New mural and historical photo exhibit celebrate 125 years of Chinatown

Vancouver’s world famous Chinatown is turning 125 years young. To celebrate, this historic neighbourhood is adding some new splashes of colour! A beautiful new mural on Columbia and Pender celebrates the history of Chinatown by revisiting unique periods in its development. A collection of three distinct panels,  it’s called “Snapshots of History” and will be officially unveiled this Friday at 1:30 pm.

Artist Arthur Cheng has worked diligently on the mural concept for nearly a month now which depicts the three different eras of early Chinatown by reproducing three archival photos, an 1884 photo of a local family in front of their laundry a 1905 photo of a silk merchant in Chinatown and another of a group of men chilling outside a barber shop at Carrall and Pender in 1936.

The project was funded in part by the City through its Great Beginnings Program with additional support from the Chinatown Merchant’s Association and the Chinese Freemasons Society who donated $3,500 to the project as well as the wall space itself on the corner of Pender and Columbia. Speaking with Cheng, who trained at China’s Central Academy of Fine Arts, I could sense the great pride and reward he felt from the project. Taking the time to come down from the top of his ladder to chat, his beaming smile never faded when musing about the comings and goings of people like me who have stopped in curiosity to ask him about the mural and compliment his excellent work.

Also part of the celebrations this week is a historical photo and art exhibit just down the street from the mural here at the BOB Gallery (163 E Pender) The exhibit, curated and designed by Judy Lam Maxwell and Sheila Hall, was made possible through collaboration and support from the Chinatown BIA,and Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society.  It’s a fantastic foray into the history and culture of Chinese Canadians in Vancouver! So after admiring Cheng’s panels at this Friday’s unveiling take a short stroll up Pender (towards Main St) and have a gander at the exhibit at 163 E Pender;  both of which tie into one massive party happening this weekend!

The Vancouver Chinatown Festival

The 11^th Vancouver Chinatown Festival takes place this weekend (August 14th and 15th) so come on down to Columbia and Keefer Streets for one of the city’s most authentic and exciting cultural celebrations. This year, the Festival, organized by the Chinatown Business Improvement Association, will offer savory food stalls, historic guided walking tours and numerous stage performances.  It’s going to be awesome!