Vancouver Art Scene Tag

A self-guided tour.

Best times to adventure: Tuesday to Saturday (note: Mónica Reyes Gallery is closed Wed-Fri and Sun)

Getting here:

By Skytrain: Stop at Stadium-Chinatown station, walk 20 min East along W Pender St to Heatley Ave.

By Bus: Stop at Hastings and Princess.

Map of itinerary.

12pm: Begin your Art Walk Strathcona tour at Fazakas Gallery (688 Hastings St.) and take in some solo and group exhibitions presented by Tanúyap Project Space. Named in consultation with a Squamish elder, Tanúyap is a Squamish word meaning ‘welcome everyone.’ This name is a gesture of friendship and exchange, and an acknowledgement of the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations on which we are located.

1pm: Steps away, stop by Coastal Eden Cafe (643 Hastings) for a delicious sandwich and a coffee and get ready for a short walk to your next gallery.

1:30pm: Step into Mónica Reyes Gallery (602 Hastings St.) and get ready to experience In the Garden with works by Mina Totino and up and coming artist Maggee Day. Vibrant colours and strong brush strokes bring the feeling of the garden and nature indoors. Be transported to artist Maggee Day’s “Doorstep View”, which inspired bold and abstract views of the garden. 

2:00pm: Walking East four blocks down Hastings Street will bring you to Wil Aballe Art Projects (1129 E Hastings St.). Here, Randy Lee Cutler’s exhibition OTOH (On the Other Hand) uses collage that evokes hieroglyphic forms as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll also find a selection of works by under-recognized master of 1960’s black and white photography, Dave Heath. Both exhibits are part of this year’s Catpure Photography Festival program.

Both exhibits run until May 29. If visiting in June, you’ll experience The Cinematic: Group Exhibition.

3:00pm: Finish your afternoon with a craft beer at Superflux Beer (505 Clark Dr.). You can catch the Strathcona rays on their patio or grab a 6-pack to take home.

COVID-19 Safety

Galleries are observing COVID-19 protocols and request that you maintain physical distancing and wear a mask while visiting.

Fazakas Gallery – To help implement social distancing, visitors are encouraged to make an appointment to view current exhibitions. Call ahead at 604-876-2729 during opening hours, Tuesday to Saturday 11am-5pm.

Mónica Reyes Gallery – To ensure a COVID-19 safe visit book your gallery viewing appointment ahead through their website.  Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday 11am-2pm, and Saturday 12pm-4pm.

Wil Aballe Art Projects – Walk-ins are welcome but the number of guests permitted in the gallery at one time will be limited. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 12 to 5pm.

Ready for more Art Walk Strathcona experiences? Visit How to Enjoy Art Walk Strathcona Day 1. For information on the opening hours of all galleries and for how to enter the #ArtWalkStrathcona giveaway visit artwalkstrathcona.ca.

A self-guided tour.

Best times to adventure: Tuesday to Saturday

Getting here:

By Skytrain: Hop off at Waterfront Station and walk East towards Railtown.

By Bus: Stop at Hastings and Dunlevy and walk North towards Railway Street. 

Map of itinerary.

12pm: Make your way into Railtown to fuel up before your Art Walk Strathcona adventure. You can enjoy the walk down Railway Street and make your first stop at Railtown Cafe (397 Railway St.) for a smoothie and a twice-baked almond croissant.

12:15pm: Begin your art exploration less than a block away at Howard495 (495 Railway St, 2nd Floor) and get ready to take in Brobdingnagian, a photo collage exhibition by Toronto-based artist Aaron Jones. The exhibit, which is part of the Capture Photography Festival, mixes mediums like magazines, advertisements, newspapers, books, and personal photos and is inspired by the forests and rural landscapes of Southern Ontario.

Brobdingnagian runs until June 26.

1:15pm: Hop over two blocks and treat yourself to a pour-over coffee to-go at Pallet Coffee Roasters (395 Alexander St) and turn the corner to Dunlevy St.

1:30pm: At Monte Clark’s incredible new gallery space (53 Dunlevy Ave) you’ll experience the work of Vilhelm Sundin, who explores the intersection between photography and cinema. The exhibition titled Soon, uses sound, computer graphics, and traditional lens-based media to offer reflections on being alive in a time of constant technological acceleration.

Soon runs until May 29. If visiting in June, you’ll experience an exhibition by Jonathan Syme, Adult Contemporary.

2:30pm: Finish your afternoon by heading next door to Belgard Kitchen and picking up one of their take-home picnic boxes with some Belgard Greens and local craft beers or wine. A short walk away, CRAB Park makes for a perfect picnic spot nearby.

COVID-19 Safety

Galleries are observing COVID-19 protocols and request that you maintain physical distancing and wear a mask while visiting.

Howard495 – Currently all visits to the space are by appointment only to help implement social distancing. Call ahead at 604-251-1379 during opening hours, Tuesday to Saturday 11am-4pm.

Monte Clark – Walk-ins are welcome but the number of guests permitted in the gallery at one time will be limited. To avoid waiting, you may request an appointment during their open hours, Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5:30pm, by emailing info@monteclarkgallery.com.

Ready for more Art Walk Strathcona experiences? Visit How to Enjoy Art Walk Strathcona Day 2. For information on the opening hours of all galleries, visit artwalkstrathcona.ca.