Yuriko Iga was born in Winnipeg and raised in Calgary with Japanese parentage. Her experience of the traditional Japanese house and family, combined with her work in the post-modernist art field, have led her toward a broadened conception of art as the creation of installation or social space always ignoring the boundary between art, multi-media, design, and life. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design, Yuriko’s many artistic endeavours include running a cafe/gallery in Calgary called Kisaten from 1994-1996; working with the collective Colours for Industry on a multi-media dance piece called Microluft ; and curating a music event called Squibb. Now based out of Vancouver, Yuriko’s recent project is called Blim. Blim Art Facility is a Community Based Art Resource Center which facilitates screen-printing, button making, drawing, knitting, local experimental audio, film screenings, animation, video, dance, spoken word, visual art, creative workshops, and crafts in the independent field. Blim has been active for 5 years.
Three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: [Mount Pleasant] Close to downtown but not in downtown, near the water, near Blim.
The thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating: chips (any kind).

One thing you’d like to change about Vancouver: public transit.

Book you’re reading: The Plague Dogs.

Last place traveled: Bellingham.

Worst cliche ever: “its all good my bad”.

Saddest thing about Vancouver: bus drivers.

Musical instrument you long to play: the accordion, again.

Sport you gave up: dance.

Mac or PC: Mac.

The dish yo’re proud of: okonomiyaki.

Town you were born in: Winnipeg. First memory: backyard in Winnipeg – there were no fences.

Old television shows you can tolerate re-runs of: Alf.

Quality you admire most in yourself: adaptability, most of the time…

The career path you considered but never followed: social work, modern dance.

Three websites you visit every day: blim, facebook, and etsy

The first three things you do every morning: play with (daughter) Yurei, eat toast, drink tea.

The thing you’re addicted to: tea lattés.

Talent you wish you possessed: Romulan cloaking device.

That was the 48th interview of what will eventually amount to 500 profiles of people who have made life in BC that much more interesting. At the rate we’re going it’ll take three years, at which time we’ll probably just start shooting for 1,000.