Bye Bye Blogger

Hi everyone,

Just a short post to let you know that the blog will be changing hands after today. As much as I have loved writing for Vancouver On Canvas over the past couple of months, I will be returning to school, so Kathleen will be taking over operations here. She is a Visual Arts graduate from Emily Carr university who, undoubtedly, has a firmer grasp on the contemporary art scene in Vancouver then myself!

I hope you have all enjoyed my e-musings and that you will continue to read and enjoy this blog! 

Thanks for reading, 

Erica

Fall and Film

It's that time of year again - the leaves are starting to turn and the air has an unmistakable chill signaling the start of a new season. Fall is here. For many of us it means new beginnings, and even if we have been out of school for many years, the season will always hold that feeling of starting something new. 

Although it has felt like fall for a few weeks here in Vancouver, the season officially starts today with the equinox, and soon enough the leaves will start to turn color and shed as the winter approaches; but despite the cold weather and short days, I love fall. It is the most beautiful season, and if you are a photographer then there is no better time to get out there and take in the natural splendor. 

However, if the natural beauty of fall is not enough to make you change your view on the season, then maybe an international film festival will warm you up to it. The 30th of September marks the start of the Vancouver International Film Festival being held here in the city. The festival will run from Sept 30th- Oct 15th and will feature various genres such as:

"Africa Today, Ecologies of Mind, Arts & Letters, Audience Award Winners, Canadian Images, Cinema of Our Time, Dragons & Tigers, Films for youth under 18, High School Program, Nonfiction Features (Docs), Galas, Spotlight on France, and Special Presentations"

Visit the VIFF website for more details here 

Vancouver Fringe Festival

The annual Fringe Film Festival will be held in Vancouver from September 9-19 in various venues around the city. The festival started as an alternative to traditional film festivals, allowing smaller films and individual performers to get in on the action. In addition to traditional theater viewings, artists are encouraged to "bring your own" venue, which involves staging productions in unorthodox setting such as a boat, car or stairwell. 

All of the events are centered around the festival mantra of "theater for everyone" which is encouraging to those who lack the financial and promotional support to be a part of the larger international festivals. To make the event even more open to aspiring artists and film makers, the participants are chosen in a lottery style draw to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to take part. 

More information about the event can be found on the Fringe website, and a general description is as follows:

"Every year the Fringe delivers an eclectic mix of un-juried, uncensored theatrical offerings. Presenting live theatre in an informal, accessible and inexpensive environment, the Fringe strives to break down traditional boundaries between audiences and artists, encouraging open dialogue between theatre-goers and theatre-creators. Audiences are invited to experience the work of emerging artists and seasoned veterans. Local, national and international artists benefit from working together and learning from each other in a vibrant and exciting festival atmosphere." (Fringe 2010)

8th Annual Grand Wedding Show

If you missed us at the Vancouver Home+Design show, you can find us this weekend at the 8th Annual Grand Wedding Show at the Vancouver Convention Center. The show, which will run Saturday and Sunday this weekend, will showcase all of the newest trends in wedding decor and design:

"Organizing your wedding will be a labour of love—a page in the personal history of your new family to be shared for generations. And the GRAND Wedding Show is your resource for anything wedding. For two exciting days, Vancouver's finest wedding suppliers will gather to offer you a sneak peek at upcoming trends in fashion, food, wedding decor, and so much more. Whether your inspiration is Midnight Roses in Milan or Bollywood Bling, the GRAND Wedding Show is your perfect starting point to ever after."

We will also be offering exclusive discounts and prizes to attendees, so don't miss out!

Home + Design Show

This weekend marked the first appearance of Vancouver On Canvas at the Home+Design show in the new Vancouver Convention Center. The four day event, held from Sept 9-11th, was a great opportunity for us to meet and interact with Vancouver consumers. We also gave out some great prizes (congrats to all of our winners) as well as exclusive discounts!

If you missed us at the Home+Design show and are planning to tie the knot, then visit us at the 8th Annual Grand Wedding Show this weekend!

Unusual Art at the PNE

Rides, cotton candy, clowns and...art? Though it sounds strange, the art exhibits at Vancouver's PNE have been wildly successful for artists and organizers alike. Works of art showcased in cargo containers involve everything from metalwork installations to re-vamped cars. 

The unusual exhibit has been drawing huge crowds and giving the artists involved unprecedented exposure, one such artist, Ken Gerberick, explains "I'm totally stoked having my stuff at the PNE.. Look at how many people are looking at it". However, it is not just the artists that are befitting from the event, "the introduction of the installation type of art set inside unused shipping containers also won the PNE an industry award for the most innovative new concept in the business in 2009" (the province). 

So if you are planning to hit the PNE, which is in town until September 6th, make sure you check out the art between arcade games and candy apples!

Tasty Treats on Granville Street

If you are walking by the Vancouver Art Gallery this weekend, don't be surprised when your stomach starts to growl. But fear not, there will be street vendors on hand to serve up cultural creations from Taiwan. 

"This weekend, anyone passing by the Vancouver Art Gallery and the 600 and 700 block of Granville Street can experience a bit of Taiwanese life, including its food carts. That’s because the annual Telus TaiwanFest (running September 4 to 6) has taken to the streets. Previously held at the Plaza of Nations and the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Center, this year the festival is centered on Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Robson streets. The celebration extends to the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza (facing West Georgia Street) and CBC Studio 700. Unlike last year at the Plaza of Nations, admission is free. (It’s a street party, after all.) That means you won’t need a ticket to access the culinary offerings." (The Straight)

So make sure to hit the streets with empty stomachs and open minds this weekend. Enjoy!