The Museum of Anthropology out at UBC houses one of the world’s finest collections of Northwest Coast First People’s art, and it’s been my favourite museum ever since I visited with an elementary school class almost thirty years ago. I am fascinated by the collections within its walls but the building itself is worthy of a close-up.
Designed by Arthur Erickson in 1976, it is made primarily out of concrete, and its great hall displays huge totem poles, feast dishes, and canoes from the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nisga’a, Gitxsan, Haida, and Coast Salish peoples, while smaller pieces in gold, silver, argillite, wood, and other materials are exhibited elsewhere in the galleries. The grounds around the museum were designed by landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander. [Source] This award-winning structure is today’s Vancouver Icons photo feature:
Victoria Day is coming up bringing with it high temperatures, beach days, picnics, forest walks, family getaways, and the highly anticipated May Long Weekend. If you’re sticking around town this weekend, here are just a few events and activities to enjoy.
Things to do in Vancouver May Long Weekend
Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green below.
Having a dream backed by a lifelong passion is one thing, but it takes a leap faith – and a lot of perseverance – to make that dream a reality. Local singer/songwriter Joline Baylis has embarked on a journey to make music her career, punching out of day job and committing to her dream of being on stage.
“I had this idea that unless you can be famous, don’t bother,” Joline, who is actually a former classmate of mine from high school, told me over the phone this morning. She admits that while she’s played for 20 years, she had never considered taking the step to the next level until very recently. “I just never thought it was something I could actually live off of so that’s what I’m trying to do now for the first time.”
“Music wasn’t even something I was thinking about at all but it just kind of became a big part of my life. It’s almost like it built its own momentum and it’s just been carrying me along — sometimes willingly sometimes less willingly. It’s like okay, I’m in for it, I’m along for the ride.”
Last year Joline left her office job and took up busking for a living. She found a sustainable niche playing on the streets and seawalls of Vancouver, providing a soundtrack for audiences captivated by a sunset at English Bay. “People are already there relaxing, watching the sunset, and they’ll tend to stick around for a few songs, buy a CD, and keep in touch. They actually do become fans.”
Eventually she found herself stuck in first gear, with hesitation about her new career path building. “I can support myself with busking, and I did that for about a year. But at this point it’s a lot of playing, and a lot of repetition since you’re playing the same songs every day, sometimes three times a day. It becomes a grind, even like a day job, which is the whole reason I wanted to get out of office work in the first place. It’s a routine and I didn’t want to do that to music.”
Music, Joline explains, is about giving something of value, and it has a real power to move people when the musician is feeling that same vibe and not standing in front of a crowd projecting their own stress and anxiety about making ends meet. Her new focus is on recording, touring, and kicking her career into that next gear with an Indiegogo campaign for her first album.
“It’s interested because you find out that ‘the dream’ is nothing like what you imagined it would be. Especially nowadays the way the industry is, the way that social media is involved. As an independent artist there are so many ways to live that dream. You can make your own way and there’s obviously an industry that you need to work through but there are also so many avenues to express yourself and create your own opportunities, which is encouraging.”
She credits much of her newfound momentum to her collaborators, such as Kenton Loewen (Dan Mangan and Blacksmith, The Crackling), Wynston Minckler (Bocephus King, Tim Sars) and Paul Pigat, who has played with the likes of Neko Case and Carolyn Mark.
“I wouldn’t be doing music at all if it weren’t for the people that I’ve met who have helped me, played with me, encouraged me, and taught me. It’s a very supportive team.” Joline admits that she’s almost glad that this album didn’t happen sooner because at this point she feels it’s happening the right way, in a professional manner.
Trusting her gut, and her talent, has got her this far and she’s looking forward to what lies ahead. “I still have a lot to learn but I’m excited because once I know how things work a bit more and what the tasks are that need to be done, then it’s a lot easier to do them. Motivation comes then when you feel like you can start to make some headway and be productive.”
At time of publishing, there are 11 days left to support Joline’s dream via the Indiegogo campaign for her debut album. Perks include everything from digital downloads and show tickets to hand-knit fingerless gloves (another talent of Joline’s), to art prints and producer credits. She will then record at Afterlife Studios (in the legendary Mushroom recording space), under the guidance of John Raham.
Upcoming Show + Links
On June 12th you can catch Joline at the Media Club playing with Kenton Loewen and Wynston Minckler, in support of The Sands (Julie McGeer, Peggy Lee, JP Carter, Paul Rigby, Patrick Metzger, Barry Mirochnic) with The Crackling (Kenton Loewen) opening the night.
Tickets are available at Highlife, Red Cat and Zulu Records, or can be purchased directly from members of the bands.
The Pemberton Music Festival lineup has been announced, tickets are on sale, and thousands of fun seekers are planning their trip to this amazing summer event from Thursday, July 16th through Sunday, July 19th. Pemberton Music Festival has your favourite artists, an amazing setting, activities, adventure, and an incredible music experience all rolled into one.
All photos credit: Keri Coles, www.kericoles.com, pembertonmusicfestival.com
Pemberton Festival Lineup
Check out the full lineup online Kendrick Lamar • The Black Keys • J. Cole • Tiësto Hozier • Kid Cudi • Missy Elliott • Weezer • Jane’s Addiction
The String Cheese Incident (two nights) • Bassnectar • Passion Pit • M.I.A. • Billy Talent
Chromeo • Dada Life • Sam Roberts Band • The Decemberists • The War On Drugs
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros • Portugal. The Man • PartyNextDoor • Chvrches
Chet Faker • RL Grime • Banks • De La Soul • STS9 • Duke Dumont • Matt And Kim
Earl Sweatshirt • Flux Pavilion • Dan Mangan+Blacksmith • Father John Misty
Galactic Featuring Macy Gray • Run The Jewels • Paul Oakenfold • Courtney Barnett
Cut Copy (DJ Set) • Bleachers • Ryn Weaver • Logic • Tobias Jesso Jr. • Real Estate
Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Flatbush Zombies • Yung Lean • Givers • Moon Taxi
Ryan Hemsworth • July Talk • Badbadnotgood • Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Judah & The Lion • Gay Nineties • What So Not • Beats Antique • Kali Uchis
Spooky Black (Corbin) • The Suffers • Giraffage • DJ Dodger Stadium
BAS • Sango • Jacklndn • PPL MVR • Boyfriend • Maggie Koerner
Full Flex Express Featuring
Jack Ü (skrillex + Diplo)
Zeds Dead, A$AP Ferg, Tycho, Hundred Waters & Anna Lunnoe b2b Mija
Pemby Comedy
Tim & Eric • Cheech & Chong • Reggie Watts • T.J. Miller
Doug Benson • Eric Andre • Harland Williams • Tig Notaro
Ali Wong • Ben Gleib • Gorburger • Chris Trew
Air Sex Championships
Win Tickets to Pemberton Music Festival
I have one pair of General Admission tickets to the 2015 Pemberton Music Festival with the winner’s choice of a pair of camping or shuttle passes. Each valued at $388! Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment naming the artist you’re dying to see live on stage at Pemberton Music Festival this year (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to @Pemberton_Fest via @Miss604 http://bit.ly/PMFContest604
You can also enter on Instagram by posting this image and including @Miss604 + @Pemberton_Fest:
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, May 18, 2015.
Follow Pemberton Music Festival on Twitter and Facebook for more information. The four-day contemporary music festival is produced and promoted by HUKA Entertainment, in collaboration with the Village of Pemberton and land partners the Sunstone Group, the Lil’wat Nation and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
On a gloriously sunny Friday afternoon I was whisked away by Sky Helicopters for a meeting at their hangar in Pitt Meadows. Taking off from the helipad on Waterfront Road in Downtown Vancouver, as PA announcements from cruise ships docked at Canada Place echoed throughout the harbour, I hopped in for one unique ride.
Sky Helicopters operates charters, can be hired for executive lunches, meeting, events (the hangar is also an event space), weddings, and can host wine tours, heli-fishing, and a fun afternoon of sightseeing. My trip was very quick but exhilarating all the same as it’s always fun to soar 1000ft above our region to get a new perspective on its beauty — and growth. Here are some of my photos from above Vancouver, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows:
View more photos in my album on Flickr. For more information about helicopter sightseeing, follow Sky Helicopters on Facebook and Twitter.
On June 12th you can catch 
