Arts

This month, we caught up with Vancouver artist Norah Borden at The Waterfall Building. We attended an event showcasing her newest collection titled PLANET EARTH, at one of Vancouver’s most influential architectural buildings, designed by renowned architect Arthur Erickson.

Arts patronage has a long history with real estate developers, and many large developments are mandated by the city to pay for public art installations. But a small developer without any city-ordained mandate is taking the idea of arts patronage in a new and different direction.

Vancouver is a city in a state of flux, and we are reminded of this every day with the orgy of tower cranes and new condos that populate its skyline. To some this is exciting, but to others this explosive growth is frightening. The MadeIn Company has taken this into account, and Calm, its public art installation at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s offsite exhibition space on West Georgia & Thurlow (next to the Shangri-La), reminds us that there is beauty amongst all this flux, and that much of this beauty is rather subtle.

The arts and cultural community is facing a very significant blow with the sale of The Centre for the Performing Arts to Westside Church. The 1,800-seat theatre located across the street from Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch has been the home of many events, concerts, musicals, and festivals. All bookings August onwards have been canceled with the evangelical church taking ownership, sending event organizers scrambling to find a new venue. This also includes the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), which had planned on screening three films a day at the theatre throughout its 16-day run this fall.

In what might be called a case of too little, too late, Vancouver City Council has designated the Waldorf Hotel a city heritage site. The privately-owned Waldorf on East Hastings has been a popular destination for over 60 years as both a small hotel as well as a music and drinking venue.

Zachary Stevenson, from the Buddy Holly Story, gets ready to shine again in his new and very first solo performance in Never Shoot a Stampede Queen, starting tonight until May 25 at the Granville Island theatre.

A brand new fashion event concept is hoping to take the Vancouver couture calendar to the next level. The latest west coast fashion addition is Inspire de La Rue, and it’s set to take place on May 26 at Club 560.

Several neighbourhood plans are also underway that could have serious impacts on local heritage resources, but there are no proposed mechanisms for updating the Heritage Register in those areas. Over the next year, Heritage Vancouver will be actively involved in the development of these plans, and other community initiatives in an attempt to preserve Vancouver’s history.

Vintage Vancouver is a new series to Vancity Buzz by Vancouver Heritage Foundation, which tells the historic stories of our city.

Arguably one of Vancouver’s best known neighbourhoods, the West End’s urban jungle is bordered by Denman, English Bay and Robson. It is a vibrant community that includes Davie Village, high end retail and one of Vancouver’s best beaches. Heritage homes sit next to mid-century towers, which stand next to high-end condos.