Joe Erpenbeck

“The Happiest Days of Our Lives #1 – 6” was created by Ann Weber and is made from cardboard boxes salvaged from the streets and grocery stores. The artist was inspired by the landscape of the San Pedro district of LA. She was also drawn on he...

On this Earth Day I recall a community event some neighbours and I hosted several years ago. This event was held in a nearby park and invited people to write, draw or paint how they spent “a great day in Vancouver.” “My Great Day in Vancouver...

In a nearby neighbourhood I discovered a free seeds container. I stopped and checked it out and there were seeds for all kinds of vegetables and flowers. I met a woman who had picked up some seeds for green peppers and also lettuce. I didn’t need any see...

The Yoko Ono “Mend Piece” exhibit was an interactive exhibit. You were invited to sit a table with others and mend or create something from a table full of broken pieces and some string, scissors and tape. A person at the table with me almost perfe...

I wrote this several years ago but seems more relevant today. I had completed a week of work and was happy to be on a flight home even though it was a long cross-country flight. It was also happening in the midst of a tense presidential election campaign in th...

I met a street artist last week in the nearby skate park and he was holding a can of spray paint and evaluating the start of his painting. There was a can of white spray paint in his hand and several other colours art his feet. I glanced at the artwork and ask...

This is a post I wrote 2 years ago, but seems even more a timely as we have been navigating through 2 years of pandemic restrictions. Jump in a puddle today. Meander across town. Go for a stroll. Roll among the world. Pace off your frustrations. Tread, stomp, ...

I met an evaluator several years ago who spoke of an idea to explore the relationships in our lives. His idea was to have a person carry a tiny GPS tracking device in a pocket that would record the path of the person. It could then produce an image of the plac...

I visited this white building last when I was 7 or so years old. Then it was an auto repair shop where my Dad worked. I tagged along when he went to drop off and pick up his uniforms. I liked that this shop was nestled in the middle of a neighbourhood and the ...

I wrote this story 5 years ago while visiting Northern Wisconsin. I was reminded of it recently as groups imagine what the impact of their work in community could be. “We received a grant and realized we had no clue how to do a mural,” said Susan Martinsen...