Looking Back at BestB4 Collective Community Events — Tea and Storytelling

Sophi Liang, visual artist exhibiting in Telling Stories, organized an afternoon Tea and Story Party for the BestB4 Collective at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum on Saturday, 21 November. The first of three community events included presentations by Ben Fong, tea specialist and Jim Wong-Chu, historian and poet.

Ben Fong explains the purpose of two types of tea bowls

Fong demonstrated and narrated tea preparation techniques. This included several styles of tea brewing accompanied by a samples. A generous assortment of tea cakes and treats were shared along with stories about the history of tea and tea culture.

Wong-Chu read poems about Chinatown from Chinatown Ghosts, published by Pulp Arsenal Press. These poems prompted stories about Chinatown history and culture.

Jim Wong-Chu reads from Chinatown Ghosts

Well attended and well documented, Liang's Tea and Story Party lingered until late in the afternoon. Telling Story/a visual art exhibition continues in the On-Tak Exhibition Hall at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum of Greater Vancouver (555 Columbia at Keefer) until Saturday, 19 December. The gallery is open Tuesday- Sunday (11 - 5 pm).

Telling Stories in the Community

Colette Lisoway: Printmaking Demonstration at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum

June Yun's Calligraphy Workshop
at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum of Greater Vancouver

Telling Stories/a visual arts exhibition invited community to extend the exhibition through participating in workshops offered by BestB4 Collective artists Colette Lisoway (printmaking) and June Yun (Calligraphy). Both workshops drew sizeable crowds for afternoons of skill building and story sharing. 

Colette Lisoway explained the different techniques of transferring an image through a screen onto fabric or paper and also a discussion on colour. Very quickly the students loaded paint onto their screens and then the magic began. Everyone eagerly participated and at the end of the session each had an art work to take home.

June Yun's Calligraphy Workshop introduced the four treasures: rice paper, writing brus, ink and ink slab. Her hands-on teaching approach offered participants an opportunity to learn and practice calligraphy techniques with helped to better understand Chinese art and culture.

Telling Stories/a visual art exhibition continues through Saturday, 19 December in the On-Tak Cheung Gallery at the Chinese Cultural Museum (555 Columbia Street at Keefer), 11AM - 5 PM.