As part of this Saturday’s first-ever Vancouver Mural Festival, a series of three panels featuring muralists, musicians, curators, and other thought leaders will be held at the Fox Cabaret. With so many events taking place as part of the fest—everything from live art and street parties to concerts and gallery presentations—these speaker panels will provide a platform for art enthusiasts and academics alike to discuss the culture surrounding street art in Vancouver.

Panel 2: Women in Street Art, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., The Fox Cabaret

The male-to-female ratio in the art world, especially with regard to street art, is an issue not often addressed. When it is, it is often through affirmative action that labels creators as “women artists”, and their work as “women’s art”. The narrative of street art has been dominated by male artists, making it difficult for female talent to be recognized. However, a few key players are shaking up the art world by asserting their presence in the street art community. Members of the panel will discuss why they believe women are underrepresented, and what they are doing to change that.

This panel will be moderated by renowned street artist KASHINK, one of the few female artists involved in Paris’ graffiti and street art scene. An experienced world traveler, KASHINK’s work is inspired by the social interactions and cultural experiences she has while abroad. Questioning aesthetic codes of gender and ethnicity in her pieces, she calls her work “funtivism” (fun activism). As part of the fest, KASHINK has painted a mural on the silos at Red Truck Brewery.

Panelist Indigo is a Canadian artist, writer and dancer who works in a variety of mediums, including stencils, posters, acrylics, oils, photography, printmaking and more. Her work explores human emotion and her own personal history, as well as human interaction and the imagined histories of strangers. Her knowledge of dance brings an added element of knowledge and understanding of the human body. Check out the Burrard Arts Foundation to see Indigo’s mural.

Local visual artist Ali Bruce will be the second member of the panel. Working in illustration, street art, print design, tattooing and sign making, Bruce has participated in a number of live painting and collaborative art events in the city, and painted her first mural at the 2015 Squamish Music Festival. Another was recently completed on the exterior of Cartem’s Donuterie on Main Street. Bruce’s mural for the festival can be seen on the exterior of the Burrard Arts Foundation.

Some might recognize panelist Ola Volo’s work: her notable style, exhibited on Doan’s Craft Brewing labels and inside the brewery’s tasting room, among other locations in the city, tells stories inspired by folklore, nature, history and multiculturalism. Recognized for her imaginative characters and spirited environments, Volo’s work speaks to everyday life. Check out her mural on the exterior of the Arts Factory.