Since 1975, the Surrey Art Gallery has featured art from local, national, and international artists. Now in its 40th year, the gallery has been focusing on the city itself and the talented creative people, born-and-raised and from around the world, who call it home.
Surrey Art Gallery’s 40th Anniversary
Throughout the past 40 years, there are been over 750 exhibitions at the Surrey Art Gallery and 10,000 artists have been featured. I took a trip to my hometown last week to visit with Jordan Strom, Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, who led me through “Views from the Southbank III“, which has brought together over 20 artists South of the Fraser River who respond to our digital age in varying ways.
Photo credit: Edward Westerhuis
“It’s art from where we are,” Jordan told me as we stepped into the main gallery space that seemed to be teeming with life thanks to its mixed-media pieces on display. Videos, audio, photographs, and sculptures provided movement in this living space that represented living in Surrey. Infographics, GPS-mapping, video games, textiles, wood carving, ceramics, Jordan says “all depict the city as people who live here see it,” and in particular how we see it in a data structured world.
The paintings of power lines and railroad tracks, the views of the Pattullo, farms, forests, and representations of mixing cultures all remind me of my hometown. The gallery reassures me that I don’t need to head out of town to find inspiring and thought-provoking art.
Sylvia Grace Borda’s Google Street View immersive digital media art project was created in collaboration with Google Street View photographer John Lynch. Debbie Tuepah’s poured-and-peeled paint sculpture graphs all of the languages spoken in Surrey. Ben Reeves found the location for his paintings by literally throwing a dart at a map and trekking to that location to paint the view he sees from his car steering wheel.
Another exhibit in an adjacent gallery is “Re:Source – A Living Archive 1975-2015“, the 4th phase in an exhibition that began in September. Here you can discover 40 years of exhibitions with photos, commentary, and critiques. You can visit these exhibitions, and more, until December 13th at the Surrey Art Gallery, located in the Surrey Arts Centre at the entrance to Bear Creek Park (13750 88th Ave).
What: Contemporary Art Bus Tour Where: Starting from the Surrey Art Gallery When: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
What: Surrey Tree Lighting Festival Art Gallery Booth Where: Surrey City Hall Plaza (13450 104th Ave) When: Saturday, November 21, 2015 from 12:00pm to 8:00
The City of Surrey’s annual Tree Lighting Festival is coming up on Saturday, November 21st featuring free family fun and entertainment all day long at the Central City and City Hall plazas.
Watch and enjoy special guests and performers such as Top Line Vocal Collective, the Kwantlen Glee Club, Eli Williams & The Memphis Sound, Queen Elsa & Anna, and more including Andrew Allen who will be playing multiple stages as two different acts.
BC’s Andrew Allen has landed three Top 10 hits in Canada: 2009′s “I Wanna Be Your Christmas”, 2011’s “I Want You” and his biggest single released in 2010 “Loving You Tonight”. The latter was on the charts for more than 22 weeks and broke the US Top 30 while gaining over 4 million views on YouTube. He’ll be playing the City Hall Plaza Main Stage (at 3:00pm) as well as inside City Hall later in the day, as Hudson Station (at 5:00pm) at the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival.
“It’s a really fun duo,” Andrew told me over the phone earlier this week. He and Cole Friesen, with whom he has been touring and performing with for years, formed Hudson Station last year in order to write and play songs with a heavier folk influence than you’d hear simply from Andrew Allen.
“Cole plays the guitar, I play the guitar, we both sing, and I play kick drum with my foot, he plays tambourine with his foot and they’re just really fun folk songs that I think people will really relate to.”
It’s a busy time of year for Andrew Allen (as himself and Hudson Station) as his Christmas single from 2009 has had a lasting impact. He’s preparing for his 4th annual “All Hearts Come Home” concert in Vernon (December 12th) as well as a Christmas showcase in Vancouver (December 4th), and of course you can get a holiday preview performance at the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival on November 21st.
“I like all the stuff around Christmas,” Andrew admits, however he can do without the hustle and bustle. It’s the sleigh rides, theatre productions, markets, that gets him in the holiday spirit. “The getting together, the parties, hanging out with people, that’s my favourite.”
What: Surrey Tree Lighting Festival Where: The Plaza at New City Hall and Atrium (13450 104th Ave, Surrey) When: Saturday, November 21, 2015 from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. The tree will be lit at 6:30pm. The stags at Central City will be lit at 4:15pm.
The Vancouver Giants are known for their hockey with heart and also for their many community events and promotions throughout their season. Coming up they have Woodward’s $1.49 Day (November 17th), Star Wars Night (December 4th), Ugly Christmas Sweater Night (December 11th), Teddy Bear Toss presented by TELUS (December 18th), and more. This Saturday, November 14th, is White Spot Legends Night presented by The Hockey Shop, featuring two very special guests: Guy Lafleur and Dennis Hull.
The Vancouver Giants will host the Portland Winterhawks that night at the Pacific Coliseum and 100 lucky fans in attendance at the game will have a chance to meet either Guy or Dennis.
“Our involvement with the Scotiabank Hockey for Alzheimer’s tournament started because of our relationship with Gordie Howe, and the efforts of the Gordie and Colleen Howe Foundation to raise money for dementia research,” said Giants Vice President, Business Development Dale Saip. “We are honoured as an organization to participate with hockey legends like Dennis and Guy in their support of this worthwhile cause.”
Lafleur tallied 1,353 points in 1,127 NHL games over his 17 year career with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques. “The Flower” won five Stanley Cups, three Art Ross Trophies, two Hart Trophies, one Conn Smythe Trophy and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. Lafleur is also the Canadiens’ all-time leading scorer with 1,246 points in a Habs uniform.
Hull played 14 seasons in the NHL — 13 with the Chicago Blackhawks and one with the Detroit Red Wings. He was a five time NHL All-Star and tallied 654 points in 959 career games. “The Silver Jet” also spent eight seasons playing alongside his older brother Bobby for the Blackhawks. Internationally, Hull represented Canada at the 1972 Summit Series.
For tickets, purchase online or call 604-4-GIANTS (604-444-2687).
White Spot Legends Night Prize Pack
Thanks to the Vancouver Giants, I have a White Spot Family Pak to give away for Legends Night. This includes 4 tickets to the game (gold section), 2 White Spot Legendary Platters, 2 White Spot Pirate Paks, 1 game night parking voucher, and a $10 gas coupon for Chevron! Here’s how you can enter to win:
Comment here naming a favourite (past or present) Giants player (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a White Spot Legends Night prize pack from @WHLGiants @Miss604 http://ow.ly/Urxle
I will draw one winner from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 12, 2015. Follow the Vancouver Giants on Twitter and Facebook for the latest scores, news, event and promotion information.
Since the beginning of the month, poppies have adorned the left lapels of Canadians and on Remembrance Day, through ceremonies, memorials, and services, veterans will be honoured across the country. There are several events taking place around Metro Vancouver, as there have been for decades, with the cenotaph at Victory Square being one of the main ceremony locations in the city.
Searching the City of Vancouver Archives this morning, I found some photographs of Remembrance Day at Victory Square from services throughout the past 80 years:
Remembrance at Victory Square
1924 / Unveiling of the cenotaph / Photographer: Stuart Thomson / Archives# CVA 99-1217
1920s / Photographer: Philip T. Timms / Archives# CVA 677-1102
1932 / Photographer: Stuart Thomson / Archives# CVA 99-2691
1932 / Photographer: Stuart Thomson / Archives# CVA 99-2689
1932 / Photographer: Stuart Thomson / Archives# CVA 99-2696
1946 / Photographer: Jack Lindsay / Archives# CVA 1184-3604
Guildford Town Centre has a new dining option complete with delicious Neapolitan-style pizza and a centre bar with big screens for game night. Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria recently opened its doors in this popular Surrey location, making this urban destination its 6th BC location and 29th in Canada.
Serving an authentically Italian menu with Canadian twists made with the freshest ingredients, and honouring the pizza making methods that have been practiced in Naples since the 18th century, Famoso Guildford will offer many unique and delicious dishes that everyone can enjoy.
Famoso Guildford will offer comes with a revised menu, with the addition of 6 new pasta dishes and an updated appetizer list to reflect the culinary heritage of Italy, as well as full tableside service. Pizza toppings, on their world famous crust range from prosciutto, arugula, and smoked mozzarella, to artichoke hearts, soppressata, walnuts, drizzles of honey, and many more options. If you would like to experience this taste of Napoli, I have a $50 gift card to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment naming your favourite pizza topping (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a $50 gift card for @famosopizzeria in Guildford from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/UiCqu
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 12, 2015. Find Famoso Guildford on the plaza in the building underneath Milestones (Guildford Town Centre, 10355 152 St, Surrey, BC). The prize will only be valid for the Guildford location so that the winner can check out the new restaurant.
