Vines Art Festival releases lineup for ninth annual event of art-led land justice
All-ages fest set in local parks prioritizes lived experiences of QTBIPOC and Disabled artists; conversations with the environment
Vines Art Festival. Photo by Sheng Fo
Vines Art Festival takes place August 9 to 19 at various local parks
VINES ART FESTIVAL is back for its ninth year of celebrating art and land justice.
The fully accessible, all-ages, free event takes place in parks throughout the region on unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam). With a focus on lived experiences of QTBIPOC and Disabled artists, the fest also prioritizes people’s relationships with the environment.
The fest opens with Songs of Resistance August 9th at St'ít'eweḵw'/Second Beach at 6 pm. In partnership with Chaythoose, the gathering offers songs, stories, and of resistance, with performances by Jacky Essombe, Miguel Maravilla and Jen Yakamovich, Raven Grenier, and Senaquila Wyss.
On August 10 from 6 to 8 pm, The Vancouver Prison Justice Day Memorial takes place beside the Claire Culhane Memorial Bench at Trout Lake Park. The event is organized in the spirit of solidarity with communities that are impacted by incarceration. (For more information or to speak, contact pjd@prisonjustice.ca.)
Garden of Black Roses happens on August 11 at 6 pm at X̱áywá7esks/Creekside Park. It’s a celebration of Black artists working in music, theatre, dance, poetry, and community. Artists and performers include Ahsia, Ana Santos, Feven Kidane, and Lili Robinson.
Stoking our Sacred Fire is at 5 pm on August 12 at X̱í7nam̓ut/Pandora Park. Highlighting the culmination of the art ecosystem X Vines youth jam summer program, this event will feature Corrina Keeling, DANI YOUR DARLING, Keenan Marchand, and Richard Brown.
Our Shared Feast takes place August 16 at Ḵ’emḵ’emel̓áy̓/Oppenheimer Park at 6 pm. Led by artists of the Downtown Eastside, the gathering celebrates the city’s hub of culture, self-determination, and preservation, with food, song, and dance. It features All Bodies Dance, hoodie browns, and kinfolk nation.
Rooted Relations is on August 17th at Grandview Park at 6 pm. This is a gathering of Indigenous artists and storytellers deeply connected to land and culture. “Despite the on-going gentrification of East Van, Urban Indigenous artists remind us colonial law is a fallacy on stolen land,” a release states. The event features Kiva MH, Kwiis Hamilton, and TJ Felix.
We, The Many highlights 2SLGBTIQIA+ history, existence, and art with drag, music, and dance at 6 pm on August 18. Described as a vibrant evening of queer brilliance “as the sun sets on glowing bodies”, the event features artists DJ Nea, Izzy Cenedese, Jas Minh & Skim.
Flowing Upstream at 1 pm at Trout Lake Park features Heleluya Hailu (and the fake friends), Kitty Guerin, Morning Star Tricket, SoyJoy in celebrating waterways.
A selection of Vines events are live streamed, have ASL, or are Blind and Low Vision Friendly.
Full programming can be found at Vines Art Society.
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