Want to know the full story behind our new #BehindthePlexi photo-essay fundraiser to support Vancouver’s restaurant industry workers?

Check out the latest podcast from @anyatalking and @coopradio, who were gracious enough to provide our Behind the Plexi organizers @shelleymcarthur and @supyvr with a platform to lend a little insight behind the initiative.

All proceeds from the sale of each Behind the Plexi print will be dedicated to the creation of two new scholarships for restaurant workers who have experienced employment setbacks due to COVID-19 — one via the @bchospitalityfoundation and the other to the @chineserestaurantawards scholarship at Vancouver Community College.

The Chinese Restaurant Awards will also contribute $10 for every print sold from the collection of photos taken at Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants.

Check out the link in our bio to hear the full podcast episode!

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

This week, we’re shining a spotlight on the four Vancouver-based photographers who graciously donated their artistic eyes and time to our new #BehindthePlexi photography fundraiser to support Vancouver’s restaurant industry workers at a time they need it the most.

Up next is Luis Valdizon and the team at @whentheyfindus — a studio and digital publication that explores the perspectives and poetry of profound people, places and ideas.

Luis captured the following beloved local spots:

@doucediner

@kulakitchen

@chanchotortilleria

@medinacafe

@papisoysterbar

@beetboxveg

@stlawrencerestaurant

@farinaalegna

@askforluigi

@madebymister

Swipe through to see some of Luis’ fantastic behind-the-scenes shots and check out our website to see the whole portfolio of prints 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 — one via the @bchospitalityfoundation and the other to the @chineserestaurantawards scholarship at Vancouver Community College.

The Chinese Restaurant Awards will also contribute $10 for every print sold from the collection of photos taken at Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants.

Stay tuned as we showcase the work of the final photographer behind Behind the Plexi — William Luk (@mayowill) later this week.

A special shout out to John Goldsmith and the team at @printmaker.studio (printmaker-studio.com) for providing printing at cost for the Behind the Plexi project. Each high-quality, satin-finish BTP print is professionally printed on archival paper of 100% cotton rag Epson Legacy Platine with Epson UltraChrom HD pigment ink and packaged in a sturdy envelope with a layer of glassine for added protection.

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

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 at the link in our bio above 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.