Act fast: latest Pecha Kucha Abbotsford set for Feb 12 at UFV

Pecha Kuchas are fun, fast, and informative. Photo: Stephen Bau.

The next installment of the popular Pecha Kucha Night Abbotsford running Feb. 12 has a lot going for it: 16 exciting topics, engaging exhibits by UFV Graphic and Digital Design students — even a fundraising Instagram contest.

Paradigm: Abbotsford’s latest Pecha Kucha event. Photo: Stephen Bau.

What it doesn’t have is a lot of tickets left.

Heading into its fifth installment, this season’s must-see Fraser Valley interactive art and lecture event features a record number of presenters ranging from digital artists to social media experts, branding creative-types, creative leaders, entrepreneurs and more. Each will present 20 slides shown for exactly 20 seconds.

“It’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s a whole lot more than just a lecture series,” says Karin Jager, UFV’s Graphic and Digital Design program head.

“We’re celebrating passion for the creative industry and people doing what they love in a variety of disciplines.”

Sponsored by UFV, Jelly Marketing, and The Reach Gallery Museum, February’s event, called Paradigm, begins at 5 pm with a gala reception in UFV’s S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery (B136) featuring branding projects and typography portraits created by select first- and second-year GDD students. The work focuses on community projects created for the City of Abbotsford based on a coalition of five non-profits looking to create a new partnership campaign. Concurrently, the gallery will also feature winners of the program’s Instagram contest. Submitted on the theme of expressing love of something, shortlisted images will be printed and auctioned, with proceeds benefitting the GDD graduating portfolio exhibit. Submissions are accepted until Feb. 5. To enter, share your photo on Instagram using #PKAbbotsford and tag @PKFraserValley.

The Pecha Kucha itself starts just down the hall at 6:30 pm in UFV’s lecture theatre, Room B101.

“It’s inspiring to hear people tell stories about how they work and what their passion is and how they connect and make change,” says Jager.

“Sometimes it’s not about the work, it’s about making change or being part of the greater good. You leave these events with a lot of takeaways and feeling very humble.”

For more information, or to try landing a ticket for a suggested donation of $10, visit PechaKucha.ca. Anyone interested in presenting at the next Pecha Kucha Night (April 29 at High Street) is encouraged to contact Jager at karin.jager@ufv.ca.

Paradigm Pecha Kucha presenters include:

Shawn Neumann, Founder, Domain 7

Jared Falk, Drumeo

Krista Hesketh, The Blonde Jedi

Greg Meeres, Boldfish Video Productions

David Reeve, Unleash Culture, Brand and Culture Builder

Cherlandra Estrada, The Reach Gallery Museum

Sarah Clark, Jelly Digital Marketing and PR

Carly Butler Verheyen, Photographer/Writer

Tim McAlpine, Currency Marketing

Alisha Deddens, Installation Artist and Young Contemporaries Leader

Michael Boronowski, Civic Engagement and Corporate Initiatives, District of Mission

Bosco Anthony, Digital Strategy

Simran Bains, VP, Operations, Westberry Farms

Brad Haima, Circle Graphics

Anne-Marie Wee, The Dessert Republic

Sheila Reimer, UFV Advancement