Arts and culture

The Fraser Valley Symphony is seeking new musicians.

Fraser Valley Symphony seeks new musicians

Abbotsford-based group will celebrate its 39th season

 

An enthusiastic crowd is reflected in the mirrored glasses of Kizaba, a Congolese artist playing the Harrison Festival of the Arts on its final weekend. (Adam Louis/Observer)

PHOTOS: Harrison Festival’s homecoming ends on a high note

The 43rd annual Festival of the Arts drew hundreds to Harrison

 

Alex Turner’s “Transformations” shows off the work from the Harrison-loving artist over the course of 60 years. It will be the feature exhibit at the Ranger Station Art Gallery during this year’s Harrison Festival of the Arts. (Contributed Art/Alex Turner)

‘Transformations’ exhibit showcases natural beauty, critiques urbanization of Harrison

Alex Turner returned to Harrison every summer

 

Picture of the Vancouver art gallery from 2014. (Kay Yamagishi/Flickr)

Sustainability and world class art to meet in new Vancouver Art Gallery building

Federal government kicks in $29 million to help fund ‘passive house’ arts centre in downtown Vancouver

Picture of the Vancouver art gallery from 2014. (Kay Yamagishi/Flickr)
Storytime in the Park is returning on July 6 and will be scheduled every Wednesday until the end of August. (Contributed Photo/Storytime in the Park)

Storytime in the Park to being next chapter on July 6

Storytime scheduled every Wednesday through the summer

Storytime in the Park is returning on July 6 and will be scheduled every Wednesday until the end of August. (Contributed Photo/Storytime in the Park)
Harrison Firefighter Fred Webber smiles as he holds copies of the two Chicken Soup for the Soul books that contain his story. (Adam Louis/Observer)

Harrison firefighter publishes story in two ‘Chicken Soup’ books

Fred Webber fulfilled his firefighting dream in his mid 50s

Harrison Firefighter Fred Webber smiles as he holds copies of the two Chicken Soup for the Soul books that contain his story. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Pianist Jane Hayes is the featured soloist on June 5 in Abbotsford at the Fraser Valley Symphony’s final concert of the season.

Fraser Valley Symphony showcases Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky

Concert takes place June 5 at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford

Pianist Jane Hayes is the featured soloist on June 5 in Abbotsford at the Fraser Valley Symphony’s final concert of the season.
Visitors check out Ted Driediger’s solo exhibition Drawn to Clay at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre Art Gallery on Dec. 9, 2021. The Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre Society will be receiving a grant for $39,842 from the B.C. NDP government as part of $4 million in provincewide funding to help improve arts spaces and facilities. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Provincial funding coming to help improve Chilliwack Cultural Centre

Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre Society receiving nearly $40,000 from B.C. NDP government

Visitors check out Ted Driediger’s solo exhibition Drawn to Clay at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre Art Gallery on Dec. 9, 2021. The Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre Society will be receiving a grant for $39,842 from the B.C. NDP government as part of $4 million in provincewide funding to help improve arts spaces and facilities. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)
Karen Butchart looks over her sketchbook during a meeting of the Monday Painters. She is a featured artist in the club’s upcoming gallery show. (Adam Louis/Observer)

Local artists take the mundane out of Monday

The Agassiz Monday Painters prepare for two major upcoming shows

Karen Butchart looks over her sketchbook during a meeting of the Monday Painters. She is a featured artist in the club’s upcoming gallery show. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Tanya Zilinski’s intricate beadwork is inspired by Coast Salish weavings in addition to her own experience learning beadwork under the tutelage of Mary Sanoval, a Chawathil First Nation Elder. (Contributed Photo/Ed Stenson)

Hope-born First Nations artist displays beadwork at Ranger Station Art Gallery

Tanya Zilinski’s work is inspired by Coast Salish weavings

Tanya Zilinski’s intricate beadwork is inspired by Coast Salish weavings in addition to her own experience learning beadwork under the tutelage of Mary Sanoval, a Chawathil First Nation Elder. (Contributed Photo/Ed Stenson)
Helen Mobach of Abbotsford has translated from Dutch into English the story of her husband’s family during the Second World War. (Submitted photo)

Abbotsford woman translates Dutch book about husband’s family during Second World War

Mobach family of eight survived concentration camps in Java, Indonesia

Helen Mobach of Abbotsford has translated from Dutch into English the story of her husband’s family during the Second World War. (Submitted photo)
The Harrison Festival Society will receive grant funding to help fund iconic activities like the Harrison Festival of the Arts. (File Photo/Vickie Legere)

Chilliwack, Agassiz-Harrison arts orgs get grant funding

Province announced more than $12 million for arts organizations across the province

The Harrison Festival Society will receive grant funding to help fund iconic activities like the Harrison Festival of the Arts. (File Photo/Vickie Legere)
Renowned Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood speaks after Canada Post unveiling of a special stamp in her honour in Toronto on Nov. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

QUIZ: How much do you know about poems and poetry?

April is National Poetry Month in Canada

Renowned Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood speaks after Canada Post unveiling of a special stamp in her honour in Toronto on Nov. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
Percussionist Rod Thomas Squance (foreground) is seen here in concert with piano duo Elizabeth and Marchel Bergmann (background) as a six-handed musical marvel in “Percussiano,” set to be performed at Riverside Christian Reformed Church on March 10. (Contributed Photo/John Zuidhof)

Cheam Vista Classical Concert Society to make long-awaited return on March 10

‘Percussiano’ features a piano duo, percussionist

Percussionist Rod Thomas Squance (foreground) is seen here in concert with piano duo Elizabeth and Marchel Bergmann (background) as a six-handed musical marvel in “Percussiano,” set to be performed at Riverside Christian Reformed Church on March 10. (Contributed Photo/John Zuidhof)
Vancouver comic artist Jazz Groden-Gilchrist is coming to Agassiz Library on March 12 for a World of Words VIrtual Writer’s Workshop about dynamic comic pages and layouts. (Contributed Photo/Jazz Groden Gilchrist)

Vancouver comic artist hosts workshop in Agassiz

Jazz Groden-Gilchrist teaches how to bring comics to life

Vancouver comic artist Jazz Groden-Gilchrist is coming to Agassiz Library on March 12 for a World of Words VIrtual Writer’s Workshop about dynamic comic pages and layouts. (Contributed Photo/Jazz Groden Gilchrist)
The works of the late local poet Joseph Miles have been compiled into a collection, “Words from Woodside.” (Contributed Photo/Sheila Miles)

‘Words from Woodside’ compiles local poet’s works

Joseph Miles was a beloved local poet, Mount Woodside resident

The works of the late local poet Joseph Miles have been compiled into a collection, “Words from Woodside.” (Contributed Photo/Sheila Miles)
(Dani Kent/The Observer)

PHOTOS: Lunar New Year ushers in Year of the Tiger

The Lunar New Year marked the Year of the Tiger, according to…

(Dani Kent/The Observer)
Agassiz artist Mike Ewards and Sto:lō artist Zack McNeill-Bobb stand with their collaborative sculpture called ‘Squaring the Circle,’ now on display in Agassiz’s Pioneer Park. The sculpture is part of the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the District of Kent and represents different cultures and viewpoints all living in one valley. Sabina Iseli-Otto photo

Culture and collaboration inspire new art installation in Agassiz

A new piece of art has quietly manifested in Agassiz’s Pioneer Park.…

Agassiz artist Mike Ewards and Sto:lō artist Zack McNeill-Bobb stand with their collaborative sculpture called ‘Squaring the Circle,’ now on display in Agassiz’s Pioneer Park. The sculpture is part of the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the District of Kent and represents different cultures and viewpoints all living in one valley. Sabina Iseli-Otto photo
FILE - A man, wearing a protective face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, is tattooed at Paul and Friends tattoo parlour in downtown Brussels, March 26, 2021. The European Union is imposing restrictions on the inks that tattoo artists can use as of Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. The EU says it is a necessary move to protect the health of consumers because thousands of chemical elements now in use can cause anything from allergic reactions to cancer. The tattoo industry complains it is unfairly targeted and is losing an essence part of its art. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Tattoo artist anger over new European rules goes beyond skin deep

Commission says alternatives to the banned products do exist

FILE - A man, wearing a protective face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, is tattooed at Paul and Friends tattoo parlour in downtown Brussels, March 26, 2021. The European Union is imposing restrictions on the inks that tattoo artists can use as of Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. The EU says it is a necessary move to protect the health of consumers because thousands of chemical elements now in use can cause anything from allergic reactions to cancer. The tattoo industry complains it is unfairly targeted and is losing an essence part of its art. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Agassiz artist Mike Ewards and Sto:lō artist Zack McNeill-Bobb stand with their collaborative sculpture called “Squaring the Circle,” now on display in Agassiz’s Pioneer Park. The sculpture is part of the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the District of Kent and represents different cultures and viewpoints all living in one valley. (Contributed Photo/Sabina Iseli-Otto)

CELEBRATING 125: Culture and collaboration inspire new art installation in Agassiz

‘Squaring the Circle’ now stands in Pioneer Park

Agassiz artist Mike Ewards and Sto:lō artist Zack McNeill-Bobb stand with their collaborative sculpture called “Squaring the Circle,” now on display in Agassiz’s Pioneer Park. The sculpture is part of the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the District of Kent and represents different cultures and viewpoints all living in one valley. (Contributed Photo/Sabina Iseli-Otto)