Connection Salon - an Outsider Arts Collective

08/05/2025

Mike Levin and Gabriel Jacob-Ferman aka Astronaut Socks performing music at the Mad Pride Cabaret at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place on Saturday 26th July.

Mike Levin and Gabriel Jacob-Ferman met in a mental health facility called Venture where they hit it off improvising music together six years ago. They soon started busking and playing for art openings and parties. They are called Astronaut Socks and are working on their second album. Their music can be heard and purchased on Bandcamp.com

08/05/2025

Fernando Raguero performing spoken word poetry at the Mad Pride Cabaret at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place on Saturday 26th July.

Fernando Raguero is a long time regular in the Vancouver Poetry slam scene. He has authored 8 poetry chapbooks and is a two time haiku death match champion. Raguero serves up irreverent verse and has a wildly comical view of reality. He has his moments.

08/05/2025

The talented musician Matt Hermano performing at the Mad Pride Cabaret at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place on Saturday 26th July.

Matt Hermano is an accomplished emerging artist doing local festivals and competitions. He was awarded a grand cash prize for fleetwood gots talent, accepted to yaletown records song camp and won a spot performing at the amazing brentwood gots talent.

Matt Hermano had a sweet and punchy sound, where 70's soul meets the 2000’s defined pop, a captivating feel with a depth of emotion that's real.

07/23/2025

Mad Pride Film Screening + Directors Talkback: "I'm Still Growing"
🗓️ Thursday @ 5:30-7:30
📍The Gathering Place Community Centre
🌟Free Event by Connection Salon - an Outsider Arts Collective

www.eventbrite.ca/e/mad-pride-film-screening-directors-talkback-im-still-growing-tickets-1451594481169

Featuring some of our fantastic films and directors.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Short Film Program | Curated by Cinevolution Media Arts | Total Runtime: 76 min

Common Law (2024) by Kagan Goh
XO Rad Magical (2019) by Christopher Gilbert Grant
The Head Vanishes (2016) by Franck Dion
Me and My Teeth (2023) by Anna Quon
I See Stars (2018) by Caid Dow
The Yellow Wallpaper (2015) by Anne Koizumi
Loca (2024) by Veronique Paquette

Followed by a Directors' Talkback with Caid Dow and Kagan Goh

www.eventbrite.ca/e/mad-pride-film-screening-directors-talkback-im-still-growing-tickets-1451594481169?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/22/2025

Mad Pride Cabaret: July 26th -
Location: The Gathering Place Community Centre (609 Helmcken Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5R1) -
Time: 2:30 - 5:30 PM

Join us for a celebration of Mad Pride Cabaret on Saturday July 26th, an afternoon of performances spotlighting mad, disabled, and neurodivergent artists across disciplines.

Join us for dance, music, crafts & entertainment featuring:
- singer/songwriter Matt Hermano
- spoken word poet Fernando Raguero
- band Astronaut Socks

Mad Pride is an international movement reclaiming language, building visibility, and celebrating the power and creativity of those with lived experience of madness, neurodivergence, and
psychiatric systems. Through these events, Connection Salon hopes to create space for connection, resistance, and joyful expression

07/03/2025

TALK: Art Talks in Plain English Series –July 9th 5:30 PM to 7 PM

Place: The Gathering Place Community Center (Gallery Space), Connection Salon Gallery, 609 Helmcken

Once a month, 2 graduate students from Emily Carr University of Art and Design will give a 20-minute presentation about their work followed by informal discussion. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Plain English is talk that a general audience can understand the first time they hear it. Plain English is clear, straightforward expression.

In July the presentations will be by:

Julya Hajnoczky

All My Favourite People are Plants.

Making Art with the More-than-Human.

Cimarron Knight

Navigating Grief-and-Loss as a Sensory Being.

This event is supported by the British Columbia Council for the Arts, the Connection Salon Collective and the Gathering Place Community Center.

06/30/2025

06/30/2025

Opening: Gifts of Madness Exhibition 2025 - July 10th 5 to 7 PM

Place: Connection Salon Gallery, 609 Helmcken

Connection Salon Artists Collective’s mission is to provide low barrier opportunities to artists that are underrepresented and have lived experience with mental health.

“Reclaiming Our Narratives: Art, Activism, and Healing in Mad Communities”
Mad arts are created by people who live with Madness and are an expression of Mad Pride.
The term “Mad” symbolizes pride, collective identity and community building.
Canada Council for the Arts. 2024

The original Gift of Madness exhibition in 2024 was created and curated by Kagan Goh.

11 visual artists will be on show June 4th to August 17th Join us for the Meet the Artists event, July 10th 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with Stand up for Mental Health Comedians

The exhibition is supported by the British Columbia Arts Council, the Connection Salon Collective and the Gathering Place Community Center.

05/02/2025

Thank you to everyone who showed up to our Meet The Artist featuring the extraordinarily talented musician Matt Kennedy! We hope to see you all soon for our upcoming events.

04/27/2025

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: THE CONNECTION SALON ARTISTS COLLECTIVE

Standing in Solidarity with the Filipino Community Following the Lapu Lapu Festival Tragedy

The Connection Salon Artists Collective is deeply saddened by the devastating events that occurred at the Lapu Lapu Festival on April 26, 2025. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the eleven individuals who lost their lives, as well as to those
who were injured and traumatized by this senseless act of violence. This tragedy marks one of the darkest days in Vancouver's history.

As a community organization dedicated to fostering connection, healing, and understanding, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the Filipino community during this time of immense grief. We recognize the profound impact this incident has on the
Filipino community and the city as a whole.

The Connection Salon Artists Collective joins the broader Vancouver community in mourning this tragic loss of life. During this difficult time, we wish to express our deepest
condolences to all those affected and reaffirm our commitment to supporting community healing through respectful dialogue and compassionate action.

If you, or someone you know needs support, the following resources are available:

 Victim Services (24/7): Call or text 1-800-563-0808
or email [email protected]

 310 Mental Health Line: Call 310-6789 (no area code needed)

 Crisis Line: Call 1-800-784-2433OFFICIAL STATEMENT: THE