THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ‘BEHIND THE PLEXI’

Let’s go BEHIND #BehindthePlexi — our photography fundraiser in support of Vancouver’s restaurant industry.

The genesis for the project came about a month ago when local restaurateur Brad Roark of @oddfishrestaurant and @nookrestaurant was inspired by a similar photo-essay fundraiser called Lockdown 2.0 spearheaded by @antlerkitchenbar Chef/Co-Owner Jody Shapiro to benefit Toronto-area foodservice businesses.

Shapiro teamed up with art galleries to help promote the initiative and facilitate the sale of behind-the-scenes photographs featuring cafes, restaurants and staff across the 6ix, with all proceeds donated to organizations and charities that benefit industry workers like @savehospitality.ca and @the.fullplate.

“Jody’s project really caught my eye and got the ball rolling,” says Roark. “As a fellow restaurateur, I have felt every challenge of this past year and a bit. We are all working hard to keep things moving forward and keep people employed. It goes without saying that we are also trying to save our businesses, and in doing so, the culture of small, owner-operated restaurants themselves.

“It is this culture that we continue to cultivate that provides a sense of togetherness and vibrancy in our communities. Much like Jody’s Lockdown 2.0 initiative, Behind the Plexi aims to capture the very essence of this time period — a period of determination and resoluteness to keep going until we can get through this and come out the other side.”

Check out our website to see the whole portfolio of Behind the Plexi prints featuring more than 30 Vancouver-area establishments and their teams that are available for purchase until Monday, May 31. All proceeds from the sale of each print will be dedicated to the creation of two new scholarships for restaurant workers who have experienced employment setbacks due to COVID-19.

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.