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The summer fundraising party you’ve been dreaming of: come celebrate Weekend Leisure’s new website, sing karaoke, hit a ping pong ball, play ancient video games–all while eating surprise snacks!
Fri July 13, 7pm – 2am
Entrance by donation (suggested $10, but no one turned away for lack of funds)
All proceeds go towards VIVO’s operating costs
First, A SCREENING:
Local karaoke dealers Weekend Leisure have finally revamped their website! Come watch selections from their public access TV episodes, karaoke videos, and other picks that’ll make you cry with joy, laugh nervously, and/or stare blankly with delightful bemusement.
Then, A PARTY:
Remember: this is FUNDRAISER! Bring your loonies and toonies!
VIVO is located in the homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in a warehouse space at 2625 Kaslo Street south of East Broadway at the end of E 10th. Transit line 9 stops at Kaslo Street on Broadway. From the bus stop, the path is paved, curbless, and on a slight decline. The closest skytrain station is Renfrew Station, which is three blocks south-east of VIVO and has an elevator. From there, the path is paved, curbless, and on a slight incline. There is parking available at VIVO, including wheelchair access parking. There is a bike rack at the entrance. The front entrance leads indoors to a set of 7 stairs to the lobby.
A wheelchair ramp is located at the west side of the main entrance. The ramp has two runs: the first run is 20 feet long, and the second run is 26 feet. The ramp is 60 inches wide. The slope is 1:12. The ramp itself is concrete and has handrails on both sides. There is an outward swinging door (34 inch width) at the top of the ramp leading to a vestibule. A second outward swinging door (33 inch width) opens into the exhibition space. Buzzers and intercoms are located at both doors to notify staff during regular office hours or events to unlock the doors. Once unlocked, visitors can use automatic operators to open the doors.
There are two all-gender washrooms. One has a stall and is not wheelchair accessible. The other is a single room with a urinal and is wheelchair accessible: the door is 33 inches wide and inward swinging, without automation. The toilet has 11 inch clearance on the left side and a handrail.
To reach the bathrooms from the studio, exit through the double doors and proceed straight through the lobby and down the hall . Turn left, and the two bathrooms will be on your right side. The closest one has a stall and is not wheelchair accessible. The far bathroom is accessible.
After graduating from Emily Carr University of Art & Design’s Integrated Media program in 2004, Weekend Leisure’s members — Curtis Grahauer, Christy Nyiri, Erich Gerl, and Pietro Sammarco — initially came together to satisfy their mutual desire to craft karaoke videos. Bringing together their respective backgrounds in media art, design, music, and performance art, the group’s repertoire explored video culture through a variety of conventions and formats. Weekend Leisure largely draws inspiration from Vancouver’s gentrified cityscape and the “natural beauty” touted by tourism markets, the enthusiastic do-it-yourself spirit that public access television manages to build through its limitations, and the endearing pretensions found in karaoke videos.
Weekend Leisure screened videos at alternative comedy nights in Vancouver, collaborating with local comedy groups, exhibiting works in contemporary art centres, and hosting a weekly karaoke night at local pubs. The group produced a monthly public access television show that aired on the Novus Network, ten half-hour episodes in all. They co-produced Steel Viper Force, an over-the-top action comedy movie. They’ve hosted karaoke events for the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver Public Library, PuSh Fest, Fringe, and the Jazz Fest, as well as events in Seattle and Portland.
Pietro Sammarco records bands, produces music and sound for film, DJ’s karaoke, and is co-editor of Spoox Audiozine. He graduated from the School of Communication Master’s program at Simon Fraser University, combining the fields of soundscape composition and media education. Currently Education Coordinator at VIVO, Pietro has also served as a director with The Safe Amplification Site Society, a non-profit venue dedicated to music for people of all ages; was a member of local performance art group Norma; played in Balinese-style orchestra Gamelan Bike Bike; toured extensively as trombonist with They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?; and was Resident Audio Expert with the VPL Inspiration Lab. He completed the Audio Engineer Work-Study program at the Banff Centre, and holds a Bachelor’s in Media Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design.
