Oakridge
VanDusen Botanical Garden is celebrating the culture of wood with a new exhibit aptly titled Touch Wood.
The show is a landmark exhibition of more than two-dozen wood sculptures and installations by 10 prominent B.C. artists, including Brent Comber, Michael Dennis, Alastair Heseltine and Martha Varcoe Sturdy.
Following on the success of last years Earth Art exhibit, garden staff decided a larger show concentrating on local artists working in wood would be well received. As with many of the Earth Art installations, several of the pieces in Touch Wood are huge, including Michael Dennis Council of Elders, which consists of 11 figures each towering 12-feet tall. Another example is the 20-foot tall by 40-foot in diameter sculpture that will be created on site by Alastair Heseltine. As a reflection of VanDusens environmental mandate, all the pieces in the exhibit are constructed from wood that has been salvaged, recycled or scavenged. The show also contains many smaller pieces that will be on display in the Visitor Centres Discovery Room. Touch Wood opens June 20 and runs through the end of September.
Coal Harbour
While a one-kilometre run sounds gruelling, the reward at the end of this charity marathon makes the physical effort all worthwhile. The PEAKs 1-K To A Beer Garden begins at Jack Poole Plaza at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 23 and ends, surprising enough, back at Jack Poole Plaza at the Beerthirst Beer Garden where runners will be entertained by indie rock band the Zolas.
Proceeds from the $35 registration fee will assist A Better Life Foundation, which provides meals, job training and employment opportunities to low-income or no-income residents of the citys Downtown Eastside. The registration fee will also get you a 102.7 The PEAK sweatband, a free mug and enough beer to fill it. The registration deadline is this Thursday, June 20 at 5 p.m. There will be prizes. Visit thepeak.fm for more information.
Kerrisdale
The non-profit Madagascar Community Development Society is holding a fundraising bazaar this Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church, 2733 West 41st Ave. Look for food, arts and crafts, music, fun, a raffle and silent auction.
Funds raised at the bazaar will help support sustainable communities in Madagascar one garden at a time. For more information, visit madagascargarden.org.
West End
The non-profit Friends for Life Society is hosting a bake sale this Saturday, June 22, at the Diamond Centre for Living, 1459 Barclay St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event will also include a barbecue where participants can purchase a hot dog or hamburger and tours of the Friends for Life house. The society is still looking for donations of baked goods, homemade or store-bought. This is also the last day of the societys Penny Drive, so this is a great opportunity to unload that spare change.
Marpole
Marpole Place Neighbourhood House is hosting a National Aboriginal Day celebration Saturday June 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event was organized to honour aboriginal culture through food, storytelling, drum circles and dancing. The house is located at 1305 West 70th Avenue at Hudson, between Oak and Granville streets.
Various locations
The Madskillz community festival, which supports local vaudeville artists, takes place June 20 to 23 mostly at CircusWest on the PNE grounds, but also at the Olympic Village and the Russian Hall, 600 Campbell St.
The focus of the weekend is variety and vaudeville cabaret performances and workshops, which include juggling, spinning, flow arts, clowning, magicians, glass walkers, busking and more. A free Fire Gala takes place at the Olympic Village in partnership with the Dragon Boat Festival. For more information, visit madskillzvancouver.com.
sthomas@vancourier.com
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