It’s no secret that we at Blu are big fans of East Vancouver. Combine this love for the neighbourhood with our creative drive and love of design, and you get an event that embodies three passions that are at the core of the Blu collective. And it’s clear we’re not the only ones around here fostering these passions - with an audience of 25,000 the Eastside Culture Crawl has grown to represent the heart and soul of the East Van creative community.

During this event the doors to more than 400 artists’ studios will be open to the public. The Culture Crawl focuses on the area bounded by Main St, 1st Ave., Victoria Dr, and the waterfront – one of the most grittily trendy and inspiring areas of Vancouver. We cannot wait to admire the work of the talented jewellers, sculptors, furniture makers, painters, potters, printmakers, weavers, photographers and glassblowers that call this nook of our city home. No matter the medium, each piece is united by its origin in the spaces and places of East Vancouver – and that’s something we think is pretty darn awesome.

Even more awesome is Studio 101, which will give students in grades 5-7 at Britannia Elementary the opportunity to participate in free workshops with professional artists. Given that many schools on Vancouver’s Eastside are designated as inner city, there is often little exposure to the visual arts. Even better is that the Eastside Culture Crawl Society (ECCS) provides funding for students to purchase a piece of artwork that will be exhibited at the school, and serve as a permanent source of inspiration. 

Among the talented artists participating in the Eastside Culture Crawl are a few friends near and dear to Blu, including:

Christina Norberg:

Christina’s work explores our connection to nature and ourselves as we navigate the increasing complex technological future. Exploring this dichotomy, she uses surreal and natured-inspired imagery that is both beautiful and uplifting.

975 Vernon Dr

Image courtesy of http://www.christinanorberg.com/

Leanne Christie:

Leanne’s oil paintings perfectly capture the often hidden emotions of Vancouver’s cityscapes. Her work will challenge your perspective on the ordinary views that we experience everyday, and will inspire you to fall in love with our city all over again.

233 Main St

Image courtesy of http://leannechristie.com/

Arnt Arntzen:

Arnt creates stunning furniture inspired by the British Columbian West Coast. Much of the wood he uses is collected from windfall trees right here in Vancouver, and many of the metal components come from recycled aircraft parts. Fusing these two elements, Arnt creates innovative objects that are built to stand the test of time in terms of both structure and design.

800 Keefer St

Image  Courtesy of http://www.arnt-arntzen-bdwj.squarespace.com/

The 19th Annual East Side Culture Crawl is happening: