With multi-year funding from Vancouver Foundation, Powell Street Festival (PSFS) and WePress Community Arts Space Society are sharing art-making skills and strengthening community connections...
According to Wikipedia, residents of Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands consume the most SPAM per capita in the United States. SPAM was introduced into these areas, as well as other islands in the Pacific such as Okinawa and the Philippines, during the US military occupation during World War Two. Since fresh meat was difficult to get to the soldiers on the front, World War II saw the largest use of SPAM. GIs started eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Surpluses of SPAM from the soldiers’ supplies made their way into native diets. Consequently, SPAM is a unique part of the history and effects of US influence in the Pacific.
On Saturday March 28 between 10am and 9pm, the Japantown neighbourhood will come to life with historical walking tours centred around Oppenheimer Park; public discussion about the Historical and Cultural Review of Powell Street; portable displays from local organizations and the sharing of stories and histories from many invited guests at Chapel Arts; intimate musical and spoken word performances at various venues; a street procession of artists, children and music; an afternoon ceremony to honour the milestones and initiatives of the community, an early evening gala of multicultural music and dance with local performers, and closing with a special dance performance from a mother and son duo of the Bandou-ryu School of Nihon Buyo at the Japanese Hall.
