Friday November 1

Open Studio
FIRST NATIONS ARTIST STUDIO 
October 23 – 25 & October 28 – November 1, 12pm – 4pm 
Raven’s Eye Studio, 458 E. Hastings
On weekday afternoons during the Festival, the artists of the Raven’s Eye Studio will open the doors to host an ongoing First Nations artist studio. A group of artists work in the studio on a regular basis and they are happy to talk with you. See the artwork, talk to the artists. Artists include studio coordinator Jerry Whitehead, painter and muralist, and sculptor Gary Oliver. Make sure you take the opportunity to talk with Jerry about the spectacular mural, Through the Eye of the Raven, on the side of the Orwell Hotel where the studio is based on the ground floor. Free


Showcase
LIFESKILLS SLAM POETRY & MUSIC THERAPY
Friday November 1, 1pm – 3pm
Lifeskills Centre, 412 E. Cordova
Artists from the Downtown Eastside craft poetry, mix it with music, and perform their own original work. Led by Devon Martin aka “Dr. Metro,” the leader of the regular Slam Poetry and Music Therapy program at Lifeskills. For the Festival, they open their doors to an audience. Participate or sit back and enjoy. Everyone welcome! Free

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Shrine on Hastings 2 - Isabel and Diane '12 - photo Tom Quirk

Community Celebration
DAY OF THE DEAD PROCESSION, POETRY & MUSIC
Friday November 1, 5pm – 7pm
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell
Latin Americans everywhere celebrate Day Of The Dead with pageantry, music, love and humour. We throw a party and invite the dead to join us for a couple hours before returning to “the other side.” At 5pm latin guitarist Alfredo Flores will lead us on a procession around Oppenheimer Park to visit community shrines and to honour the lives lost on our streets. We’ll end the walk back at the Field House for hot chocolate, music and celebration. Bring flowers, candles, and photographs for the ofrenda (altar), noisemakers, costumes or musical instruments. At 6pm we will share poetry and song with our host Lady Die, the thoughtful and passionate Stephen Lytton, flowstream wordsmith Robyn Livingstone, and neighbourhood sweetheart Mexican folklorista Isabel Ramirez. Everyone welcome. Free

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Mass
ALL SAINTS’ DAY MASS
Friday November 1, 6:30 pm
St. James’ Anglican Church, 303 E. Cordova
Visit with the congregation at St. James’ in High Mass for All Saints’ Day. You will find a glorious celebration of the gifts and love of God present in those now living among us and in all those who have gone before us. This is a wonderful time to gather in thanksgiving. If you haven’t visited St. James’ before, this is a great time to come by. Everyone is welcome to the Mass and to the community pot-luck supper which will follow immediately afterward.


Kelty McKerracher solo_2010-325Music & Dance
BARRIO FLAMENCO: Flamenco for the People
Friday November 1, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Celebrate the spirit of the Downtown Eastside with an unforgettable evening of live flamenco music and dance! Flamenco is an art form by and for the people, danced and played with spirit, ferocity, joy, laughter and tears. ‘Barrio’ refers to the vibrant and tight-knit neighbourhoods in southern Spain where flamenco originated. The evening, hosted by flamenco dancer and teacher Kelty McKerracher, features some of the most compelling flamenco dancers, singers and musicians in the city. This year we welcome back singers Farnaz Ohadi and Jafelin Helton, dancers Andrea Williams, Elvira Yebes, everyone’s favourite Sophia Ludwig, and poet Gerardo Avila. New to the evening is dancer Bethany Murphy and guitarist Peter Mole – welcome! An annual theatre-packed favourite so come early to sit near the front and see the dancers’ feet! Ole! Free


Drums
TAIKO ROOTS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY
Friday November 1, 8pm – 10:30pm
Vancouver Ballroom, 456 Prior (at Dunlevy)
Have we got a treat for you! Inspired by a taiko performance at the 1979 Powell Street Festival, members of Vancouver’s Asian community came together to form their own taiko group as a means of exploring and celebrating their heritage through the Japanese drum. One of those members was John Endo Greenaway, long time Vancouver Moving Theatre designer and artistic associate. As a tribute to Vancouver as the birthplace of taiko in Canada, and in recognition of John’s immense contribution to the taiko community, the Festival presents this exciting evening of taiko. Immerse yourself in the beats, in the rhythms, in the excitement of Sansho Daiko, Vancouver’s newest taiko group, of which John is a founding member. We also are thrilled that other ensembles will join forces for an intimate evening of drumming. Guests include Uzume Taiko in collaboration with LOUD; Katari Taiko and Sawagi Taiko; Chibi Taiko, the youth ensemble celebrating its twentieth year; and special guest Leslie Komoro. A special thanks to Gordon Koo for letting us use his wonderful ballroom for an evening of taiko. Presented in association with Tonari Gumi. Bar sales. Tickets at the door, first come first serve so arrive early. Suggested donation $10

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