19th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl 2015: Showcase and connect with Vancouver artists

What began in year 1994 when four artists participated in an open studio and fundraising event has now grow into a Vancouver staple annual event attracting over 450 participating artists across over 80 buildings/facilities showcasing a huge spectrum of art in forms ranging from painting, photography, scripture, film, and other mediums, all to celebrate the diversity and creativity of all walks of culture.The Culture Crawl 2015 will feature 473 artists across 82 locations. It is expected over 25000 attendees will participate this year.

I had the absolute pleasure to visit and learn more about some of the amazing participating artists in person. This is a great opportunity to connect with the artists, see their work and to support the Vancouver’s art and culture communities.

KIRA spotlight artists

David Cho

David was born in South Korea. He received BFA from Emily Carr University in 2008 and currently working and living in Vancouver. Cho’s art draws on a mix of pop colours and impressionism. He draws on a wide range of subjects, from the beautiful mountain nature to pop culture movie characters and reality inspiration figures. Cho also has a series of abstract paintings which in cohesive in showcasing his signature impressionism and use of abstract colors.

http://www.davidtcho.com/

Christian Dahlberg

Dahlberg is a painter, photographer and mixed media artist. Finalist and winner of a number of awards, Dahlberg’s art explores the composition of forms, lines and their interrelations, often drawing inspirations from structures and landmarks.

http://christiandahlberg.com/

Victor Goertz

Growing up in the Okanagan, Geortz developed an affinity for the world outdoors, and explored it hiking and camping. After studying art at Okanagan University, Goertz acquired his BFA at Emily Carr University. This lifetime love of the wild places of the world has taken him on trips to explore the land with camera, pastels and sketchbook, traveling to the Clayoquot, Carmanah, Walbran, Stein Valley, Okanagan and other unique places and ancient forests. and then returning to his studio to develop those explorations into paintings.

http://victorgoertz.com/

Isaac John Lewis

As a painter from Cuba, a large portion of Lewis’s work is a tribute to 2 of the most enduring Cuban legacies: its music and its architecture. The 2012 Crawl series, was the first try to paint about Canadian scenery: “Vancouver through Cuban Windows”. The series for the 2013 Crawl was “8 Jazz Love Songs” a visual tribute to some of the most beautiful standards of jazz songs; to their composers and performers. This 2014 series was called ” Inspiring Walls” here Isaac presented a completely new work, almost abstract, 9 acrylic paintings showing details of old walls in Havana. This year series is named Postcards from VanCuba Isaac is back to show the beauty of the colours of the old walls and houses, this time from Old Havana and the busy images of some of the alleys on East Side Vancouver.

http://isaacubanart.myartchannel.com/portfolio/prints/4026-courtyard-palette

Kari Kristensen

Printmaker/Artist kari kristensen is a graduate of the University of Guelph, where she studied Art History and Printmaking. She belonged to a printmaking collective on Granville Island prior to establishing her studio in the historic 1000 Parker street building. Please come by studio 204 to see a wide variety of works from kari and her splendid studio mates, including THE COLLAGE PROJECT: A collaborative effort showcasing works comprised entirely out of discarded materials from 1000 Parker.

http://karikristensen.com/home.html

Carla Tak

Carla Tak, is a prolific and well listed artist who is largely self-taught. She lives in Vancouver, BC Canada where she spends each day painting in her studio, creating abstract works on canvas and panel that reveal a fluidity of movement and layering that are characteristic of her style of painting. As an artist, the act of painting while staying true to her personal process is what is important to her. She defines this process as a felt state that involves suspending her logical voice and allowing an intuitive self to guide her. This results in rare paintings that express intensity and unencumbered honesty. Carla Tak is represented by Colin Fisher Studios in California. Her works are held in collections in Canada, the United States and Europe.

http://www.carlatak.com/

Lucas Wolf

Canadian born artist Lucas Wolf has spent the majority of his life living between Canada, Italy, Norway, and Japan. He currently resides in Vancouver Canada and works from his Parker Street studio. Wolf’s work is heavy in exploring the layers of the tones of color. Abstract and bold, Wolf’s works are brilliant in contrasting colors as well as texture.

http://lucaswolf.com/

About Culture Crawl

The Eastside Culture Crawl is an annual 4-day visual arts festival in November that involves artists on Vancouver’s Eastside opening their studio to the public. The event is focused on the area bounded by Main St., 1st Ave., Victoria Drive, and the Waterfront and involves painters, jewelers, sculptors, furniture makers, weavers, potters, printmakers, photographers, glassblowers; from emerging artists to those internationally established. The organization itself has evolved to represent the heart of the East Van creative community.

For more information: http://culturecrawl.ca/