Artful Sundays
The Art of Tea
Guest contribution by Katherine Polgrain
Image by Katherine Polgrain
Unfortunately, due to the strike in Vancouver, this project is temporarily on hold.
Celebrating its 3rd year, Artful Sundays has returned to Napier Square (Napier at Commercial Drive in Vancouver) every Sunday, July 29-Sept 2, from noon-5pm. Hosted by Britannia Community Centre, it is an outdoor, visual arts market featuring local artists, music and also The Art Of Tea.
This year The Art Of Tea tent will feature tea tastings, tea demonstrations, a tea leaf reader, teas and teaware for sale and artists working with this theme. Each week a tea vendor and a feature artist will be on site. Over the six week period, the community will get to see various works on canvas, handpainted teaware, mixed media collage, greeting cards and stationery, an antique tea cup collection and more! Using everyday, familiar objects such as teacups, teapots and teaware, these classic shapes are transformed beyond their practical uses into works of art.
For centuries, drinking tea has been a cultural tradition with specific customs and rituals. From the Japanese tea ceremony to the Russian samovar, it has also influenced and defined artistic expression in a variety of mediums. It has been the subject matter of many artists including Mary Cassatt, The Cup Of Tea (1879); Henri Matisse Tea (1919) and Jackson Pollock, The Tea Cup (1946). Vancouver artist Famous Empty Sky will show mixed media collage works (Sunday Aug 19) of Kuan Yin: Iron Goddess Of Mercy. Ti Kuan Yin (a kind of oolong tea) will also be available. The story of Kuan Yin is a fascinating study in the origins of tea and the many ways it has influenced art including carvings, statuary, photography and jewellery.
Internationally, the culture of tea has been explored throughout art history. From Japanese printmaking to paintings of the Victorian era, it is a subject that continues to inspire. The public is invited to see how local artists work with this theme and participate in a unique East Vancouver tea experience!
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