Date Night: Bark as Art - 16+

Date Night: Bark as Art
with Janna Kumi

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Cost: $40 each or 2 for $70!
Venue: Cityscape Gallery (335 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, BC V7M 2G3)
Age: 16+

Janna's Artist Statement
I’m drawn to surfaces most people pass by — especially the weathered bark of trees, marked by time and circumstance. When I draw or collage these textures, I’m not documenting nature so much as listening to it.
Up close, bark becomes something else: a landscape, a scar, a memory. These forms echo the ways we’re shaped by our own histories. By enlarging these details, I invite them to shift into new territory — abstract landscapes, emotional maps, quiet reminders of resilience.
My work is an invitation to pause. To look longer. To reconnect with the subtle intelligence of the natural world and the stories it carries in plain sight.
About Janna's Workshop
This two-hour, hands-on workshop invites participants to discover the artistic potential of tree bark - a material rich with history, texture, and expressive possibility. Led by Metro Vancouver artist Janna Kumi, whose practice bridges forestry expertise and contemporary drawing and collage, the session introduces participants to sustainable bark sourcing, simple preparation techniques, and creative approaches to bark-based collage. Participants will create a small, finished artwork using bark fragments, paper, and mixed media.
Key Features

Engaging introduction to bark as an art material
Demonstrations of preparation, cutting, layering, and composition
Organic collage with bark exploring geometric abstraction
Supportive, guided studio time suitable for all skill levels

Who should attend

Nature lovers
Anyone interested in tactile, sustainable art-making

What you need to bring

All materials will be provided

About Date Nights
Since launching in 2022, our monthly CityScape Date Night series has become a familiar part of the arts and cultural scene in Lower Lonsdale. Held inside an active gallery, these evenings are about discovering something new, new connections, new creative habits, and fresh ways of seeing the world around you.
Each month we invite a different local artist ,both emerging and professional to bring their own artistic stories, techniques, and inspirations.
We explore a range of mediums: From Textiles to Sculpture, Watercolour to Digital Art, Creative Writing to Drag Life Drawing, Kintsugi to Recipe Zines.
Many of our workshops use eco-friendly, low-cost, and accessible materials, making it easy to continue the practice at home if you fall in love with it. From paper mâché sculptures to Gelli printing to plant-based weaving, you will try creative techniques that are sustainable, affordable, and hands-on.
Whether you’re here to explore a new creative practice, start a hobby, meet others, or enjoy an evening out, each Date Night brings a fresh artistic experience with a different artist every month.
Registration Closes at midnight on the Tuesday before the class begins (2 days before the class begins)
Terms of Service & Refund Policy – North Van Arts