Slow Social Club × Exquisite Pressure, with Sarah K. Finn

The Only Animal is hosting an eco-arts edition of What Lab's Exquisite Pressure Residency. We asked 3 artist groups to:

• explore a novel creation process reflecting ‘eco-centric’ values or concepts
• initiate a process or relationship that could have a life beyond the show.

This March, join us for a series of relaxed 'Slow Social Club' meet-ups to share research, experiments, and methods inspired by the artists' residencies, leading to a showing of the new works March 27-28, 2026 at What Lab.

Wild Spring Mask & Costume Making

Spring is coming! In this Slow Social Club, participants will make masks and costumes to call in the coming season of rebirth, renewal and resistance.

What to expect

Inspired by Spring equinox folk traditions and rituals from around the world where people disguise themselves as trees, wheat stalks and animals, we’ll make costumes that celebrate and foster ruckus, mischief and wildness. Materials will be provided (cardboard, found sticks & shrubbery, paint, glue etc) but participants are very welcome to bring their own. We’ll conclude with a rumpus-filled parade of our wild spring selves.

Participants will also be warmly invited to parade again as part of a surprise street choir later in the month. No costume/mask making experience needed, families welcome <3

Materials: found cardboard, found shrubbery, straw, fabric.

Check out Sarah's Pinterest board for inspiration!

Accessibility and Safety

Please see What Lab: Visual Story Guide for detailed info about parking, washrooms, wheelchair access to the space, and more.

We welcome your questions and access requests. Please email us at info@theonlyanimal.com.

Artist Bio

Sarah K. Finn Sarah K. Finn (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist and writer based on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəyə̓m, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səlí̓lwətaʔ/Selilwitulh Nations. She creates live performance, video, and film using puppetry at large and miniature scales, physical theatre, immersive design, humor, and meandering storytelling. Finn often embodies nonhumans with oversized heads—recently a cargo ship, mushroom, octopus, and deer-cyborg—to trouble human-centric narratives and invite mischievous togetherness amid uncertainty. Her work has been presented in Canada, the Czech Republic, Japan, and the U.S. at Risk/Reward Festival (PICA, PDX), La MaMa ETC (NYC), Anthology Film Archives (NYC), Mabou Mines (NYC), and Exponential Festival (The Brick, NYC). She has received support from the Brooklyn Arts Council and a MAP Fund Microgrant, with residencies at Mabou Mines and Object Movement. Finn trained at École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq and holds an MFA from Simon Fraser University.

Website www.sarahkfinn.com

This work is made possible through The Only Animal's supporters, including The City of Vancouver, British Columbia Arts Council and the Vancouver Foundation.