By: Victoria Lopatka, Staff Writer
The 25th annual Eastside Culture Crawl is taking place November 12–14 and November 18–21 this year. Over these seven days, visitors can get a sneak peek into the studios of East Vancouver’s potters, painters, photographers, and more. Attendees can visit in-person or take online tours. Here are five must-see artists and studios featured in this year’s Crawl.
ffrench is a Canadian artist who works with “wildcrafted pigments” drawn from places like Iceland, telling the stories of her travels through her art. Expect to see lots of rich, earthy red, yellow, and grey tones when checking out her studio. This unique colour palette sets ffrench apart from other artists. In addition to participating in this year’s Crawl, ffrench has a Patreon, an online shop, and gives workshops.
A few words to describe Carley B’s art are “psychedelic,” “inter-species,” and “surreal.” Her gallery includes many images of half-human, half-animal, majestic, nude figures. The bright colours and out-there imagery will make you stop and stare. For Carley, art is a “source of escape, expression, [and] exploration.” Born in Alberta, she moved to Vancouver in 2010 and began studying at Emily Carr University. On her website, she describes being inspired by the places she has visited, like Japan, Australia, and Greece. Carley can be found at Eastside Atelier.
Schedlosky specializes in fibre art, sculptures, and textiles — specifically, lace. A peek into Schedlosky’s studio will reveal detailed floral creations, colourful wall quilts, delicate sculptures, and more. Her website states her art depicts “the reflection of our narrative in place, its people, and their things.” If you’ve only ever seen lace on clothes and tablecloths, you need to go and see how versatile and buildable it can be. Schedlosky’s studio can be found at the Arts Factory on Industrial Avenue, in the corner suite.
4. Alternatives Gallery and Studio
Alternatives Gallery and Studio’s mission is to support “artists with developmental disabilities,” their families, and the East Vancouver community. Through sharing the studio and hosting events, Alternatives Gallery provides opportunities for artists to learn and hone their craft. The gallery showcases a variety of art, from landscapes to dreamscapes to statues. A 360° view of the studio can be found on the Culture Crawl website. In-person, Alternatives Gallery and Studio can be found at 1659 Venables St. If you want to see a studio that really feels like a community, this is it.
If you’re a fan of thrifting, upcycling, and reusing, you should stop by MakerLabs on East Cordova Street and visit Heider. You can stop by in-person and check out her handmade tops, knitwear, and face masks, or view the studio online. Either way, you’ll be treated to lots of fun colours, patterns, and adornments, like a turquoise faux fur wrap or neon pink toque with pearls — available for purchase if you want to take a piece of art home with you!
