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Surrey's first PechaKucha event focuses on public art

SURREY - While many Surrey residents have probably heard of Ted Talks, a global series of conferences that feature multiple speakers on subjects spanning techonology to brainpower, some might not yet have heard of PechaKucha, another multispeaker conference phenomenon that's quickly picking up speed.

 

Meant to inspire attendees and share ideas in a 20-20 format - that is, share 20 slides for 20 seconds each - PechaKucha Nights are held around the globe on different topics.

 

While the inspiring talks have been happening in other Lower Mainland cities for years, this is a first for Surrey. On the docket for the city's inaugural PechaKucha? Public art.

 

"At (59) pieces of public art here in Surrey, we saw it as an opportunity to get the community excited about what we have and what others are doing and just about public art," said Anita Green, Surrey's public art coordinator.

 

The city is currently working on its 60th piece of public art, an outdoor installation at the new Grandview Aquatic Centre.

 

The event, which takes place on Thursday, Oct. 16 at Surrey City Hall's Centre Stage, will feature

 

Miriam Blume from Vancouver Biennale, Peggy Kendellen from Oregon's Public Art Program and Bryan Lemos Beça and Steve DiPasquale from Surrey's The Space of Difference interactive artwork on UrbanScreen, and more.

 

Green said PechaKucha is unique in that it's cheaper than a Ted Talks event and that the format lends to a fast-paced dialogue - much like modern communication itself.

 

"The first PechaKucha night was held in Tokyo in February 2003, and so the format was set then and it's just spread all over the world - so it's

 

about time it came to Surrey," Green noted.

 

"It's really a great way to share information and allow people to do it in that format, because society's is getting pretty fast-paced, and that's a fast-paced way of doing it and to cover a lot of areas and involve a lot of people," she said.

 

Surrey's PechaKucha Night on public art takes place Thursday, Oct. 16 at Centre Stage at City Hall. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 604-501-5566 or visiting Tickets. surrey.ca.