What makes an Artist tick?Saying things with color and shapes that you cannot say any other way because there are no words. Only feelings.
Everything Comes Next…
Bijal Patel showcases a personal journey of loss and trauma through mixed media art where she begins to work blindfolded, responding to music in black ink channeled by inner emotions. It results in a complex and hauntingly beautiful display of inner reflection, that once blindfold is removed she then turns empty spaces into color and line work. An extraordinary play on shadow and light.
I popped into a pop-up art gallery on Dunbar called “Visual Space”so say hello to my friend Bi (Bee) who graduated from Emily Carr and take in her impressive work and that of four other artists: Kier Enemark, Ann Robson, N Byrtus and Mark Yeomanthat. They all make up a group called “Collective Chemistry.” I love that name.
Raven series by Kier EnemarkLandscape series by Ann Robson
If you’d like to inquire about these pieces and more (not shown here) please contact: collectivechemistry1@gmail.com)
Wine lovers unite. The International Wine Festival is back!
Outside JOEY (Bentall One) at launch party.
Enjoy an amazing selection of world class wines from May 16-22, 2022 at the Vancouver Convention Centre and other venues around the city. See link below for tickets and more info.
Photo: John Moe
Feeling worldly? Not only will you be able to sample wines from all over the world, you can buy your favourite wines at the onsite BC Liquor Store and bottle check them throughout the tasting session. Then pick them up when you’re ready to leave or have your purchases sent to your nearest store. How very convenient of them.
Of course remember never to wine and drive. The festival is providing a free Compass ticket on the way out to take local transport or have someone pick you up. Because let’s face it, even if you taste and spit you’re probably going to be sipping enough to affect you. I’m a bit of a lightweight when it comes to drinking wine and tend to get lightheaded very easily. But I enjoy a lovely glass of wine and a bottle (or two) with friends on occasion so at an event like this you can sample several varietals you might otherwise never get to try.
our greeter upon entryShe was pouring this really nice bubbly
The festival kicked off with a VanWineFest media launch party at JOEY on Burrard. I met some very nice people.
With Christine Blanchette.
Christine is the Host + Producer of “The Closing Act” (conducting in-depth interviews with musicians, songwriters, producers and CEOS in the industry) on Arts + Entertainment Channel and “Run with It” (a monthly show on running, fitness and nutrition interviewing experts and celebrities who work out or follow a healthy lifestyle) on Healthy Living Network. We have a few things in common being that she’s half Irish, is from Quebec and she’s also a runner. But I’m not in the same running league because she runs Marathons including the elite Boston Marathon. I’ve run 3 half Marathons and said that’s enough. I admire anyone who runs full marathons as it’s hard on your body and well; a longer run than I have the stamina for. But getting back to our mutual friend JOEY…
Not only was there a selection of delicious participating festival wines, also yummy globally-inspired snacks from executive chef Matthew Stowe. The sliders (both meat + vegetarian) were excellent, along with surprisingly delicious sushi (I say that because I never expected them to serve sushi) and the tastiest dips like hummus and even guacamole – something for everyone.JOEYrestaurants are a premium casual family-owned chain created by Jeff Fuller and looking to expand throughout North America. I cannot believe that this was my first time here even though they’ve been around for quite some time. I was impressed by the quality of food and the extensive cocktail list looks tempting – for another time.
2022 countdown presented by VIWF Executive Director Harry Hertscheg (L), Bard on the Beach Artistic Director Christopher Gaze (R) and Group Sommelier Jason Yamasaki (middle).
It’s exciting that events like this are opening up again. It’s also a bit overwhelming because there’s all of a sudden so much going on other than wine tasting…indining, music, art shows, theatre…
After a long hiatus it’s enjoyable to be able to get out there even if we have to ease ourselves into the social scene. Although I must admit as much as I like going to these social events I’m also pretty comfortable being a homebody. How about you?
taken at Vancouver Convention Centre – International Wine Festival
“The Aim of Art is not to represent the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance” – Aristotle.
Art Vancouver, Western Canada’s most prestigious art fair is back this year at the Vancouver Convention Center West. Featuring reputable galleries and artists from across Canada and around the world. May 5 – 8th 2022.
Ron Art Mania
I attended the opening with my friend Megan last night. It was an overwhelming feast for the eyes as we wandered around and visited all the exhibitors. There is truly something for everyone’s taste – well almost. No booth is alike.
Reinvent by David X – Mixed Media of Elon Musk
What I realize from having visited various art shows and galleries is that we can appreciate a painting, sculpture, photograph and other mixed media works of art for the sheer ingenuity each of these artists put into their work as well as the power of a message, whether you like the piece for yourself or not.
Maybe you don’t find a work visually appealing or perhaps it doesn’t go with your décor, but we can still try to accept and welcome all the different styles, imagination and heart put into the work – and as this show went to prove, there’s plenty of inventiveness out there, and overall…that goes to create an incredible event.
Industrial Design Artist German Aguirre Reder
Lisa Wolfin – Director’s Foreword:
“Whether it be with a piece of clay, brush, or pencil, we all have the capacity to create love. To say something through a full scale of colour or none at all, it is art which gives a voice to anyone who wishes to use it. And it is only when you have the courage to share and admire these gifts that an event like Art Vancouver is made possible. Surrounding ourselves with original art in our homes, the loving energy used to create the art emanates into our space.”
I took tons of photos so as I’m sharing some today, I’ll post more next week. Let me know what you think.
We loved a lot of what we saw
Still; if you’re focused on a very specific style for a set area of your home, you may or may not find what you’re looking for, even at a show of this calibre. Art is so subjective. You have to fall in love with your personal choice and it has to evoke some emotion. Art for art’s sake is not enough.
I highly recommend Art International Vancouver – this weekend.
Sky Lilah and her wonderful collages and sparkly dress.James Darin Corbiere Waabshki Makwa (White Bear) – Cowichan Bay, B.C. Bones & the Residential School of Doom.
Marc Hazel (in mask) with Quynh Nguyen in artistic dress.Erik Markovs, Portland, USA. Using vintage wallpaper and other materials to create unique and beautiful mosaic wall art.
By Freakshow. And yes; it was!
Wine is an art unto itself and I might add very personal too. I’ll sample this one at the upcoming International Wine Festival (May 16-22) – also at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see” – Edgar Degas.
The next best thing to physically being in Portugal is discovering the wines of Portugal. Lucky me; I was able to attend a grand tasting the other day at the Coast Plaza hotel in Vancouver. Always a pleasure to discover unfamiliar and delicious tasting wines and meet nice new people.
I’ve tried wines from Portugal before but most of the ones at the “Wines of Portugal” tasting are not yet available for purchase in Canada (or elsewhere in North America for that matter).
I didn’t realize their scope of native grape varieties are so plentiful – 250 different kinds to be exact!
The prized and distinct grapes are considered a national treasure and have been savoured by generations of Portuguese wine lovers. Wine drinkers elsewhere in the world will discover fresh new flavours when they sample.
Here are some fun facts:
Portugal is home of the first Demarcated and Regulated wine region in the world – The Douro Valley, now a Unesco World Heritage site.
The Portuguese were the first to bring European wines to the Americas and to Asia.
Love these labels
Portugal has the highest density of native grape varieties in the world.
*Jancis Robinson, in a 13 year tasting, ranked Portuguese red wines the highest.
*(British wine critic, journalist and wine writer. Jancis currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website JancisRobinson.com, updated daily. She also provides advice for the wine cellar of Queen Elizabeth II).
Portugal was elected for the 3rd consecutive year as “Best Destination in the World”by the World Travel Awards and in total won 39 awards.
The wine region of Lisbon was considered by Wine Enthusiast one of the “10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2019.”
Forbes magazine elected the best wines of 2019 and in its list there are 3 Portuguese wines in the first 12 places.
And of course there’s the PORT:
In Portugal you can even buy Port in convenient size cans.
It’s important to not drink too much on an empty stomach.
Don’t ask me how I know this
Luckily the room had plenty of tasty appies to choose from.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.