friday, June 12L La Dolce Vita (Federico Fellini, 1960) | Marcello Marstroianni and Anita Ekberg star one of the best from one of the best, Federico Fellini. La Dolce Vita is a dazzling film that weaves elements of the surreal and magical to humbly expose honest elements of the human condition via a week in the life of a philandering paparazzo journalist (Mastroianni, in one of his most memorable performances), living in Rome.
Friday, June 12: The Night Porter “Il portiere di notte” (Lilliana Cavani, 1974) | After a chance meeting at a hotel in 1957, a Holocaust survivor (the exquisite Charlotte Rampling) and the Nazi officer (Dirk Bogarde) who tortured her resume their sadomasochistic relationship, which threatens them both. Liliana Cavani’s The Night Porter continues to divide audiences over its controversial themes and moral ambiguity; the far-reaching impact of its fetishistic aesthetic as influential today as it was upon its release in 1974.
Saturday, June 13: 8 1/2 (Federico Fellini, 1963). Frequently listed as, “one of the best films ever made,” Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 stars Marcello Mastroianni as Guido, harried film director who, following his last big hit, relaxes by retreating into the surreal dream world of memory and fantasy. Fellini’s quasi-autobiographical film about love, loss, and the trials and tribulations of film-making is often cited by the master himself as one of his favorite films, ever. Also starring Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo, Barbara Steele.
Saturday, June 13: Last Tango in Paris “Ultimo tango a Parigi” (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1974 / 128 mins, 18A) | Passionate, sexual, and entirely unforgettable, Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris is an exotic, erotic masterpiece about an engaged Parisian woman (Maria Schneider) and her clandestine affair with a recently widowed, middle-aged American businessman (Marlon Brando). Upon its release in 1974, the film received worldwide attention for its unflinching sex scenes (it originally received an “X” rating and was banned in many countries) as well as its raw, naturalistic portrayal of a very adult relationship.
Viva Italia!
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