CURRENT EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
The James Black Gallery exhibits work in many mediums and forms. The space has a combination of elements that allow artists to be playful with the design and the usage of the space. We currently host indoor/outdoor workshops that are organized by community members, production rentals, and exhibitions.
Winter Pod Residency: Hosting home(s)
Dec 14
2-5PM: Migrante BC Art Build
Join @migrantebc / International Migrants Alliance in art build session to get ready for upcoming International Migrants Day and a information / educational orientation on Migrant Issues 📍
Migration, immigration, and crossing borders will always be the most enduring stories of what it means to be humans, especially at this point in time. 🗺️
6:30-9PM: Cathartic Crafts & Conversation Workshop
Join the artists of “Hosting Home (s)” in a fusion between education, storytelling and artistic craft; a night of safe and impactful conversations 📚
We will unpack these ideas through making our own miniatures versions of a home using recyclable materials, magazine cut outs and other arts supplies. 🎨
Think box crafts and dioramas!
PAST EVENTS 2024
Artist Pop Up! LOVE APPEAL
February 2nd, 2024 4-8PM
Want to be surrounded by love? Want to support local artists? Come join JBG studiomates @damarra.grace and @jebs.junk
SEEDS OF SOLIDARITY:
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER FOR PALESTINE
FEBRUARY 24TH, 2024
Workshops 11am-5pm
Art Market & Live Music 5pm-10pm
No fee to enter the market & free educational handouts provided while supplies last. Raffle prizes to be announced.
Vendors, workshops, and sponsors to be announced soon!
This event is 100% volunteer-led, venue is donated, and 100% proceeds donated to PCRF. To volunteer, become a sponsor or vendor, donate a raffle prize, or ask questions cocreatives.info@gmail.com, or reach out to @cocreatives.projects on instagram.
WATERLOGGED
February 16th, 2024 7PM
Come and immerse yourself in the colourful underwater experience at James's Black Gallery. Georgia Lavelle explores how the beauty of the ocean and furniture design combine to create a fun and vibrant experience playing with silhouettes, colour, and woodworking.
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Hotmothertruckers Movie Night
February 25th, 2024 5PM - 9PM
join chimgee in celebrating her events ig by screening one of their favourite movie duos: wallace and gromit!!! i love claymation and i love getting together with you all so i hope you come celebrate hotmothertruckers with me by getting cozy, snacking, and just straight chilling !!!
Entry by donation or esim to gaza!
The Leap Day Show
February 29th, 2024 Doors at 7:30PM
cute lil queer Leap Day comedy show at The James Black Gallery by @cozy.comedy. entry by e-sim donation
6th Annual General Meeting
March 4th, 2024 630-8PM
The James Black Gallery invites all members and interested community to our sixth annual general meeting. We'll be appointing new board members, discussing the budget, and voting on any new changes to our structure. After celebrating our accomplishments we'll mingle nearby at Pressure Point.
AnARTchists Art Build for Palestine
Hosted between January to May 2024
Stay Up To Date by following @anartchists on Instagram.
PART TO PART
May 16th-23rd, 2024
opening May 16th 6-9PM
May 17th-23rd 1-4PM
In this exhibition of new work by Jane Grocott and Cal Thomas, severed fragments are joined together in their undone-ness, not to create a new whole, but to test the intention of parts. These joints guide a thread which begins somewhere in memory, in an intangible place that relies on remembering or forgetting, and weaves through moments of ideation towards a semblance of story. Whether in paint on canvas, or in assembled objects obscured between sheathes of salvaged plastic, following this thread is a process of confronting uncertainty and trusting the unfolding of one’s own intuition.
Grocott and Thomas pull from their surroundings to create environments which act as stages for ideas to play. Exploring these tender, makeshift landscapes, they reconcile disconnected parts of their reality, both external and internal, looking to arrive at some version of realization. Building from a common tendency for playful abstraction, both artists are layering and collaging objects and imagery, emphasizing subtle nuances in relational elements and enacting interplay between parts. Part to Part is about relationships; in friction and harmony, in agitation and indifference.
AnARTchists Art Build for Palestine
June 9th 7-9PM Zine Making Workshop
Stay Up To Date by following @anartchists on Instagram.
QAF Community Art Show
Jun 17 – 29 | Tues – Sat| 12 – 6pm | Free
Established way back in 1998, the then-named Pride in Art Community Show was the event that started it all. Over the years the name and location have changed, but the spirit remains the same: showcasing and celebrating the outstanding artists and artwork from our local 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. The QAF Community Art Show returns in full form to the James Black Gallery; join us for the opening revelries at the JBG on June 17 from 7 – 10pm.
Exhibiting Artists
Alexandra Caprara • Allison Kiernan • Ava Katz
Brie • D Feakes • Dana Ayotte • Edzi’u • Jack Page
Kaila Bhullar • Maya U Schueller Elmes • Pedram Penhan
Rachel Warwick & A. Branch • Sam Kaplan • Sus Cho – Bear Barnetson • Suze Shore • Vee CR (@v.chorabik) & Lily Flanjak
Wilson S. Wilson
From Dark to Light
May 9th-12th, 2024
9th 6-9PM opening reception
10th 3-6PM
11th & 12th 2-5PM
A collaborative experience from artists Jay Bluesky Groening, Claire Shannon-Akiwenzie, Kiesha Janvier, and Mike Alexander developed during a pod residency at The James Black Gallery with support from Native Art Renaissance Foundation.
This exhibit is more than just a display of self-expression—for these artists, it is a conduit for sharing stories, perspectives, and emotions. It is an important opportunity for dialogue and truth-telling, calling for participants to learn and unlearn. It is testament to the resilience, wisdom, and beauty of Indigenous people and communities.
Prepare to be moved by the raw honesty and unfiltered passion that emanates from every piece. Feel the weight of the realities experienced by Indigenous peoples and recognize the hope in the present and future. Please journey with us through the light and the dark.
Jay Bluesky Groening, Claire Shannon-Akiwenzie, Kiesha Janvier, and Mike Alexander
The Art of Self-Care
May 27th, 2024
6:30PM - 8PM
Join us for 1.5 hour self-care therapeutic art workshop at the James Black Gallery, where self-discovery and expression intertwine. This workshop is a nurturing and protective space designed to guide you through a creative process and help you connect, understand and express your self-care needs.
All art-making materials will be provided and any level of artistic skill is welcome!
Uncover the power of art to:
* Help navigate minority stress
* Challenge internalized homophobia
* Cultivate a sense of safety and belonging
* Prioritize self-care as an act of empowerment
* Reclaim autonomy and advocate for well-being
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and tools managing your stress and living a more balanced life. Spots are limited so reserve your now and embark on a path towards better care and well-being!
More about this event:
Therapeutic art-making involves using creative processes like drawing, painting, or collaging as a means of expression and exploration, often facilitated in a community setting. It focuses on personal growth, insight and emotional well-being. While art-making can be therapeutic, it is not therapy.
If you are looking for more specialized therapy services please visit www.jillianbaganarttherapy.com
This event is part of a bigger iniative, Queer Joy, which is dedicated to celebrating and nurturing the unique experiences of queer individuals.
Beautiful Trash for Beautiful People
July 17th-20th
Opening July 17th
exhibition - launch party - social - open mic - fundraiser
BTFBP is a queer-led magazine dedicated to showing the creative works of underrepresented artists. started in Vancouver the Trashcan.Media team's goal is to connect emerging queer artist and celebrate their work. this specific event is a gallery of participants from the first 3 volumes who shared their works from around Canada.
Found Sound Music
August 9th, 2024
8PM-11PM
Need a soft night of music during the busy summer months? On Friday, August 9th escape from the dystopia with us for an evening of dreamy folk, Americana and synth-pop that will make you laugh, cry, and close your eyes. Featuring: Yawn (supercharged dream pop), Silver Pools (electronic folk & poetry from Toronto), Morning Bun (dream folk/pop), and D.L Forrest (Americana from Philadelphia).
Good Medicine Pop Up Market
August 18th, 2024
12PM - 6PM
THE FIRST OF MANY...
GOOD MEDICINE POP UP ARTISAN & FOOD MARKET✨️
WHEN: August 18th, 12pm - 6pm
WHERE: @thejamesblackgallery BACKYARD
Accessibility info on JBG website
FB event on link on my profile
Hosted & organized by yours truly @thundercloudcollective
✨️Please be mindful of what areas of the event are mask mandatory to keep our vendors and community member's safer.
TAL Y COMO SOMOS - Latidos Latines
August 31st, 2024
2:30PM - 6PM
TAL Y COMO SOMOS is a free, casual social event for LGBTQIA+ latines to meet, share our experiences, and celebrate our queer and latine identities!
Join us for a fun, relaxing afternoon of community and connection.
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Easy, fun crafts and activities
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Free snacks and drinks
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Bilingual ( Spanish/English) Facilitators
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Public transportation coverage (limited quantity)
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Bilingual (Spanish/English) resource handouts available
To attend please register for free at the link below.
Registration is required to attend - only 20 spots available.
Optional masks and hand sanitizer will be provided.
This event is run by Latidos Latines and funded in part by Canada Service Corps.
Please contact latidoslatines@qmunity.ca with any questions or to ask about covering public transportation costs to attend.
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Taking Up Space
September 6th-8th, 2024
6th 6-9PM opening reception
7th & 8th 3-6PM
Taking Up Space showcases sculptures made by 6 transgender artists 🏳️⚧️. Join us for the opening reception Friday September 6th from 6-9pm at The James Black Gallery (144 e 6th Ave) or check out the show from 3-6pm on September 6, 7 and 8th.
Artists:
Andra Galbin-Pristavu
Iver Smith
Jai Sallay-Carrington
Jake Duncan
Jay Pahre
Laur Lenaghan
Free to attend
Masks are recommended and provided
curated by @charlie.sandeman
poster by @le_z_boy
Vicissitudinal Pudding
September 19th-22nd, 2024
19th 7-9PM opening reception
20th-22nd 1-4PM
Jackie is a potter/sculptor whose altered vessels begin with the formal conventions of common ornamented pottery, and end in distortion.
By corrupting the static disposition of the vessel, an object’s hardness is called into question and the material handling made evident in the finished piece.
Created during the first two years of sobriety, this body of work is a document of fresh grief, anhedonia, late diagnosed neurodivergence, and self medication.
Truth and Reconciliation Indigenous Artisan Pop Up
September 28th
12-6PM
@thundercloudcollective in partnership with @thejamesblackgallery and @pressurepoint108 ✨️
Truth and Recolociliation [is dead] indigenous artisan pop up! Come and celebrate living indigenous artist's directly before this national day of mourning.
Saturday, Sept 28th/2024
2111 Main St, outside of @pressurepoint108
12 - 6PM
HOBBY HANGOUTS: Intro To Glaze Mixing
October 16th
6:30PM-8:30pm
Students will learn to read and follow a basic glaze recipe and see how different colourants affect their results. They will mix their own base following the recipe provided and choose from a selection of colourants to create a 3-step cross blend (some examples of different colourant combinations will be provided/explained). If this is too overwhelming or not possible, there are also tried and true colourant combos they can pick from. Test tiles will be provided, but students could also bring small pieces to test their new glazes on. This will provide attendees experience reading and following a glaze recipe, handling glaze materials, and experimenting with colourants. It will also hopefully give them a recipe they can make for themselves and use in their ceramics.
repiecing
opening nov 8th 7pm
nov 8th-15th 3-6pm
“r e p i e c i n g” is a group exhibition at the James Black Gallery, bringing together new works created by the 2025 Hammock Residency artists-in-residence: Kerri Flannigan, Jason Young, Jijii Buck, Marita Michealis, and sophia bartholomew. Works in the exhibition explore themes of fragmentation and renewal, including fragmentary cultural and familial inheritances, fragmentary experiences of grief and mental illness, and the increasingly fragmentary character of our shared public/social sphere. The exhibition also includes an installation and performance by Heidi Nagtegaal, activating the Hammock Residency archives.
The exhibition runs November 8 – 15, and gallery hours are 3–6PM daily.
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HOBBY HANGOUTS: Beading with Buddies!
Nov 17th
1-4PM
Come share space and learn about Indigenous beadwork with JBG studio member, Claire Shannon-Akiwenzie! Choose between beading a keychain, earrings, or pin using a one-needle flat stitch beading technique!
Pin-Making Fundraiser
Nov 18th
5-8PM
Join us in making hand-made ceramic pins to raise money for UNYA (an organization benefiting Indigenous 2-Spirit/LGBTQ+ youth)
These pins will be available by donation at the Trans Passions opening reception and exhibition.
Trans Passions Opening Reception: 6PM-9PM on November 22, 2024
Exhibition Days: 3PM-7PM from November 22-29, 2024!
HOBBY HANGOUTS: DIY Electronics for Artists
Dec 3rd
6-9PM
Curious about adding electronics to your art practice? In this workshop for beginners Jae Lew will go over the basics of circuit fabrication; breadboarding, soldering, and programming microcontrollers to create interactive electronic art.
Participants will get to take home a small sculpture or wearable LED project they make in the workshop.
About the facilitator: "Jae Lew is a new media artist and filmmaker working with ceramics, 16mm film, electronics, illustration and sound. They are also an arts educator who is especially passionate about working with neurodiverse students and creating non-hierarchical, play and exploration based learning environments where students are encouraged to be their whole selves. Jae was born and currently resides on the stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations."
Ceramics Fundraising Handbuild Workshop
August 10th, 2024
11am-12pm LINK
The James Black studio members present a handbuilding workshop fundraiser! Make your own unique pottery piece with us while supporting our space! The possibilities are endless with hand building -- make a mug, a ring dish, a bud vase, a plate, little animals, or anything else you can imagine!
We will be hosting a handbuilding workshop to help fundraise for desperately needed equipment for our ceramics studio. The session will be 1hr and we will provide the clay as well as guidance, tips, and tricks!
Silent Auction & Fundraiser Show for DULF
August 24th, 2024
7PM - 12AM
come out and support DULF’s legal aid fund as they decide to pursue a constitutional challenge and fight the charges they face. There will be love music from goodwife, hot snack and worry wart and a dj set from NO NAME NO SLOGAN.
There will be a silent auction open during the event filled with the likes of ceramics, tattoo time, an RMT session and so much more!!! let’s show DULF and the community of people who use drugs how much we love and care for them.
SAFE SUPPLY SAVES LIVES!!
Pet Day Signing
August 10th, 2024
11am-12pm
The James Black studio members present a handbuilding workshop fundraiser! Make your own unique pottery piece with us while supporting our space! The possibilities are endless with hand building -- make a mug, a ring dish, a bud vase, a plate, little animals, or anything else you can imagine!
We will be hosting a handbuilding workshop to help fundraise for desperately needed equipment for our ceramics studio. The session will be 1hr and we will provide the clay as well as guidance, tips, and tricks!
As Above / So Below
September12th 7-8:30PM
Tickets are $20CAD
Join Sandu Ndu and India Sky on their west coast tour As Above / So Below September 12th - 28th. Spanning 5 cities and myriad landscapes in between the artists become sonic ecologists, offering songs, soundscapes, and an invitation to connect to ecosystems, imagination and community. Performances will take place in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Oakland and LA venues. The tour will also include performance/meditations in nature that may or may not include human audiences, and are intended to open up channels of communication between the planet and our inner worlds. Each performance will shape the next, with footage, motifs, sounds and stories added, released and transformed as the tour progresses. As Above / So Below is an evolving offering, and an opening for expansive dialogue.
Elemental Workshop
September 26th 7-9PM
$50-$100 Sliding Scale Tickets
Make an elemental banner with patches from earth, air, fire, water, and sew them on a ribbon. Patches are from By Tooth And Claw Clothing and all sewing materials and ribbons are provided. The banner will be about 4-5' long depending on how long you make your banner ribbon. The patches are 4x5" each.
During this workshop you will make an elemental banner, and learn a bit about the elements in witchcraft, and how they connect with tarot, astrology and your body. All proceeds go to a specific Vancouver based Palestinian man who is raising money to get his family out of Palestine.
Heidi Nagtegaal is a tarot, astrology, runic, and psychic reader at Tarot Times With Heidi (TTWH), and also a tarot and nature clothing company owner of By Tooth and Claw Clothing (BTACC). They are also an established artist, and run a collective called Hammock Residency.
ANARTCHISTS: Zine Making Workshop!
October 6th
7-9PM
YOU LOVED OUR ZINE MAKING WORKSHOP SO… WE’RE BRINGING IT BACK ‼️ Come to @thejamesblackgallery with your pals on the 6th of October & join us for a lovely crafty evening lead by our lovely team members, Harmony & Cassandra (@chimneychalamet & @oatmilk_femme)! We will be alternating between taking action & making zines centring palestine, themes of resistance, and collective liberation. ✍️📝✂️💌📮🤲🏽♥️
‼️Bring magazines, stamps, any supplies you’d be okay with sharing and/or would love to use to make your zines with!
🍽️Optional but encouraged - bring some snacks to share with everyone!♥️
Whether you’ve been a long-time comrade, or you’re new to the movement (especially if you’re new to the movement!) all are welcome. This evening is an opportunity for you to get informed, take steps towards helping in the ways that we can, ask questions, engage in discussion, and also find some warmth and solace in community. Bring your grief, bring your rage, bring your love and bring your dreams for a better world. Bring it all.
Weirdos inc. w/ Ramzi, Innez
October 19th
10PM-3AM
Weirdos inc. Records returns on 19th October for another night of unexpected twists and turns, sonically and physically.
We present to you THE DOWNTEMPO FUN HOUSE. A glorified house party in one of Vancouvers oldest and quirkiest buildings. Those of you familiar with the James Black Gallery might know what to expect from its secret rooms and special character. For those who don't - we cant wait to welcome you into our nuthouse. (We can't promise for Mr Blobby, but we can hope)
It's a few weeks before halloween - why not just start the month properly and get involved in the madness early.
This will be a night of psychedelic new wave, downtempo, balearic explorations, trip hop, sludgy minimal and slow chugging BPMs to tantalise your ears.
RAMZILLA aka Ramzi @phubhouti is one of Canadas best in the field of oddball ambient and club musings.
@innenezza is known locally and further afield for her signature wonky and psyched out minimal techno. She has graced the much loved B-side radio for the last couple of years with her killer Azul Radio show, which just so happens to be before the Weirdos inc. Show.
Weirdos inc. Regular @izzy_sawdust and founder @dj_2button will be opening up the night with a b2b. spinning 90s trip hop, downtempo excursions into the outer fields of whats possible in dance music.
Expect to chill, expect to dance, expect to have fun and expect a few surprises... perhaps!? It's a Weirdos inc. Party after all. Don't assume.
Joined forces from weirdos crew and friends @___sgrazi
@bibi_banks_
@__not__shy__
hotmothertruckers Birthday Fundraiser!
Nov 17th
6-8PM
come celebrate my birthday with a screening of some of my favourite childhood shorts and movies 🍿🐛
including: Винни-Пух (1969), Krtek / The Little Mole, Mr. Hoppity Goes to Town (1941), Эрх цагаан ишиг, Pat and Mat
date: sunday, nov 17 at 6pm
location: the james black gallery (144 E 6th Ave)
rsvp thru the link in my bio so i have a good idea of how many people will be coming! this will help us with setting up the space 🫶🫶
entry will be by donation to e-sims for Gaza!
recommended donation ($10-15)
a couple of ways to do this:
→ bring a screenshot/email of your new or ongoing donation
→ transfer me at hotmothertruckers@gmail.com and i can donate on your behalf and i will share receipts after!
→ if you’d like to donate during the event and are interested in an e-sims tutorial, please express your interest in the rsvp form! i can dedicate some time at the start of the event to a mini tutorial if there’s interest!
please choose whichever option feels most comfortable for u!!
lil schedule ♡
6pm - settle in, (optional e-sims tutorial)
6:30pm - animation shorts + movie timee !
onwards - live laugh love
TRANS PASSIONS
Nov 22-29
Nov 22 6-9PM - Opening Reception
Nov 23-29 - 3-7PM
Trans Passions is an ongoing project where Jai Sallay-Carrington, a Canadian trans-non-binary ceramic artist, is sculpting transgender people as their passions in life. The intention is to showcase trans joy, as often trans bodies are only represented within the discourse of being trans. While transitioning is an important aspect of being trans, the goal of this project is to show the passions and lives that trans people hold as being as unique and diverse as each person is.
Each sculpture in this series is based on a transgender individual who the artist has also interviewed. Paired with each sculpture in the physical exhibition is an audio device which plays a recording of that individual talking about their passions and their experiences being trans. The addition of the audio to this project brings each sculpture to life and reminds the viewers that these are actual people living their lives, showing that trans people are everywhere and very much a part of the greater society. The stories that were shared in these interviews were quite moving, it was inspiring to hear everyone speak so openly about their experiences and passions.
HOBBY HANGOUTS: Make your own notebook! Coptic Bookbinding Workshop 101 with Hân Phạm
Dec 8
12-4PM
Learn the basics of coptic bookbinding, customizing and creating a notebook/ journal/ sketchbook of your own!
Ideally, everyone will leave the workshops with a little notebook of their choice - learning by creating! :)
Hân will also walk through other accessible methods of bookbinding, variations, and advanced stitches for folks to continue exploring in their own time. Participants will learn the basic skills of bookbinding, a personal notebook for them to bring home, potentially a new hobby and chances to connect and collaborate.
ATTENDEES ARE WELCOME TO BRING: If folks want, they are welcome to bring nice prints/drawings/collage materials/ fabric or anything they have on hand that they want to use as a book cover.
About the facilitator: "Hân Phạm (Phạm Thụy Mai Hân) is an emerging artist and filmmaker from Sài Gòn, Việt Nam. Experimenting with video and film, photography, and soundscape compositions, Hân’s works think through the ephemerality of memory, language, and history in relation to the constantly changing and dislocated landscapes, rooted in the in-betweenness of distance as space for reflection."