2,010 lanterns mark Lunar New Year

VANCOUVER -- Thousands of lanterns decorated by children from Canada and Taiwan illuminated a stretch of Granville Street’s pedestrian corridor Friday, the Asian-Canadian Special Events Association’s contribution to the 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

Sherry Wang, communications manager for the ACSEA, said the association worked with Cultural Olympiad to create “LunarFest,” a display reflecting Vancouver’s diversity.

“Because Vancouver is such a multicultural society, we wanted to celebrate Lunar New Year where it’s more inclusive,” said Wang.

“We brainstormed with Cultural Olympiad and decided to go with the concept of lanterns to celebrate this traditional event with a twist of Vancouver style.”

The 2,010 lanterns hang from 40 10-feet-tall steel trees and are decorated in the theme of environmental protection and sustainability.

Accompanying some of the children’s drawings, for example, are scrawled messages to turn off lights when they’re not in use, to cut down less trees and pick up after oneself.

Also on display are five “totem lanterns” that incorporate both Canadian and Taiwanese indiginous designs, such as killer whales from Canada and flying fish from Taiwan, and professionally-designed lanterns by four Canadian and six Taiwanese artists.

Local artist Bruce Voyce, who specializes in public artwork, crafted his lantern primarily out of plastic bottles from Taiwan.

“It’s a tribute to some of the temples and shrines they have in Taiwan, which are quite elaborate,” said Voyce.

“In the town I visited, the Taoist temples take to the street every Sunday to do processions ... and that kind of struck me as something really special that they have. I felt it was something I would like to have my artwork relate to.”

The LunarFest display is on until Feb. 28.

On Feb. 13, there will be a celebration to mark the eve of the Lunar New Year.

“We’ll have Korean drummers, Japanese taiko, Vietnamese traditional bamboo music and lion dance,” said Wang. “There is also a 10-drum group coming from Taiwan. They were just nominated for a Grammy.”

The Public Dreams Society will lead a lantern procession, guiding visitors through the lantern forest, said Wang.

People will also have the chance to create their own lanterns onsite.

The 2,010 lanterns on display were narrowed down from countless more, but all submissions can be viewed online at www.lanternfest.org.

Cultural Olympiad is a 60-day arts and cultural festival that aims to showcase traditions, arts and culture from around the world.

This is the first time Vanoc has held Cultural Olympiads in each of the two years leading up to the Games.