2024 Our Community Stories

January 19, Azadeh Mehryar: Kicking off 2024 with a burst of creativity and community spirit! We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on Azadeh Mehryar and her ceramic artistry. Let’s celebrate our collective stories and the beautiful artistry that brings us together. Azadeh Mehryar (She/Her) I am a Vancouver-based interdisciplinary artist with a key focus on ceramics. Born and raised in a loving family who appreciated Persian art and culture, I have always been fascinated by the detailed works of art that I was exposed to while growing up. After moving to Canada and entering the art world, I became familiar with the dynamics of contemporary art. Reflecting Persian artistic values through the lens of contemporary art allows me to stay connected to my cultural identity within my practice. With reference to the geometry present in Persian design, my work explores symmetry, balance and traditional ideas of sculptural forms within a contemporary framework. About Exhibition Diaspora explores this juxtaposition of Persian art and architecture with contemporary style through a collection of ceramic vessels and a set of 80 arranged tiles. Inspired by the shape of a pomegranate (which symbolizes fertility, rebirth and life and has cultural significance in Persian culture) the vessels are made by putting together small geometric slabs of clay. The arrangement of the tiles is inspired by the mosaics on an interior dome in Central Iran. The shape of the slabs that make up the vessels are also inspired by this dome shape. How does PdA connect you to your creativity? I had heard about Place des Arts and the programs it offers, but I hadn’t had a chance to interact with its amazing staff personally until I saw an artist call on social media about an exhibition opportunity at PdA. This was when I started to read about Place des Arts in detail and I figured it was a gem that I had missed out on previously!

February 20, Yoshi Hisanaga: Another amazing Artist in Residence has graced our centre! We were blown away by the talent and breaking skills of our students during their workshop with instructor Yoshi Hisanaga. For those who may not know, breaking (or breakdancing) originated in the streets of New York in the 1970s and has evolved into a dynamic dance sport that combines urban dance with incredible athleticism. During the workshop, students learned the fundamentals of breaking, including “top rocks” (standing elements), “footwork” (floor elements), and “freezes” (acrobatic elements). Not only did they learn the moves, but they also delved into the rich and diverse history of this urban dance style. So proud of our students for expanding their skills and knowledge with this unique form of expression. ARTIST ~ Yoshi Hisanaga Yoshi is a versatile and innovative Hip hop dancer/ b-boy who values the integrity of Hip Hop culture and Hip Hop dance. Yoshi is a passionate teacher who believes in sharing his knowledge with whoever is interested in the art form. Dancing since 1999, He has travelled and trained all over the world in Breaking, Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, House, Jazz, and Hustle. His passion and dedication to the art can be seen performing or battling with his crews Over the Influence, Robson800 and Rhythm Recall. He is an award-winning choreographer and has represented Canada at the Hip hop International Championships in the summer of 2007 in LA and 2008 in Vegas. He is also the winner of the World of Dance Vancouver Hip Hop battle. Thank you to the Hamber Foundation for helping us provide accessible opportunities for local children to experience the arts by supporting our February Artist in Residence.

March 1, Dee Dee Prince: My family immigrated from El Salvador to Coquitlam where I was born and raised. I always loved dancing but didn’t have the means to afford it when I was a kid so as an adult, I’m now living that childhood dream. After having my second child, I realized I wasn’t as flexible as I once was and my stamina was garbage, so I decided to take a ballet class nearby, which had always been on my bucket list. And I found the one being offered by Place des Arts at Evergreen. The year after I had my third child, the adult class became a full-year program and we were able to perform at the year-end recital which was very exciting. A few years later, our adult classes were able to enter competitions and that had been the absolute highlight. It has really solidified a bond between everyone in our class. We’ve been able to form a community where we will go to shows together outside of class, have potlucks and even do secret Santa! Our family loves Place des Arts. I have signed up both my daughters for dance classes and my son is taking drum lessons. We love the variety of classes offered and the instructors who love what they do! We are so proud to be a part of you and your families artistic journey Dee Dee!

March 15, Belén Gil-Hernandez: Ending the week on a sweet note with a heartwarming story from one of our amazing young community members! Their creativity and kindness never cease to amaze us. Let’s spread some positivity and inspiration together! Belén Gil-Hernandez (She/Her/Hers) Hola! My name is Belén Gil-Hernandez; I am 9 years old. I am of Colombian and Italian descent. I connect with many areas of my cultural background from language and traditions to music and food. I live in Coquitlam with my mom, my dad and my younger sister, Siena, who is 7 years old. My sister and I play together all the time! I also love playing with my dog, Paloma! When I am not in my cartooning class at Place des Arts, I enjoy doing math, reading, writing and inventing new animations. My goal is to enrol in more drawing classes to explore various drawing techniques and to gain understanding through step-by-step guides for drawing animals. I have studied piano and a total of three semesters of cartooning at Place des Arts. Place des Arts gives me a platform for self-expression and inspiration to work with like-minded students and artists. — Your creativity deserves a space to bloom, and we’re thrilled that Place des Arts can be that place for you! Whether you’re a budding artist or just looking to express yourself, our warm and welcoming classes are waiting for you.

April 5, Palak Dhiman: For our next feature, we have a very special guest, Palak Dhiman! @dhimpalak is the talented artist performing in this weekend’s Traditional India Series, The Art of Kathak (Indian Classical Dance) in collaboration with Bandish Network Society. In addition to the performance, Palak is also teaching an introductory Kathak workshop. Get to know the artist behind our upcoming performance & workshop. Palak Dhiman (She/Her/Hers) My name is Palak Dhiman and I am a Kathak dance artist originally from Winnipeg, who now calls Vancouver home. I started learning Kathak at the age of 6 on a family trip to India. Upon returning home to Canada, I continued practicing and with encouragement from my family, started performing and sharing what I had learned in various venues. My journey of sharing knowledge about Kathak and raising awareness and representation of this art form began from the early age of 7 and is something that I continue to be passionate about. Eventually I was fortunate to have found my guru, teacher and lifelong mentor, Usha Sharma ji, with whom I was able to continue my learning and growth in Kathak for over two decades. With her guidance, I had the chance to learn the art form in more depth and start to explore my own unique creativity in it. My involvement with Kathak is what led me to pursue learning the ancient ‘Natya Shastra Karana,’ classical yoga, ‘taal vidya’ and I am receiving training in Hindustani vocals. I have found that all these other art forms have helped me to understand Kathak and my own artistic expression more deeply. Through my artistic journey, I aspire to continue to draw on Kathak, Indian movement vocabulary and storytelling, as ways of connecting and sharing meaningful ideas with audiences and the broader public in Canada and globally. What do you love about PdA? PdA has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to showcase my art in a way that is authentic to myself as Kathak dance artist. Particularly the incredible staff at PdA have been so warm and welcoming and have made the environment supportive and inspiring.

April 19, Natalie Schuler: Introducing the next story in the Our Community series – the talented exhibiting artist, Natalie Schuler! Get to know the creative mind behind the stunning artwork. From her unique style to her inspirations, we’re diving deep into the world of this professional artist. Natalie Schuler (she/her) I’m Natalie. I currently call Bowen Island, BC, my home. I earned my Bachelor of Applied Art (Visual Communications) from Medicine Hat College in 2012. For the better part of the decade, I dedicated myself to a career as a graphic designer, transitioning in 2019 to focus predominantly on my passion for art. Around that time, I embarked on a transformative journey into the realm of breathwork, eventually completing my training as a breathwork facilitator. During my free time, you’ll often find me exploring Bowen’s scenic trails, cycling, participating in women’s circles and nurturing a rich spiritual life through meditation and engagement with oracle cards. I actively seek out breathwork events, fostering meaningful connections along the way. My artistic endeavours aim to create a profound impact, inviting viewers to experience a connection within themselves that extends beyond the visual. I envision my work being felt with the entire body, not just the eyes. As I progress, I aspire to conduct workshops that encourage fresh perspectives through an abstract lens. I firmly believe in the inherent creativity within everyone, and my goal is to inspire change by challenging preconceptions and encouraging alternative solutions. What do I love about PdA? I really love how community-minded Place des Arts is. and that you bring creativity to the community of Coquitlam. Places like PdA are integral and necessary. — We are honoured to be a centre that can inspire the arts in everyone. Thank you, Natalie, for your kind words. Don’t miss viewing Natalie’s exhibition in person at Place des Arts on now until May 23. https://placedesarts.ca/events/natalie-schuler-the-first-breath/ Artwork: Dynamic Shifts by @natalieschulerart

May 3, Natasha Skrebsky: May is here and we’re kicking off the month with another inspiring story from our amazing community! Meet the lovely Natasha Skrebsky, who has not only taken our Expressive Brushworks workshop but also brought her middle school class to Place des Arts multiple times. From art to drama to music, our Artist in Residence workshops leave a lasting impact, thanks to our dedicated teachers. And if that’s not enough, Natasha also signed up for our Monday morning music classes with her baby. Talk about a fun bonding experience! Let’s give a warm welcome to Natasha, our talented and friendly community member. Natasha Skrebsky I am from Cornwall, Ontario and moved to Coquitlam about 10 years ago. I came to Coquitlam to work as a French Immersion teacher. My favourite hobbies include painting (oil paints), playing the piano, skiing and hiking. My goal is to paint original pieces of art one day. I enjoy painting various scenes including flowers, faces, skiers and landscapes. What do you love about PdA? OR How does PdA connect you to your creativity? What I love about PdA is their wide range of courses and workshops for both adults and kids. PdA connects me to my creativity by giving me the ability to learn something new and to exchange ideas with other artists in the community. We are beyond thrilled to be a part of your artistic journey! Thank you for spreading your love for the arts with us and the rest of the world. Your creativity inspires us and we can’t wait to see where it takes you next.

May 17, Brianna Klassen: Our next our community story may be a familiar face! Brianna has participated and assisted another PdA teacher, Cyd Eva, with her at events. We are excited to shine a light on Brianna and her amazing work. Brianna is an artist whose work unfolds her authentic path of suffering, healing and rejoicing. Born and raised in Coquitlam, her art has taken her around the world and back again in exploration of multiple media. Different states of mind have woven her work through periods: As a painter, she exhibited out of a Gaston studio producing surrealist dreamscapes of texture and colour. As a textile designer, she lived in Bangalore, India designing and assisting fashion houses with elaborate and psychedelic surface pattern designs. As a fashion designer, she started her own vibrant and comfortable fashion brand, ‘Glad I Exist’. Eventually she joined Pattern Nation, a collaborative art project with PdA colleague Cyd Eva and co-creator Costa Besta. Her runway pieces are mostly up-cycled, colourful and sparkly. These days, her artistic medium of choice is music. She has performed with her sound bowls and original songs at various art events around the Lower Mainland. She is currently recording her debut home studio album under the moniker ‘Mend’. Brianna is happy to be teaching ‘Flower Power Botanical Art’ and ‘Dress to Express: Razzle Bedazzle’ this July at PdA’s Summer Fun! Camps. What do you love about PdA? OR How does PdA connect you to your creativity? Place des Arts was the foundation of my childhood art education. Now that I’m a mom, I have the pleasure of watching my daughter attend her first art classes at Place des Arts just like I did! My favourite part of teaching at PdA is collaborating with co-creator Cyd. Together, Cyd and I have been painting murals, designing for the runway, exhibiting and teaching together for over 15 years.

June 7, Surnoor Singh: It’s time for another Our Community story and this one is about someone you may see every day at our registration desk. Meet Surnoor Singh, one of our amazing and talented Registration Clerks! But wait, there’s more to him than just helping you sign up for classes. Surnoor is also a talented artist and his work is currently on display at Place des Arts’ Community Exhibition. We are so excited for you to get to know Surnoor and his passion for art. So next time you’re at our registration desk, strike up a conversation and get to know the man behind the desk and his beautiful artwork. Surnoor is a landed immigrant in Canada from Punjab (India). He was brought up in a rural Punjabi area, in a working-class family where he took up painting as a young boy to cultivate his unique desire to create. Through academic influences and surrounding life, Surnoor began painting en plein air with watercolours. Taking influence from the surrounding day-to-day life, his work continues to evolve. In Canada, his works are exhibited across different venues in Metro Vancouver. He has secured winning positions in major local plein air painting competitions including Paint on the Mountain (British Pacific Properties) and Grand Prix of Art (Steveston). He is active as a watercolour instructor regularly leading workshops with North Van Arts, Phoenix Arts Workshop, Silk Purse Art Gallery and more. Artist Statement I want my audience to look at my work and take it for what it is. Painting is a visual phenomenon. Seeing marks on canvas evokes a certain sensitivity in us. To be a witness to this sensitivity is to do justice to a painting. We’ve become so attached to the material that we discard the presence of the metaphysical. The elusive is present, surrounding us everywhere. Its presence is so strong that not seeing it is hard once we’ve looked at it. Painting provides a curated opportunity to witness the inner, the mysterious and the transcendental. Don’t miss exploring Surnoor’s artwork at our Place des Arts’ Community Exhibition on now until June 20.

June 24, Mary Reagh: Happy Friday Everyone! I don’t even know where to begin with the next Our Community story! It’s heartwarming and a true testament to the experience we wish to create at Place des Arts for everyone who walks through our doors. Thank you, Mary, for sharing your story. — My name is Mary Reagh. I’ve been taking pottery classes at Place des Arts for the past three years with Dan Severance. I accurately describe myself as a “perpetual beginner” in the field of pottery, but I’ve learned that is perfectly ok at Place des Arts. There is a wonderful community here of artists, instructors, staff and students who are always patient, welcoming and supportive. My favourite pottery creations so far have been the swinging planters in the photograph. I am a Social Worker. I retired from my work with the Ministry of Child and Family Development almost seven years ago. My husband and I have lived in Coquitlam since 1991 and we were fortunate to raise our three children here. We now have five (soon to be six) grandchildren who bring us great joy and keep us busy! Place des Arts has become a place for me to just have fun and be creative. It is both a place of peace and a social outlet. I look forward to my time at Place des Arts each week and I am forever grateful that I decided to sign up for that pottery class three years ago. — Stories like Mary’s embody the vision and mission of Place des Arts to inspire the artist in everyone. We hope you continue to have fun exploring, creating and expressing yourself with us.

July 4, Fanny IP: As a community, we are constantly amazed by the stories that our members share with us. Each one is unique, heartwarming and inspiring in its own way. Today, we are excited to feature the story of Fanny Ip, a community member who reignited her passion and discovered a whole new world of creativity! Fanny Ip I was born in Hong Kong, and I immigrated to Canada in 1992. Throughout my life, I have been fascinated with Chinese watercolour painting. The interest was cultivated during my childhood years; but I did not pursue it until later. Once I settled down in Richmond, I rekindled my passion of Chinese watercolour painting and started taking lessons. There are two critical methods of Chinese watercolour paintings, one is Gongbi which uses fine brushwork plus close attention to detail. The second method is Xieyi which is freehand brushwork to express the artist’s conception, characterized by a simple style and bold outline. The paper being used are various types of Xuan paper, also known as rice paper, and made of indigenous plant materials such as bamboo, hemp, mulberry bark, etc. I use both spontaneous style painting and detailed style painting. The combination of these two methods is exciting and challenging. It pushes the boundaries of the conventional Chinese painting style. I try to paint not only on paper but also on pottery, rocks and fabrics using the extraordinary Chinese brushes, ink and different types of watercolours. I visit Place des Arts regularly because my grandkids take art and dance classes. I am always looking for new ideas for painting and Place des Arts has prompted me to register for a glaze chemistry class to learn more about how the glazed surface of the ceramics affects the painting results. The instructor, Vin Arora has been so kind to formulate a special glaze for me to try painting on two ceramic tiles. They came out beautifully after the firing and I am really thankful to him. I hope people will have more understanding of Chinese painting after seeing my artworks.

July 10, Amber Nordstrand:

2024 Our Community Stories

Click through our gallery to explore the wide breadth of stories from different members of our Place des Arts community!