Around this time last year, Vancouver’s Rio Theatre announced a new concept opening next year: The Rio Grindhouse Gallery Cafe and Bar. Now, patrons will be able to get a look inside the space, now that the gallery portion of the concept is launching.
“So excited to launch the opening of the Rio Grindhouse Gallery next-door to the Rio! Join us this Saturday!” wrote owner Corinne Lea in an Instagram post. “It’s been a year in the making. And we’re excited to reveal the first stage!”
While the actual café and bar space are expected to launch later this spring, the art gallery opens to the public on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 17.
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The Rio Theatre has been voted the number one independent theatre in the city and has been around since 1938, showcasing cult-favourite movies and hosting live events and concerts. It is also well known for its concession stand, so we have no doubt this new cafe and bar concept will be equally as good.
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The first exhibition to be hosted at the Rio Grindhouse this Saturday is called “Scenes That Steal Themselves”; a multidisciplinary show that focuses on the ever-disappearing cultural landscape in Vancouver.
“More than 350 culturally significant spaces have disappeared in the last 30 years in Vancouver. Against this backdrop, a new space emerges: Grindhouse Gallery offers a new model for contemporary art. A dedicated gallery sustained in part by its cafe and bar, and strengthened by a shared audience with its sister institution, The Rio Theatre,” wrote Graeme Berglund, who curated the exhibit alongside producer Tyshaya Smith.
The exhibition will consist of 25 different artists, including Kate Armstrong, Lucie Mink, Michael Turner, Thugs Memory, Jennilee Marigomen, Alex Beadle, and more.
“The work spans post-photography, literature, fashion, installation, and contemporary practice — formal works alongside artist-led projects that challenge conventional nodes of exhibition and display. Siminal figures in Vancouver art hang among emerging talent, collapsing distinction of generation, discipline, and stature,” added Berglund.
The Rio Grindhouse Gallery Cafe and Bar
Address: 1688 E. Broadway, Vancouver
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