Vancouver Biennale Public Ceremony: Weaving Cultural Identities, Threads Through Time

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Vancouver Biennale Public Ceremony: Weaving Cultural Identities, Threads Through Time, 2019

The Vancouver Biennale invites the public to Vanier Park on Thursday, June 27th for the ceremonial installation of a massive multi-panel woven prayer rug at Paradise Has Many Gates, the chain-link sculptural mosque by Saudi artist Ajlan Gharem. The weaving is the culmination of the project Threads Through Time, which brought renowned weavers together in one collaborative artwork. This momentous installation will kick off the Biennale’s Multiculturalism Day free community event, The Real Canadian Potluck Picnic, which includes a full line-up of culturally inspired food, music, and dance. New event program details below. Everyone is invited to attend.  Date: Thursday, June 27th (Canadian Multiculturalism Day) Time: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Location: Vanier Park (Sen’ákwat village), Paradise Has Many Gates You Bring: A picnic dinner, blankets or lawn chairs, friends and family. All ages welcome. 

This is a FREE community event.

Event program details:

• Ceremonial First Nations drum procession with participating weavers carrying the massive prayer rug from the MOV to Paradise Has Many Gates for installation by members of the Islamic community.
• Music and dance performances. Artists include Red Fox Drum Group (powwow drums), Motion Artistry (Chinese traditional dance), Nori Akagi (Japanese drums), Flamenco Rosario, Breaking Boundaries (Cumbia and Vallenato band).
• Multiple food providers serving samples of culinary taste sensations from around the world including the Philippines, Vietnam, East Africa, Iran, France, India, China, Poland, Russia, Japan, Croatia, and the Bahamas.

• The first ever sunset lighting of Paradise Has Many Gates.

“Our city is a magical combination of ethnicities, histories, orientations, and perspectives, all of which culminate in the vibrant community we’re so proud to be a part of”, says Barrie Mowatt, President and Founder of the Vancouver Biennale.  “I wanted to create an event that brought several cultural food, music, dance and art organizations together in a way that would celebrate the many facets of who we are as a community. That’s what the Biennale is all about; celebrating and transforming public space and connecting communities through arts and culture. What better way than hosting a picnic on a beautiful summer evening at one of the most beautiful backdrops ever”.