Vancouver artists go grey for a day

Local artists and arts supporters plan to take to Vancouver streets on October 28 in a silent protest against the B.C. Liberals’ arts funding cuts.

Billed the Grey Relay, groups of 16 to 20 volunteers dressed in grey will silently occupy street corners in downtown Vancouver for 15-minutes stretches along a predetermined route before silently moving to another corner. At least 120 volunteers are required for the day-long relay, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lee Su-Feh, artistic director for battery opera and one of the event’s organizers, says she hopes the relay will challenge the public’s assessment of what art is and how it affects people’s daily lives. “It’s to make a statement about art, but I would say it’s kind of art itself,” Lee told the Straight.

For more information on the Grey Relay or to volunteer, e-mail movingjac@gmail.com.

Comments

2 Comments

John McLachlan

Oct 15, 2009 at 7:52pm

Good intention, and the grey theme is obvious, but who will notice people standing on corners wearing grey on what will probably be street corners with all sorts of other non-relay people wearing grey? A bright colour showing what the arts brings to our lives would be more effective. That's just my opinion, but hat's off to them for doing something.

greggron

Oct 16, 2009 at 10:57pm

What?? No more free money for ego-inflated artistes?? How dare Joe Public spend his cash on sports and entertainment instead of a bunch of effete weirdos prancing on a stage.