As if the breweries and glorious blue sky weren't reason enough for a November jaunt in East Vancouver, this past weekend the popular Eastside Culture Crawl offered another great excuse to make the annual pilgrimage to this part of town. In the same come-on-in spirit that characterizes Vancouver's Eastside, this local craft fair, which focuses on small and independent ateliers, celebrates the work of some of the best Vancouver-based talent.
The 2015 edition introduced some interesting newcomers showing artistry and innovation in their work. Many of them are designing modern forms, but still using traditional craft techniques, while others are embracing new media and creative experimentation.
Compared to some design fairs that tend to take themselves a bit too seriously, the Culture Crawl brings together manufacturers whose handmade products are accessible to anyone visiting the fair. The haphazard mix of buzzed-about participants and totally unknown artists who unveil their work for the first time at the Crawl clearly contributes to its ever-growing popularity since it first debuted back in 1994. That and, of course, the fact that the Culture Crawl's contagious spirit helps transport all the Crawlers to a pre-Christmas mood.
This year's Crawl delighted us with a good selection of local and handmade gift ideas (and wish list items) for the forthcoming holiday season. Here are some highlights:
Anyuta Gusakova Studio
The Comedian
Gypsum, polymer, acrylic. $5,000
Trained in European and classical arts, Anyuta works in fine arts media. Her bold sculptures blur the line between disciplines and possess a touch of Picassian surrealism that result in highly poetic objects. Her subjects merge European mythology with Japanese comics and are meticulously enriched with precious decorations.
“I lived different cultures that have impressed me and I wanted to reinterpret their spirit with my vision. But mainly, I just make toys for myself and have fun with them.”
Lynn Falconer
Physical Attachments
Bronze, $188
Designed by sculptor Lynn Falconer, these versatile design-art objects are handmade and cast in 1lb of solid bronze. Physical Attachments took shape from a series of studies Falconer created by observing the poses of local burlesque dancers, and can be used as wall hooks, jewelry holders or decorative pieces.
“These pieces happened naturally as a result of my desire to bring my sculptures into every home. Everyone should be able to have a little piece of art in their lives.”
East End Woodwork
Chopping board
Black walnut with maple strip $65
Originally from Manitoba, Brett Yaris recently took the plunge into his own woodworking business with a first covetable collection that launched at this year's Crawl. East End Woodwork offers well-designed contemporary furniture and housewares at prices that won't break the bank.
“I enjoy creating boards that look like a piece of art. This board has a drastic contrast of colours with the darkness and beautiful grain figure of the black walnut combined with the brightness of the thin strip of maple. They are durable and will last forever.”
Brad Turner
Tråden lamp, $1100
Glass, fabric cord, bulb
Another newcomer to the Crawl was Brad Turner with his mesmerizing Tråden lights. Just when we thought we couldn't see another glass lighting design that would surpass the ridiculously amazing (yet slightly unattainable Bocci), Turner has to up the ante. Turner fell in love with this seductive material and how the relationship between light and glass works in Norway where he did his residency. The Tråden lamp is formed of a handcrafted glass shade and a classic style bulb at the end of a fabric coated cord – a Nordic influence with a Canadian twist.
“I come from a very sporty family and glassmaking share a lot of similarities – for me it was love at first sight.”
Ben Barber Studio
Table.1, $1500
Eco-certified MDF
Ben Barber Studio brings a well-designed and Vancouver-made alternative that allows homeowners to give their space a look that has a point of difference. Their high-grade and eco-friendly MDF Table. 1 will put a spring-like pop of pastel colour into any room.
"I wanted to remove all ornamental features and replace it with graphic smooth lines. The design of the Table.1 is simple yet extremely effective in providing optical excitement. Due to the highly energetic field of colourful finishes provided." Each colour creates a different mood that can fit a variety of personalities! It should scream fun.”
Copilot Studios
Wood Frames, $1300
Industrial designer James McDonald walked out of a relationship with his girlfriend with just a piece of exotic wood. Captivated by its beauty and feel, he embarked on a fascinating new love affair with rare woods that soon turned to producing exclusive, upmarket eyewear. Copilot studio makes cool, refined and elegant frames for those with a discerning eye and appreciation for beautiful workmanship.
“To me the most important is the story behind the piece of wood I'm using. Each frame is created from a unique piece of wood and bespoke to the person I am making it for. It becomes a reflection of their stories and personalities.”
Abubilladesign
Little Stroller, $180
Pine wood
Necessity is the mother of invention, and Clotilde Orozco and Alejandro Sanguino, two Spanish architects and designers who like to create with their own hands, put their brains to work when they moved to a new house in Vancouver and didn't have much to furnish it than a pile of local wood and bunch of ingenious ideas. Abubilladesign studio showed their work for the first time at the Crawl and their Little Stroller undoubtedly stole the show.
“We made the stroller for our little daughter and it received so many compliments by everyone who saw it that we just had to share it with the world.”
Grey
Cat Stackable Silver Ring
Silver
$300 a set of five; $80 each
Becky Chan, another newcomer to the Crawl, makes jewelry that feels like perfect mini-objects of architecture. The artist worked in an architecture firm for 10 years and drew inspiration from her experience. The Cat Stackable Silver ring is a result of her fascination with cats and lego.
“I've always been interested in making sculpture and wearable art. I ventured away from architecture to find another forum to communicate, to reach a wider audience, and to create different scales of interaction with objects”.
Basic
Banner Backpack
Up cycled Banner signage, $49
When the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup soccer event in Vancouver came to an end, the organizers didn't know what to do with the 2,500 square feet of leftover banner signage. Basic came to the rescue with these light, strong, upcycled and creative backpacks. Their bags come in colours and patterns that work nicely to any outfit and, above all, are pretty cool.
"At Basic Design we are redefining the value of waste by giving a second life to landfill-bound materials and creating upcycled products with new life.”
• Cristina Belmonte moved to Vancouver in 2009 after living in London for 10 years. Whilst in London she specialised in global communications for the luxury market, working with design, architecture, real estate and lifestyle clients and as a PR consultant for some important architectural brands such as Richard Rogers, John McAslan, NBBJ, RTKL and Broadway Malyan.
