Ranging from $25 to $145+, people can experience one of the most skillful displays of athleticism and skills in the game of basketball when the Harlem Globetrotters take over the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) at the Pacific Coliseum at 2901 E Hasting Street on January 22^nd. The iconic Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining fans of the sport and gaining millions of fans for over 90 years. Their skills and talent have kept improving over the years and their ability to entertain people around the years is thoroughly entertaining. The environment and atmosphere that is created when they display their skills is truly breath taking and the energy that they share with the people watching them cannot be compared to anything.

The Harlem Globetrotters social influence is recognized because of their extraordinary abilities that is showcased when they play. They have successfully proven that African-Americans can play basketball at the highest levels and by doing it in an entertaining fashion. Throughout the years that the Globetrotters have showcased their innovative talents and skills, they have brought more eyes to the sort of basketball. Experiencing a live event where they perform is a once in a lifetime opportunity that people need to take advantage of because it creates long lasting memories that can be shared with people who might not have been fans of the sport to begin with.

The Spread Game Tour that the Harlem Globetrotters are committed to, exposes people who are fans of entertainment and not just the sport of basketball to the athletic and creative movements of these professional athletes. It is hard to look away from the game once the whistle blows because entertainment is on full display. There are different attributes that each athlete possesses which can inspire people from different walks of life. This event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy with friends and family!

At the start of a new year for NFL games, one of the scariest instances to occur during a football game had fans rattled when the Buffalo Bills took on the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2^nd. During the first quarter of the game, Damar Hamlin had collapsed to the ground because of a cardiac arrest right after tackling the Bangals’ wide receiver, Tee Higgins. Initially there was no panic but as a few moments passed and Hamlin was not moving, panic started to set in and the medical team at the venue rushed him to the hospital where he could receive the medical help that he needed. When Hamlin was on the floor, fans could see how Hamlin’s unfortunate collapse had affected his teammates. Many of his teammates could be seen crying because of the uncertainty and scare that came with his collapse.

The game was cancelled. Hamlin was in critical condition as he was in the ICU for a few days. He has since recovered from this incident and the moment when he was able to communicate, he had asked the hospital staff who had won the game by writing it on a piece of paper. The staff responded by saying that he had won. He had won the game of life, which is more important than the game. The amount of concern and love that Hamlin received from the fans was heartwarming and he has shown his gratitude for all the support he received whilst he was recovering. Hamlin is 24 years old and an incident like this, is a cause for concern. Hamlin’s passion and resilience is what fans recognize and is the reason why he remains motivated to carry on with his career. The quick response by the medical staff in the venue deserve to be given their full credit for playing a part in saving Hamlin’s life.

Headed home to Buffalo today with a lot of love on my heart. 🫶🏾

Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling.

The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more.

Bigger than football! 🫶🏾

— 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 (@HamlinIsland) January 9, 2023

The Contemporary Art Gallery at 555 Nelson Street, Vancouver is having an opening reception on 26^th January that is going to showcase an exhibit by Kathy Slade called, “As the sun disappears and the shadows descend from the mountain top.” In 2009, Slade received the VIVA award from the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation for the Visual Arts and she is currently a teacher at the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University. For this exhibition, Slade took inspiration from a philosopher named Friedrich Nietzsche and conducted a research trip, where she travelled to Sils Maria, Switzerland and she followed the same path (literally)  that the philosopher had taken before her. She went along the shore of Lake Silvaplana where she came across a giant pyramid-shaped rock that the philosopher had once called “my truly abyssal thought.” Kathy attempts to reimagine the philosophers encounter with this place through her own work.

In the exhibition, Kathy Slade, showcases a gigantic tapestry that represents the rock to scale and she also showcases a series of graphite rubbings that helps with visualizing the rocks surface. The story behind this exhibition is an interesting one that explore with different themes with relation to a landscape.

This will give you a better idea of her work: https://cagvancouver.org/exhibition/kathy-slade

There is a chance to explore this exhibition with Kathy Slade herself, as the Contemporary Art Gallery is hosting an event called “In Conversation” with Kathy Slade and Lisa Robertson on January 31^st. This provides people who are intrigued with Kathy’s exhibition to have a chance to hear the approach that she took for this exhibition in person, and it provides the opportunity to ask her questions about the inspiration and thought process behind this exhibition. There is also a good chance that attending the event will be a great opportunity to connect with artistic intellects and meeting people with similar artistic interests.

At the entrance of the Surrey Arts Centre, there is an incredible exhibition that showcases a window mural which celebrates the cultural significance of Coast Salish Mountain goat horn bracelets. The artist, Atheana Picha has labelled the exhibition as, “Echoes.” The mural is a way for Picha to honor the significance and connection that the animal has with the people from the territory. The mountain goat horns serve a useful purpose by enabling people to create tools and ornaments which connect people to each other and to the environment that they are from.  Picha’s art is inspired by the cultural practice, and it translates in her work.

Here’s a link to see her mural: https://www.atheanapicha.work/public-work#/surrey-arts-centre-vinyl-mural-2022/

Twenty-two mountain goat horn bracelets have been discovered and from that, only four can be found in North America. Connecting to the history associated with the bracelets is a way that she connects with her roots. Her imagination allows her to think of how her ancestors dedicated their time to incorporate the bracelets in their lives. The idea of how the bracelets were a source of joy and a way for people to show their admiration for each other inspires her work and is also a source of inspiration for other Salish Artists.

Atheana Picha is an artist from Kwantlen and Tsartlip Nations who now based in Richmond. She is a two-time recipient of the YVR Art Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship, and her work is displayed in different places like the Museum of Vancouver, Burnaby Art Gallery, Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art and not to mention the Surrey Arts Centre. People draw inspiration from Picha’s unique style that is heavily influenced by historical and cultural connections. The beautiful mural at the Surrey Arts Centre is free to look at and people find a wide range of things that inspires them from this work.

Vancouver based painter, Ann Goldberg’s exhibit called, “The Perennial Canadians” is a fascinating exhibit that showcases many original and realistic paintings from Ann Goldberg. Her paintings are so detailed, realistic and incredible to experience. The title of the exhibit is quite significant. “The Perennial Canadian” was created when the pandemic affected everyone in the world. With people being forced to isolate and cut off from each other, there were many physical, emotional and mental health issues that people faced.

Ann Goldberg had recognized this and looked to stay motivated and inspired, despite the negative circumstances beyond her control. She decided to explore nature and her connection to it. She formed a deeper relationship with plants and nature, which inspired her to see “anthropomorphic “qualities in them. She felt so connected to that she did extensive research about their biological structure, their cultural significance and of course, their appearance which ignited a heightened sense of colour, smell and texture.

Here’s a link to her Perennial Canadians work: https://www.anngoldberg.com/exhibitions/perennial-canadians/perennial-canadians-works/view/6416090/1/6415859

Ann Goldberg’s oil paintings look incredibly realistic on a canvas. Her paintings of the “Pink Peonies on Vancouver Island” and the “Pitcher Plant in Newfoundland Labrador” are so wonderfully detailed and vibrant. The colours and shades that she paints in her work with are proof of her creative and artistic talents. Ann Goldberg’s deep connection to plants as a source of life and as a source of inspiration gives her a unique ability to bring plants, flowers and nature to life in her paintings. The Perennial Canadians was brought to life during a period where self-isolation caused a disconnect among people but people like Ann were able to strengthen their connection to nature and their ability to express their creativity. Plants hold an undeniable and irreplaceable connection to humans. They help us stay alive and their impact on our mood is unquestionable.