Special Event
FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY
Wednesday October 29, 2pm – 3pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main
Join friends from the neighbourhood, dignitaries, Phoenix Winter (President, Carnegie Community Centre Association) and special guests for this the grand opening of our 11th annual festival! Today we celebrate the strength and resilience of the Downtown Eastside community and the artists in our midst.
Sam George (Tse-at-sul-tuxch) of the Squamish Nation will open with a Welcome Song; Mike Dangeli of the Git Hayetsk Dancers will share celebratory songs; and emerging rising stars Jamie Elliott and the Downtown Eastside’s own Hannah Walker perform as Twin Bandit. There is more! The community’s favourite jazz band The Carnegie Jazz Band, led by trombonist Brad Muirhead, will play a short selection of new songs written by members of the community, including Patrick Foley’s Sandstone Lady, sung by the Carnegie Community Choir led by Mike Richter.
Refreshments! Everyone welcome to this free event.
Reception & Exhibition
CONTEMPORARY QUILTS Diane Wood
Opening: Wednesday October 29, 5pm – 6pm
InterUrban Gallery, I E. Hastings
Exhibition October 15 until November 5
One of the Downtown Eastside’s favourite artists, Diane Wood, offers a show of Contemporary Quilts, mixed-media fabric pieces that tell stories and relate to current issues of the community. Diane’s art work is down to earth, yet will fire up your imagination to see what can be created with fabric scraps and the passion to create. A DTES resident, poet, community activist and gardener, Diane loves to share the process of creating quilts.
Hours: Wed to Sat, 12pm – 5pm. Free.
Performance & Exhibition
COLLECTIVE-CONVERSATION with Ricardo Basbaum
Wednesday October 29, 6pm
Audain Gallery, SFU, 149 W. Hastings
Exhibition October 16 to December 13
As part of his residency at the Audain Gallery, Brazilian artist Ricardo Basbaum, with Sabine Bitter, will teach a course within SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts entitled, ‘The production of the artist as collective conversation.” The course will provoke a conversation amongst students through reading, writing, editing and speaking on how the role and image of the artist is constructed. The culmination of this collective conversation will be performed live in the Audain Gallery. A recording of the performance will then be installed in the gallery for the remainder of the exhibition. Presented with the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU as part of their Audain Visual Artist-in-Residence Program.
For more information: www.sfu.ca/galleries/audain-gallery/current.html.
Music
HOT JAZZ AT THE CARNEGIE
Wednesday October 29, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
We kick off Festival opening night with a Downtown Eastside community favourite, the Carnegie Jazz Band and their finger snappin’, toe tappin’, head boppin’ hot music. The band is comprised of enthusiastic amateur jazz musicians under the wonderful tutelage of multi-instrumentalist and composer Brad Muirhead. Join the band for an evening of jazz standards, original songs by Brad Muirhead and new jazz tunes by band members Mark Boreen, Gil Mattila, Gerry Teahan and Festival producer Terry Hunter. Expect something different, as each composition, just like our DTES community, is as unique as the composer! The band is also thrilled to welcome special guest, local pro jazz-man Brian Harding on trombone.
photo David Cooper
Theatre
THE RAYMUR MOTHERS They Wouldn’t Take No For An Answer
Russian Hall, 600 Campbell
Wednesday October 29, 8pm – Preview, pay-what-you-can
October 30 to November 8, 8pm
November 9 – 2pm, Closing Matinee
Adults $22, Students $17
Wed Oct 29 – Pay what you can Preview
Wed Nov 5 – 2 for 1
sketch by Atty Gell
In 1971, forty-three years ago, a group of single mothers in the Raymur Place Social Housing Project (now Stamps Place) on Campbell Avenue carried out one of the most iconic and successful feats of direct action in Vancouver history: they blockaded and shut down all rail traffic to the Port of Vancouver in a desperate measure to ensure their children’s safety. The Raymur Mothers musical play tells the story of this extraordinary group of mothers and their successful effort to have a pedestrian overpass built over railroad tracks to enable their children to safely walk to Admiral Seymour School on the other side of the tracks.
The production features thirteen rousing original songs and brings to life the experiences of the women as they defend their personal dignity; stand up to the railway company; and become active participants and non-violent demonstrators in an action that results in a positive resolution and strengthens the community.
The Heart of the City Festival is honoured to present this Theatre in the Raw production of The Raymur Mothers, written by former Downtown Eastside resident Bob Sarti, with music by Bill Sample, and directed by Jay Hamburger, Artistic Director of Theatre in the Raw; the same artistic team who created Bruce: The Musical and Yippies in Love.
For tickets or more information call 604-708-5448, or go to www.theatreintheraw.ca. Tickets will also be available at the door.