Lani Maestro’s exhibition, “Offsite” at the Vancouver Art Gallery features a ruby-red neon installation that spells, “No pain like this body” which is presented next to another sculpture that says the same thing. She was inspired to come up with this installation after experiencing the environment of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Neighborhood. The emotions and spirit of this installation was formed when she was walking down Hastings Street. The social, political and cultural differences in the city was more than apparent to her and the words, “No pain like this body” was the energy that she felt when she could see the harsh lifestyles of certain people living in Hastings Street.

The side-by-side installation of these words in a big and bright form gives the installation a feeling of popping out of the wall and into the mind. No pain like this body has been exhibited at different places around the world. Lani Maestro had initially created this piece in 2010 and since then, it has been featured at Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art in Winnipeg from 2010-2011, the Philippine Pavilion in 2017 and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design in Manila in 2019. After over 10 years, Maestro’s art is brought back to Vancouver. It can be seen at 1100 West Georgia Street, between Thurlow and Bute streets, to the west of Shangri-La Hotel.

Her diverse poetic minimalism is recognized and admired by many people from the international artistic community. Lani Maestro was born in Manila, Philippines where she became a professional artist. After over ten years of working as a professional artist, she immigrated to Canada in 1982 and continued her artistic journey. Her experience of living in different countries and cultures has shaped her into the artist that she is today and her multi-cultural background can be interpreted in her work.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition calle, “NEXT: Provisional Structures” by Carmen Papalia with co-conspirators. This is the twentieth installment in a series of Artist Projects from the Pacific Rim. It is a unique, thought provoking exhibition that encourage people to discuss issues regarding the troubling practices of “cultural ableism.” His artwork puts the focus on disability cultures in spaces where people from the broader disability community are underrepresented.

Carmen Papalia with the help of Rebel Fayola Rose, Sharona Franklin, Catherine Frazee, Gabrielle Peters and Heather Kai Smith have created this exhibition that is site-centered to bring awareness and insight for Collective care and Disability justice. The exhibition features an accessible structure where various perspectives and narratives from the contemporary disability movement is introduced. By creating a space like this in the gallery, it provides people to interact and imagine different viewpoints in a creative and safe space. The exhibiton also features a programming space where workshops can be held to enable an interactive experience for people. There is also a resource library and contributions from other artists that help with igniting different significant ideas that can be used to initiate a thought provoking conversation amongst people in the gallery.

In addition to this, the gallery is conducting a “Disability Justice Dreaming Session” on January 20^th where the artist, Rebel Fayola Rose, who happens to be the founder of Disability Justice Dreaming will be hosting 5 DJ Dreaming sessions. These sessions’ purpose is to provide participants with an opportunity to come up with an imaginative and optimistic type of world for those who may be experiencing ableism. This creative approach to sessions encourages collective thoughts about a community and its needs. It’s also a refreshing way of connecting people together with a common topic in mind. Experiencing an environment like this is a fascinating method to spark a conversation about a sensitive topic like disability justice.

Marie Khouri is a Vancouver-based artist whose recent work is being showcased at the Vancouver Art Gallery in an exhibition called, “I Love.”  This exhibit features hand-carved sculptures that pay tribute to the Arabic roots that influences her work. This specific art work of hers is inspired by Henry Moore’s sense-appealing sculptures and Zaha Hadid’s organic style of architecture. The exhibition shows five hand carved sculptures that are surrounded by a curved staircase that surrounds it. There is also an oil painting of a tree that is displayed in front of the hallway at the center of the setting. The hand-carved structures look like an innovative and creative design that is intended for sitting. The intricate details that are visible in these sculptures have a futuristic feel to it. The sculptures that Khouri has created is a time consuming and hands on project that has a clear methodical process behind it.

The process begins when she molds clay and then scales it to later expand it with polystyrene. After this is done, she dedicates time for carving and sanding in a delicate fashion. Her skill has several layers to it especially when considering how she gives the art meaning by making the finished work to spell out “I Love” in an Arabic. Her ability to connect her roots with her art in such a creative way is inspired by her upbringing. She was born in Egypt and raised in Lebanon and immigrated to Europe before finally settling in Canada. The experience of living in different countries and cultures has an influence in her art and that’s what makes it so special! This exhibition is a display of her multi-cultural way of thinking, and it provides a rare experience for curious minds. The exhibition provides people with an opportunity to draw inspiration from a cultured artist like Marie Khouri and her creative skills that will be displayed in the Gallery till March 5^th.

The Morris and Helen Belkin Gallery displays a new project at their venue called “The Willful Plot.” The grand reveal on January 12^th showcases the work of several artists like Derya Akay and Vivienne Bessete, Gabi Dao, Derek Jarman, Chairman Johnson, Glenn Lewis, Mike MacDonald, Rehab Nazzal and Dana Qaddah. The Willful Plot is part of the 2023 Capture Photography Festival. The pictures taken by these various artists have different interpretations depending on the person looking at them. This exhibit has a central theme of “The Garden.” The garden is where all these artists have taken the opportunity to express themselves through subliminal messaging in their work.

The relationship between people and nature is portrayed in the garden and it is fascinating to get the chance to experience it first hand by admiring and understanding this project. Seeing the different approaches that these artists have taken can really open up ones mind about their relationship with plants and nature. MacDonald’s view of the vulnerable traditional and cultural practices of medicine of Indigenous peoples is a narrative that he portrays in the garden. The research and time taken to express this narrative does not go unnoticed. Gabi Dao’s perspective of the garden being a site that invokes nostalgia has deeper layers that is expressed through her collage and film. The photography and film by Rehab Nazzal brings light to the wild plants that grow in Palestinian villages and how it connects the people that live there to their land.

Gardens connect people, time, space and cultures in a special way and this exhibit explores these unique connections with a creative lens. Many of the artists from this exhibit provide unique perspective that are interesting and thought provoking. The Willful Plot is an intriguing exhibit to people who are willing to explore their connection to the garden and more.

On January 21^st, Angela Grossmann’s, “With Themselves” project is going to be showcased at the Equinox Gallery. Angela’s art explores various topics through her creativity. She dives in to topics like gender politics and identity. Her artistic talents have been honed for nearly four decades. This exhibit will look at Angela’s expression of femininity. Her art seems to be inspired by the body of a woman but there are deeper layers to what initially comes to mind. Her work has a psychological layer that represents how she perceives the western world visualizes a female. The focus of her paintings, collages and mixed-media are referencing the female figure and it is because of her lived experiences and interpretations through her many years spent exploring this as a source of inspiration.

Her paintings are express her creative side in a remarkable fashion. Every detail in a painting is astonishing. The choice of color is something that she does very well. Certain colors are deliberately used to invoke a specific feeling that is attached to the art. Some of the paintings are aesthetically pleasing because of specific brush strokes and shades that bring mean to the painting and invokes a type of feeling to it.

With Themselves looks to explore and connect art and the female body. With a creative, visual and visceral approach that can be interpreted in Angela’s work, people can draw inspiration for this exhibit. Grossmann nudges the person looking at her work to explore the notion of self-discovery in relation to femininity and one’s perception of it. There are very few artists like Angela Grossmann who can identify themes of importance and are able to express them through art. The exhibition will feature different pieces that have a unique style and invoke a certain emotion. The Equinox Gallery will be displaying this exhibit till February 18^th 2023 and it’s an exhibit that should be experienced.

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is back this year with exciting events that can broaden the mind of people that are looking to connect with different cultures. The Festival this year start on January 19^th and ends on February 5^th. The various artistic displays over their days of operation make it one of the most unique experiences that people can have. The multicultural shows are genuinely so intriguing. There are shows that incorporate theatre, dance, music, multimedia and even a circus!

One of the shows that sheds a light on a very relevant topic in society is what kickstarts this festival from January 19^th-21^st and it’s a show that will strike a chord in person. The show will be happening at the Scotiabank Dance Centre and it’s called “Never Twenty One.” Three dancers express themselves through their dance and pay tribute to Black men who have lost their lives in New York, Rio De Janeiro and Johannesburg to gun violence. Samïl Kanouté has produced this show as a form of expression, tribute and as an act of protest to the lives of Black men around the world that have experienced violence in their lives. This show evokes an emotional response with the movement from this dance.

Another show to look forward to from this festival is called, “A percussionist’s songbook.” In this show, Joby Burgess will be performing his new album of “songs without words.” This unique form of expression is intended to make the listener connect with emotions that they feel. It is an experience that can change the perspective and mood of a person.

Along with these shows, there are many more expressive artists that will be performing at the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival this year. Attending this style of festival can help people connect with different cultures, art forms and people in an environment that promotes creative thinking, performance and expression.

The Museum of Anthropology at 6393 NW Marine Drive at UBC have a few exhibitions that educate people on significant topics of interest as well as providing artists with the freedom to express themselves through their work. One of the exhibitions called, Xicanx: Dreamer and Changemakers, focuses on the multi-generational experiences of social differences lived by people from the Mexican American heritage. There is a deep-rooted historical significance that inspires Xicanx artists that come from the 1960’s and 1970’s when the Chicano civil right movement had taken a hold of the United States. Social justice is a significant topic that the art from this exhibition tries to shed light on. Their art provides a refreshing and creative way of expression that further their cause of social justice. It also lays down a solid foundation for the next generation to take inspiration from Xicanx art to address issues that are personal, social and political.

Some of the issues of social justice are still at play in the world right now and the art works from this exhibition showcase various talented artists’ approach to expressing their thought and feelings. “Dreamers + Changemakers” is an indicative title for the message that the artists are intending to portray. The narrative of hope and change are key themes in the art showcased in the exhibition. For years, there have been different perspectives and narratives that artists have tried to portray in their art and this exhibition displays them in a visual form that can resonate with people whether they have previously been exposed with the Xicanx culture and history or not. The long history that is associated with this exhibition allow people from different ages to understand why social justice needs to be discussed more. This exhibitions online bilingual platform with Spanish and English makes this a special experience that everyone can learn and draw inspiration from.

“Mondegreens” is an art exhibition by Gavin Lynch that is being showcased at Bau – Xi Gallery, which is at 3045 Granville Street until January 28th. Lynch’s artistic approach in these compositions is an incredible combination of graphic collage and paint style. He incorporates the use of acrylic, watercolor and sand to create his imaginative perception of the world in a visual display. The inspiration behind this composition comes from his previous work from 2014 when he was painting hypothetical scenarios like forest fires, windstorms and sea squalls. Recognizing that climate change is a harsh reality that is being documented and recognized on a regular basis, Lynch has created an imaginative and visual perspective of a hypothetical world which is an evolved post-human landscape. The exhibition is an opportunity to ignite a thought-provoking conversation because of its many extraordinary layers that can be interpreted in various ways. His unique style of combing interior environments with outdoor environments is indicative of the imaginative lens that Lynch displays in this exhibition.

News about climate change becoming more and more prevalent and the connection between people and nature are the central themes of this composition. Lynch’s work is known for his exceptional ability to combine contemporary science fiction and the discourse around climate change. He has previously featured in venues like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Carleton University Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Ottawa Art Gallery and just recently, the Bau-Xi Gallery. One feature that makes Lynch’s work interesting, is his attempt at reinventing Canadian Landscape painting. Going to see this exhibition with people who have an appreciation for experiencing different styles of art would spark a thought-provoking conversation that could go on for some time. The simple but multi-layered work displayed in this exhibition evokes different emotions and perspectives when it is experience in person.

The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is currently hosting an exhibition till March 19^th, called “Keeping the Song Alive.” The guest curator, Cheryl ‘Ka’kaso’las Wadhams with the help of the Jewish Museum & Archives of BC share the work between an ethnomusicologist named Dr. Ida Halpern and the hereditary Chiefs Billy Assu and Mungo Martin of 1947. Dr. Halpern’s collaboration with the Chiefs to record the ceremonial music of the Pesa, otherwise known as the potlach, is a strong cultural tradition amongst the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples which allows them to tap into their culture, traditions and their history. The Keeping the Song Alive exhibition allows Kwakwaka’wakw artists and the members of their community to connect with their culture in a traditional form. It inspires the people by providing them with the knowledge of their culture and their cultural identity, which has been at the risk of being forgotten. Hence, the name of the exhibition is extremely relevant to the purpose of the exhibition.

The Bill Reid Gallery is Canada’s only public gallery that is dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast. It is a space where people can visit to find an appreciation for the custom and traditions of Indigenous peoples and experience some of these customs for themselves. This gallery possesses a rich historical atmosphere that can help people with inspiration and reconnection to Indigenous communities’ culture, customs and traditions.

Keeping the Song Alive is an exhibition where people can really understand the significance and spiritual power that music holds amongst the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples. One of the purposes that this exhibition fulfils is, the importance of preserving ceremonial art and culture for the future generations. Even people outside of the Kwakwaka’wakw community can benefit from attending this exhibition because exposes a culture that is genuinely unique in the best way possible. It provides people with the opportunity to educate themselves on cultural differences and the power that it gives people.

The Vogue Theatre on Granville Street is hosting an event that is incredibly entertaining and piques the interest of everyone that enjoys a good laugh. Just for laughs is a comedy show that people might recognize on television and there is an opportunity to experience the show live when they bring us comedic entertainment on February 17^th. The format of the show is a different experience in person when compared to watching the show on television. For years, Just for laughs have had an impact on their viewers mood and life. With their pranks and sketch comedy people viewers become more and more invested over the years. The opportunity to see the live version of the show is an experience that can be shared with friends and family by associating it with a good time.

One of the great parts about Just for Laughs is its incorporation of sketch comedy. This form of comedy is a free and flexible style of entertainment where the writers can explore different comedic elements without being restricted to a bigger plot of the story and creating character attributes that viewers attach themselves to. While this allows writers and producers to explore different comedic perspectives, it also has an element that cannot be controlled. The element that cannot be predicted or controlled by the show, is how the audience/viewers might perceive a certain segment. Comedy and entertainment is subjective and there are segments that a portion of the viewers might not resonate with. However, with that being said, the show does a great job of striking the balance of comedy that can appeal to the general audience.

Who doesn’t like to have a good laugh? With the right people around, a good laugh can be contagious and memorable, which is why the show is so popular. It creates experiences that people are drawn to and a chance to experience this first hand shouldn’t be passed up!