Interwoven Stories: Textiles, Costumes, Cultures – A Multicultural Fest

Costumes and textiles reflect thousands of years of human creativity. With the aims of expressing facets of British Columbia’s extraordinarily diverse population and improving understanding of our many artistic and cultural legacies, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver presents Interwoven Stories: Textiles, Costumes, Cultures – A Multicultural Fest.

Curated by Jean Kares, an exhibition of multicultural costumes and textiles lent by individuals and organizations will take place at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum from Jan. 17 to Feb. 15.

The exhibition includes lenders’ stories of family and cultural connections, travel memories, and experiences of living in other countries. Viewers will discover how cultural beliefs and traditions are communicated and shared through textiles historically and today, both within and between specific cultural communities.

This project is partially funded by the City of Vancouver. Musician Alan Lau composed theme music for the Fest. Partnering organizations include the Canadian Society for Asian Arts, Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, Vancouver Italian Cultural Centre, and Vancouver Hanfu Culture Society.

Other activities that will take place during the fest are: 

Jan. 24, 2 to 4 p.m.: Hands-on workshop of fabric art and tapestry taught by artist June Yun. 

Jan. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Symposium on textile art with speakers Jean Kares, Dr. Angela Clarke (Vancouver Italian Cultural Centre), Liza Wajong, and Trish Graham. The topics will cover Chinese, Italian, Indonesian and African textiles.

Visitors are encouraged to wear garments that reflect cultural traditions – their own or someone else’s – to the opening reception on Jan. 17, at 2 to 4 p.m. at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, 555 Columbia Street, Vancouver, B.C.