Visual Arts

UnitPitt---God-Save-the-Queen

Exhibition
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
Until October 26
Unit/Pitt Projects, 236 E. Pender
God Save the Queen is inspired by the heavy curtain of colonialism that still hangs over Canada and the spirit of rebellion that was once crystallized by the Sex Pistols anti-Jubilee anthem, “God Save The Queen”. The question “How do you feel about living under the yoke of the British Crown to this day?” has been posed to First Nations artists and non-native artists producing a spectrum of responses. Curated by Chris Bose, writer, multidisciplinary artist, musician and filmmaker. Chris is a war party baby born of the N’laka’pamux and Secwepemc Nations in BC, and currently spends his time in Kamloops. For more information: www.helenpittgallery.org or 604-681-6740. Free


Exhibition
READING PEOPLE, NEW COLLAGE WORK Jessie McNeil 
Until October 26
Project Space, 222 E. Georgia
Reading People marks Jessie McNeil’s first solo exhibition in Vancouver and the last exhibition in Project Space’s brick-and-mortar. Inspired by the image of people browsing through publications like Hannah Höch’s book Bilderbuch at fairs, bookstores and publication spaces like Project Space, interdisciplinary artist McNeil re-introduces texts and images into collage and portrait forms of people reading. The future Project Space may not occupy the physical space on East Georgia, but will continue to thrive throughout local spaces, as well as international, printed and virtual ones. For more info: jessiemcneil.ca. Viewing hours: Wed to Sun, 1pm – 5pm, or by appointment. FreeVisual Arts


Open Studio
FIRST NATIONS ARTIST STUDIO 
October 23 – 25 & October 28 – November 1, 12pm – 4pm 
Raven’s Eye Studio, 458 E. Hastings

Jerry Whitehead

Jerry Whitehead

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


EDGE GRAIN Randy S. Tait, traditional Gixtsan/ Nisga’a carver 
Artist reception: Monday October 28, 4pm – 5pm 
Carnegie 3rd floor Gallery, 401 MainD Cooper '13 - Randy S. Tait - 0519Exhibition October 4 to 28
(some pieces “on tour” October 11-13)
A carver since 1982, Randy carves totem poles, masks, feast bowls, paddles and plaques. The legends and stories of the Gixtsan / Nisga’a are a treasure trove of inspiration for Randy. His carvings, mainly in red and yellow, tell the stories of his nation’s rich heritage. Before the arrival of the missionaries, the Gixtsan/ Nisga’a people were animists; every living thing has a soul, a purpose and deserves respect. Some of the traditional images Randy uses acknowledge the power of the natural world, of which everyone is part of. Free


Centre-A---Minutes-from-a-Second-Story

Exhibition
MINUTES FROM A SECOND STORY
Until November 2
Centre A, 229 E. Georgia
Centre A is pleased to present “Minutes from a Second Story” by Hajra Waheed. In this exhibition, the Calgary-born, Montreal-based artist draws on experiences of growing up in Saudi Arabia within the gated headquarters of Saudi ARAMCO. Waheed reflects on the mood and experiences of the everyday in a comprehensive body of work that includes video and mixed-media works on paper.

For more information: www.centrea.org or 604-683-8326.
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm. Free


Art on the Streets
LAUGHING HAND STREET ARTIST
Saturday October 26, at Hastings and Dunlevy, morning
Saturday November 2, at Carrall and Pender, morning
Laughing-Hand---Keith-McKellarLook for Laughing Hand Street Artist on location during the Heart of the City Festival. Painted drawings – lines that speak to you of places and people from time gone by or still seen today in Vancouver’s East End. See the Smilin’ Buddha, the Blue Eagle, Green Door, the Ovaltine, the Empress – Laughing Hand captures your favourite places and somehow mysteriously, brings them to life. Artist Keith McKellar will be on the street for two days, beginning in the mornings – Sat Oct 26 at Hastings and Dunlevy, and Sat Nov 2 at Carrall and Pender. The weather could determine where and when Laughing Hand is out and about.

Watch for Laughing Hand’s exhibition “A walk down the crooked road…” in the InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings in April 2014.


Art Market
EASTSIDE ARTISTS COMPANY
Saturday October 26, 10am – 5pm
Saturday November 2, 10am – 5pm
Woodward’s Atrium, 111 W. Hastings
Since May of this year, the Eastside Artists Company has held regular art markets every Saturday inside and outside the Atrium at Woodward’s. The initiative provides a place for Vancouver artists and artisans to display and sell their work. Diane Johnston, owner and operator of the company, is passionate about the opportunity for artists to be self-sustaining in the Downtown Eastside. Come to the Saturday market and see what the artists have for sale. For more information contact: dianecaroljohnston@hotmail.com or 604-251-1980.


Exhibition
THE WEARING WANT Jorden & David Doody 
Until November 7
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings 
This exhibition is the most recent installment of The Wearing Want: Luxury, Entropy & the Lust for Legacy, a series of mixed media paintings and art objects created by Vancouver based artistic collaborative Jorden & David Doody. The Doody’s unique approach to art making moves freely between painting, sculpture, textiles and new media. As gallery-goers feast on a smorgasbord of the duo’s subconscious they are sure to be snared in an elaborate web of Contemporary Surrealism.

Gallery hours: Wed to Sat, 1pm – 5pm. Free


Agnes-Pedersen-painting---Owl-Painted

Visual Arts
FEELS LIKE HOME Agnes Pedersen/Gena Thompson/Festival retrospective
Opening reception: Wednesday October 30, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Carnegie 3rd floor Gallery, 401 Main
Exhibition October 30 to end of November
Three cases, three different collections. The Festival is proud to present the owl paintings of Agnes Pedersen who is 10 years old and was born in the Downtown Eastside (not in a hospital!). Agnes’ obsession with owls began while reading about owls hooo find belonging in a magical owl community. Agnes also acts, sculpts, enjoys nature photography and makes jewelry out of pop can tabs. The Festival is also pleased to present the photographs of Gena Thompson. Gena has developed her craft as a member of the Downtown Eastside community, which influences how she portrays her subjects. She points her camera at interesting colours and lines and hopes you see the life in all of her subjects, whether animate or inanimate. The third case features a visual retrospective on ten years of the Heart of the City Festival. Free

Gena-Thompson-photo---Carnegie-in-print