Arts
Album reviews: St. Vincent, Angel Olsen, and Phantogram
March 3, 2014Artist: St. Vincent Album: St. Vincent If there’s a trend in Annie Clark’s recording career as St. Vincent, it’s an attempt to better articulate herself. Instead of broadening her scope, Clark narrows the margins, tosses the inessential and keeps the bare essentials. This is what made Strange Mercy a better record than Actor — the former felt like the finished product to the latter’s rough draft. It’s also what made Love This Giant, Clark’s collaboration with…
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Manhattan and Monopoly: Sleeper, Stuart Hall, and the downtown eastside
March 3, 2014“I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it’s the government.” One of Woody Allen’s silliest films, Sleeper (1973), delivers 87 minutes of comical genius through slapstick humour and politicized romance. Sleeper is set 200 years in the…
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Cult sensation Geekenders present The Wizard of Bras
March 3, 2014This past week the Geekenders theatre troupe took to the Rio stage with their first nerdlesque production since the wildly popular Star Wars: A Nude Hope. Given past successes and their “cult sensation” status, the pressure was on for Geekenders…
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Reconciliation through Poetry
February 24, 2014Last September, 70,000 people gathered in downtown Vancouver on a rainy Sunday in an effort to build new relationships among Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians. The four-kilometre walk began at Queen Elizabeth Plaza and a steady stream of umbrella-toting individuals…
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It’s always greener on the other side
February 24, 2014For Donald Sales, a great dance performance all boils down to honesty. “I think what draws an audience in is not your physical ability to execute dance moves, that’s nice to see, but what really draws one in is when…
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We’ll always have Paris
February 24, 2014It’s hard to believe that the Rendez-Vous French Film Festival has just celebrated its 20th year. This little known festival, presented by Visions Ouest Productions, features 10 days of French film from all over the world, including many impressive Quebecois…
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The paintbrush is mightier than the sword
February 24, 2014On Feb. 13, Changemakers Vancouver collaborated with Late Nite Art to create a night of empowerment through art, discussion, and good food. Hosted at the InterUrban Art Gallery on Hastings, the event buzzed with creativity. Mohamed Ehab and Ajay Puri…
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Into the wild
February 24, 2014Music from the New Wilderness, performed at The Cultch from February 11 to 15, was presented by Western Front New Music, winner of the Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award in 2014 — a $60,000 prize. New Wilderness was the…
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Salt and Paper: Blackberry turnovers with an almond glaze
February 24, 2014There are a few simple pleasures in life I will never take for granted: rays of morning sunshine, a hot mug of coffee, berry-stained fingers in the summer, and a perfectly flaky pastry. Amidst the hustle and bustle of our…
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Lover’s quarrel: Cindy Sherman meets Dzunuk’wa
February 24, 2014Both reading break and Valentine’s Day are considered the right time to make those previously unthought-of chance encounters. Maybe it’s the winter doldrums that push us to step into the unexpected — an opportune excuse to shake things up. Perhaps…
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