Build your own fish and release it into a seascape, led by artist Tarcila de Figueiredo Neves!

Hi, I’m Tarcila Neves. A mixed Afro Indigenous Portuguese woman, and an emerging artist. Growing up in the vibrant Gueto district of Rio de Janeiro, art has always been my solace and my passion. From a young age, I immersed myself in fine arts studies. After graduating in Industrial Design, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and artistic exploration. I worked in different fields, saving every penny to pursue my dream of studying digital art in Toronto and concept art in Vancouver. I’m passionate about making art accessible to all. I specialize in creating augmented reality experiences accompanied by audio descriptions aiming to make art accessible to everyone, including those with visual impairments. In 2024, I achieved a significant milestone: my first selection for an immersive installation at the Port of Oak Bay. It was deeply meaningful as my dad, who passed away earlier this year 2024, was my constant source of support and inspiration.

https://www.tarcilaneves.com
https://www.instagram.com/tarcilaneves/

We are the Steveston Maritime Modellers, a group of model enthusiasts with a dedication to creating all manner of scaled-down, sea-going vessels. We share modelling techniques, display our work at various venues and enjoy common interests.

https://www.facebook.com/stevestonmaritimemodellers/

I became an artist through my passion to share the wonder that a simple piece of paper can become a beautiful form of art, as well as inspiration from my grandmother.

https://www.instagram.com/aikos.origami/

Join us for a fun-filled crochet & knitting workshop where kids can create their own sea creatures! Participants will craft squid and jellyfish, focusing on crocheting or knitting the colorful tentacles, with guidance provided for the more challenging parts. This hands-on activity is perfect for beginners and allows kids to learn crochet and knit in an engaging and supportive environment. As an exciting addition, each child will have the opportunity to contribute their creations to a collaborative art installation, transforming a tree into a vibrant “Under the Sea” scene.

Ainsley is a crochet enthusiast, and Liana is a knitting mistress. Both are experienced workshop leaders with a knack for teaching and inspiring creativity in others. Their workshops are designed to be engaging and accessible, focusing on beginner-friendly projects to make crochet/knitting fun and approachable, encouraging young crafters to explore their creativity and discover the joy of handmade crafts. Their goal is to ensure that every child leaves with a sense of accomplishment and inspiration to continue their crochet journey!

https://www.instagram.com/ainsley.oh

https://www.instagram.com/_lianasbananas_knits

Ruan Vibegaard is a local artisan specializing in lapidary, jewelry design and crochet. She will be showcasing some handmade items from her lapidary jewelry and small object collection whilst demonstrating wire wrapping a hand carved cabachon made from local BC gemstone. Her display will show a variey of BC raw gem stone materials, as well as shells, sea glass and the various objects which can be made out of these elements found right here in nature. Follow @ElementsCreativeStudio for workshops for women to bond, connect and create their own pieces with her studio.

https://www.instagram.com/ElementsCreativeStudio

Submerged is an overgrown underwater habitat showcasing a few of the species that call our local oceans home.

Melanie Lazelle is an experience creator, installation artist, and producer who loves creating educational, immersive experiences that share important messages about our world. Merging the worlds of education, creativity, and community activation, she creates moments that take audiences to another place for a blip in time. Director of experience creation organisation, The Wilder, she is lucky to call the lands of Sḵwx̱wú7mes home.

https://www.thewilder.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/thewilder.experience

Mi Gi, a Canadian artist born in British Columbia, specializes in light art and memorial art, working across mediums like clay, wood, resin, and others.

She is self-taught and has even constructed her own kiln for firing large clay pieces. Mi Gi’s artistic journey is driven by a passion for hands-on craftsmanship and a continual exploration of new techniques and tools. Inspired by the natural beauty of British Columbia and shaped by her personal experiences, including her role as an end-of-life Doula and her battle with multiple sclerosis, Mi Gi brings a profound perspective to her art.

Each piece she creates resonates with a poignant sensitivity and a deep understanding of life’s transitions. Her art illuminates spaces with beauty and meaning, capturing heartfelt expressions and memories of loved ones in tangible form.”

https://eternallights.ca/

Kevin Takahide Lee has created an installation of printed imagery and documents from sofu (祖父) Hiroyuki Koyanagi; who took around one thousand photos of BC from 1928 – 1949.  These images depict life in and around Richmond, fishing throughout BC’s coast, recovering from TB in Tranquille, and the internment of Japanese Canadians.  This installation will provide opportunity for viewers to reflect on the profound changes that have occurred in our society over the past 100 years.

Kevin Takahide Lee has a Bachelor’s of Music in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s of Music in Voice Performance from The University of Western Ontario. A fourth generation Chinese Japanese Canadian, Kevin descends from a family who experienced the head tax and the unconstitutional Internment of Japanese Canadians in WWII. Growing up in BC’s Lower Mainland he witnessed the challenges immigrant families faced regarding accessibility to services and preservation of their culture. This has led Kevin to work in the performing arts and advocacy, including receipt of Richmond’s Heritage Award for fostering relationship to the social history of the Edwardian Cottage, his family’s former home. Performances include the Arts Club Theatre’s and Theatre Calgary’s joint production of Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto adapted by Hiro Kanagawa, the Alberta tour of Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, and Surrey Archives Museum’s The Re-enactors.

For more about Kevin go to www.MIUSc.ca 

Ralph Heading is a sculptor and painter working with recycled items. He will be sculpting playful items from plastic waste recovered from the Fraser River and sharing these creations with the public.

https://www.instagram.com/ralphheadingbuilds/#

Lindsay and Iris have been involved in the arts for many years and share their passion for creativity, colour and design using Face Painting as a playful outlet. They love to spread happiness creating smiles and making memorable times.

https://www.instagram.com/irisabsolonart

At this year’s Richmond Maritime Festival, we’re honored to have Musqueam Elder Thelma Stogan share her knowledge and skills in traditional nettle rope braiding, a technique historically used in crafting fishing nets. This cultural programming offers a unique opportunity to witness and learn from Thelma as she demonstrates these age-old methods, deeply rooted in the heritage of the Musqueam people. Join us to connect with the past and appreciate this remarkable artistry.

Leslie Stark is a high school teacher, hula hoop maker (Serenity Hoops), dancer (Polymer Dance), singer (The Appetizers), poet, storyteller, director, and playwright. She loves to nurture creative minds and believes play is essential to learning and being happier, healthier humans.

Puppet Making Workshop: Puppets! Puppets! Puppets! Puppets allow us to discover what our voices can do, give us a chance to speak outside of ourselves, evoke empathy, and remind us of the power of play! Join us for a maritime-themed puppet making workshop where we will transform old socks into creatures of the ocean and shoreline — clams, crabs, octopi, fish, birds, pirates, and mythical mermaids! There will be a play space where you can create your own puppet show, or play (gently) with Leslie’s own puppet collection. All ages welcome.

Hoop Play: The circle is both silly and sacred. In a multitude of cultures, circles are symbols of life, of completion, unity. And yet we find ourselves “moving around in circles” all the time. The hula hoop is similarly both a “silly kid’s toy” or a “fad” but also for some, a sacred space of movement, flow, and connection.
Come and play with a myriad of circles and find your flow. Leslie will help you figure out what hoop works best for you, and show you a few easy ways to impress your friends the next time you pick up a “silly plastic circle.” Who knows? Maybe you will find a bit of the sacred in the silly! All ages welcome.