I was perusing a website dedicated to the upcoming John Ferrie exhibit at the Main Space Gallery earlier this week and I have to admit I’m smitten.

The exhibit, dubbed Physical Graffiti, features paintings of some of Vancouver’s most loved and recognizable neon signs, including examples from The Only Seafood, Dayton Boots, the Orpheum and Vogue theatres, The Yale blues bar, Cambie Plumbing and a dazzling overview of Granville Street. The cityscape shown here is yet another example of the works included in the show, which are all composites of acrylic, powdered pigments, enamel paints and urethane on canvas.

The show runs from March 1 to 15 at Main Space, 350 East Second Ave., buzzer code 1706 (two blocks east of Main on the south side of the street. An opening reception is planned for March 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Ferrie will be in attendance.

Until Feb. 20

Speaking of talent, a young Vancouver singer has made the top 10 in Youthink Magazine’s B.C.’s Best Teen Band contest. Kate Kurdyak is a 16-year-old singer/songwriter from Vancouver who made the cut after being chosen by music industry judges. The top three are being selected by online voting, which runs until Feb. 20. I checked the contest website and was impressed by the talent these teens possess. To listen to the top 10, and vote, follow the B.C.’s Best Teen Band link at youthink.ca.

Feb. 9

Any press release that includes the words “psychosis” and “accordion” on the same page is a sure bet to catch my eye. On Feb. 9, the ReachOut Psychosis school will celebrate the group’s show having reached a total of 100,00 students with a party at Rhizome Café, 317 East Broadway. The ReachOut Psychosis tour promotes education about psychosis, helps decrease its stigma and increases support for youth. The tour takes the latest international, research-based information about psychosis and delivers it in a fun way to reach youth. The Feb. 9 celebration features the band Sneakers for Sneaking and accordion player Barbara Adler. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Feb. 14

An ophthalmologist, a sommelier and an author walk into a room… Actually it’s true. Ophthalmologist Briar Sexton has teamed up with sommelier Matt Sherlock and author Ryan Knighton to present Valentine’s Dinner in the Dark, Feb. 14, at the Vancouver Rowing Club, 450 Stanley Park Dr. Sexton’s four-year-old goddaughter Caroline and her six-year-old brother both have Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disease that has robbed the children of their hearing since birth, and is now causing them to lose their sight. While searching for information on the disease, the children’s family discovered Foundation Fighting Blindness—the largest private, charitable funder of vision research in Canada. To raise money for the foundation, Sexton, Sherlock and Knighton organized an evening during which diners will eat blindfolded to get a taste of what it’s like to do everyday tasks without sight. For more information, visit dinnerinthedark.squarespace.com.

sthomas@vancourier.com

Twitter: @sthomas10