For eight Sundays this summer, East Vancouver connects visual artists with the community. Artful Sundays an outdoor art market in Napier Square (Napier at Commercial Drive) began on July 10th and continues each Sunday throughout the month of August from 12:00pm-4:00pm.

The idea began when a few Eastside artists talked about ways to offer more venues in this community for artists. Napier Square, a city Greenways Project created in 2000 and adjacent to the Britannia Community Centre, seemed like the perfect outdoor setting.

Napier Square Greenway was conceived by a local community group, Britannia Neighbours, who wanted to create a more inviting entrance to the community center and also provide more green spaces in East Vancouver. The group proposed that the half block of Napier be transformed into an urban plaza and park. This project met with great interest at City Hall, especially in the Greenways Branch of the Engineering Department. Working with a publically developed design and the expertise of City Engineering, neighbours and friends planted shrubs, perennials and annuals to make a new and welcome urban garden. Today, Napier Square is a busy avenue into the community center, a spot to sit and rest and a multi-use space for musical, dramatic and creative events like Artful Sundays.

Plenty of art making at Commercial Drive's Artful Sundays. Photo credit: Pat Davitt.

As with any new event, getting the word out was the first task. I put up posters, emailed artists I knew, talked to those in the media, got listed in various publications and also participated in the Commercial Drive Festival on June 19th with A Call To Artists table. The response was very positive. We are hoping to make this an annual event, providing one more wonderful reason we choose to live and work in this neighbourhood.

We have featured works in all media including painting, metal works, printmaking, collage, photography, sculpture, mixed media, leather works, paper arts, glass, etc. It is a non-juried event, showcasing the many and diverse talents we have in this community. Even though organizing an outdoor event has its challenges, it does provide a casual, comfortable setting for artists and the public.

We also feature artists working on site. We have had demonstrations in acrylic painting by Philip Stephen, and also childrens' activities by various artists. It has been a wonderful opportunity for adults and children to watch artists at work, to ask questions about their art making and also buy, and in some cases win, an original piece of art made in this community. One Sunday in August will feature Avenue for/des Arts, hosting a free interactive display table for creative play.

To reserve a table in August, interested artists can leave a message for Katherine Polgrain at 604-718-5800, or pick up an application form at the Britannia Information Centre.

Thanks to Pat Davitt from Britannia Neighbours.