Explore & Create Saturday Art Program
Families with children ages 5 – 12 are invited to join us on Saturdays from 1 – 3pm for drop-in art activities inspired by works in the Gordon Smith Gallery’s current exhibition.
Participation is free, donations are welcome. Parent or guardian supervision is required. For additional assistance or accommodation, please contact coordinator@smithfoundation.ca.
Spring 2025 Schedule
April 12, 19, 26
May 3, 10, 17, 24
June 7, 14, 21
‘The Giant Strawberry’ Explore & Create activity with artist Cindy Mochizuki, November 2024. Photo by Khim Mata Hipol.
Collecting and Collection
The 2025 Speaker Series at the Gordon Smith Gallery explores how collections come to life—through artists, curators, gallerists, and collectors who shape and steward Canadian art. This four-part series blends critical reflection with practical insight, inviting audiences to consider not just what we collect, but why and how. Highlights include a conversation between Andrea Valentine Lewis and Diana Freundl on storytelling through collections; a panel with leading BC gallerists Sophie Brodovitch, Wil Aballe, and Amy Kazymerchyk on supporting emerging artists and new collectors; a talk with Host Consulting on building equitable collections that move beyond surface-level representation; and a feature conversation with a prominent BC collector (TBC) offering a personal look at the motivations, ethics, and joys of collecting. Whether you’re building a collection, contributing to one, or simply curious, this series invites you into the evolving dialogue between artists, institutions, and those who champion their work.
Generously supported by Anthem Properties and the North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission, with additional support provided by the North Vancouver School District and Artists for Kids.
All ages are welcome to attend. Admission is by donation. Underground parking is available.
May 31, 2025, 1 PM — RSVP
Curating Legacy and Looking Forward: A Conversation on Collection, Storytelling, and Emerging Visions
Andrea Valentine Lewis, independent curator and 2026 Guest Curator at the Gordon Smith Gallery, in conversation with Diana Freundl, Senior Curator, Vancouver Art Gallery
In this two-part conversation, Andrea Valentine Lewis sits down with Diana Freundl—Senior Curator at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the force behind Black, White and Everything in Between: A Monochrome Journey—to explore how storytelling, the senses, and institutional values shape the way collections are brought to life. Diana will share insights from curating this exhibition, including her approach to collection acquisitions and working with a museum collection as a living, evolving resource.
Following the conversation, Andrea will reflect on the foundational legacy of artists like Jack Shadbolt, Gordon Smith, and Bill Reid—whose work and mentorship shaped the origins of the Gordon Smith Gallery and Artists for Kids collection—and share how she is building on that legacy in the early stages of her own curatorial project. This session bridges past and future, illuminating how curators today recontextualize collections to reflect both historical depth and contemporary relevance.
Andrea Valentine-Lewis (she/her) is an emerging curator and writer based on the unceded and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people. She works as a Curatorial Assistant at Vancouver Art Gallery where she worked closely on exhibitions including Firelei Báez, 2024; Rooted Here: Woven from the Land, 2023; and Fashion Fictions, 2023, and contributed writing to catalogues including The Place of Objects: The John David Lawrence Collection, 2025, and Fashion Fictions, 2023. Prior to this position, Valentine-Lewis held the position of Associate Director at Burrard Arts Foundation. She holds a BA in Art, Performance and Cinema Studies from Simon Fraser University and an MA in Art History from McGill University where her research was supported with funding from SSHRC. She was the 2022 recipient of the SFU Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology’s Emerging Alumni Award. She was recently named the 2025/26 Curatorial Fellow at the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art.
Diana Freundl is Senior Curator at the Vancouver Art Gallery where she has curated exhibitions with a focus on Asian art including Jin-me Yoon: About Time, 2022; Sun Xun: Mythological Time, 2021; Moving Still: Performative Photography in India, 2019; Emptiness: Lui Shou Kwan & Emily Carr in Dialogue, 2018; Pacific Crossings: Hong Kong Artists in Vancouver, 2017; Howie Tsui: Retainers of Anarchy, 2017; Bharti Kher: Matter, 2016 and Unscrolled: Reframing Tradition in Chinese Contemporary Art, 2015. She curated several commissions for the Gallery’s public art space, Offsite, including projects with MadeIn Company, Reena Saini Kallat, Tsang Kinwah, Asim Waqif, Polit-Sheer-Form-Office and Sanaz Mazinani among others. Prior to her tenure at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Freundl was living and working in mainland China and Taiwan from 1998 to 2013. She has an academic background in religion studies and journalism and MA in Humanities at the University of Chicago. She is Executive Editor of Yishu Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art.
Art Education, for Life
This 2024 Speaker Series weaves the threads of creativity into the fabric of diverse career and life paths. The series serves as a nexus, gathering luminaries from various fields—renowned artists, scientists, thought leaders, and business powerhouses—to illuminate the profound impact of art education on their journeys.
Delve into the intimate narratives of accomplished individuals who credit art education as a catalyst for their success and personal growth. From celebrated artists who’ve shaped cultural landscapes, to scientists who find inspiration in the artistic process, to business leaders who understand the strategic value of a creative mind, each speaker brings a unique perspective on the enduring value of art education.
Art Education, for Life transcends traditional boundaries, fostering interdisciplinary conversations that underscore the universal relevance of creative thinking. As speakers share their stories, the series aims to inspire, challenge perspectives, and highlight the transformative power of artistic learning not just in the studio but as a life-long companion.
November 23, 2024 — Artful Minds, Scientific Insights
Dr. Maiya Geddes in conversation with Dr. Randy McIntosh
Dr. Maiya Geddes, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University will be in conversation with Dr. Randy McIntosh, Professor at SFU and Director of the Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, exploring the intricate relationship between art and neuroscience. Geddes will delve into the neural mechanisms shaping creativity and aesthetic experiences, unraveling the mysteries of the mind at the crossroads of artistic expression and cognitive processes. Video by Erik Andersen Studios
November 4, 2024 — A Lens for Discovery: Altered States, Transcendence and Belief
Jeremy Shaw in conversation with Andrew Booth, Vancouver Art Blog founder
North Vancouver-born and Berlin-based artist Jeremy Shaw sits down with Andrew Booth to delve into the role that early exposure to quality art education had in building alternative perspectives on visual media from a young age. A former student of Artists for Kids, Shaw now works in a variety of media to create a post-documentary space to dissect and assemble disparate belief systems and counter-histories.
Video by Erik Andersen Studios
October 19, 2024 — Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Cultural Identity in Contemporary Art
Lauren Brevner, James Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry, and Xwalacktun in conversation with Jenn Jackson, Director/Curator of Or Gallery
Delve into the intersection of family lineages, traditional Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw knowledge, and contemporary art education to explore how these elements shape cultural identity. Highlighting the importance of intergenerational wisdom and family as vehicles for learning, Lauren Brevner, James Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry, and Order of British Columbia recipient, Xwalacktun, share valuable perspectives on blending Indigenous traditions with modern artistic practices and cross-cultural influences.
Video by Erik Andersen Studios
June 13, 2024 — Designing Canada, then and now: Greg Durrell in conversation with Tyler Quarles
Explore the evolution of Canadian design, from its historical roots to modern innovations. Highlights include clips from Durrell’s acclaimed film Design Canada and a thought-provoking discussion on the past, present, and future of Canadian design. Engage with these experts and discover how design shapes Canada’s cultural and national identity.Video by Erik Andersen Studios
May 9, 2024 — Art Education Unveiled: Perspectives from Prevailing Landscapes
Featuring artists and educators Stan Douglas, Ian Wallace and Karen Zalamea, and facilitated by Vancouver Art Blog founder Andrew Booth, this conversation provides a compelling exploration of the intricate relationship between art and education. The first installment of our ‘Art Education, for Life’ Speaker Series offers a rare glimpse into the minds of artists who are shaping the landscapes of contemporary art and molding the future of artistic expression through their roles as educators.
Video by Erik Andersen Studios
Art Education, for Life is generously supported by The Audain Foundation, Polygon Homes, Anthem Properties, and the North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission, with additional support provided by the North Vancouver School District and Artists for Kids.
Music at the Smith
Music at the Smith returns for a fall concert with preeminent BC musicians at the Gordon Smith Gallery.
October 18, 2025 — Black Dog String Quartet
Formed in 2007, the Black Dog String Quartet is composed of Elyse Jacobson, violin; Molly Mackinnon, violin; John Kastelic, viola; and Doug Gorkoff, cello.
The group has appeared on the recordings of artists such as 54-40, Marianas Trench, Bleeding Through, and many others. Individual members have performed live on stage with some of the world’s top acts, including Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Sting, Michael Buble, Mariah Carey, The Eagles, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Video Games Live.
The quartet’s excellent playing and reputation have landed them in studios with producers like Garth Richardson (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine), Joe Chiccarelli (Elton John, Alanis Morissette), Dave Genn (54-40), Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad), and the late Olivia Quan (Hey Ocean, City & Colour). Recent performance highlights include opening for Sarah McLachlan at the SPC Global Conference, a concert with acclaimed soprano Measha Brueggergosman at the Chan Centre, and an appearance at the Shambhala Music Festival.
Consistently delivering performances with “conviction and imaginative sensitivity” (Vancouver Classical Music), the Black Dog String Quartet appears regularly at various public and private events, including classical chamber concerts, weddings, and corporate functions, as well as on film and television scores and other studio recordings. They’ve been a featured ensemble at the Quartetti Festival of String Quartets, Sonic Boom Festival of New Music, and Classical Revolution Vancouver, and all four members play regularly with multiple symphony orchestras.
Their solid classical background, high skill level, and collective open-mindedness set the Black Dog String Quartet apart as one of Vancouver’s most unique and versatile ensembles. The quartet’s debut album, a collection of original songs for string quartet and voice composed by John Kastelic, was released in late April 2023.
Tickets: $20 at the door
Doors open: 12:30 PM
Performance begins: 1:00 PM
For additional assistance or accommodation, please contact coordinator@smithfoundation.ca.
The Smith Foundation is honoured to be the proud owner of a 100 year old Steinway & Sons baby grand piano, donated by Kathryn Allison in memory of her mother Barbara Allison, a friend and student of Gordon Smith.
The donation of the Steinway piano is in memory of my mother, Barbara Allison. She trained as an opera singer, but when she became a single parent, she went back to school to become a teacher. She met Gordon Smith when she took his Fine Arts Teaching Methods course at UBC. They became great pals and he encouraged her to nurture every child’s creativity, not just the prodigies. Gordon Smith inspired my mother’s teaching practice, and made it possible for me to paint murals all over my bedroom walls. She relented, only because he approved!
Lixia Li plays the 100-year-old Steinway & Sons baby grand piano gifted to the Gordon & Marion Smith Foundation by Kathryn Allison. Photo by Cindy Goodman.