First Saturday Open Studios happens this Saturday, April 2nd from Noon to 5:00 pm. What is it? It is an opportunity to visit artists in their studios and get a chance to ask questions, learn techniques, see work in progress and if the urge strikes, buy artwork directly from the artist.
This is a once monthly event as the name eludes, the first Saturday of the month, in Vancouver and North Vancouver with different artists participating in each month.
This weekend, we know Jesse Toso, of Toso Wood Works, is hosting an Open Studio with a number of other artists at The Annex, 1001 Parker Street. Expect beautiful handmade furniture in this space along with beautiful art. If you are looking for things to do this weekend, this is definitely something worth checking out. What studios are open this weekend? Visit Next Open Studios here for more info.
The Neigbourhood Small Grant program is back for 2022. The foundation of this program is connecting people within their own communities. The premise of the program is fairly simple. It is the belief that the best people to affect change in a community, are those that live within it. When money is less of an issue, it allows more ideas to flow. This is where the grants come in. The Neighbourhood Small Grants program allows you to apply for up to $500 for your idea to connect your community.
What have other people done? A few ideas include book exchanges, benches and community gardens. Some other ideas include creating small care packages for seniors with a few spring flowers and crossword puzzles and/or word search games. For young children, creating a scavenger hunt in a park with prizes. People have also created art cards for seniors in long term care. Connection is the key and the ideas are only limited by your imagination and, of course, the $500 budget. Want more ideas or thinking about applying? We invite you to visit Neighbourhood Small Grants for more information.
The basic principles of the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program:
Small is beautiful. Small ideas are beautiful and manageable.
Everyone has something to offer. Whether you can teach a skill or give some tips, or provide a service. We all have something valuable to share.
It’s your project. You create how you want it to look and feel.
Create your chosen family. A platform to help build networks within your community.
Applications are now open until April 30, 2022. Applications may be accepted for a second cycle in the Fall depending on whether funds are still available. This is a great opportunity to create something memorable for your community.
If you are looking for some light hearted fun and good laughs, then you may wish to check out The Comic Strippers coming to the York Theatre. This is a 19+ show featuring a fictitious group of male strippers played by a cast of improvisational comedians. They sing, dance and gyrate and aim to be sexy, but ending up being funny. They are semi undressed and completely unscripted which makes each show unique as they banter with the crowd during each performance. You have a few opportunities coming up to take in their performance at the York Theatre being April 1 & 2, 2022 and June 3, 2022. To purchase your tickets for a fun night out, visit The Cultch.
Here’s what others are saying about The Comic Strippers:
“Extremely Funny!” UK FRINGE REVIEW
“The show is suitable for both men and women. An entertaining ride where anything goes.” RIP IT UP MAGAZINE
“One of the most hilarious shows I’ve ever seen.” VANCOUVER SUN
The Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, has put out its annual call to visual artists to submit applications to exhibit their work during the 2022/2023 gallery season. Each exhibition will run for 3 to 4 weeks between September 2022 and July 2023. If you are an artist, why should you exhibit?
The Cultch is excited to be able to showcase your work on their walls again.
Exhibiting artists are paid an exhibition honorarium.
Exhibitions are now in person on the gallery walls and online.
The Cultch has built a reputation over the past 45 years as one of Western Canada’s most innovative and exciting presenting venues. The mandate of The Cultch is to contribute to the enrichment of the city and community’s social and cultural life through the presentation of innovative programs of contemporary music, theatre, dance and visual arts by established and emerging artists.
The Cultch Gallery is a multi-use space and not a traditional art gallery as it also serves as the lobby for performances and is occasionally used for meetings and other small events. Due to the diverse nature of this space, submissions that include sculptures or free standing art will not be accepted. Further, they will only be able to show works that hang from their gallery ‘rail’ system that does not have a depth of more than 12″ inches in depth.
Submission Criteria for Artists:
An artist statement
Artist bio(s)
Resume/CV
A complete list of images you are submitting, which should include title, size, medium. These images do not have to be the work you will be showing. They want to get a good overview of your work.
You can submit up to 10 images and not necessarily the images you plan on showing, but so they get a sense of the range of work you do. Image files should be in .jpeg format. No PDFs. File names must include the artist name, title of artwork and size of the work when framed: (example: Yuri Arajs – Sunny Day -18 in x 30 in. jpg). Images should be 300 dpi.
Deadline for applications is May 31, 2022. Email your submissions to gallery@thecultch.com. If you have any questions, you can email Yuri Arajs, the Gallery Coordinator at The Cultch gallery@thecultch.com.
After a long run of online shows, Vancouver Story Slam returns to the stage with a live audience Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Ten storytellers share original stories and compete for prizes and bragging rights for best story. There’s a great line up of storytellers including our very own Al Tee who some may recognize as writing some great historical pieces for ILiveInEastVan. Also on hand to share their stories will be Bill Burnyeat, Emily Kelsall, Karen Spears, Karly Pinch, Maia Brundage, Marylee Stephenson, Reive Doig, Shwicks, and Zed Payne. Special guest storyteller and two-time storytelling champion Bryant Ross will also take the stage.
Vancouver Story Slam takes place at Hero’s Welcome (formerly the Legion) at 3917 Main Street (at 23rd Ave). Admission is $5 at the door and the show kicks off at 8:00 pm.
Note: Covid safety protocols will be in place and all audience members and participants must show proof of vaccination (vax card +ID) and masks are required when not seated or onstage.
The Firehall Arts Centre invites you to witness an unforgettable story of love and survival in their production of Mary’s Wedding. This is a play that weaves a theatrical spell of hope, regret, memory and dreams.
When Mary and Charlie – young, passionate, vulnerable, and impulsive – unexpectedly take shelter in a barn during a thunderstorm, a tentative love is born. But the year is 1914, and Mary and Charlie must surrender to the uncertainties of their tumultuous times.
Mary’s Wedding is written by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte and directed by Donna Spencer, the Firehall’s production of this award-winning script features two teams of performers: Sarah Roa (Mary) and Tanner Zerr (Charlie); and Emma Ross (Mary) and Jacob Leonard (Charlie). This play is an in person production with Covid safety protocols in place. To purchase tickets, visit Firehall Arts Centre.
If you are ready for in person events, Gourmet Warehouse has added more cooking classes to their Spring schedule. If you haven’t already experienced one of their classes, it is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with some like-minded food lovers. We also like shopping after the cooking class as participants are offered a 10% discount for purchases made the day of your class. We have set a few of their upcoming classes that caught our eye. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering visit Cooking Classes.
A Taste Of The Mediterranean – March 31, 2022
Chef Deniz Tarakcioglu returns to teach a cooking class that explores the incredible tastes of the Mediterranean. Chef Deniz draws from his own background to guide you through these vibrant, healthy dishes. These versatile recipes are perfect for everyday meal, entertaining or picnics.
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• Crispy kale & feta pie with dill and best tzatziki • Spicy lamb dumplings with merguez sausage, roasted garlic yogurt, and harissa • Chicken souvlaki with lemon roasted potatoes and Greek salad with feta • Walnut baklava with cream
Sprouted: Spring Vegetables Re-Imagined – April 6, 2022
Chef Brian Luptak and Shira Blustein of critically acclaimed Vancouver restaurant Acorn will teach you chef-perfected techniques to elevate your vegetables to the next level. Note the menu that will be prepared is vegetarian not vegan.
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• Hop shoot salad with browned hazelnut butter and pickled hop shoots • Rosemary roasted cabbage with Bavarian mustard cream and pickled vegetables • Puff pastry tart with vanilla caramelized whey ricotta & red flowering currant jelly
Cuckoo For Keto – April 21, 2022
Chef Deniz Tarakcioglu will also lead this demonstration cooking class which invites you to think outside the box when preparing low carb food that’s tasty. He will help you level up your weekly meal plan with crispy halloumi. chorizo skewer, flavour-packed chicken and peanut lettuce wraps.
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• Crispy halloumi and chorizo skewer with cauliflower tabbouleh • Spicy chicken and peanut lettuce wraps with marinated vegetable slaw • Baked spaghetti squash with keto sausage ragu and provolone • Keto brownies
To see all the classes being offered and or to register, we invite you to visit GourmetWarehouse.ca.
In case you missed the memo, a ban on plastic and compostable plastic shopping bags went into effect January 1, 2022. With this also comes fees on paper and new reusable shopping bags, a minimum of $0.15 for paper bags and $1.00 for reusable bags. These fees are scheduled to increase in 2023 to $0.25 for paper bags and $2.00 per reusable shopping bag.
Why the ban? In case you hadn’t heard waste from plastic bags pose a serious environmental danger to human and animal health. Did you know in 2018, 89 million plastic shopping bags and 4 million paper shopping bags were thrown away in the garbage in Vancouver. According to the Great Canadian Shore Cleanup, plastics bags with the 6th most common type of litter found on the shorelines in 2019.
For more information on the City’s new by-laws and some exemptions that apply to facilities such as hospitals, pharmacies and community care facilities, visit the City of Vancouver.
If you need to stock up on some styling reusable sturdy totes, visit ILiveInEastVan online for a selection of canvas and nylon totes.
2021 has certainly been a year for the history books. Although there were many positives, it was a challenging year for so many. We truly hope 2022 is a brighter year that brings peace, joy and a little love.
If you didn’t get a chance to hit the Eastside Culture Crawl this past November, don’t fret! This coming Saturday there’s a chance to ditch the heavy crowds from last month and hit the Mergatroid Open House. When it comes to East Vancouver’s art scene many think of the iconic Parker Street building. However, the Mergatroid building across the street also hosts a variety of local talent, from ceramicists to glassblowers and now here’s your (second) chance to see their open studios and do some of last-minute Christmas shopping. With the amount of artisans opening up their studio spaces this weekend, there is bound to be a gift for everyone still on your list. We’ve set out below which studios will be open to visitors this Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Mergatroid, 975 Vernon Drive.
Glassware:
Glassblowers make up the heart of the Mergatroid building. Attached to Terminal City Glass Coop, this building houses a variety of different glassblowers, all having unique techniques and skillsets. Find Dougherty Glassworks, Maria Ida Designs, Scott Mcdougall and Felicia Vandenboogaard in #259 where they’ll be hosting their iconic “seconds sale” – a great chance to find those unique gifts that no one else has, at a discounted price.
Ceramics:
Who doesn’t love receiving pottery as a gift? Find Eikam Ceramics, a Vancouver favourite when it comes to ceramic décor and tableware. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind ceramic piece, visit Firebelly Clayworks at #230 for unique but functional sculptural bowls, teapots and mugs.
Textiles & Fashion:
Are you looking gift for that trendsetter in your life? Check out Bronsino’s handcrafted and bespoke leather bags and accessories. Find their workshop at #225 in the Mergatroid Building. For gifts for someone that loves the West Coast, visit Bettina Matzkuhn at #235 for her embroidered landscapes and cartography inspired pieces.
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