Vines Art Festival, multidisciplinary eco-arts festival, featuring over 80 performing and visual and performing artists at parks throughout Vancouver: Jericho Beach, Trout Lake Park, Kitsilano Beach, Pandora Park, Crab Park, Renfrew Ravine, David Lam Park, Creekside Park and Harmony Gardens, - August 7th-18th. In its fifth year, this free, all-ages festival fuses the arts with activism to bring you unique, powerful, and cutting-edge performances from across creative disciplines.
A community-driven event featuring grass roots land protectors, visual and performing artists, eco-conscious community leaders, folk artists, storytellers, and more, Vines celebrates the stunning Coast Salish land by making it an essential part of each performance. All events take place outdoors in different neighbourhoods to showcase the full expanse of the city and to ensure the festival is accessible to all residents of the city.
An Opening Ceremony on August 7th at Jericho Beach, known originally as iy̓ál̓mexw in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim and ʔəy̓ál̓məxʷ in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ features Indigenous dancers from across the country performing a butoh piece gifted to Raven Spirit Dance from master Yukio Waguri. Further dance artists All Bodies Dance, Maura Garcia and Dario Dinuzzi will be sharing innovative dance performances that fly in the face of convention at Hadden Park on August 8th along with an immersive and sense-ensnaring piece from The Only Animal.
August 9th at Crab Park features dynamic performances from hip hop artist Erica Dee and 2-spirit indigenous musician Kwiigay whose music explores intersectional, existential and extraterrestrial Indigenous+QTIBIMPOC futurisms via a mix of traditional songs and their original electronic and alternative compositions- all in the Squamish language. On August 13th Vines is hosting an Eco Runway presented by Ralph Escamillion featuring sustainable fashion, drag artists, dance, and a celebration of queer underground culture. Dance group Immigrant Lessons will be bringing their energy to the Runway.
August 15th we partner with Mariam Barry for Breaking Borders, a story driven performance event where immigrants take the mic! We are back at Trout Lake Park on August 17th where over 20 artists will enliven the park through captivating performance, unforgettable installations and leading impactful workshops on “earth-stages.” Featuring Juno nominated Ndidi O, a force of nature blues/soul roots performer.
Essential to Vines Art Festival is the Resilient Roots Project led by Senaqwila Wyss (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Ethnobotanist), Heather Lamoureux (Artistic Director of Vines Festival), and Sara Cadeau (Anishnaabe Kwe, ceremonialist, singer, writer, maker of medicines and helper of people. Our multidisciplinary artists include Evan Ducharme (Metis with ancestral ties to the Cree, Ojibwe, and Saulteaux peoples, he works with images of contemporary Indigeneity and reclamation of Indigenous sexualities); Raven John (artist, involuntary comedian and two-spirit activist, of Coast Salish and Stolo Nation decent); Selina Jules (Nuu-Cha-Nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw artist); Karmella Cen Benedito De Barros (Afro-Indigiqueer Nehiyaw musician, photographer and writer); Suna Galay (visual and performance artist of mixed descent, Chippewyan, Nepalese, Ukrainian and German). Kallfümalen - Sussan Yáñez (a cultural facilitator, a multidisciplinary artist, of mixed ancestries).
Other artists include: Kin Balam, an artist creating a new musical style using elements of Flamenco, Latin American, Indigenous Meso-American, Afro Latin, Latin Jazz, Classical, Rap, Hip Hop, to make up the powerful fabric of this new yet ancient rooted musical style; Old Soul Rebel, a powerhouse musical duo, coloured by brass and driven by drums, puts a brand new shine on soul and rock n roll; Cecilia Point, a political activist who stood for 200 plus days protecting her nation’s ancestral burial site from development; Yoro Noukoussi and Jacky Essombe who celebrates the richness and community spirit of African culture using easy-to-follow African dance steps, traditional songs and storytelling; and many, many more!
Vines Art Festival is a celebratory, provocative, intersectional festival of performing arts and land justice set on outdoor earth-stages. All-ages welcome. August 7th-18th in Vancouver Parks, Jericho Beach, Trout Lake Park, Kitsilano Beach, Pandora Park, Crab Park, Renfrew Ravine, David Lam Park, Creekside Park and Harmony Gardens. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE! More details at www.vinesartfestival.com.
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