Connection Salon - an Outsider Arts Collective

09/21/2026

Kagan Goh inviting you to the Mad Arts Coffee House at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place at 609 Helmcken Street at Seymour Street on Thursday 24 September between 4 PM to 7 PM. We have 5 featured artists including Jillian Christmas

Jillian Christmas is an artist, creative facilitator, curator, consultant, and advocate in the arts community. She is the long-time spoken word curator of the Vancouver Writers Fest, and former artistic director of Verses Festival of Words. Utilizing an anti-oppressive lens, Jillian has performed and facilitated workshops across North America and beyond. She is the author of The Gospel of Breaking (Arsenal Pulp Press 2020), and the children’s book, The Magic Shell (Flamingo Rampant Press 2022). In Fall of 2023, Christmas was appointed as the inaugural Poet-in-residence at the Vancouver Art Gallery, where she can often be found daydreaming. She is the current Curatorial Director at Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture. Working and living on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam people (Vancouver, BC.)

09/21/2026

Kagan Goh inviting you to the Mad Arts Coffee House at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place at 609 Helmcken Street at Seymour Street on Thursday 24 September between 4 PM to 7 PM. We have 5 featured artists including D Fretter

D Fretter is a writer, spoken word artist, and comedian living on the unceded territory of the Qayqayt First Nation. He began his creative journey at an early age. Fretter developed his rhythm and cadence while participating in rap battles and ciphers with his friends on the playground. His poetic style has been described as “…like a hip-hop Andrea Gibson” or “a philosophical Shel Silverstein”. His debut poetry collection Joy + Misery peaked at number one in African Canadian Literature, and number six Canadian poetry on the Amazon charts. Known for his heartfelt storytelling and charismatic stage presence. D shares his Truth and stories in hopes it inspires others to do the same without fear of judgement or regret.

09/21/2026

Kagan Goh inviting you to the Mad Arts Coffee House at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place at 609 Helmcken Street at Seymour Street on Thursday 24 September between 4 PM to 7 PM. We have 5 featured artists including Daniel Lew:

Chinese Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Lew returns to Mad Arts Coffee House with a sneak preview of songs from his upcoming 2027 album. Armed with a guitar and loop pedal, he will perform a dynamic show as a one-man band, mixing soulful vocals and storytelling with punchy guitar riffs and head bobbing rhythms.

09/21/2026

Kagan Goh inviting you to the Mad Arts Coffee House at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place at 609 Helmcken Street at Seymour Street on Thursday 24 September between 4 PM to 7 PM. We have 5 featured artists including Amy Ellen Soden

Amy is a poet who proudly identifies as legally blind. Her work perceives the outside world with vision loss, while exploring layers of rich inner life in sensory experience. Her manuscript, “Seeing with my Soul,” is in development through SFU Writer’s Studio where she is a poetry student. Amy’s first poem was penned at age 6 and she has been putting beautiful words together since. She draws from three degrees in English language and literature, business management and strategic communications to strengthen her poetic voice and message. Amy currently writes for Toronto Metropolitan University – sharing student impact stories with donors.

09/21/2026

Kagan Goh inviting you to the Mad Arts Coffee House at the Connection Salon at the Gathering Place at 609 Helmcken Street at Seymour Street on Thursday 24 September between 4 PM to 7 PM.

We have 5 featured artists including Jennifer Hershman:
Jennifer Hershman has formed a diverse career for herself as an international singer/songwriter. Charting in the Billboard Dance Charts with her single “Sweet Allure” in the top 5 (2002), she toured as the lead vocalist with the recording act Balligomingo who were signed to RCA/BMG, playing to sold out venues such as The El Ray, and The Bowery Ballroom. Her songs have been translated, recorded and released in Portuguese and Mandarin with major label artists. She remains a frequent fixture in the Dance/Electronic scene with a handful of singles, released through Armada records, and Tiesto’s Blackhole records, working with artists such as Airspace & Tucandeo. Jennifer's songs and voice have been credited to many TV and Film placements, such as: The Chris Isaak Show's “Higher Ground”, Wes Cravens “Cursed” soundtrack and HBO’s “Cathouse”.

09/09/2026

Read the latest issue to our newsletter - The Outsider via Substack now!

Issue 04 | September 07, 2026

07/09/2026

Thank you for joining us at our Indigenous themed Mad Arts Coffee House! See you all at our next event.

Photo credits: Wanda John-Kehewin

07/07/2026

06/26/2026

https://youtu.be/HKT988uX25E

A video featuring Karen Vanon a member of the Connection Salon shar...