12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon

Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

On December 12th photographers in Vancouver will be participating in the first annual 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon.


Photo credit: sparkieblues on Flickr

“What is it? It’s a twelve hour event where participants will check in, receive a roll of 35mm film and then each hour, will be giving a theme of which to shoot one exposure. At the end of the event, the participants will hand in their film, with twelve exposures on it – one for each hourly theme. The cost is only $12 which covers the cost of the film and processing.” [JohnBiehler.com]

The event is the brainchild of Morten Rand-Hendriksen and came to fruition with the help of Benjamin Luk, Anny Chih, Lesley Stefanski and John Biehler.

At the end of the marathon, which will have a home base at Blenz Coffee in Yaletown (338 Helmcken), photographers will hand in their film for processing. The organizers will then have it developed for judging as well as displaying at the showcase event January 16th, 2010.

Those interested in participating must purchase their spot online in advance.

The 12×12 blog has all the answers such as which cameras you can use and you can follow the event on Twitter @12x12YVR for up-to-date information.

Update: John Biehler has a recap post about the event over on his site. Stay tuned for more information about the gala/viewing party in January.

Vectorial Elevation Lights up English Bay in 2010

Comments 21 by Rebecca Bollwitt

During 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver will look and feel very different with events, special activities, structures, gatherings, and art installations like Vectorial Elevation.

A part of the Cultural Olympiad, 20 robotic searchlights (each 10,000 watts) will shift, move, and glide through the skies above English Bay nightly creating silent patterns reaching up to the stars.

The designs that the lights will follow are submitted online by people around the world and will also be webcast nightly over the internet as well.

See how it was done in Mexico City’s Zócalo square in 2007 with this YouTube series: Part One & Part Two.

Vectorial Elevation is the first time the internationally celebrated work of art will be displayed in Canada and over a body of water. Considered one of the world’s largest interactive artworks, it is a part of CODE (the Cultural Olympiad’s Digital Edition) and was created by Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.

vectorialelevation

The spotlights themselves will be situated at Vanier Park and along Sunset Beach, covering an area of 100,000 square meters, and will be visible within 15 kms of Downtown. Their patterns will be determined by viewers around the globe as everyone from Vancouver to Vietnam — and everywhere in between — is encouraged to submit their designs and personalized messages through the website VectorialVancouver.net.

The nighttime light shows will begin February 4, 2010 and run dusk to dawn every night until the 28th.

I’d love to take this to a poll to see if you are excited about this art installation, based on some mixed comments I’ve seen come through on Twitter so far.

[poll id=”41″]

February 26, 2010 The following is a time lapse so it appears as though the lights are more frenzied, however they stream quietly through the sky as the noises of the city fade away with the city behind you.


Gingerbread Competition and Charity Auction

Comments 4 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Pop open those advent calendars and load up on low-grade chocolate, it’s December! Gearing up for holiday events filled with cheer, I’ll be profiling many more events, fundraisers, and activities for families.


Photo credit: Carol Browne on Flickr

Last year launched the first annual Gingerbread Competition and Charity Auction that saw top local architects and designers construct sweet creations that were then auctioned off for charity. They’re back again this year with a new set of competitors, baking up unique designs for a good cause.

The rules are pretty simple: entries must be made from edible materials and constructed at a scale to fit within a 16″ x 16″ box. Once the structures are built, breaking the traditional mold by letting go of conventional jujube and candy-cane forms, bidding takes place online (starting December 3rd) and is followed by a fundraising gala (December 10th) filled with entertainment and libations.

The houses will be judged by an all-star panel consisting of last year’s competition and auction winner Architect D’Arcy Jones, Architect Bill Pechet, Conceptual Artist Ken Lum, and Contemporary Art Gallery Director Christina Ritchie.

To get an idea of the caliber of gingerbread work, you can browse the gallery of last year’s houses.

Participating gingerbread architects this year include:

  • McFarlane Green Biggar Architecture+Design
  • Romses Architects
  • Clash Collective
  • Designers at Large Design Consultants
  • Mallen Architecture Inc.
  • Eastside Design & Solus Decor Inc.
  • Measured Architecture
  • Busby Perkins and Will Architects
  • IBI Group (Richmond)
  • UBC SALA
  • Nick Milkovich Architects Inc.
  • The gala on December 10th runs from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut Street) and photos of the gingerbread houses will be online a week in advance to accommodate bids.

    Tickets for the gala can be purchased online for $20 and you will also be able to bid in-person at the event. All proceeds will be donated to Architecture for Humanity (Vancouver Chapter).

    CEFA's Clothes for Kids Drive

    Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

    clothesforkidsOn now until January 15th, CEFA (Core Education & Fine Arts) schools will be accepting clothing to be donated to the YWCA’s Crabtree Corner as a part of the CEFA Clothes for Kids Drive.

    Crabtree Corner is a transition house in the Downtown East Side that specializes in helping single mothers in transition and their families. CEFA will be collecting clothing for these women and their children of all ages (babies to youth).

    The donated clothing does not get re-sold either. It is cleaned and given to those in need along with a personalized note from CEFA’s junior kindergarten class (ages 1-5) to reinforce the lessons they have learned about caring and sharing.

    You can drop off your clothing donations at any CEFA school in the region, from West Vancouver to White Rock. In Vancouver you can stop by their head office at 2946 Commercial Drive, which is the future site of their latest school, opening in 2010.

    You can read the CEFA blog for updates (or follow @CEFAKids on Twitter) and I believe they’re at 92 items donated so far. Hopefully we can give them a bit of a boost to support the YWCA’s Crabtree Corner.

    Rogers Santa Claus Parade Vancouver 2009

    Comments 5 by Rebecca Bollwitt

    It’s only been six years running but the Rogers Santa Claus Parade has certainly made its mark as a holiday tradition in Vancouver.


    Photo credit: Tyler Ingram on Flickr

    On Sunday December 6th starting at 1:00pm you can line up anywhere along the designated parade route (see map below) to catch a glimpse of community groups, singers, dancers, decorated floats and all the festive fanfare you can imagine.


    2008 parade photos by Tyler Ingram on Flickr

    Stop by the front lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia & Howe) from 11:00am until 1:00pm to enjoy the Coast Capital Saving Christmas Zone before the main event. Family activities there will include face painting, balloon art, a gingerbread tent, Santa letter-writing station, a performance stage and a donation tent for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.


    Photo credit: Tyler Ingram on Flickr

    You can also donate to the Food Bank while watching the parade, just pass your non-perishable food items to the front of the curb and they will be collected for donation.

    If you would like to volunteer to help out the Food Bank that day, Steffani Cameron (aka @smuttysteff on Twitter) is suggesting a tweetup to rally a group of helpers. You can find more information on the Vancouver Tweetup site.

    Once the parade wraps up, there will be a meet n’ greet with Santa and the newly re-opened Robson Square Ice Rink (now the GE Plaza). Stop by from 3:00 until 5:00pm that same day for some free public skating. If you can’t bring your own skates, there are some available to rent on the cheap.

    santaclausparaderoute

    There will be road closures downtown to accommodate the route and staging areas on December 6th. I haven’t found the official list yet from the City although I do have some noted in my post about last year’s parade events.