Stop in at CO*LAB on Thursdays and Saturdays to see a collection of animal-themed paper lanterns, both life size and miniature.
Each lantern was created by artist Gabs for a variety of festivals like Deep Freeze Byzantine Festival, Kaleido Family Arts Festival and Quarter Arts Society’s GLOW festival. Though she is a resident lantern artist at CO*LAB, the exhibit happened by chance.
CO*LAB was built right before the pandemic hit, and the building features large garage doors specifically designed for building large lanterns for the GLOW festival.
“Because of the pandemic, we just haven’t been able to keep our Spring Equinox Lantern Parade going,” says Gabs. “So I came to them, and I said, ‘Hey, I’m building a life-size woolly mammoth for Deep Freeze and I need a space with a huge door,’ and they’re like ‘Yes, absolutely use our space.’”
Gabs and the Mammoth Lights features seven lantern installations inspired by animals and whimsical creatures including the life-size woolly mammoth and a miniature lizard, one of Gab’s favourite pieces. The exhibit was part of Quarter Arts Society’s annual GLOW Spring Equinox festival this year.
“It’s an art form that I feel like not a lot of people have ever seen before,” says Gabs. “There are vibrant colours everywhere, and it’s a unique experience in the city.”
Visit Gabs and the Mammoth Lights at CO*LAB, located at 9641 102A Ave. NW, on Thursdays and Saturdays from 7 to 10 p.m. until April 30.
