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Wayde Compton shares history of the African American community for W2 Soul Garden in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
Soul Gardens Public Art Project
Time: July 5, 2011 to September 21, 2011
Location: W2 Media Cafe, DTES locations
Event Type: project, exhibition, workshop
Organized By: W2 Woodwards
Event Description
Soul Gardens is a W2 community public art project that investigates the cultural history of the Downtown Eastside as told through stories of food, gardening and community.
A collaboration between five muralists and five artist researchers, the project draw heavily on individual and shared narratives within founding DTES cultural groups including the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations, and African, Chinese, Japanese and European settlers. In addition to a large public mural, Soul Gardens will create a dynamic online interface inviting individuals to share recipes, stories, photos and other information about how food has played a role in shaping their experience of Vancouver.
Muralists: Jordan Bent, Indigo, Scott Sueme, Melanie Shambach, Take5. Researchers: Wayde Compton, Lani Russwurm, Anne Marie Slater, Sid Tan and Cease Wyss. Project Coordinators: Irwin Oostindie, Lianne Payne.
Look here for further event updates on the project as they are announced, including long table dinners, recipe card collections, and public talks and workshops on cultural heritage and community history.
With support from the City of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary Grants Program and the participation of the Government of Canada. Artwork design: Jordan Bent.
Below are photos and videos of Wayde Compton sharing history of the African American community in the DTES from a writer and historian’s perspective.
Devon Martin aka Mr Metro’s music and slam poetry class at LifeSkills Centre in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
LifeSkills Centre’s Music and Poetry Class on Fridays 1-3
With Devon Martin aka Mr. Metro – professional music producer on keyboard and beats!
John Samaha – Character Actor, Comedian and Presenter teaches acting workshop to students in Vancouver
HIV Testing for Status Campaign at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
From What’s Your Status
Together we can radically stop the spread of HIV and AIDS through identifying participants who are positive. The earlier you learn your status and start treatment you significantly lower the risk of transmitting this disease to someone else.
Finding out your HIV status is positive used to be thought of as a death sentence. This is no longer the case because of pioneers in medical research like Dr. Julio Montaner and the BC Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS who have developed a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for people living with the disease that can prolong healthy living for a lifetime and reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Along with this ground breaking research, a Point of Care test (similar to a test a diabetic would take) has the ability to screen for the virus in 60 seconds.
We are initiating a HIV testing, treatment and education campaign in the downtown eastside community (DTES). This program is a pilot project linking peers within our DTES to information and resources that they need and are available to them within the PHS programs that currently exist as well as special summer outdoor events.
Our objectives are to test and educate as many people from the DTES community as HIV screening is an important part of preventative health care for everyone. We also intend to link people living with a HIV positive status to all the resources and support that are available to them in their community.
Racoon at night in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
AHA MEDIA films a Racoon eating chips in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
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