Three days, seven art galleries - all in Gibsons Landing - with the opening reception of this year's Art Stroll on Aug. 18 at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG) - all fantastic.
The group that gathered to take the stroll also celebrated the GPAG's seventh anniversary and enjoyed the current exhibition, Coastal Lives.
In addition, the Sunshine Coast Grandmothers and GrandOthers brought a special show to the Coast. Turning the Tide is a textile arts exhibition of hand-crafted pieces representing aspects of the lives of African grandmothers and children who strive to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The North Island Quilters created many of the pieces for Community Awareness, as well as the Glacier Grannies of Comox. They will be auctioned off in Victoria in 2011.
During the three days of the Art Stroll, approximately 150 people visited the seven galleries and registered to enter the prize draw of three artworks. Local artist Marj Umezuki was a winner along with two off-Coast visitors, one from Surrey and one from Vancouver.
Music in the Landing
Tonight (Friday) from 7 to 8 p.m., check out the gazebo on the wharf to hear The Duttons kitchen party, now a tradition, with lots of strings and vocals.
On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pioneer Square, the 12-plus players of Soupbean Katie and the Cornpones will make some down-home music. The annual Youth Showcase is also Saturday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Winegarden Park.
Saturday night from 7 to 8:30 p.m., come to Wine-garden Park to see Celso Machado, the internationally renowned multi-instrumentalist. On Sunday, Aug. 29, from noon to 2 p.m. on the Sundial Stage in Holland Park by the Sunday Market, hear Karen Graves and Budge Schachte, a jazz duo.
Evening with Lowry
Enjoy an evening with singer and songwriter Lowry Olafson on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Sailor Dan's Restaurant at The Cedars Inn in Gibsons.
Proctor speaks out
On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Gibsons author Pamela Proctor will speak at a rally at Charles Dickens Annex, the primary school in East Vancouver that she co-founded. Now threatened with closure by government cuts, parents and supporters are rallying to save this treasured school. For Proctor, this is the kick-off for her third province-wide speaking tour. This time she will travel to speak in Powell River, Comox, Campbell River, Port McNeil, Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat, Smithers, Houston, Burns Lake, Fraser Lake, Clinton, Ashcroft and Pemberton. While well past retirement age, Proctor continues on her voluntary mission to share what she believes, as she has written so eloquently in her book Honouring the Child. See more at www.honouringthechild.com.
Northern Journey
Artist Nefri Lyske will feature her paintings from Sept. 2 to Oct. 11 in the Harbourview room of the Gibsons Public Art Gallery. Also appearing in the gallery will be the work of the Roving Artists in a show called As I Went Walking. The artists' reception for both shows is on Sept. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information about the show, contact the gallery at 604-886-0531 or [email protected].
Pratt is back
It has been nearly a year since Coast sculptor George Pratt collided with a granite rock and got a free ride to Lion's Gate Hospital in a helicopter. The artist, who created the sundial sculpture in front of Sechelt's municipal building, wasn't sure whether he'd be able to continue as a stone carver because the crunched neck bones precipitated big-time, left-lobe headaches. He took up real estate in the meanwhile, but hoped that his sculpting days were not over. He's happy to report that he has returned to making the chips fly at his shop. His latest is the product of carving an hour or so on days when he felt good and is as yet untitled.
Travels in Turkey
Artist Katie Janyk is now in Turkey for a few months to pursue artistic endeavours. She will hold an exhibition in Istanbul from Oct. 1 to 21, and is spending the weeks prior to that in a friend's studio in Cappadocia, creating the pieces for the show. She will be putting regular updates on her website as well as keeping a blog at salamanderkatie.blogspot.com.
Correction
Apologies to children's colouring book author Trish Thompson and the stores that are carrying her book. It costs $8, not $4 as I wrote in Art Beat two weeks ago. A Visit 2 the Sunshine Coast is Special is available at various outlets on the Coast.
Let me know about your arts event by email [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692 before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The column covers events one day to one week ahead only.
