Vancouver artist David Wilson presents his newest collection, Close to Home — his first since 2019’s Everywhere From Here — October 1 to 21, 2020 at the Kurbatoff Gallery.
David Wilson Close to Home
Dreams of Distant Memories by David Wilson
Where: Kurbatoff Gallery (2435 Granville St, Vancouver) Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11:00am to 5:00pm; Sunday 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Close to Home offers a peek at those final, pre-COVID days in early 2020. In the poignantly titled “Come Back to Me”, Wilson’s vibrant acrylics capture the Stanley’s grand marquee as it presides over a rain-slicked South Granville Street, still busy with traffic and—typical to the artist’s often-waterlogged work—hunkered pedestrians clutching their umbrellas.
“It’s a world that, despite its many monstrosities, seems a little bit whimsical now,” says Wilson. “It’s a place that, in spite of all of its shortcomings, doesn’t seem so bad.”
“It’s less about being a literal visual documentation and more of a synthesizing of what I am feeling about the time while I was there. It’s a very strange alchemy of representation, memory, sound, smell, and feel as I work through those moments that eventually coalesce into something tangible and visibly recognizable.”
For perhaps the first time in modern history, our experience under COVID-19 is truly universal. With two immuno-compromised family members in his own home, Wilson had especially concrete concerns in those early months of the pandemic. He was used to “uncertainty,” but nothing on this scale.
“As the news raged about COVID’s ability to spread with impunity and overwhelm populations in great numbers, the thought of making art seemed so trivial, perhaps even a little bit self-indulgent. It was the first time in many years that I did not feel inspired to create. My thoughts were consumed by the crisis at hand and its implications for me, my family, my community, and the world at large. So, I stopped for a while and watched and listened. COVID created a concentrated time for introspection. Not just for me but for all of humanity.”
Mercifully, inspiration returned. As such, desire and reverie mingle in Close to Home. With an unknowable future, Wilson turned to the past, emerging from a familiar cycle of grief and despair to find solace in a trove of old photographs. “Feels Like Only Yesterday” takes us back to a thriving Granville strip at night. “A Path Through the Sea” pits the Burrard Street bridge against a twinkling Fairview at dusk, suggesting a city pregnant with energy. That same landmark is given a chilly, vivid rendering in “The Wind in Our Faces.” In all cases, Close to Home feels like an attempt to time-stamp the tone of pre-COVID life in Vancouver.
Feels Like Only Yesterday by David Wilson
In a roundabout way, David’s work reminds me of my time away from Vancouver. When I moved away to Massachusetts for work in 2002, I enjoyed my new city but I also craved anything that reminded me of home — hence the creation of my “Miss604” moniker. When I look at David’s work, I see my home. These are the pieces I would have wanted on the wall of my room in Cambridge. They make me homesick even while I stare out my office window on a grey and rainy West Coast morning.
Following its highly successful Fair Drive-Thru Experiences, the Pacific National Exhibition is proud to announce its October plans for Halloween fun at the PNE for fans of all ages.
Halloween Fun at the PNE
“Halloween is an incredibly important part of the year for everyone here at the PNE,” says President and CEO Shelley Frost, “and we’ve had a lot of questions and interest in our plans for 2020, given the situation with COVID-19. I’m really proud that our team has developed two very unique experiences for a wide range of guests. Although it is not possible to host our traditional Fright Nights, we have a new haunting experience and chilling décor for our young adult Fright Night fans and this year we will have a separate experience on-site aimed at children and parents who are limited in their trick-or-treat options due to the pandemic.”
Slayland at the PNE
Dates: October 9-11; October 16-18; October 22-25; October 29-31. Times: 6:00pm to 10:00pm Admission: Oct 9-25 $39.50 and Oct 29-31 $44.50 (admission includes complimentary mask, while quantities last, and all fees and taxes)
Although the Fright Nights haunted houses are not possible during COVID-19, Playland is thrilled to announce that as of October 9th the park will be transformed into Slayland – Night of a Thousand Screams. It will feature twenty rides, including The Beast, the iconic Wooden Roller Coaster, the Atmosfear and a walk-through outdoor haunted experience and chilling décor throughout the park. Slayland is the first time in the PNE Halloween event history that guests will be allowed to wear costumes. There will be themes for costumes each weekend, from retro to superheroes. While costumes are allowed, please note that face paint and costume masks are not allowed, and COVID-19 masks will continue to be required in all queues and while on attractions.
A Taste of the PNE Drive-Thru: Tricks-and-Treats Edition
When: October 30 & 31, 2020 book a time slot 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Admission: $25 per carload, includes one trick-or-treat bag of goodies, additional treat filled bags can purchased for $15 each (prices include all fees and taxes)
This family-oriented experience will include live spooky characters, Halloween décor, and safe trick-or-treating for the little ghouls and goblins. Admission includes the drive-thru experience as well as a trick-or-treat bag with a selection of mini PNE goodies that includes a Halloween-themed candy apple, treat-sized popcorn, mini cotton candy, mini donuts and packaged candy. This event is for the kids and families who are not quite ready for Slayland – Night of a Thousand Screams.
It’s not everyday that a Tea Sommelier delivers High Tea to my door! This afternoon Satbir from Sattea Loose Teas brought me a lovely box packed with savoury sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats.
Sattea Loose Teas
Satbir has been in the tea business since 2003 and Sattea, which she operates with her mother Satnam, is known for High Tea catering services for medium to large parties. In this time of COVID, where events have mostly gone virtual, they’ve gone mobile, bringing Metro Vancouverites High Tea and more treats to go.
Each box comes with your choice of three sandwiches or savouries, two scones, choice of three desserts, and signature loose leaf tea. Vegan, Gluten Free and vegetarian options are also available. You can also order cakes for delivery (including coconut pineapple or raspberry almond), tea tins, and scones or desserts by the platter.
My High Tea To Go box
Browse the expertly curated collection or organic teasonline, which includes caffeine-free, rooibos, Earl Grey, white tea, maté, oolong and many more. Order for yourself, or to share with your bubble friends and family.
Win High Tea To Go from Sattea
I’m giving away a High Tea To Go (for one) that includes a the signature assortment of savouries and sweets, and features Cinnamon Orange Spice Rooibos for fall. The winner will also get a 20% discount code to share with their friends and family. Here’s how you can enter to win:
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.
UPDATE: The winner is Kim+Rees!
Must be within Metro Vancouver; vegan or GF available for the winner; certain dietary restrictions may not be accommodated as part of the prize; must be redeemed/booked for delivery by October 30, 2020.
The October lineup for the Vancouver Fringe Festival is here! Fresh off a hugely successful first mini festival, and a safe and exciting return to live theatre, the next batch of programming takes place October 1-10 on Granville Island at Performance Works with a maximum capacity of 50.
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2020
When: September 10 to 20; October 1 to 10; October 29 to November 8; and tentatively November 26 to December 6.
Tickets: Single ticket prices start at $15 and the Fringe membership fee, which is required to purchase festival tickets, starts at $7.
Where: Online and in person (limited). In order to meet the guidelines laid out in the BC Restart Plan, the in-person, concentrated festival events will be held at fewer venues and with social distancing in place (maximum capacity of 50).
For the first time, the Vancouver Writers Festival (“VWF”) will have 100% online programming and will offer a pay-what-you-can model for its lineup of 40 events.
Vancouver Writers Festival
While there will be special events starting this month, through December, the 2020 Festival Week will run from October 19 to 25, 2020, with multiple events per day featuring some of the season’s hottest authors, including six of this year’s Giller Prize nominees: Thomas King, Emma Donoghue, Francesca Ekwuyasi, Michelle Good, Annabel Lyon, and Emily St. John Mandel.
VWF Members have the option to buy a $100 Festival Pass which includes access to all events during Festival Week (October 19–25). All youth events are free.
