Vancouver is all about beautiful artworks, intricate designs and creative crafts. You are bound to see glimpses of Vancouver’s artistic beauty throughout the city. One such festival that celebrates this beauty is the Eastside Culture Crawl (ECC). This four-day fete in celebration of visual arts, design, and crafts runs November 19 to 22 in studios, homes and garages throughout Vancouver’s Eastside.
“The primary objective of the Culture Crawl event is to connect the public with artists working in their studios and exchange in a dialogue about the art making process,” explains Esther Rausenberg, Executive Director, ECC. “Every year, I witness the Crawl’s ability to bring people together, fostering fascinating dialogue between visitor and creator, inspiring new perspectives and commentaries, while igniting the city with a renewed energy and commitment to supporting the arts.”
Now in its 19th year, the festival will present its biggest line-up of artists, venues and events to date with more than 425+ artists showcasing their artwork in 75 locations across Vancouver’s Eastside. Visitors and collectors will be treated to an impressive assortment of work from painters, sculptors, potters, photographers, glassblowers, furniture designers, and much more. “It is a visual feast,” expresses Rausenberg.
More than 25,000 visitors from across the Metro Vancouver area and beyond are expected at this year’s event, which is bounded by Columbia Street and Victoria Drive, north of 1st Avenue, and to the waterfront.
Rausenberg hopes that ECC 2015 turns out to be an inspiring and engaging event for attendees. “Start by selecting a medium that interests them,” she suggests, “We often find that planning gets you started, but most people get distracted by other work they experience as they move from studio to studio.” She recommends going to some of the smaller buildings and visiting it a couple of times. “Don’t forget the umbrella!” she adds.
Mixed Media Jewellery Artist, Beata Kacy is one of the many participants of ECC. Kacy is an expert in metal clay - a 20-year old jewellery-making technique that consists of small metal particles bound together, which are moulded and fired in a hot kiln. Originally from Poland, Kacy is the founder and owner of Soigné, which offers craft classes in Vancouver, and Octopus Studios, which provides low cost studio and craft space for artists.
“I was always interested in welding but space/storage and heavier equipment was my limitation so jewellery making sounded like a perfect solution - my mini welding. Another reason was my love of wearable objects,” answers Kacy when questioned about her interest in jewellery making.
As for the use of metal clay, it was Hadar Jacobson’s work in metal clay that got Kacy attracted to the technique. In fact, she even visited Jacobson in San Francisco to learn the technique from her.
Nature, traveling around the globe, and day-to-day moments inspire Kacy to create beautiful and artistic jewellery pieces. “In my art, I represent all what surrounds me at the moment, from strong city structure, to mountain views and nature or underwater world of beauty,” she shares.
This is her seventh year as part of ECC. Visitors will get a chance to see a mix of her work - from felting work, leather, to mixed media jewellery, photography and glass work. Most of them are demos from her classes she teaches in the studio.
Just like every year, Kacy hopes to have lots of fun through the cultural event, spend time with her studio artists, meet friends who visit her each year, and welcome newcomers.
Added to this year’s exciting line-up is a series of new, intimate workshops and demonstrations, providing curious crawlers with the chance to witness the art-making process. These workshops and demonstrations will include a mix of glass blowing, wood carving, and Jacquard Loom weaving - a unique and rare artistry that combines 1800s technology with modern day computers to create detailed and highly customized textiles.
