ART
Buddhist Arts of Asia at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
If your understanding of Buddhism doesn’t go much further than the popular image of a smiling man with a belly, then perhaps you’ll want to check out the new Buddhist Arts of Asia exhibit. Showcasing two thousand years of Buddhist art, this exhibit is a stunning portrait of one of the world’s most well-known and ancient religions. If this doesn’t leave you feeling one with everything, then I don’t know what to tell you.
Runs through to Sunday, August 30
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss St.
Admission and tour info available at aggv.ca
COMMUNITY
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
Celebrate National Aboriginal Day at the Royal BC Museum with an entire weekend of events put on by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Performers from near and far will make appearances, including three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells (Lil’wat Nation)! Sample traditional food, look through the various wares on sale, and share in the local Aboriginal community and culture.
June 19–21
Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville St.
Admission is free
Full event schedule available at aboriginalbc.com/victoria-aboriginal-festival
Bare Your Boobies! Topless March
Get it all off your chest and bare your soul in an expression of solidarity with those who are discriminated against — all because of their body. The march will proceed from City Hall to Dallas Beach, and marchers are invited to wear body paint, tassels, or nothing at all. Event organizers Alex Rae and Shayna Bugden say the walk is about “LOVE, positivity, self-acceptance, awareness, and fighting objectification.” Sounds like the kind of cause worth stripping for.
June 12, 12–3 p.m.
Victoria City Hall
MUSIC
13th Annual Sooke River Bluegrass Festival
Take a trip into Sooke this Father’s Day weekend to soak up the sun and take in some bluegrass talent — banjos not required. Local acts include The Garrett Thompson Band, The Blackwood Two, and more, while The Lonely Heartstring Band and Mile Twelve both make the pilgrimage from Boston to the West Coast. The weekend is rounded out by a variety of vendors and music workshops, so maybe you’ll need to bring that banjo after all.
June 19–21
Sooke River Campground
Admission: Weekend and day passes available; check sookebluegrass.com/tickets for details.
Full lineup and workshop info available at sookebluegrass.com
Entangados with Korasonic at the Copper Owl
Hailing from Argentina, Entangados is bringing a unique blend of rock, Balkan music, reggae, cumbia, ska, folklore, tango, and uh . . . clowns to the Copper Owl. Featuring members of local act Compassion Gorilla with Korasonic opening, this show will be sure to wash away all your worries — even if you’re scared of clowns.
June 25, 9:30 p.m.
The Copper Owl, 1900 Douglas St.
Admission: $10 at the door
THEATRE
Broad Theatrics presents R.A.W. = Reading Adolescent Writing
Come to the Victoria Event Centre to participate in the catharsis that is reading embarrassing writing from your youth to a room full of people. (I’m getting anxious just thinking about it.) Hosted by local comedian Kirsten Van Ritzen, the evening will feature local talent including Jason Lamb from The Zone FM and Leane Allen from CVV Magazine. Ten open mic spots are available, just in case you felt like digging up your old Livejournal page.
June 16, 8 p.m.
Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St.
Admission: $10 at the door, advance tickets available at eventbrite.ca
More information available at broadtheatrics.ca
