Featured Artist – Ken Foster Ken Foster
Ken Foster’s Urban Art is unique in its dimensionality and material representations. Much of Foster’s art is created on found materials from the street such as construction signs and foam-board. His distinctive style and street content makes him one of Vancouver’s favorite artists. An award-winning documentary has been filmed about Ken and his incredible talent. These art pieces are bound to appreciate over time as well as add edgy East Vancouver sophistication to any room. If you are interested in buying some of Ken’s art you can email info@nehemiahvancity.com & put “Ken Fosters Art” in the subject line or simply call the Roosevelt Hotel in the DTES & Ask for Ken.
Here are some additional write ups & links to Ken
http://www.creativetechnology.org/events/ken-fosters-punk-rock-xmas
http://www.flickr.com/groups/skor/
http://dmlartauction.blogspot.com/2007/08/first-nations-art.html
http://www.beyondrobson.com/arts/2010/06/vancouver_street_heart_ken_foster_skor/
http://www.straight.com/article-137200/winning-vancouver-filmmakers-changed-world-five-minutes
http://www.metafilter.com/91740/Vancouvers-Basquiat
Featured Artist – Joel Battle:
Joel Battle
Last Friday I had the privilege of seeing Joel Battle Perform at Cafe Deux Soleils right here in Vancouver. It takes allot for me to get excited about seeing a band or even attempt to invite my friends to view a potentially hazardous artist at a local venue on a Friday night but all cynicism aside I was blown away with this performer.Joel Expels true authentic talent that is rare & also refreshing.
Born and raised in the Greater Vancouver area, Joel Battle was once the bandleader for indie rock outfit The February March. “Street Signs”, a gritty Springsteen-esque rocker about Vancouver’s drug-addicted and down-and-out neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside, received extensive play on CBC Radio 1 and other major stations across Canada. Two cross-Canada tours and a jaunt down the West Coast of the USA later, Joel began writing quieter folk songs on his own. “It was a natural progression” says Joel. “I got my heart broken while living in the east end. It was then that country and folk music made sense to me.” As a solo artist, Joel Battle is beginning to redefine himself and his music. In 2007, he quietly released the EP Battlefields, recorded in his Downtown Eastside apartment. The result was some very personal songwriting which grappled with spiritual brokenness in the city’s slums and detailed the loss of ideal love in the great and golden prairies. Joel continued to work in the Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside as a mental health worker for the following three years. “A good friend of mine told me not to force the stuff you see at work into your songs.” Joel explains. “It might be better just to leave it out all together. But if it bubbles up to the surface, then it’s probably natural. And maybe it’s a story that needs to be told.” To create his newest record, Joel assembled a new band, enlisting the talents of country singer Karly Warkentin (vocals), Nick Stecz (drums), Steven Drake (guitar, percussion), Elise Bouer (fiiddle), Robert Watt (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Patrick Jacobson (bass), and Jesse Griffith (pedal steel). These enthusiastic players supported Battle’s confident and wistful performance and humourous, lighthearted ”everyman” persona. A full-length LP, Slow Learner,was released in early 2010.
This collection of ten songs was recorded at Joel’s grandfather’s ranch on Whitbey Island, WA with prolific producer Jesse Gander (Bison BC, The Doers, Operation Makeout) from Vancouver’s Hive Studios. Mixed by Steven Drake (The Odds, Tragically Hip, 54-40) and mastered by Greg Calbi (Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon), the result is Battle’s best work to date – engaging compositions telling stories real or imagined, heartfelt and true. Slow Learner has received extensive radio play on CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 3 (”Blue Dollar”) and Vancouver’s Shore 104.3FM, which had “East Streets” in heavy rotation for months and recently recorded an interview and performance. “Shore 104 really supported me, and they would say stuff like I’m Vancouver’s Bruce Springsteen on the air and I would blush. I dunno bout the comparison, but I’m definitely a manly man who sings from his heart about the dark side of the city with a jean jacket on, so yeah, I guess there’s some merrit to it.” Joel has recently relocated to Toronto. where he’ll be playing solo acoustic shows while he assembles a new band. After that, he plans to tour the US and Canada in support of “Slow Learner”, giving his new material a chance to breathe on the road before entering the studio again. “I’ve written a lot of songs in my life,” says Joel. “That is my greatest attribute. I’m always writing.” Slow Learner is now available on iTunes. iTunes link. http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/slow-learner/id369562329 or Click on the link below to purchase “Slow Learner” from CD baby.http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/JoelBattle/from/viglink
PRESS: one of the “10 best albums” list – July 2010 Vancouver Province Newspaper “CD of the Week”. May 11th -Vancouver BC Province Newspaper “Successfully avoids the musical and lyrical cliches of typical folk and alt country records” -Beatroute Magazine, Vancouver BC, Calgary, Edmonton AB “Joel is like Vancouver’s own Bruce Springsteen.” -Shore 104FM Radio, Vancouver BC “Joel Battle has attracted mucho CBC attention and comparisons to Springsteen with gritty, issue-driven songs.” -Now Magazine , Toronto ON .
You can also check out Joel’s My Space here – http://www.myspace.com/joel_battle
Featured Artist- Lawrence Cyril White
Lawrence Cyril White
Lawrence Cyril White is a self taught artist from Port Angeles Washington USA, inspired by 23 years of skateboarding and everyday life.He always tends to be drawing, painting and just seeing everything in an artistic way, although he never actually got into art until 2006.Prior to 2006 he spent his time on the streets doing graffiti and skateboarding.Since then he has had six showings.
- 2006 at Wannabe in Seattle WA
- 2007 at itty bitty in Port Angeles, WA
- 2007 at Anderson Gallery Port Angeles, WA
- 2008 At Itty bitty in Port Angeles, WA
- 2009 at the Anderson Gallery in Port Angeles, Wa
- 2010 at itty bitty in Port Angeles, Wa
He has also had an interview In Juxtapoz Magazine in 2009
Lawrence was hired on to Vandal Sails in 2007 to 2010 to create the image of the company. During this time he was the concept artist to the art director, thrown strait in to a major company with no knowledge of the sport.
He has also worked with Homebrew skateboards ,Lib Technologies , and many others.
His artwork combines every medium that he can get his hands on at the time.
A word from the Artist –“Hi My Name is Lawrence Cyril White I am a 33 year old Visual Artist. In my free time I do art…… or skateboard……..allot……I hang out with my wonderful Girlfriend+our cat and just listen to music.. But all of those things always end up in me drawing or something like that..I also dabble in tattoos and photography..It also seems that my spare time is mainly taken by looking for work..I am currently working on finding the right project to start, I had this one idea to make a “Sculpture” of old and broken skateboards then painting a different character on each one…but I haven’t gotten on that one because I know it will take forever and there would be nowhere to put it..I have a really hard time finding places for my artwork…..Most of the time I have to destroy pieces just so that I can store them …..Its got to be some crazy destruction of beauty”.
Check out these Links For more on Lawrence
Here are a few of my Favorite Pieces from his Portfolio
"Bath time" by Lawrence Cyril White
"Bipolar bear" by Lawrence Cyril White
"Ass apple" by Lawrence Cyril White
Featured Artist – Vicki Rae
- Vicki Rae
Artist Bio ……………………..
“My name is Vicki Rae. I am 28 years old, I live in Vancouver BC Canada and my passion is painting. I have received training at the Lorenzo di Medici art institute, in Florence Italy and attended a design program at Capilano University, North Vancouver, BC. I have traveled extensively, which is where the imagery for some of my earlier work comes from. However, I get the most joy out of painting intuitively, or from a place of raw emotion.I want to transmit an experience through my art, take the viewer on a journey.I am telling a story as it unfolds and is revealed to me.I have learned to turn ugliness and spiritual death into beauty and new life.In order to survive I transform fear into fascination and then to creation.I dive into and explore the inexplicable mysteries of life, rise out of the depths, and bring forth a message in the form of a painting or poem; a message of beauty, new understanding, and hope. It is my belief the we are spiritual beings having a human experience; and it’s pretty dramatic. “Deviations from the norm, a slight twist of humor, and an altered perspective; see the world through my eyes.” – RAVE”
Vicki is having a Solo Exhibition on TUESDAY Oct. 26, 6pm-10pm at A Small World Shop and Gallery 2120 Commercial Drive Vancouver where she will be selling her Paintings/Prints Here is a link to her FaceBook Event http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=154683924555026 the Exhibit will be displayed until the End of December 2010.
Here are a few examples of Vicki’s work
Robotuskin by Vicki Rae
Reclaim Me by Vicki Rae
Other Links for Vicki
http://www.youtube.com/user/rave369
http://vickirae.myartchannel.com/about (for prints)
Featured Artist ” Sam Evans”
Visual Artist Sam Evans Aka Gary Phillips
Bio
Sam Evans is Gary Phillips. A visual artist based in Adelaide, South Australia. Since 2005 Evans has been working as a community artist facilitating aerosol art programs for youth at risk. 2005 saw Evans mentored under renowned public artist James Cochran. In 2008 he completed a sought after traineeship at ESP production house, designing graphics for the education sector, and later that year was commissioned by the Catholic church to paint a life size statue of Jesus as part of World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney, Australia. Now in 2010 Evans continues his work with the community, whilst turning his focus to the studio, with successful solo and group exhibitions already under his belt.
He says…
“Drawing for me is like falling asleep and dreaming a good dream, then waking to find my hands are cramped and I have a sore neck.
Painting is like how I imagine parenthood, it’s a struggle but one day the kids will pay the bills. Sculpture for me is like drawing, but with more blisters. ”
Links
blog – www.artofsamEVANS.com
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=593686843
Myspace – www.myspace.com/glocky
Here are a few of his Visual Art Pieces
Riddle Book Blues by Sam Evans
Sketch on Envelope by Sam Evans
Featured Artist “Teknique” aka TwentyfivetoChrist
Bio – Liam Rehman aka Teknique “25toChrist” was born Oct 1st 1981 in Vancouver B.C. Canada. Growing up in a single parent home in Government housing, he ineherited anger and unforgiveness from his mother after his father abandoned them. He grew up with no father figure and began following his peers. As a teenager, he experimented with drugs and alcohol to supress the pain an escape reality. From 8th grade to 12th grade, he attended 4 different highschools in east vancouver. His favorite things were playin ball and listening to music. 2pac, outkast, dmx, and bone thugs n harmony where some of the major influences in his life. Freestylin became an art that he used to express his emotions and life events. Some events where heart ache from female relationship which he writes about in many songs. Sex was just another outlet to gain momentary happiness in the life of pain and emptiness he was livin in. At 19 years of age. He began to elevate his stick up game. He always would rob and steall from anyone or anywhere he could. But at 19, he was presented with a bigger level of heists/ liks. One inpreticular got him caught. He was charged and convicted with armed robbery. Expecting to serve 5 years. He got 2 years less a day on house arrest. After getting released he still persued momentary highs from sex and drugs and $$$. Everything was still the same until his cuzon came to visit from decatur Atlanta GA. His cuzon Justin Mason aka Juice Mason, told him about Jesus Christ the Messiah. After that day of accepting Jesus as his personal Lord and savior at age 25, He’s been goin by the phrase 25toChrist.
Video Interview With “Teknique” aka TwentyfivetoChrist
Links to his Music
Www.reverbnation.com/25tochrist
Featured Artist- Ezra Kwizera
About Ezra –Quoted from his MySpace Profile http://www.myspace.com/ezrakj
“My name is Ezra Kwizera I am turning 29 this year, am a music producer, songwriter, and a vocal and hand drum teacher. I have also been leading praise and worship for 10 years now, in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, the United Staes and Canada. I am married to a beautiful woman Mona Kwizera and we now have our first baby: John Werner Kwizera – yeeeeee! I am so proud of him and thankful for what God is doing in my life. This is a family band, we lead praise and worship, evangelize and work with the poor, we’re called to serve not to be served. We have a recording studio called Narrow Road Productions and a ministry called Narrow Road Ministries, we are blessed with what God has called us to. Man there is allot to talk about… Peace……”
Check out Ezra’s next local show “SOUNDS OF AFRICA” here in Vancouver at Nyala Restaurant at Main Street & King Edward 4148 Main Street Vancouver, BC on September 4 · 8:30pm – 11:00pm.
Facebook Event link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116131401770318&ref=mf
You can also sample his music here http://www.myspace.com/ezrakj
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