Special Event: Youth Photographs Brighten Britannia Walkway

While the little cobblestone parkway between Sweet Cherubim and Drive Organics is a well-traveled route to both Britannia School and Community Centre during the day (not to mention a pleasant performance place on lazy summer afternoons), at night the space is far less inviting. But a unique project at Britannia Community Centre is changing that by placing permanent light boxes featuring photographs taken of the neighborhood taken by at-risk native youth attending Britannia High.
This is a project of the Britannia Artist-In-Residence program through the Vancouver Park Board and is generously funded through the Neighbourhood Matching Fund.
The light boxes will be unveiled at the opening ceremonies of the 7th Annual Talking Stick Festival, Tuesday, February 12th at the Roundhouse Community Centre as part of Heartbeats of the Seventh Generation – a collection of youth performance works and an art exhibition that features photos, and writing by over 150 youth artists from schools and communities throughout Western Canada. The exhibition is curated by recognized First Nations photographer, bookmaker and educator, Christine Germano of the Constant Arts Society.
As well, the exhibit includes hand-carved talking sticks mentored by renowned Kwakwaka’wakw carver, Wayne Alfred. The opening night celebration will also feature Big Sky Multi-Media Story Telling Society’s new multi-media installation project “Move the Sky” by artist, storyteller, Victor Reece and multi-media artist, Sharon Jinkerson-Brass.
Here is a sneak peak of a couple of the boxes. If you look at the bottom left-hand corner of Box no. 2, you just might recognize a familiar face!

The 7th Annual Talking Stick Festival, February 12 – 17, 2008, is presented by Full Circle: First Nations Performance. A celebration of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal performance and art, this year’s Talking Stick Festival will unite a diverse and talented community of local, national and international Aboriginal artists and feature a fusion of music, dance, theatre, multimedia, performance art, visual art and storytelling. The vibrant city-wide event takes place at several venues: the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, the Scotiabank Dance Centre, Ironworks Studio, Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Britannia School, the Railway Club and the Yale.