I recently joined the merriment that was the thirteenth edition of Pecha Kucha. Why do I go? To meet up with great folks like @stevemynett, @toddsmithdesign and @coryripley. To meet new great folks like @morganjeske. And of course to be inspired by the various speakers.
Here are some of my favourite things from their talks:
- Amanda Gibbs from the Museum of Vancouver, who talked about making things participatory inside the MOV. As someone drawn to anything participatory (design, facilitation and the like) I was in heaven listen to Amanda describe a NYC museum with a dialogue space (the exhibit was dialogue) and arts and crafts night at the MOV where people created ugly crap but had a ton of fun doing it. She said museums were the best spaces to talk and connect. I must check out the MOV. Maybe a perfect venue for an AoH?
- Myriam Steinberg spoke about the best place for culture on the cheap: In The House Festival. They’ve done 200 shows all in people’s houses. I loved the town criers who wander around the neighbourhood the day of the show handing out flyers and her description of loving people’s “wow” moments. I’m going to switch up my typical “ah-ha” lingo and borrow her wow from time to time. And her humorous threat of how if people don’t behave they lop off their heads and throw them up in the tree (with artistic slide to support).
- Grant McDonagh of Zulu Records, where the unofficial thread of community continued. Best business card: Zulu Records, Record Store & Community Centre. I wished I had heard more of Grant. Cause+Effect: Please bring back the intermission! Beer + sitting for a long time = having to be rude and leave during people’s talks.
- Connely Farr, who could have entertained us for many more minutes than he was permitted. I was so enraptured I forgot to take notes, but one story could not be forgotten, where he was part of a group building homes and they asked this one gentleman where on his property he’d like his new house. “I want to look out at the mountains,” he said. Incredulously the architecture students looked at each other because there were no mountains to be seen anywhere. But to this man, who had never been outside his hometown, the neighbouring hills were his mountains. Wow.
- Susanne Tabata, the producer/director of Bloodied But Unbowed. I had seen the documentary that same week and enjoyed hearing her talk us through some of the images from her life and the film. Susanne and others reminded me that I have much to learn about Vancouver’s interesting history.
Are you hungry for something a little bit arts, a little bit culture and a whole lot of unexpected? Be sure to head out for the next Pecha Kucha in your neighbourhood.