Author Archives: Richard Lai

Arts BC – For People Powering the Arts

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For many years, I really thought that the term “art” only concerned the likes of painting and drawing. I remember sitting in grade school classes and thinking about how I would never be a good artist, and I’d be drawing stick figures for the rest of my life. I thought to myself “what kind of person would actually be passionate about connecting a brush to paper?” Nowadays, I’ve expanded my previously narrow view of that term and realized that it encompasses many more forms of creativity. This includes the community and the immense passion those peoples have for their creations.

Arts BC is an organization that connects all the passionate artists and supports aspiring creators. The three core values of Arts BC are insight, community impact, and commitment. Their insight provides an experienced view on everyday problems that artists have to face. With a total of 11 people in the insight team, they are a group of experts who have many years of art consulting experience. Whether you need equity training or strategic planning help, there is a lesson for everyone.

Baumann, Uwe. “Brush Paint.” 2013. JPG file. / Pixabay

The community impact that members can utilize are put to its maximum potential in their efforts to showcase your hard work. No achievements are gone unnoticed. With a commitment to the inclusive and diverse places of British Columbia, they are readily available to assist anywhere from local to urban areas.

When Arts BC was first founded in 1979, it was simply an arts newsletter published to spread the word of arts and its benefits on society. However, nowadays they are much more than that. They now have grants, hotlines, conferences, funding services, and it doesn’t just end there. Members receive benefits such as a plan that covers health insurance, and early access to Arts BC workshops.

The plans start at $35 a year, which is only $3 a month! That’s basically the price of a single bus ticket. So, if you’re passionate about arts and want to connect with like minded people who share the same roots, consider joining at this link.

The Five Civic Theatres of Vancouver

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Arriba. Martin de. “Theatre Seats.” 2019. JPG file. / Pixabay

In the wake of an ongoing pandemic, most live theatres are understandably on hiatus. The famed Vancouver Civic Theatres are no different. However, today I will give a brief introduction to each of the five locales so that you may look forward to visiting them someday. Hosting over 800 events a year and 800,000 guests, the five venues combined are Vancouver’s biggest locations for live performances.

The biggest and perhaps the most famous one of the five is the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. With a whopping 2765 seats, this is one of the largest stages in the entirety of Canada. The theatre is named after her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was present when it opened in 1959. Located on 630 Hamilton Street, this downtown locale impresses onlookers nonstop.

The second biggest venue is the Orpheum. With a seating capacity of 2672, this place actually predates the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at an astonishing 94 years of operation, opening in 1927. This theatre is most widely known as the home for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as a variety of Vancouver’s many choir ensembles.

Taking a more cozy approach, the third biggest venue in the Civic Theatres is the Vancouver Playhouse. With a more vibrant and colourful setting, this 668-capacity venue has brilliant acoustics, perfect for the likes of chamber music.

Adjacent to the Orpheum is the Annex, a 191-seater that is a relatively new addition to the Civil Theatres family. It opened in 2010 and was created to be a more versatile performance venue that could adapt to a wide variety of shows. Its limited space is in fact one of its biggest strengths. The close proximity of the audience allows for dance numbers to be seen at with great detail, which is deserving of such a craft.

The final venue is in fact not a theatre at all, instead the šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn is a plaza. Now you’re probably wondering how to pronounce that right? Click on the link in the name to listen to a pronunciation guide! Its core strength is its outdoor setting and blank canvas. It can be decorated and adjusted to fit any mood needed, and host a wide variety of events. It is right outside of Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and serves as a perfect place for an afterparty following an amazing performance!

An Introduction to BC’s Leos

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When you think about sports teams in BC, what is the first one that comes to mind? The most likely answer is probably the NHL team known as the Vancouver Canucks. But another sports team that I personally feel isn’t as mainstream or known is the football team known as the BC Lions.

Established in 1954, the BC Lions are the oldest professional sports organization in British Columbia. Being one of the nine teams in the CFL, the BC Lions represent British Columbia using their official colours of orange, black, and white. Their mascot known as Leo the Lion can be seen plastered all over their website and social media handles. Although one might think the name “Lions” were inspired by the big cat, it is actually derived from a pair of mountain peaks in Northern Vancouver.

 Vogel, Gundula. “Football in Maple Leaves.” 2013. JPG file. / Pixabay

As widely known as the football sport is, I’ve admittedly never really paid attention to the fascinating world of the Canadian Football League, also known as the CFL. This premier championship is the home of the Grey Cup, the highest honour a competing team in the CFL can win. The BC Lions have won the Grey Cup six times, the most recent one being in 2011, where they won in front of a home crowd at BC Place against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a 34-23 victory.

Although the BC Lions finished fifth place in the West Division of the CFL during the 2019 season, they are looking to bounce back with a new coach in Rick Campbell, who is the former coach of the Ottawa Redblacks. With the 2020 Grey Cup championship of the CFL being cancelled due to COVID-19, the 2021 season marks the 10th year since the BC Lions last won the prestigious cup. Taking place in Hamilton, Ontario this year, the Leos are more motivated than ever after their previous last-place finish to make an impression and bring it home.

The Park in the Heart of Vancouver

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If you’re looking to see some amazing art in-person, look no further than Stanley Park. This popular attraction receives over eight million visitors a year and its area spans over four kilometres squared. The culture-rich grounds of Stanley Park has many iconic pieces of art, but perhaps most famously is the totem pole display in Brockton Point. Located on the most easterly part of Stanley Park, this area has totem poles of various sizes and demeanors. The park was once the home of Indigenous people and their culturally significant artwork is displayed with utmost respect throughout.

ArtTower. “Totems Stanley Park.” 2012. JPG file. / Pixabay

One of my personal favorites is the Stanley Park environmental art walk. This eight kilometre stroll features a display of art that were made using only environmental resources and practices. Although the natural decomposition of these works is inevitable, the beauty is that there are constantly new environmental artworks that are able to be displayed.

Some of the environmental artworks include but are not limited to:

  • “Listen” – A carving of a hut made from a circular piece of wood.
  • “Cozy” – Woven discs on a tree trunk
  • “Two Spirits” – Carvings of two faces into a tree trunk
  • “K’Ayacht’n!” – Groups of various different art pieces from different artists

In my opinion the greatest piece of art of all time in Stanley Park is the Chehalis Cross, which is also located in Brockton Point. It is there to remember the eight people who died at sea after their small wooden steam ship the Chehalis was run over by a bigger boat. The names of those killed are carved onto the base of the cross. Every time I go to Stanley Park, I always go to Chehalis Cross and give a moment of silence for those who perished in the tragedy.

 

Murals Across Vancouver Elementary Schools

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Lai, Richard. “Front Gate Mural.” 2021. JPG file.

One of the many core aspects of elementary schools is the art program. Not only is it crucial to the curriculum, it brings out the creative freedom in children. Whether it’s through the classroom or outdoors, the influence and culture of arts leave a lasting impact on a developing mind.

Across many schools in Vancouver, murals and public art can be seen in the main entrances. Before a school bell rings to signify the start of a school day, the students are wandering about in the front gate of the school, unsure what to do. Murals provide a colourful and engaging breath of fresh air for students to passively admire. In some cases, students may even draw comparisons to other forms of art they’re experienced and create a connection.

Lai, Richard. “Chaffey-Burke Mural.” 2021. JPG file.

This early onset to instill the beauty of artwork into the flourishing mind of early grade-school students is invaluable. Although the art curriculum in widely known to be an “easy letter grade class,” its importance for exploring creativity is often overlooked.

Not only are murals in school entrances, some are also displayed on walls adjacent to playgrounds. They can invoke a different feeling depending on the colour palette of the mural. A common one to use is blue, which helps aid peer monitors de-escalate conflicts on the playground. The warm calming atmosphere of a mural based around the blue palette accommodates the angsty and unpredictable attributes of young students.

Many elementary schools utilize bake sales and fundraisers to commission these great works of art, but some actually incorporate their art curriculum into the murals. I believe having students actively take part in drawing and participating in such a monumental piece of the school is imperative to developing artistic talent.

Lai, Richard. “Playground Mural.” 2021. JPG file.

These murals may not be the highest form of art as seen in art galleries and such, but its place in elementary schools cultivate a form of education that no other class can provide.