Immersed in Reflections
Elvira Monteforte
October 1
10-5pm

We are delighted to announce a brand new exhibition to start the fall series of art shows featuring tri-city artists, at our gallery, located in Port Coquitlam.  Visitors will be able to see artist Elvira Monteforte’s photography work for the first time. The show title Immersed in Reflections will speak to locals who frequent walking paths and trails throughout the tri-cities.  She says of this new work, “This collection of photos celebrates the happy moments when I walked by dog along the trails through our parks, forests, and next to lakes and rivers. This everyday contact with nature has caused inner reflections on the beauty of this corner of the world I now call home.  I saw myself reflected in the puddles of water and wanted to capture that blend of inner and outer reflection in one image.”

Elvira is a multi-media, visual artist who was born and raised in Mexico City and is well known for her public art projects and murals throughout that city.  She has been very active in the public art scene of the tri-cities since she moved to Canada in 2006 with installations at Gates, Hyde and Lion’s Park and has served as an artist in residence on multiple projects. The most recent was her 2021 PoCo installation when she and her partner Dolores Altin dressed up 25 trees in Lions Park, weaving circle and strip cut-outs to create costumes that were wrapped around the trunks. Check out the Behind the Scenes video on the project here.

Artist and owner of the Studios, Susan L. Greig says, “This new show, Immersed in Reflections by Elivra Monteforte, is the perfect way to launch our new fall series featuring local artists in our gallery space.  Due to covid many locals may not have had opportunity to visit us so we are looking forward to sharing this work and giving our visitors a chance to experience more of our amazing local artistic talent.”

Elvira will be on site to discuss her work on October 1. Please contact 778-886-5391 or braidststudios@gmail.com if you would like more information.

The New West Cultural Crawl
October 17 & 18, 2020
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

100 Braid St Studios
200-100 Braid St
New Westminster, BC V3M 1B6

It is with regret that we must let you know that this 2020 Cultural Crawl will be the last one that will place at the 100 Braid St Studios historical BC Distillery address and location. As some of you may be aware, the owners of the building have had re-development plans since 2016.  They have decided to move ahead with this plan and therefore our Arts community here will be leaving the space by December 1, 2020.

Please come and see the amazing art created by our residents and several guest artists.

We will have an announcement soon as to a temporary location until we can find a more permanent space. The Braid St arts community will be expanding more online and we look forward to connecting and serving more artists; we may look a little different but we hope to stay in New Westminster. And eventually, the possibility exists to return to the 100 Braid St address in 3 to 4 years when there will be a new building and much smaller art space available.

We do encourage you to attend the Cultural Crawl and have a look around the building one last time.

If you are unable to make it, the last opportunity for the public will be on November 7 from 10-5pm when we will host The LAST CALL at the BC Distillery where you can help the Braid Arts Community celebrate the end of our time here. More details coming Monday, October 19.  Please watch for updates as to where we will be popping up and to see all of the new and exciting things that are coming.

Please note: COVID safety protocols are in place for all events. Masks are mandatory. If you would like to see the protocols in place please feel free to contact us.

Thank you to our sponsors for their continued support of Art & Culture in New West

Covid Protocols in place
For more information see below

September 5
Van Dop Pop Up

Read the article in the New Westminster Record

Click on the photo to read

COVID PROTOCOLS
Please do not come to the Studio if you are sick or have and symptoms

Upon arriving please stop at our reception desk and sanitize your hands. We are serious about your health and protection.  We have a touche free thermometer and we will happily take your temperature (not required for entry).  The Studio has lots of space for physical distancing however we do ask you to wear a mask.  We have extras at the front desk.  Please maintain physical distancing throughout your visit.
Thank you for helping us all stay safe!

The arts help people cope in dark times so I am so delighted to announce that the arts and 100 Braid St are going virtual, bringing many of our events to the comfort of your own home!  At least for the month of May.

Please watch our calendar for:

Paint Nights (& Days) – our well-known paint & sip events are being scheduled for both evenings and day times over the coming month. As a reminder these are not like the paint nights that have been popular in restaurants and bars. We provide professional fine art teachers and by attending our events you will learn a particular technique with each painting and can progress in your skill.

ON THE BRAID STAGE: Music Open Mic Nights – we are moving from Monday night to FRIDAY nights every two weeks!  Why?  Because we can….and there are so many amazing musicians who are a part of the Studio and our programs and willing to share their talents during this time.  We are delighted to showcase them in 8 minute slots from 7-10pm. Performers and attendees can register on Eventbrite. Supported by the Arts Council of New Westminster & Quayside Voices.

ON THE BRAID STAGE: Spoken Word Open Mic Nights – we are moving to one SATURDAY night once a month! 7-10pm.  We have been delighted over the past year to provide space and events for all of the talented spoken word aists and performers locally.  Now we are going Virtual.  The format is similar to our other Open Mic Nights where each person receives an 8 minute time slot.  Performers and attendees can register on Eventbrite. Supported by the Arts Council of New Westminster.

ON THE BRAID STAGE: Artist Talks – this program series is where owner & founder of the studio, Susan L. Greig, invites artists from a range of disciplines to talk about their journey in the creative process. They will share their work, influences, processes and how they navigate the art world. Each artist will provide a piece of original art that will go to one of the people in attendance at this virtual event! Supported by the Arts Council of New Westminster.

ON THE BRAID STAGE:  Zumba with May Elford – along with using the arts to cope during this time, physical activity is imperative.  Therefore we are delighted to be providing space for Zumba classes each Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm and Sundays at 9:15. May is the wife of one of our resident artists & we are delighted to offer her space.  All of her events are by donation-and the monies support both her and the studio.

In Development

ON THE BRAID STAGE: Creative Entrepreneur Talks – this is a joint program with The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce and the Arts Council of New Westminster; You may remember it as a program called “Artovations”.  We are changing it up and these talks will provide self development workshops for artists and creatives that focus on the business side of working in a creative field!

Virtual Fine Art Classes (for Adults) – this program will feature the many talented Braid St resident and local New Westminster artists.  Classes will include: acrylic & oil painting, plein air painting, illustration, creativity, and more.

Virtual Paint Events for Youth & Kids – just like our fabulous Paint events for adults, our artists and teachers are feverishly working on developing paint events that will appeal to the younger generation!  We hope to have these up and scheduled very soon!  Again, like our adult paint events, our teachers will provide actual art instruction that is age appropriate in fun and inventive ways.

ON THE BRAID STAGE: Virtual Concerts
The gallery in studio is a large space and it is possible to provide social distancing for bands and/or groups that wish to perform. We are welcoming expression of interest.
_________________________________________________________________

If you have any other ideas for events that could appear ON THE BRAID STAGE and could be live streamed please let us know.  We love our local community, our followers on social media and all of our friends around the world – we want to bring as much arts programming and connectivity through the arts as we possibly can to help all of us get through this.

We will be watching to see announcements from the Canadian and Provincial Governments about events and the number of people that may congregate. Currently it is set at six – so we are unable at this point to accomodate in person events. Once it goes to 8 or more then we can definitely do in person events.

I look forward to seeing you whether it is online or in person.

Warmly,

Susan
Owner/Founder
Susan L. Greig
100 Braid St Studios
New Westminster, BC
V3L 3P4
100braidststudios@gmail.com
778-886-5391

 

Corporate Team Building,Art Gallery & Studio

We are monitoring the situation with COVID-19 by paying close attention to the BC Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization (WHO) and following the guidelines from these agencies and local health departments in Canada.

In light of this we are asking for your partnership to help us to us mitigate any risk to you, our customers, artists and anyone who attend our location and events.

Please make sure you:

  • stay home if you are sick
  • wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
  • avoid close contact with people who are sick;
  • cough or sneeze into your sleeve and not your hands

Our team and all artists here are under strict instructions to not come to work if they have any type of cold or flu-like symptoms or have a fever.

We have always used commercial cleaning solutions to disinfect the studios and we also have deep cleaning regularly for high traffic areas with industrial disinfectants. Since learning about CoVid-19 we have increased our frequency of disinfection throughout the day and are paying extra attention to high touch areas as an added precaution.

While the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has assessed the public health risk associated with the virus as low, we recognize the situation can change on a moments notice and we continue to monitor it, remaining committed to providing you with up-to-date information as it becomes available.

——————————–

Only a small number of confirmed cases have been detected in Canada. Learn about COVID-19 here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The signs and symptoms?

Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

If you develop any of these symptoms and believe that you could have coronavirus or another infectious virus, please self isolate and contact your health care provider immediately.

Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Susan

Susan L. Greig
Owner/Founder
100 Braid St Studios
New Westminster, BC

After celebrating its five-year anniversary, founder Susan L. Greig reflects on her unlikely journey to the gallery.

By: Yelin Gemma Lee, Peak Associate
The Peak: SFU’s Indepenent Student Newspaper

On June 8, Susan L. Greig (Métis), the founder and owner of 100 Braid St. Studios, celebrated the gallery’s triumphant five-year anniversary. 100 Braid St. is a mixed gallery, studio, and private rental space. It is often used for special events — like First Saturday Open studios — where the public can see artists’ work and workspaces as well as host their own events.

The gallery boasts high ceilings, cascading natural light, and a renovated space… to read the rest of the article please click here. 

 

 

Anonymous Show Opening Gala 2019
100 Braid St Studios
Friday,  October 25
7:00-10:00pm

For CALL TO ARTISTS CLICK HERE

Take part in the most exciting art treasure hunt of the year and support the New Westminster Arts Council.  Over 150 well-known and emerging artists create 12″ x 12″ art on canvas or wood panels, they are signed only on the back of the piece.  The anonymous nature of the show ensures that all the art is treated equally, however the excitement of the unknown adds a special anticipation and exhilaration to the event. You’ll have to wait to find out who the artist is until you purchase but once you purchase you will be able to have your piece wrapped and take it home that night.

Perhaps we could have called it the “not so anonymous” show though, because we’re going to let you know some of the artists who are participating on our Instagram and Facebook pages (and if you’re a fan of their work they’ll might even let you know themselves) but it will be up to you to identify their work.

The doors will swing open for the Opening Gala at 7:00 pm which gives you half an hour to grab a drink from the cash bar and wander around & pick out the pieces you are interested in. At 7:30pm you can tell the waiting attendants which pieces you would like.  It’s first come, first serve so be sure to come early, have a glass of wine and don’t miss out!

Each piece is priced at $150 with $100 going directly to the artists themselves; the remainder goes to the New Westminster Arts Council as their largest fundraiser of the year, and to cover basic costs of the show.

With Early Bird tickets available until Sept 15th for just $35, make sure to buy your ticket in advance! September 16th starts the general admission cost of $45.

 

CALL TO ARTISTS HERE
Deadline March 24, 2019

 

EXHIBITION
APRIL 5-7  NOON-5PM
RECEPTION APRIL 6  7PM-MIDNIGHT

What happens when camera-wielding visionaries go from picture takers to image makers to art creators? When their often unorthodox art practices challenge what society expects from photography and photographers? Find out at UnderExposed, a juried exhibition of genre-bending photo-based art in New Westminster’s 100 Braid St Studios.

Since it’s early years photography has enjoyed life at the fringes of the visual arts world but in recent decades it has grown up to be more than just a tool to document the world; it has become a mature and respected creative medium which is shaping the world and how we see it.

UnderExposed showcases the work of a group of lens-based artists who dance at an intersection connecting multiple art disciplines and methodologies. Here, rules are broken and the medium is bent and transformed with some surprising results. These practitioners have assembled to reveal photography’s full potential as an art form and to launch an exciting new art movement.

UnderExposed. Part festival. Part art exhibition. Part art salon. All inspiring!

SUNDAY SALON
APRIL 7  1-3PM
In the early 20th century, artists, men of letters, theater people and art dealers met to debate and discuss the arts at Le Bateau-Lavoir in Paris, the birthplace of what became the cubism movement. As the largest working art studio in a heritage building outside of Vancouver, our Sunday Salon held during the UnderExposed Exhibition, will provide a similar lively atmosphere where a panel of lens-based artists, academics, and gallery owners will explore the cultural relevance of photography as a mature and respected creative art medium which is shaping the world. Mixed media has often been used in the art world to express work that contains photography but when a photographer bends the medium what genre do they feel describes their work? How do they describe themselves? An artist? A photographer? Panelists and the audience will explore photography’s potential as an art medium and the birth of a new photography based art movement.

NEW WEST WINTER NIGHT MARKET

AT 100 BRAID ST with WORKINGSILVER
and
RIVER MARKET
(810 Quayside Driver)

December 1
6:00pm-9:30pm

70+ Handmade Vendors with Food, Beer, Wine, and Live Music!

Free Admissions here.

Sponsored by Arts Council of New Westminster

THE NEXT LEVEL – 28 NEW ART STUDIOS

art studio rental

Our main floor is currently home to 16 art studios but we are leveling up and taking over the 3rd floor of the building which will allow us to create an additional 28 new studios.  We are taking expressions of interest.

STUDIO SPACES THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU

• Largest working art studio outside of Vancouver
• Light-filled private studios in secure 1929 Industrial heritage building
• Affordable art studio rental; starting at just $400 per month
• 24/7 access
• Easy access to Hwy 1 & across from Braid Skytrain Station
• Free Parking
• Prominent social media, website, newsletters, etc
• Venue for New Westminster Cultural Crawl and First Saturday Open Studios
• Host your own pop up show in the Gallery
• Resident Vocal Group
• Resident Performance Artist
• Proximity to Opus Coquitlam, Place des Arts and Anvil Centre
• Growing Reputation within the Community and Lower Mainland Art Scene
• Your very own 100 Braid St Studios Webpage
• A public welcome to you on our Social Media Channels
• Regular promotion of your art during the year on our Social Media Channels
• Listings in our Newsletter 1-5 times a year
• Listings on our blog 1-5 times a year
• Access to our Private Mighty Network
• Coaching Consultation with owner Susan L. Greig each year for your career
• Inclusion and discounts for Studio Sponsored Events
• Inclusion and discounts for Business and Marketing Events
• Discounts for gallery rental
• Discounts for Pop Up art show
• Monthly artists meetings and socials

More Details

HOW TO APPLY

Please fill out the information on our webpage here and we will contact you with 7-14 business days. In the additional notes section please feel free to list your goals for the next 1-5 years or any other information you would like us to know.