Gibsons' guitarist Axel Loitz has won his second consecutive medal for the highest mark for his Royal Conservatory of Music exams 2008 and 2009.
He received his awards at a North Vancouver ceremony on Nov. 13. As well as studying classical guitar, Axel also plays rock, jazz and blues. He will perform with other talented Sunshine Coast musicians at the Canada Music Week Concert next Sunday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. at St. Hilda's Church in Sechelt, sponsored by the S.C. Registered Music Teachers' Association. Admission is by donation with proceeds going to student scholarships.
Meet the authors
Four local authors will meet the public at the Woods store in Sunnycrest Mall this Saturday, Nov. 20.
Donna McMahon (Sec-ond Childhood) and Heather Conn, (Vancouver's Glory Years) will be signing books from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Author Elizabeth Blakely (The Goddess Lives) will be there from 1 to 3 p.m. along with Jan Jensen and her whole food recipe books.
Photography show
Photographer Alan Sirulnikoff opens a photography show featuring one of his long-standing themes, laundry. On the Line opens at the Lynn Valley Library in North Vancouver this Saturday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. See www.sirulnikoff.ca for details.
Poetry release
A new collection of poetry from Earl's Cove poet George Connell will be celebrated this Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bluewaters Books in Pender Harbour. Connell is celebrating the release of his latest work, Underground Games, a collection of poetry dealing with love, loss and everything in between. The poet will be on hand to sign your copies, answer questions, and read selections.
Pottery
Elaine Futterman and Mike Allegretti at Creek Clayworks welcome everyone to their pottery studio this weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, for their annual pottery sale and studio open house. The entire studio will be filled with a huge variety of pots plus there will be the traditional chocolate cookies to munch on. Call 604-885-2395 or see www.creekclayworks.ca for more.
Fundraising
Folks and farmers in Bella Coola are dealing with the results of destructive flooding, and a local group, the farm food freedom fighters, are co-ordinating fundraising efforts. You can find their table at craft fair venues this season, particularly this Saturday, as well as Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Artisans' Christmas Fair at Davis Bay Hall. All proceeds go to the Bella Coola community. If you can bake or help at the table, call Nancy (604-885-4668) or Kit (604-885-1990).
This Christmas Fair in Davis Bay will run every Saturday for four weeks with different craft vendors each time representing fibre, glass, jewellery, books, aromatherapy and more. Admission is free.
Film
As the final film in its social justice documentary film series, St. Hilda's Anglican in Sechelt presents This Dust of Words on Thursday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m.
The film, by Bill Rose, unfolds as an achingly beautiful documentary about Elizabeth Wiltsee, a brilliant Stanford University graduate and promising writer, the inner turmoil that destroyed her and the kindness of the small community that helped her. Members of the newly re-opened Arrowhead Centre will be present to be part of a discussion on how to be a caring community that celebrates people of all abilities, particularly people living with mental illness. Admission is by donation.
Coffeehouse
This month's Artesia Coffeehouse will be an all jazz night on Friday, Nov. 26, at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt. Doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8 p.m. The evening starts with the sweet sultry vocals of Pat Collier and the fine guitar stylings of Steve Giltrow who will be joined by Ken Grunenberg, Boyd Norman and John Rule for a set of their newly recorded originals. After the break, the Jazz Group of Seven takes the stage to sing a few tunes. Come early to get a good seat, enjoy the slideshow, the current art show and treats by Trish. Tickets are $10 at the door and reservations can be made by email to [email protected].
Kenny again
The Sunshine Coast Film Society (SCFS) experienced a power outage on Monday, Nov. 15, in the middle of a screening of the Australian film Kenny, and audience members were unable to view the end of this very funny film. SCFS will rescreen the film at the Gibsons Heritage Playhouse this coming Monday, Nov. 22. Those at last Monday's screening should get to the theatre early to ensure a seat. The film will be presented free of charge for those who paid for the first screening or make a donation on the honour system to the film society. Also note that SCFS donates films to Gibsons Public Library at the end of the season (late summer 2011). An exception will be made for Kenny; it will be donated to the library at the end of this month.
House Full of Blues
Local musicians look forward to their gigs at the Garden Bay Pub, so in appreciation of the huge contribution made to blues and roots music on the Coast, the pub will host House Full of Blues - a three-day event, Nov. 26 to 28.
It will feature and was organized by many of the performers who have played there over the years and who would all like to say a huge thanks to Ron and Marita. The celebration runs from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday with Peter Van Deursen, Mark Crissinger, Dr. Fun and the Painkillers on Friday night, Gaetan Bergevin & The French Connection, Greg Slauenwhite and The Slow & White Band, and Larrie Cook and the Bluesmasters on Saturday and an all-star jam on Sunday, from 2 to 6 p.m. Expect drop-in performances all weekend including Joe Stanton, Simon Paradis, John Rule, Pat Haavisto, Blaine Dunaway, Barry O'Hara, Sully Antonyk, Steven Hinton and many others.
Felt workshop
FibreWorks Studio & Gallery is pleased to present Free Form Felted Containers with Gibsons artisan Ursula Bentz on Saturday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Space is limited, so register early by calling 604-883-2380 or email: [email protected]
