Gastown7 is the local up-and-coming art social

By Erika Paskie

Multiple artists' artwork are on display in the showcase room of Gastown7. Photo by Erika Paskie.

By Erika Paskie

Creative minds flooded a dimly lit speakeasy for an event called Gastown7. It’s a space created for local artists to be seen, but never judged, where they can throw away artistic norms and leave cliques behind.

A monthly art-social in the heart of Gastown founded by Liam Greenlaw, co-founded by Drelle Jingco and curated Pablito Belsito.

Drelle, a multidisciplinary artist in Vancouver and the creator director and co-founder of Gastown7, has always been deeply connected to art. With a variety of creative jobs in Vancouver, she works in graphic design, film, manages concerts around the city, engages in contract work for commissions and more.

"It's everything I am as a person. I've really considered art to be one of my main ways to identify myself," said Drelle.

The common conception that Vancouver is a difficult city to connect with new people does not fall short in the creative community. When recounting Drelle’s experience as an artist in Vancouver, she explained that if you do not find the right group of creatives, it can be difficult to step out of your bubble.

"There are different cliques in the Vancouver art scene," said Drelle. "Throughout my art career, I have been trying to find my niche in those different communities."

Gastown7 was created to bring different artists together in one room and break the social barriers in art that cause and maintain these cliques. "For the beatniks, old-souls, and cool cats." Is the Gastown7 mantra.

Artists with different mediums ranging from painting to video game artwork and tattooing may never have gotten the chance to be part of the same creative circle, Gastown7 was their chance.

"With Gastown7, we wanted to break a barrier by allowing different sorts of art mediums and different groups of people to collaborate in one room without any form of judgment or rules per se, even if it's just for one night, once a month," said Drelle. "It makes it easier to mingle, which was the entire purpose of it."

Founded in January 2023, Gastown7 aims to celebrate seven artists once a month by featuring their limited edition artwork at an underground location or speakeasy.

On March 26, the monthly Gastown7 art social took place at Clough Club, featuring new and returning artists, a live band, a tattoo artist, interactive art, vendors, a DJ, and more.

Niru Prasad, an animator and concept artist in digital media based in Vancouver, joined Gastown7 for the first time. It was his second-ever art show, since his medium is typically very separated from fine arts. He has been creating digital art professionally as his primary career for 13 years.

Niru Prasad’s  digital artwork is on display. Photo by Erika Paskie.

When asked about his experience working as an artist in Vancouver, Prasad said “it's kind of mixed because I don't come from fine art. I'm a commercial artist so I train for the film industry and video games and stuff like that. If you are focused and your work is good, you will get hired. It's competitive, but you will get hired.”

Amelia Acebes and Maria Acebes, sisters and owners of Vibra Gaia, also had their first-ever vending station at Gastown7. They just recently started creating their brand, with their backgrounds in digital marketing to help kick-start their business.

Their medium is through different crystals formed into jewelry, gua sha tools, face-rollers, and more.

When asked about their inspiration for their brand, Amelia said "Nature itself, there are a lot of minerals and quartz that helps you with your aura and heals you in different ways. Spreading the way that nature can heal you."

The underground art social is only growing larger in popularity and will be returning once again in the heart of Gastown this coming April.