Visual Art: Turning Point and Germano @ Brittania

Click the image for a larger view.

Fallen Stanley Park Trees to be Transformed for Aboriginal Youth

Many trees fell during the devastating storm at Stanley Park in December, 2006. Three of those large cedars have been donated by the Vancouver Parks Board to the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre. These logs will become canoes, welcome figures or totems poles, in hope for presentation in front of the world at the 2010 Winter Games.
This project will commence with a Blessing Ceremony for the Cedar on TUESDAY APRIL 8th at 3pm at the present location of the logs (outside the Britannia Pool Lobby Entrance).
Youth will learn the art of carving and the ceremonial and cultural teachings associated with the various stages of canoe-making. This process will be documented, photo and journal, by youth interested in learning design and creating content for the youth magazine, “Constant Content”. Activities involving their families will be incorporated into the transformation process. Members of the Vancouver Police Department will participate as a way of building bridges between the Aboriginal community and the VPD.
This initiative is a collaboration between the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre, the Vancouver Police Department, Constant Arts Society, Britannia Community Services Centre Society along with the Vancouver School Board, Vancouver Parks Board and the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.
Please join the carvers, elders and ceremony witnesses in a celebration to kick-off this amazing community relationship/respect building project. Food and light refreshments will be served! Check it out and look for the project info table.
Ceremony Witnesses are: Chief Constable Jim Chu, Vancouver Police Department; Jerry Adams, Aboriginal Representative, Vancouver Police Board; Bev Seed, Principal, Britannia High School; Enzo Guerriero, Executive Director, Britannia Community Centre and the youth.
Project Mandate:
To provide leadership in promoting healthy, positive and transformative relationships between all people who live, work, play and serve in this community. These logs are a symbol of the cooperation and respect between all members dedicated to making this community one where all youth feel safe and a sense of belonging. This alliance will create understanding and respect of First Nations culture and the civic systems that are in place to educate, protect, and serve all who live here.
For more information, contact:
Christine Germano, Project Coordinator, Executive Director, Constant Arts Society 604-721-4117
John Sakamoto Kramer, Coordinator, Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre 604-678-3790

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.

Special Event: Britannia Christmas Craft Fair

I'll be at this too, manning a table for EMBERS and selling a bunch of great items from local crafters, including the Constant Art Society, Hinda's Finest and My Crafty Heart. Stay tuned for vendor bios as the date approaches.

Britannia Artist In Residence Shows Work

Brit Lit Classes At Britannia

Come visit the Brit Lit info table at Stone Soup Festival today from 12-5pm

For more info call 604-718-5828
brit_teen@hotmail.com