Finding Art and Culture Fit for the Gold in Vancouver

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will soon be underway in Vancouver, British Columbia.  For the sake of the athletes competing, I hope there is a giant snowstorm in the next week or so. The weather has been balmy, rainy and the mountains remain green.  I understand that the city will be trucking in man-made snow so that show can still go on.

While you're waiting for things to cool down in the "Van," be sure to take in some of the public art that has gone up in honor of the Games.  Here are some images of some of the art that has been installed in the downtown corridor.

 This past weekend, I enjoyed a couple of days visiting with friends, including the witty, intelligent Vancouver artist Jennifer Mawby of Vantage Art Projects.  Jen and I spent some time at East Vancouver's hip little bar and cheese joint Au Petit Chavignol.  Since I was a poutine virgin, Jen insisted that I try this Canadian delicacy.  It was actually pretty tasty.  How can you go wrong with handcut French fries slathered in gravy, cheese curd and peppercorns. I washed it down with a nice sparkling white wine infused with cassis berry liqueur.  Add to that a hot "just gay enough" bohemian waiter and you have the perfect sleepy, rainy night in the Van!

Another treat was getting to see a colleague of mine Carolynn Faulkner of the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. The Inuit is internationally recognized for the high quality First Peoples' art that it carries. Carolynn took the time to talk to me about one of Joe David's glass pieces. Watch a brief video here:

 Joe, who is a Nuu-chah-nulth artist, is a contemporary of Preston Singletary.  If you spend any time in Santa Fe, you will know Preston's work from the Blue Rain Gallery and his collaborations with Blue Rain owner Tammy Garcia.  The Inuit Gallery is not to be missed if you happen to be in the Vancouver area during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. 

During the Olympics the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver will host the renowned Cape Dorset artist Toonoo Sharky. Sharky's carvings are transformational in nature, with an emphasis on spirit figures. The artist will be in the gallery Thursday, Feb. 11, 12 and 13 between 1 and 3 pm each day. Be sure to check it out!

Luxurious Liquid Diet: Vantage Art Projects Presents 'Stone Soup #3'

It may be warming up outside, but anytime is the perfect time for a stirring bowl of soup, especially when it's being served up by none other than Vancouver-based Vantage Art Projects, the dynamic artistic endeavor that was launched last year by its creators Sherri Kajiwara and Jennifer Mawby.

This Friday, June 26, Vantage Art Projects will host Week 3 of its progressive art installation entitled "Stone Soup." This edition highlights the works of Christian Nicolay and Rebecca Donald.

If you happen to be in the "Van" on Friday and are interested in checking it out, you can find "Stone Soup" the exhibition at the Grace-Gallery. Both Nicolay and Donald's work are part of a comprehensive showing that includes 6 artists over three weeks. For more information, visit www.vantageartprojects.com.

Vancouver-Based Vantage Art Projects Call for Submissions in U.S., Canada and Abroad, Uncle Paulie

Vantage Art Projects has announced an open call for submissions for VANTAGE POINT, a EXHIBITION-IN-PRINT curated by PAUL BUTLER. Artists of any age and discipline, from any country in the world, are invited to submit in response to their curatorial theme.

Paul Butler is a Winnipeg-based artist, curator and dealer with an interest in multidisciplinary, social and alternative pedagogical practices (www.theotherpaulbutler.com). Paul's oeuvre includes The Collage Party, The Other Gallery and the Upper Trading Post. He has exhibited at locations including: MOCA, LA; White Columns, NYC and Sparwasser HQ, Berlin. Curatorial projects have included artists Matthew Higgs, Mitzi Pederson, DearRaindrop and Guy Maddin.

30 selected artists will be published along with a selection of Paul's work and collaborations with other artists. To be launched in June 2009, this project is unique in the scope of its inclusiveness, and in the overall aim to create open dialogue in visual arts through art publications.

The curatorial theme developed by Paul is in keeping with his own collaborative multi-disciplinary and social intervention-based art practice. Artists may submit up to 3 works in response to the concept: “Community and Collaboration as a Form of Pedagogy”. For submission and further definition to:

www.VantageArtProjects.com/current_submissions.html.

Submission deadline is Saturday, March 21, 2009. All submissions will be blind-juried and a submission fee is required.

Vantage Art Projects supports the contemporary arts through a commitment to providing parallel opportunities for artists, and connecting art enthusiasts and collectors with exciting new talent. The scope of projects includes: Vantage Exhibitions, Vantage Art Press and Vantage Editions.

For further information email info@vantageartprojects.com.