Secret City - Robson Square

Commissioned by the City of Vancouver as part of VIVA Vancouver
This editions is expected to take 60 minutes. Recommended age: 12+

Secret City: Robson Square takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the məθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.

Vancouer Art Gallery (CoV).jpg — Transform your ordinary
into someone else’s extraordinary.

Grab your smart phone and some headphones and explore Robson Square & šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square while listening to original PodPlays based on true events that took place there. It will change the way you see the pedestrian world around you in a most unexpected way.

For audiences who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, an audio transcript for Secret City: Robson Square can be found here.

Listening Location:Robson Square Ice Rink800 Robson Street — Listening Location:
Robson Square Ice Rink
800 Robson Street

1. Robson Persephone

Written, created, and performed by C. E. Gatchalian
Music: Boléro, composed by Ravel, conducting Orchestre Lamoureux

Listening Location:Bird of Spring Statue - north stairs to the Ice Rink800 Robson Street — Listening Location:
Bird of Spring Statue - north stairs to the Ice Rink
800 Robson Street

2. LOve in the Square

Written and performed by Alison Jenkins
Based on a memory provided by Jerry Young

Listening Location:The centre of šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square850 West Georgia Street — Listening Location:
The centre of šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square
850 West Georgia Street

3. Before the house

Written and performed by Julie Hammond
Sound design, recording, and audio engineering by Matthew Ariaratnam
Additional recording by Julie Hammond
Based on a memory provided by Sharon Young

Listening Location:Northeast bench of šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square across from the Georgia Hotel850 West Georgia Street — Listening Location:
Northeast bench of šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square across from the Georgia Hotel
850 West Georgia Street

4. šxʷƛ̓ənəq square

Arranged by Julia Siedlanowska and Kanon Hewitt
Based on memories provided by Deb Pickman and Elder Jim Kew (Musqueam)

Deb Pickman shares a pivotal moment at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Square. Elder Jim Kew shares his snəw̓eyəɬ on this sacred territory.

Listening Location:Northeast corner of šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square850 West Georgia Street — Listening Location:
Northeast corner of šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square
850 West Georgia Street

5. Where are we?

Written, created, and performed by Taran Kootenhayoo
Sound Engineering by Jade Baxter (Nlaka’pamux)

Phenomania would like to thank GK Sound, Gal Minnes, and the Viva Vancouver team for their contributions to Secret City: Robson Square.