REGIONAL REPORT
ART VANCOUVER
“ I got the idea to ask Hollyburn if they would be interested in monetizing their walls by putting art up ,” Lisa said . “ And they said , ‘ Yeah .’ And I wasn ’ t planning on doing it myself . I thought they would do it . I was just giving them the concept . And then they didn ’ t have someone that would be able to figure it out , and they asked me if I wanted to .”
To date , this has turned into an 11-year partnership . Lisa has been able to exhibit hundreds of artists at Hollyburn , including many that have gone on to exhibit at Art Vancouver .
It was Lisa ’ s experience in running a gallery and working as a fashion designer and artist that gave her the big idea for Art Vancouver and VVAF .
But it was her children that helped make it possible . Each comes with their special skill set . Skyla is the organizational and analytical one , who helps make sure everyone knows where they are supposed to be and that the books are balanced . Taisha works directly with the many volunteers , who share an equal passion for the organization . Talin brings in his expertise from years working on Vancouver film sets to help make sure the physical needs are met . And Lisa ’ s husband , Matt , runs the front of house , welcoming people into the exhibition and working as security to ensure everything runs smoothly .
Each has been influenced by art . Taisha and Skyla both paint and Talin is an accomplished photographer . Together , they have made Art Vancouver possible .
At the heart of Art Vancouver is the desire to connect people through art .
“ When you go to a gallery , it ’ s usually just the gallery . You don ’ t get to meet the artist . But more people fall in love with a piece of artwork when you ’ re talking to the artist , and hearing the story behind what made them create what they did .”
Just like those two girls selling candles and talking with their neighbours on the side of the street , the goal of Art Vancouver is to foster that relationship .
They are not finished yet . Not by a long shot .
“ We ’ re literally just getting started , that ’ s the amazing thing ,” Skyla said . “ Because they say overnight success takes at least ten years and we ’ re only at seven , so , we ’ re just getting started .”
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