Jeffrey Boone is busy playing Wack-a-Mole. The executive director of the Eastside Culture Crawl is not actually perched with mallet in hand; hes answering phones and emails to offer solutions and support in the last few days leading up to the much anticipated annual art festival.
Most of the planning happens in the late spring and summer and by early autumn, Jeffrey, his staff and their volunteers make sure that everything falls into place. And it does, for 16 years now. I love the diverse collection of artists and craft makers we have at all levels of their practice, he says.
This year, he is especially excited about the new Terminal City Glass Co-op (1191 Parker Street). The buildings owner, Morley Faber, was instrumental in setting up a shared space for glass blowers. They offer classes, share equipment, and rent studio space. Its a great model for artists whod like to do the same, in any medium.
The Crawl continues to thrive with many artists unveiling new work to a consistently growing annual audience. From furniture to jewelry, clothing to painting, and just about any combination there of, the Eastside Culture Crawl is the perfect opportunity to stroll through the artists life and maybe even their living room.
1218 E Pender Street, between Vernon and Clark
BlueLanternStudio.Wordpress.com, Painting, collage
Robi Smith loves all the creativity that bursts out of the studios during the East Side Culture Crawl. A self-taught artist, Smith is passionate about the Northeastern Pacific ocean. Many of her paintings feature ocean creatures to bring light to the environmental concerns they are faced with. She hopes to inspire and bring awareness through her paintings, greeting cards and picture books.
Mergatroid Building, 975 Vernon Drive, Suite 225
Bronsino.com, Leather
With two unique lines of leather goods, Denise Wilson recycles and remodels everything. Bronsino for Living is a line of classic mens and womens handbags that only get better with age. Made to last and made of new leather or offcuts and discards from the furniture industry, no two are alike. Patina, a line of leather accessories accented with hand silk-screened images and appliqués, takes functionality to a finer place. Buttons, books, wallets, and belts transform the tiniest bits into useful items keeping Denises zero waste policy at the forefront of her creativity and ingenuity.
721 and 729 Gore Street, Chinatown
DMRCeramics.com, Ceramics
David Robinsons childhood in and around the rugged natural beauty of Powell River has definitely informed his ceramics work. He is a first-time participant at the crawl and the first studio in Chinatown to be featured. His studio, along with a handful of other artists, is in a building that was once an abandoned shopping mall. He believes it is about to become a new creative cultural destination. Focussed on casting, Davids work is beautiful, interesting a little bit tongue-in-cheek. Look for life-size skulls, cherry log vases and Adam and Steve a set of salt and pepper shakers cast from a GI-Joe 12-inch action doll, able to be displayed in a variety of poses.
Parker Street Studios, 1000 Parker Street, Suite 108
Tannis Hopkins has done it! She has combined her two passions painting and food culture into a collection of enticing artworks. It truly is food as art, and documents Tannis travels, observations and gastronomic experiences through the medium of oil painting and an impressionistic style. From rustic Barcelona tapas to Schwartzs smoked meat sandwiches in Montreal, this is definitely a menu with something for everyone.
339 Railway Street, Suite 208
Astrosatchel.com ShopWinterLuxe.com
Sewing
Many around Vancouver are familiar with Janna Hurtzigs line of vinyl bags, Astrosatchel. Sturdy, colourful and fun, they are made for the weather here on the West Coast. For her latest endeavour, Winterluxe, Janna has a newline of accessories to get excited about. Shes been combing the countryside for secondhand cashmere, also great for keeping cozy on the coast. Using 100% recycled cashmere she sews up a slew of accessories - touques, ear warmers, reversible fingerless mittens for wearing, with pillows and hot water bottle covers for snuggling.
Mergatroid Building, 975 Vernon Drive, Suite 3
DahlHausArt.com, Ceramics
Perhaps Heathers ceramics seem familiar because of their mid-century modern and Scandanavian-inspired glaze patterns. Perhaps they seem familiar because they are available at Anthropologie and West Elm and have been featured on Rachel Ray. With a host of new glaze colours and patterns fresh from the kiln, Heather hasnt been resting on her success. Always inspired and innovating, she looks forward to the opportunity at the crawl to connect with people who have seen her work out there in the world, right in the comfort of her new and renovated studio.
November 16 - 18, EastSideCultureCrawl.com
