Friday Art Splatter - September 12

Posted by Jon
Filed in Arts, Events
September 12, 2008

Well another Friday in Vancouver brings another weekend full of potential distraction, and another round of tough decisions. So if you've got any energy left after stockpiling UV (you don't need me to tell you seizing the sun should be your #1 priority with those Vancity greys just around the corner), there's many a way to spend an artsy evening over the next few days. Here's some of the highlights...

Visual Art

The "We Declare": Spaces of Housing exhibition has opened at Gallery Gachet. The show addresses "the sites and institutions where decisions and declarations regarding housing are made" via "photo-based images mounted on the wall." Photo-based images: more than just another flickry facebooked booze&schmooze...

The CAG's new exhibit Clip/Stamp/Fold 6: The Radical Architecture of Little Magazines had its opening reception last night. The exhibition of independent architecture mags from the 60s and 70s will be on until November 9th. Look out for scheduled talks beginning in October.

Before that one you may want to stop by the latest Artspeak exhibit, Learn to Read Art: A History of Printed Matter... since 1976. On display will be a collection or archival material from the non-profit Printed Matter organization, based out of New York.

I was also sent a note letting me know about local photographer Eric Cairn's first solo show here in Vancouver at the Locus Cafe (4121 Main Street at King Edward). The opening reception starts at 8pm on Sunday, with pieces hanging 'til October 6th.

While KRAZY! may be gone, photographer Zhang Huan's Altered States at the VAG is pretty stunning, and on display until October 5th. But are they just trying to ride the comic-lovin' wave by naming the upcoming exhibition of Feminist Art WACK!? You gals don't need my wack jokes...

Music

The second edition of Fake Sleep, the Vancouver 'drone showcase', is happening tonight at VIVO Media, and will feature the 'sound-collage' work of local experimental faves aerosol constellations, along with a former Yellow Swan and few other artists ready and willing to fuck with your definition of "music". Doors at 8:00, $6.00.

If that all sounds a little too experimental for ya, Seattle rockers Grand Archives are playing at the Biltmore. Their debut album was one of the nicer surprises to emerge form the crowded American indie scene this year and is a relaxing, rewarding listen. And apparently they put on a pretty good show. Recommended.

Spiritualized are at the Commodore on Saturday, which is basically all I need to hear to make this weekend a highlight. Jason Pierce has been getting great reception on the festival circuit in 2008, and while you can never expect a 'lively' stage presence from the man (he barely taps his foot - so restrained it's engaging), the performance is almost guaranteed to be intense. He's a singular talent who takes some time to appreciate, with a large and loyal fanbase. If you're drawing a blank, start listening.

Local post punk band Adjective. plays at the Astoria the same night, if you're not down with the Commodore mAsses.

Film

Usually a new flick from the brothers Coen is an instant excuse to hit the theatres, but I definitely have some reservations about Burn After Reading. Whatever, we all know it'll still be far, far funnier and creative than anything else coming outta' the Hollywood machine - but the combination of George Clooney and Brad Pitt just makes me a little bit sad inside. And the fact that nothing they'll make could ever come close to The Man Who Wasn't There, probably one of the greatest and most unappreciated films of all time, kinda leaves me with a tinge of that existential angst.

So while you're out renting that one, you might as well pick up In Bruges, now that it's out on DVD. The funniest black comedy I've seen in years. Thanks to Mr. Haddow for bringing this one back to my attention.

Journey Into Amazing Caves, the latest IMAX film screening at the World of Science, also starts Friday, and could provide some great entertainment if you've got kids, drugs, caving experience, or any combination of the three...

Did someone mention filmgoing under the influence? If you still haven't grown out of that one, the 2008 Spark Animation Festival may sound like a great idea... but it's not quite Spike & Mike's. This one is decidedly industry-focused, with lots of panel discussions and most of the screenings being in the CG-family-film stream of things. I guess you could still go eat some mushrooms and get lost for a couple hours trying to piece together the greater moral implications of "Toy Story 2," or just get stoned and philosophize over how 'pixar dude' is able to sit behind that computer perfecting Panda hairs for 14 hours a day (has Red Bull supplanted Mountain Dew as the geek fuel of choice these days?)
Allegro Non Troppo does sound pretty cool, however - that one screens at midnight tonight.

Dance & Theatre

Dances for a Small Stage 19 concludes tonight at the Legion on Commercial Drive.

Then on Saturday, the Scotiabank Dance Centre has its Open House: a day of studio presentations and open classes.

Don't forget that this is the closing weekend of the Fringe Festival. If the schedule still leaves you feeling a little overwhelmed, there's a load of coverage over at Plank Magazine, or you could just hold out for the 'Pick of the Fringe', from the 18th-21st.