Ines Min PR

From keeping us nourished to forging social connections, food tells important stories about who we are and how we view the world. Richmond Art Gallery’s newest exhibition, ‘FOODWAYS’ delves into these complexities behind food and food cultures, and the intersections of ethnicity, culture, colonialist histories and more.

The show runs from October 19 to December 31, and will include works from Derya Akay, Sara Angelucci, Jesse Birch, Patrick Cruz, Ellie Kyungran Heo, Kosisochukwu Nnebe, Karen Tam Artist, Tania Willard, Paul Wong , Marlene Yuen, and Shellie Zhang.

‘FOODWAYS’ was recently included as one of the must-see visual arts shows this fall by The Georgia Straight. Click the link in our bio to read more.

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📸:
1. 엘리 허경란 / Ellie Kyungran Heo, ご飯、たべましたか? / Did You Eat Rice?, 2017, HD video (still), Courtesy of the artist and Lux Distribution
2. Sara Angelucci, Nocturnal Botanical: Bella di notte, Artichoke #2, 2022, inkjet print, Courtesy of the Stephen Bulger Gallery
3. Derya Akay, Red and Yellow Shelf, 2020, Courtesy of the artist and Unit 17, Vancouver, Photo: Derya Akay

Catch the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF) when it opens tomorrow at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre.

The only Festival of its kind in the country, VOAF is presented by the Community Arts Council of Vancouver and aims to uplift and celebrate underrepresented artists. A total of 56 artists were chosen to participate this year, and together they will be showcasing over 400 works crafted using various mediums at the Roundhouse. In addition to the exhibition, there will also be several events, workshops, and live performances, all taking place from October 11 to 13 that are free to attend.

Initially created as a personal memorial, street artist Lupo’s sculptures soon gained attention as a way for the community to come together to collectively grieve over lost loved ones. Hear more about his work as well as his participation in this year’s VOAF in a segment by CityNews’ Kier Junos by clicking the link in our Instagram bio.

📸: Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival 2023, Oct. 12–17, 2023. All photos by Jamie Poh.

The group exhibition ‘Future Worldings’ is on view at Griffin Art Projects from now until December 15th. This multi-year project features artists from Canada and South Africa, countries sharing common histories marked by colonization and systemic discrimination.

The six artists each explore their visions of collective worldmaking through decolonial practices, with their works spanning across the various mediums of painting, drawing, sculpture, installation and performance. In addition to the exhibition and in-person residencies, public programming including a conference will invite participants to further consider their own visions of decolonial futures.

Participating artists include: Wezile Harmans, Lebogang Mogul Mabusela, and Pebofatso Mokoena Studio from South Africa, and Nura Ali, Sun Forest, and Xwalacktun from Canada.

Artists Lebogang Mogul Mabusela and Xwalacktun, along with the exhibition’s co-curator Lisa Baldissera spoke to North Shore News about the universality across the artists’ works, and their hopes for this exhibition to spark meaningful conversations. Read at the link in our Instagram bio.

📸: Installation views of ‘Relief’ at The Villa-Legodi Centre for Sculpture at NIROX Sculpture Park in Krugersdorp, South Africa. Photos by Ntate Phakela.

The Vega Foundation presents ‘Floating Sea Palace’ by Lap-See Lam, opening tomorrow at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery.

The exhibition takes its name from a real ship that once housed a Chinese restaurant. Through an immersive installation, the three-channel video brings viewers on a journey through turbulent seas in which folklore and reality intertwine, following Lo Ting, a mythological half-human, half-fish creature and his search for home and a sense of belonging. Themes of displacement and loss, often seen in Lam’s works, are also explored in this film, a prequel to her ongoing ‘Altersea’ series. This occasion also marks Lam's first-ever exhibition in Canada, after recently exhibiting her work in the Nordic pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

‘Floating Sea Palace’ was recently featured in The Toronto Star’s fall culture preview. Read the full article through the link in our Instagram bio.

📸: Lap-See Lam, Floating Sea Palace, 2024. Courtesy the artist; Galerie Nordenhake, Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; The Vega Foundation; Studio Voltaire, London; The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto.

The largest nationwide celebration of arts and culture kicks off today in Richmond and across Canada!

Running from September 20th to October 13th, Culture Days brings over 80 events and workshops to the city, offering fantastic opportunities for the public to discover the arts and connect with local artists and collectives. Experience everything from live performances, on-hand workshops, to exhibitions at galleries and museums—all completely free! Check out Richmond Arts Centre to learn more.

The Runner spoke to a representative from the City of Richmond and also listed their top picks for Culture Days in a recent feature. Click on the link in our Instagram bio to read.

📸:
1. Visions of Biophilia: Cyanotype Printmaking workshop, courtesy of Desirée Patterson, taking place September 22 at Richmond Nature Park,.
2. Merissa Victor, still from 'Electric City', digital animation, 2024, courtesy of the artist. Artist Salon: Intro to Procreate for Artists workshop, taking place September 25 at Richmond Art Gallery.
3. Lisa Jackson, still from 'Wilfred Buck', film, 2024, courtesy of Door Number 3 Productions, screening takes place September 26 at Richmond Cultural Centre.

Starting tomorrow, visitors will be able to view the Art Museum at the University of Toronto's two newest fall exhibitions, ‘Labour’ and ‘Otherworld.'

A group exhibition curated by Ingrid Jones, ‘Labour’ addresses the impacts of generations of invisible labour by Black and Indigenous communities, as well as celebrates the resilience and resistance demonstrated by them. Participating artists include: Natalie Asumeng, La Tanya S. Autry, Tony Cokes, Chantal Gibson, Tanya Lukin Linklater, Kosisochukwu Nnebe, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, and Martine Syms.

Meanwhile, ‘Otherworld’ is the first major solo exhibition of renowned artist Camille Turner, who is known for her transformative examination of Black history in the Canadian national narrative. Through her afronautic research methodology, Turner shines a light on the often overlooked history of Canada’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, and will feature new and recent works.

Ingrid Jones () was recently interviewed by NOW Toronto (), where she discusses the role that rest can play in the work of decolonization. Read more about it and the exhibition by clicking the link in our bio.

📸:
1. Tanya Lukin Linklater with Tiffany Shaw, Indigenous geometries, 2019, sculpture, courtesy of Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen’s University, Kingston, Photo by Blaine Campbell
2. Martine Syms. Intro to Threat Modeling, 2018. Digital video (color, sound). 4:32 minutes. Edition of 5 plus I AP, Photo courtesy of the artist and Bridget Donahue, NYC
3. Camille Turner, Afronautic Research Lab, 2016-present. Installation view and performance at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, 2016. Photography by Sandra Brewster.
4. Camille Turner, film still of Fly, 2024. 4:00, video. Courtesy of the artist.

The Lind Prize has now become the largest award in Canada that celebrates emerging visual artists, made possible by a $1 million donation to The Polygon Gallery. In addition to supporting the future of young artists in British Columbia for the coming years, this generous contribution commemorates the legacy of Phil Lind, who was known for being a philanthropist and lifelong supporter of the arts.

The Lind Biennial, an exhibition featuring the five finalists will also have an extended 3-month exhibition term as a result of this monumental contribution. Works from Mena El Shazly, Karice Mitchell, Dion Smith-Dokkie, Parumveer Walia, and Casey Wei will be showcased at The Polygon starting November 9th, with the final winner to be announced on January 23rd, 2025.

Check out the link in our Instagram bio to find out more about the Lind Prize, as featured in The Globe and Mail.

📸:
1. Dion Smith-Dookie, Matrix for Solar mesh, digital collage, 2024
2. Parumveer Walia, I Think You Think Too Much of Me, video still, 2024
3. Mena El Shazly, Sun Outage, 2017, 2020, installation view. Courtesy of ARCHiNOS.

Come out to Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site to relive Steveston’s past at the Richmond Maritime Festival August 24-25th. ⛵

As the oldest shipyard community in the province, the eight-acre historic site will be welcoming guests with a vibrant display of restored heritage boats, live music performances, and art installations that reflect its rich history. Visitors can also take a stroll along the scenic boardwalk for a self-guided tour that offers a glimpse into early 20th century life, when fishing and boat building industries thrived. In addition to that, there will be interactive puppet shows and hands-on workshops to ensure fun for the entire family all weekend long.

Head to the link in our bio to to read about The Vancouver Sun’s top five reasons to check out the Festival.

📸 Photos courtesy of the Richmond Maritime Festival.

As Canada’s longest running event of its kind, Vancouver Art Book Fair is making an exciting return this weekend from July 26-27 at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre.

Whether you’re art-curious or a seasoned art aficionado, there will be something for every taste, from locally made zines to volumes from publishers worldwide. Not only that, but a new full-day symposium featuring professionals and industry experts takes place after the Fair on July 28 at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. To ensure accessibility for the community at large, all events and programming are free and open to the public.

VABF co-organizer Jonathan Middleton spoke more about the importance of the Fair in showcasing the diversity of art publishing with The Source. Read the full interview through the link in our Instagram bio.

📸:
1. Participants and exhibitors at Vancouver Art Book Fair 2019. Photo by Rachel Topham.
2. A visitor at the Vancouver Art book Fair 2019 browses A Sashimi Zine by Decue Wu. Photo by Li Zhang.

Don’t miss Leaky Heaven Performance’s newest production, ‘Slip Slap Trip Wack,’ taking place from July 26-28 at the Russian Hall.

Throughout the last several months, local youth have worked with professional artists to unleash their creativity while developing the project, which draws inspiration from various classic slapstick comedy tropes. The result is a unique immersive experience, in which audience members will be seated on a custom-built 360-degree rotating ride, during which gags and sketches will be performed by the cast. Be prepared for other fun surprises and hijinks…but we won’t spoil too much 😉

Leaky Heaven’s co-artistic directors Josh Hite and Steven Hill were recently featured on CBC Radio’s North by Northwest. Head to our Instagram for the link in our bio to find out more about what might be in store.

📸: Photos by ​​Vanessa Mercedes Figueroa

Embark on a journey to understand how ‘It begins with knowing and not knowing’ by visiting the new exhibition opening this weekend at Richmond Art Gallery.

The title of the exhibition, inspired by British author Deborah Levy, encompasses the sense of anticipation and exhilaration that is felt when one embarks on new endeavors. While the world around us today can seem to be filled with uncertainty and turmoil, the works in this collection seek to open new pathways to healing, through embracing our own unique rituals and ceremonies. Each work utilizes a variety of mediums that will engage with the viewer’s senses through different forms and textures, including cyanotypes, sculptures, videos, ceramics, paintings, and performance.

Participating artists all have connections to Vancouver, and include: Rebecca Bair, Xinwei Che, Patrick Cruz, Zoë Kreye, Ogheneofegor Obuwoma, Michelle Sound, and Ximena Velázquez.

Check out the link in our bio to hear Rebecca speak about her participation in the exhibition on CBC Radio’s On The Coast.

📸
1. Ogheneofegor Obuwoma, In Memory of Who We Were, 2021 (video still), Courtesy of the artist
2. Zoë Kreye, Luciana Freire D'Anunciação, and Guadalupe Martinez, The River Beneath the River, 2023, collaborative performance (detail), Kamloops Art Gallery, Photo: Kim Anderson
3. Rebecca Bair, Hair as Ritual, 2024, cyanotype (sample of work in progress), Courtesy of the artist

Transdisciplinary artist Martine Gutierrez brings her daring and provocative ANTI-ICON: APOKALYPSIS exhibition to The Polygon Gallery, which opens tomorrow July 12th. Not only will this be Martine’s first solo exhibition in Canada, but it also marks the first time that the entire collection will be presented together, after being shown at galleries in the US and UK.

Throughout each of the 17 portraits, Martine incorporates everyday objects to transform herself into various feminist icons from history and mythology. In doing so, the works not only challenge preconceptions of these figures, but also urges the viewer to reexamine long-standing social constructs as well as who or what is considered iconic in our society.

📸: Martine Gutierrez, Maria from ANTI-ICON: APOKALYPSIS. 2021, C-print mounted on Dibond, hand-distressed welded aluminum frame, Optium plexi. Tia Collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.

Now in its 77th year, the Steveston Salmon Festival is an annual event that commemorates the community’s history as a vibrant fishing village during the 19th to 20th centuries. Today, Steveston not only remains a local landmark, but has also become a must-see destination for visitors from all around the world.

Experience the festivities on July 1st, which will include a parade, live music performances, the iconic salmon bake, and much more. There will also be a Japanese cultural show, art show, and marketplace that showcases the community’s cultural diversity.

Admission is free, and all events take place from 10am-5pm at Steveston Village.

Photos courtesy of Jon Pesochin & Jennifer Strang

Come out to Richmond this weekend to take part in the 17th edition of Doors Open Richmond, presented by the Richmond Museum.

Over 40 sites located across the city will be open to the public, offering the chance for visitors to take part in behind-the-scenes tours and hands-on activities at various community organizations and public institutions. Some highlights include the chance to sample Turkish cuisine and practice traditional crafts at the Turkish Canadian Society of Vancouver, create unique paper crafts at the Steveston Japanese Language School, and tour the interactive museum at the Richmond Olympic Oval. It’s sure to be an informative and fun-filled weekend for the entire family.

All photos courtesy of Richmond Museum.

This weekend, join the OURO Collective () to celebrate its 10 year anniversary by heading out to the first-ever OUROFEST, running now until May 28!

Over the past decade, OURO Collective has become known for pushing the boundaries of what street dance can be, while making it accessible to everyone. The weekend will be packed with dance battles, performances, and workshops featuring artists from across Canada and locally.

Check out their feature on through the link in our bio!

📸:
OURO Collective dancers Ash Cornette, Eric Cheung, Ganna Martynova, Rina Pellerin, and Shana Wolfe perform SOTTO 51 at Robson Square. Photo by Teppei Tanabe. Costuming by Jean Okada.

Congratulations are in order to the winners of this year’s Urbanarium competition, Decoding Density, announced last night! Shared first place was awarded to New York’s Studio Oh Song and Vancouver’s Switch, with Studio Oh Song also winning the Planners Prize. Congratulations also to third place winners PAC Lab, based out of Auckland. We’re looking forward to seeing how their ideas better our city!

The competition received 85 proposals from 9 countries, with participants ranging from students to housing advocates, and design professionals to urban planning enthusiasts.

1. ‘Towerhouse’ by Studio Oh Song
2. ‘Shared Density’ by Switch
3. ‘Cul-de-sac Nouveau’ by PAC Lab

After almost 100 years, a memorial pole stolen from the Nisga’a Nation has begun its journey home to BC’s Nass Valley. This historic event marks the first time a pole has been rematriated from a British museum — and is an important step in reconciliation.

In late August, a Nisga’a delegation carried out a spiritual ceremony at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, in advance of the pole’s homecoming. At the end of September, it will finally arrive at the Nisg̱a’a Village of Lax̱g̱alts’ap.

The 37-foot pole was commissioned by House of Ni’isjoohl Matriarch Joanna Moody in 1860, to honour her family member Ts’awit, who was next in line to be chief but died protecting his family and nation.

Read on for the The New York Times' interview with the delegation.

This weekend, catch Per Diem Part II: The Gerd Metzdorff Collection before it closes at Griffin Art Projects!

The late Gerd Metzdorff was a Burnaby-based flight attendant who used his per diems to build a vast collection of artworks from some of the century’s most well-known artists, like Andy Warhol, Lynda Benglis, and Sigmar Polke. This “part 2” offers the chance for the public to enjoy (for free!) paintings from his inspiring collection.

As part of Griffin’s special events last month, the gallery hosted a conversation about collecting and how one can get started. The Vancouver Sun interviewed panelists Andrew Booth (of Vancouver Art Blog) and Dr. Karen Tam. 👇

This weekend is your last chance to see MOTHLIKE/silvery-blue at the Richmond Art Gallery!

Artist Amy-Claire Huestis has collaborated with conservationists, anthropologists, Indigenous knowledge holders and others to bring this unique exhibition to the community. Through the character, Silvery-blue, learn about the delicate ecology of the stɑl'əw̓ (Fraser River) estuary, and how human activity and commercial expansion has affected its unique biodiversity, home to Western Sandpipers, Southern Resident killer whales, and Chinook salmon.

Thank you to Richmond News for this fantastic interview with Amy-Claire!

Now on at The Polygon Gallery !

The long-awaited exhibition “As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic'' is a celebration of Black community, identity and power. Visitors can view more than 100 images – rare, iconic, and striking – from the Wedge Collection, Canada’s largest privately owned collection committed to championing Black artists. Don’t miss your chance to see this exhibition during its stop in Vancouver!

Black photographers capture and celebrate Black life in As We Rise — Stir The new exhibition, subtitled Photography from the Black Atlantic, is drawn from Black Toronto-based art collector and dentist Kenneth Montague’s vast Wedge Collection

This weekend, bring the whole family to the 15th annual Children’s Arts Festival at the Richmond Cultural Centre!

This vibrant free festival features a host of performing artists and drop-in workshops that show off just some of Richmond’s diversity. Enjoy spectacular performances of Taiko drumming, circus performance, and Bollywood dance, among others. Check out the different Imagination Stations led by professional artists – make your own print, bring drawings to life with stop-motion animation, or join in on a new community mural and more!

Click through for the full schedule! 👇

Fun Richmond

Richmond Children's Arts Festival Celebrate BC Family Day at the 15th annual Children’s Arts Festival on Monday, February 20, 2023 at the Richmond Library/Cultural Centre! Families can spark their imagination through music, hands-on activities, literary and performing arts. The day-long program features free performances and drop-...

On now at Richmond Art Gallery until Apr. 2!

Take in two exhibitions in one space this weekend. Mike Bourscheid’s “Sunny Side Up and other sorrowful stories” channels his signature use of humour and play to address themes of gender, toxic masculinity, parenthood, and loneliness. Meanwhile “Codes of silence” – curated by RAG’s own Zoë Chan – presents four deeply nuanced works by marginalized artists. Each video features voices that are present yet richly quiet, representing an alternative and intimate form of resistance.

Shhh! Enjoy the Silence | The Tyee The Richmond Art Gallery's new show places a gentle finger on how quiet can speak volumes.

On now at Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art until Apr. 15!

Lydia Ourahmane’s first institutional solo show in Canada, Tassili, captures the ability of UNESCO World Heritage Site Tassili n A’jjer to seemingly transcend time. This desert landscape in southwestern Algeria is home to one of the most important groupings of prehistoric cave art in the world. With Tassili, Ourahmane has created a 4K film that combines first-person shots of the present landscape with stunning images of cave paintings. The artist was granted unprecedented access to the site for this new, must-see commission.

📸: Charles Benton

Congratulations are in order to Simranpreet Anand, who was announced last night as the winner of the 2023 Philip B. Lind Emerging Artist Prize! She will receive $10,000 and the opportunity to collaborate on a future project with the gallery. Congratulations also to runners-up Aaron Leon and Katayoon Yousefbigloo, and the rest of the finalists: Wei Chan, Sidney Gordon, Natasha Katedralis, and Jake Kimble!

This is the last weekend to see ALL the works of this year’s Lind Prize finalists at The Polygon Gallery, including Anand’s “insatiable desires of a bourgeoisie,” described by the jury as “visually sumptuous, materially inventive.”

📸: Akeem Nermo

🎉 Happy launch day to the team behind What Are our Supports? 🎉

This new art anthology is a collection of ideas, images, and writings that expand on a 2018 project that took place in Vancouver’s Cathedral Square Park. Join the artists and contributors at 2PM TODAY, Sat. Jan. 21 at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts for an afternoon of panel discussions, Q&As, and artist presentations. Gain unique insight into the support structures within Vancouver’s artist networks and learn how this extends out into our greater community.

Co-editors Joni Low and Jeff O’Brien spoke to The Vancouver Sun about this project:

New Vancouver art book reminds of the importance of support networks What Are Our Supports? examines how basic daily actions can transform more than just the art world