Vancouver Draw Down 2012: Patterning the Community at Sunset Community Centre

On the morning of June 9th the rear windows of Sunset Community Centre's foyer were transformed into an enormous glass canvas in celebration of the rich diversity and multiculturalism in the Sunset Neighbourhood. Patterning the Community was an interactive and collaborative window mural project with artist Juliana Bedoya that was based on patterns, images and markings that paid homage to our diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Using black ink, around 30 community members young and old contributed to this temporary decorative art installation. The window mural activity engaged community members to the point that some of them were very inspired and worked for a long period of time on their cultural patterns. These included Punjabi writing, the French fleur de lis, clouds, rain, Indian and Chinese symbols, Japanese flowers, Latin and African inspired geometric shapes, a Taiwanese boat, a Jewish star of David, the city of Vancouver, batman and other multicultural traces were left on the window panels.

People also had the chance to participate in the four activities facilitated by artist Laura Barron happening on the tables at the lobby that directed them to create each challenge with a different medium on a specific surface (ie. chalk on black construction paper; colored pencil on notecards) created an attractive and consistent aesthetic.

Interactive Map and House Printmaking at South Hill Festival May 26, 2012

Something Collective unveiled the first interactive map for the South Hill and Sunset Communities at the South Hill Festival on May 26, 2012. Using a similar format to the mapping exercise at the Sunset CC Board Visioning meeting, the public was invited to contribute information about the neighborhood and community on a large-scale map.

As festival goers entered our Something Collective/MACC tent they were invited to choose colored sticker icons (designed by Juliana Bedoya) which represented different aspects of the neighborhood. They were:

1. Green spaces

2.Gathering places

3. Places to find information about your neighbourhood

4. Art Spaces (where you can find public art, or make art)

5. Favourite shops and restaurants

6. Play spaces

7. Bike routes

8. Traffic issues

9. Unused spaces

10. Things that need to be fixed

 11.Where you contribute/ would like to contribute to your community

12. Ideas to improved your neighbourhood

13. What you’d like to see grow

As the day went on we could see our map filling up with colorful and important information. We learned many new things about our neighborhood including community spaces we didn’t know existed and at least 5 icons were placed at Sunset CC asking for a community garden.

In addition to the large-scale map we also provided an activity where you could draw your house on a tiny styrofoam square and make a printed image. We collected dozens of prints of residents houses in the neighborhood. These prints will be included on our map.

 

The large-scale map will continue to be an interactive installation in Sunset CC. Come into Sunset anytime and YOU can see what has already been identified in your neighborhood. YOU can also contribute information with a note to us and we will add the appropriate icon to our ever growing picture of our neighbourhood!

Patterning the Community at Sunset Community Centre

Patterning the Community at Sunset

Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 10:00am - 12:00pm
Sunset Community Centre, 6810 Main Street, Vancouver BC
FREE

On the morning of June 9, the rear windows of Sunset Community Centre's foyer will be transformed into an enormous glass canvas in celebration of the rich diversity and multiculturalism in the Sunset Neighbourhood. Patterning the Community is an interactive and collaborative mural project with artist Juliana Bedoya that is based on patterns, images and markings that pay homage to our diverse ethnic backgrounds. Using black ink, community members young and old are invited to stop in and contribute to this temporary decorative art installation.

Sunset Community Centre is located at Main and 52nd in East Vancouver, and had its grand opening in the spring of 2008. Designed by Bing Thom Architects, this striking 30,000 square foot structure resembles a five-petaled flower in aerial view and includes a full-sized gymnasium, two multipurpose rooms, a fitness centre, aerobics/dance room, arts and crafts room, youth room and two preschools.

Vancouver Draw Down 2012 This event is part of Vancouver Draw Down—a daylong, city-wide celebration of drawing that takes place in community centres, museums, art galleries and more on June 9, 2012. Click here for the full schedule of events.

Doll-Making Workshop with the MACC Girls Club

It has been a delight to observe the identity project Juliana has led the MACC Girls Club on over the past 5 weeks. Having started with blind contour drawings to a 3-d representation brought a depth to their investigation. The girls had a variety of materials to explore with traditional form of making, in order to represent their self. They are now completing Artist Statements that reveal further - who they are- watch for these on display, at Sunset Community Centre- 6810 Main Street.

 

This after school youth program is for girls, girls, girls! This year we are happy to announce that the continued partnership with South Asian Family Association (SAFA) will provide funding to enhance this program with weekly guest visiting artists!

MACC Girls Club will work with Something Collective our resident artists who bring media arts, doll-making, puppetry, digital storytelling and the magic of words to this after school program. In addition, participants will explore recycled book making, drawing, drum beats, hip hop and more!

SAFA is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit association with a mission to promote and enhance family values while embracing Canadian Culture and maintaining South Asian Culture and identity. SAFA aims to create opportunities for cross-cultural understanding.

 

 

Something Collective at the Sunset Community Centre Board of Directors Visioning Retreat

In January 26, Something Collective led the Sunset Community Centre Board of Directors in a fun creative exercise to help them get started on their visioning process.  The game, which we call “The Map Hatter’s Visioning Party,” got them thinking about the neighbourhood and its future.

The exercise also launches our Community Mapping project in the Sunset area.  More news will follow, but we plan to recruit in the neighbourhood for a fun creative project with environmental art, dance, video, music, puppets and more, with stuff targeting every age group.

  
http://somethingcollective.ca/?p=291

The Future of Community Arts in Vancouver

The Future of Community Arts in Vancouver

A display and celebration of the

future of community arts in Vancouver

Come down to the Woodward’s Atrium and mix and mingle with organizations involved with kids, youth and community art!

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Time: Sat. Nov. 26  12 noon to 9pm

Place: Woodward’s Atrium, Hastings and Abbott

RSVP on Eventbrite so we can know you’re coming. Click here.

PROGRAM/SCHEDULE

ALL DAY

Deer Crossing the Art Farm  www.deercrossingtheartfarm.org
Deer Crossing the Art Farm from the Sunshine Coast will be facilitating an activity of making cut outs of bodies and hanging around the atrium. Upcycled materials from packaging around logging trucks (!) that otherwise would go into the dump – bring your body and your creativity. We’ll have everything else you need.

Vancouver Society of Storytelling  http://www.vancouverstorytelling.org/
A lovely storytelling living room -couch, tea, storyteller – what else would you want? Come and sit down for storytelling – and enjoy an intimate and low-impact arts activity.

12 noon – 3pm – art-making, theatre games and more!

King George Secondary Writers  The writers group at King George Secondary have been making “pixels” – small collages with images and writing that come together to make an image where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. You can add your own “pixel” by making a mini-collage with your message about the Future of Community Arts. Then hang it up for all to see.
12:00-5:00pm Purple Thistle  http://www.purplethistle.ca
Thistlers will facilitate making word play collages.
12:00-3:00pm
Environmental Youth Alliance  http://www.eya.ca/splash.php  EYA are bringing a variety of invasive species from their gardens (and possibly English ivy from a public park). You can learn how to crochet using the invasive materials and garden tools. The activity is inspired by Sharon Kallis‘ work.

CACV Environmental Arts Activities – Our volunteers can talk with you about the projects we’ve done – and plan to do while you watch some of the examples on the video screen in the Atrium.

Some Assembly Arts Society  www.someassembly.ca (as Roundhouse Youth Theatre Group)

will facilitate improv theatre and games – we want a large group so come on out!

Something Collective  http://somethingcollective.ca

This artists collective from South Vancouver will facilitate an “Exquisite corpse”. What’s an exquisite corpse? Think surrealism.     http://www.exquisitecorpse.com/definition/About.html

Stream of Dreams Murals Society  www.streamofdreams.org
in cooperation with the False Creek Watershed Society and St. George Greenway  will encourage you to make a silver salmon.  Take it home. Give it to a stranger. Display it in the atrium. Your choice.
False Creek Watershed Society http://www.falsecreekwatershed.org/
St. George Creek & Greenway >www.mtpleasantwatershed/wordpress.com
1:30-3:00pm  Van Van the Chinatown BIA’s Mascot will be there to met and greet you.
2:30-3pm 65th BIRTHDAY CAKE

Meet the Community Arts Council of Vancouver – Join CACV Board members for a walkabout and enjoy a slice of birthday cake (vegan carrot cake – yum!) too.

3:00-6:00pm

Arts Umbrella  http://www.artsumbrella.com will have a display of their programs with kids and youth
Green Thumb Theatre will provide school house structures for kids to decorate – part of their campaign with the Vancouver School Board to restore Carleton House School. Read the Vancouver Sun story about this project.
6:00-7:00pm
Urban Native Youth Association – Overly Creative Minds Program
Drumming, some art pieces/artisan pieces for sale
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THANK YOU TO:
W2 Community Media Arts  http://www.creativetechnology.org/

W2 has helped us set up video presentations on the Atrium video machines.
A special meal will be available at W2 Media Cafe- $7 gives you vegan or meat flatbread with salad.
W2 are also “baking us a cake” – Vegan carrot cake – coming up – come by at 3pm and have a slice – singing Happy Birthday appreciated but optional!
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Want to get involved?  Please contact future@cacv.ca to let us know how you’d like to be involved.

Tell your friends on Facebook: Facebook Event

Meet others who are passionate about young people engaged with community arts:
Community Arts in Vancouver: the Future

 Follow us on twitter: @ArtsFutureYVR
Facebook Page: Future of Community Arts (Vancouver)  https://www.facebook.com/ArtsFutureYVR
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Who?  Here are some of the organizations who are participating:

 






 
King George Secondary Writers
 
Purple Thistle  http://www.purplethistle.ca
St. George Creek & Greenway  www.mtpleasantwatershed/wordpress.com
Some Assembly Arts Society 
 
Stream of Dreams Murals Society 


UNYA – Overly Creative Minds Program


  http://www.creativetechnology.org/
Check out Woodward’s Atrium
W2 Media Cafe link
Calgary Herald coverage of Occupy Vancouver meeting in Atrium click here
Walking Home Project shows various views of the Atrium incluidng from the top of the staircase. Click here.

Come to Our Open Studio on Nov. 20 at Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre

You’re invited to Something Collective’s Nov. 20th Open Studio, from 4-7 pm, at Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre.

Something Collective Open Studio
Nov. 20th, 4-7 pm
Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre
7646 Prince Albert St.

As friends, neighbors and colleagues of Something Collective, we are inviting you to the celebration of our new Incubator Residency at Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre.  Our like-minded group of activists and artists includes Maggie Winston (puppetry, theatre), Juliana Bedoya (sculpture, performance installation), Laura Barron (flutist, yogi, writer), Flick Harrison (media arts), and Natalie Gan (dance).  We are excited to serve the Sunset community over these next three years, by bringing our versatile expertise to a vibrant array of community-engaged art projects.  In order to maintain an active presence in the community, we are hosting three annual open studios, at our new collective space, on 7646 Prince Albert St. (one east of Fraser, at 59th).  The first of these takes place on Sunday, November 20th, from 4-7 pm.  There will be refreshments for all, as each of us shares work from our individual art practices.  We also look forward to discussing some of our plans for future community art projects, and we invite you to share ideas about this community’s passions and interests so that we can better meet the needs of the Sunset neighbourhood.


(The open studio will also be accessible on the avatar chat network Blue Mars Lite in the room called Something Collective. Download and prepare yourself ahead of time! Thanks to Jeremy Turner for turning me on to it…)

We hope to see you there!
Maggie, Juliana, Laura, Flick, & Natalie