From her bio, we know that Vancouver-based artist Wendy Sexsmith is well known for her “transgressive oil paintings of performers who push gender boundaries and traditionalist notions of beauty and success”, and that the Emily Carr grad (full scholarship, including one semester at The Cooper Union in NYC) has seen her work appear in several galleries and shows (Ayden, Centre A, Art For Life) and publications (Art In Motion, The Georgia Straight, Canadian Living). We also know that she’s an awesome neighbour, and that she’s showing in the Eastside Culture Crawl, which is happening right now. After reading this Q&A with her, be sure to head on down to her studio to eyeball her work!

Three things about Strathcona that make you want to live there? The folks here are so unique: tolerant, open, creative, communal, socially savvy and very eclectic; it is a bustling hub of creative and socially conscious entrepreneurial talent; everything that’s worth going to is a short jaunt away by bike.

How many years have you been participating in the Eastside Culture Crawl? 10 or so.

How would you would use to describe the ECC to someone who had never attended: socially magnetic and creatively inspiring.

A one sentence artist statement that describes your work? My work is about celebrating who you are and honouring that.

What are you most excited to be working on right now? I’m working on this huge mural on Commercial Drive behind Open Door Yoga. It brings me so much joy to work something out on such a big scale. I’d bliss out working on it everyday, even if i was doing it for nothing.

What inspires you? It inspires me to see people embracing and actualizing their creative talents and sharing the beauty of these gifts with others.

What sort of music do you listen to when you work? Absolutely everything.

Why is Vancouver a good city for art? Because it’s still awakening to it and so there’s a freshness to the discovery. Also, there are so many new collaborative opportunities and so much space for pioneers.

Is there a local designer or artist that you admire above all others? There are at least 30 designers, painters, dancers, musicians and DJ’s that I admire. I wouldn’t even be able to narrow it down to 10.

Best Vancouver place to be inspired by emerging artistic talent: East Van in general. All the emerging talent is concentrated here or somehow tied to the community.

Three places you like to take out of town guests to show off the Art scene in Vancouver: One of Lynn Ruscheinsky’s emerging art shows; Fuse at the Vancouver Art Gallery; a good collaborative performance at The Waldorf.

One thing you would like to change about the arts scene in Vancouver: I’d like to encourage people to respond to the wonderment of their discoveries by purchasing more art and really taking some responsibility for cultivating the art scene in Vancouver. How else will it evolve?

If you were going to recommend a Vancouver artist/designer/musician/personality for Scout to interview, who would it be? Tarran the Taylor and Nayana Filcrow – two fantastic clothing designers, musicians and performers.

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