arts // no. 8

Cultural appreciation

> Check out culture days BC

Adam Tatelman
Arts Editor

 

fthe Fringe Festival doesn’t
pique your interest, there’s
more than just one way to get
your fill of arts and culture.
From September 30 to October
2, BC Culture Days offers a wide
array of entertainment and
artistic events from a multitude
of different cultures, making
it the perfect sample platter
for anyone who’s interested
in learning more about the
world outside of Canada.

With over 300 separate
activities available in the
Vancouver area alone, it would
be impossible to list everything
of interest. So, in the hopes of
invigorating public curiosity,
this article will contain a broad
cross-section of the different
events offered, loosely organized
by the nature of the activity.

For those inclined to
leisurely sightseeing, there
are several Public Art Walking
Tours of the Vancouver area,
each focused around a different
theme. Areas include a walk
from Yaletown to False Creek,
as well as tours of Gastown
and Chinatown. These tours
are run by both English and
Mandarin-speaking tour
guides, so those who only
know Mandarin will miss
nothing while in attendance.
All tours are available from
September 30 to October 2.

If you’ve ever wanted to
see the inner workings of a live
theatre production, consider
attending the Granville Island
Arts Club Theatre tour on
October 2. Backstage, you'll get
to see the set for upcoming Arts
Club feature The Flick, as well

The madness of Mike Mignola

as the production shop where
all the props and costumes

are put together. Theatre

buffs may also enjoy North
Vancouver Community Players’
backstage tour of Hendry Hall.
On September 30, get one-on-
one face-time with directors
and stagehands, as well as a
chance to dress up and rehearse
with the actors themselves if
youre feeling melodramatic.

If Mexican art is more your
taste, the Mexiquenses Artisans
will be holding a Mexico Fest
during Culture Days, in which
they will showcase a variety
of nature-based art pieces
that represent the five major
Mexican ethnic groups, namely
the Matlazincas, Mazahuas,
Nahuas, Otomies, and
Tlahuicas, each with their own
unique style and presentation.

> ‘Hellboy in Mexico’ comic review

Adam Tatelman
Arts Editor

on some of his earliest cases. These involve a
drunken spree with a trio of luchador brothers,

 

OOOO

Fe those unfamiliar with Hellboy, the
concept of a demon trying to live a human
life as a paranormal investigator may be a hard
sell. Having run for so many years, the series
can be difficult for newcomers to unravel,
especially considering the bizarre dream-logic
of the storytelling, and the anachronic timeline.
But for those who wish to brave creator Mike
Mignola’s mad menagerie of mirth, mythology
and magic, Hellboy in Mexico is a great
introduction to the character and his world.
The comic isn’t connected to any of
Hellboy’s other adventures. Instead, it is an
anthology piece in which Hellboy reminisces

an accidental marriage to a vampire, a graveyard
smash with a restless Aztec mummy, anda
wrestling match with Frankenstein’s monster.
The art is varied and quirky, each style
complementing the tone of its story. Mike
Mignola retains his signature heavy shading;
Mick McMahon imitates this technique, but
with a smoother, more cartoony look. Richard
Corben goes for grit and grime, rendering
every pit and pockmark in the Mexican
landscape. Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba work
with the same shapes, but the disparate
colors and textures of their work makes for an
interesting contrast when viewed side by side.
Making sense isn’t what Hellboy comics
are known for, but ifyou like campy spook
yarns or Universal Studios’ monster movies,
then Big Red has the fix you need.

 

See it all on Friday, September
30 at UBC’s East Mall.

There’s much in the way of
visual arts to appreciate, as well.
On October 1, the Vancouver
Art Gallery will feature works
by Picasso, sculptures by
Bharti Kher, Harry Callahan
(no, not that Harry Callahan),
and an exhibit comparing the
works of Austrian Modernist
Wolfgang Paalen to British
Columbia’s own Emily Carr.

From September 30 to
October 2, the Skwachays
Lodge Aboriginal Hotel also
invites you to view its gallery,
featuring Eric Parnell’s famous
Haida Bears. And if that still
isn’t enough art for you, the Dr.
Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese
Garden welcomes visitors to
see the watercolor, oil, and
ink paintings of Chinese-

Image via culturedays.ca

Canadian artists Robert Ku
and Tak Cheung Leun. The
gardens are also open from the
September 30 to October 2.

There are those whose
preferences skew towards
the musical. They will be
pleased with the Music of
the World Presentation at
the North Vancouver City
Library. Here, the Vancouver
Inter-Cultural Orchestra
will introduce audiences to
stringed instruments from a
variety of different countries,
offering samplings of the
Chinese Erhu fiddle, the Persian
Kamanche, and many others.
Check it out on October 1.

If dance is what gets you out
of your seat, consider taking in
a lesson at the Nora Pickett Irish
Dance Academy on October 1,

theotherpress.ca

or a ballet lesson on October 2
in the Rolston Building at 1340
Granville Street. If you are more
a casual dance fan, check out
the open rehearsals for Ballet
Rocks, an oddball performance
combining Vivaldi’s Four
Seasons, rock music by

The Eagles, and Aboriginal
mythology. Catch Ballet
Victoria’s curious compilation
at the St. Andrews Presbyterian
Church on September 30.

If you're out to wet
your pants with friends, the
Georgia Strait Alliance might
have just what you need. On
October 1, they'll be taking
over the Vancouver Maritime
Museum for the third annual
Water's Edge Day celebration.
Attractions include kayak and
Tsleil-Watuth canoe paddle
tours, touch tanks full of exotic
marine life courtesy of the
Vancouver Aquarium, and of
course, every exhibit currently
available in the museum.

Heritage aficionados will
appreciate the opportunity
to relive the roaring ’20s with
Gatsby’s Night Out at the
Orpheum. On September 30, the
Orpheum will be transformed
into a flapper’s paradise, replete
with musical entertainment
by Victoria and The Secrets, a
Peter Forde art installment, and
a magic show by the talented
Matt Johnson. Those who wish
to dress in period-appropriate
clothing are encouraged to
attend. Note that this speakeasy
is for patrons 19+ only, so make
sure your ID is in order.

To register for these events
and hundreds more, head to
culturedays.ca and find out
what’s going on near you.

  

Image via Dark Horse Comics