ART FAG

By lili

Friday November 16, 2007

Sometimes quality is better than quantity. That’s what I’m hoping is the case for this weekend, seeing as there are substantially fewer openings scheduled. Considering the hectic roster of openings the past couple of weekends, this may come as a pleasant break for all the dedicated art fags who must’ve been wearing themselves thin recently.

An interesting publication to pick up for your much needed reading material while enduring your rainy day bus rides to and from openings is the “West Coast Line #50 — Staging Vernaculars”. This issue of the journal is focusing on the engagement of the vernacular in areas of cultural history, memory, space and other artistic mediums like performance, word and image. The publication can be picked up at the CAG and other local bookstores for $12 and features big name contributors like Antonia Hirsch, Roy Arden and Steven Shearer.

One of the two openings this Friday evening is over on the other side of Vancouver at the Presentation House Gallery (333 Chesterfield ave). If you have the motivation to view *Tim Lee*’s current exhibition, “Remakes, Variations”, I’d imagine it would be well worth the effort considering he has shown in some of the greatest museums of the world. If anything, you can say that you went out of town this weekend.

The Republic Gallery (732 Richards st) is hosting an exhibition of Emily Carr graduate *Sararh Hodgkins*’ work called “New Photographs”. Her work is quite amazing and well worth a peak so don’t miss the opening, which is an early one, from 6-8pm.

Saturday doesn’t have a lot going on, but in the afternoon there is a gallery tour by Peter Culley of Roy Arden’s work at 2pm. This tour is free with gallery admission (another reason to get a membership!)

The only other event on Saturday is the Animation Screening “Cute to Kill” at the VIVO Media Arts Centre (1965 Main St.) The screening starts at 9pm and is showing over 12 artists work, so bring some popcorn and relax.

The Gaff Gallery is hosting an opening on Monday called “Incidental Geography” which is a group show curated by Lee Hutzulak based around photography and it’s mediations on the Vancouver landscape. The opening runs from 7-10:30pm and there’s an after party with Joe Lally (from Fugazi) being held at the Astoria as a fund raiser for the Gaff.

Other than that there is the East Side Cultural Crawl, which I recommend everyone check out at some point this weekend. Visit the website to get more info.

So go forth, and be a part of your community. It’s an easy job this weekend so enjoy the extra time you’ll have by getting some much needed reading in.