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Free improvising vocalist at Gumboot

Art Beat
reading
Ian McTaggart Cowan (pictured) is the subject of author Briony Penn’s new book The Real Thing, to be launched on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Iris Griffith Centre.

The Sunshine Coast Jazz and Entertainment Society is proud to present an evening of sublime improvisation with some of today’s foremost musicians. You are invited to listen to and learn from Phil Minton from London, a free improvising vocalist. His technique and sensibility make him a true virtuoso instrumentalist along with his commanding presence, seemingly impossible multiphonics, and irrepressible humour. The performance will also include Torsten Muller (bass) from Vancouver and local musicians Viviane Houle, Graham Ord and Barry Taylor on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Gumboot Café. Cost: $10 (suggested). Minton will also be offering a special Feral Choir Vocal workshop (www.philminton.co.uk/feral-choir) on Sunday, Nov. 15 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Chaster House, Gibsons. Cost: $25. Preregister with Viviane Houle at 604-886-3811 or email: info@vivianehoule.ca

Open house

Laurie Rolland will be hosting her annual open house this year Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14 and 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at 4676 Whitaker Rd., Davis Bay. (Phone: 604-885-0744.) There will be an interesting selection of functionally based ceramic work as well as exhibition pieces in a broad price range. As always there will be new work to view. See: www.laurierolland.com for more.

George’s Memories

Singer George Grafton will be entertaining with an evening of Memories at Leo’s Tapas and Grill in Gibsons on Saturday, Nov. 14 starting at 7 p.m. The music will be from the 1940s through ’60s and you can sing along, dance or just listen. Leo’s is offering a prime rib dinner, as well as their regular menu. To reserve, call 604-886-9414.

BUGS play

The BUGS, the Beachcombers Ukulele Group Sunshine Coast, will be playing at Persephone’s Brewing, Stewart Road, Gibsons on Sunday, Nov. 15 from 2 to 4. Go for a fun time and sing-along.

This weekend

Coming Back, an original drama by A.S. Penne with a local cast of Driftwood Players, runs this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. then Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse, Gibsons. Tickets are at www.driftwoodplayers.ca and at the Blackberry Shop, Laedeli and Sechelt Visitor Centre.

Mincemeat art

St. Bart’s Anglican Church annual Christmas sale of crafts and gifts takes place Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church hall, corner North Road and Gibsons Way. Why is this in the arts section of the newspaper, you ask? Because they will be selling their own mincemeat, and once you taste it you will understand the culinary artistry involved.

Writing workshop

Join Marion Quednau for Out Loud, a one day workshop at the Arts Building, Gibsons on Saturday, Nov. 14. Perhaps the hardest part of writing is the ending. Knowing when it’s done, knowing when you need help in editing or promotion. Knowing where to submit or where to workshop the piece, what aspects to fine-tune. Your work won’t be well received unless it’s timely, has a unique voice or perspective, and finds its right readership. Marion Quednau, award-winning writer and editor, is at the Arts Building in Gibsons this Saturday to help you recognize the step-by-step process of passing on your work to others. See www.artsbuilding.org to register or phone 604-740-7790.

Artists support hospice gala

Some fine Coast artists are supporting the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society’s (SCHS) Fundraising Gala on Nov. 14 with donated pieces to be auctioned by Ed Hill. Motoko is donating Golden Glacier acrylic on canvas, and Marleen Vermeulen, Greta Guzek, Bradley Hunt and Marlene Lowden will also donate their work to raise funds. SCHS provides compassionate, respectful end-of-life and bereavement support for residents on the Sunshine Coast. The gala is at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre with music from Ken Dalgleish and catering by Blue Heron. See  www.coasthospice.com for more or to make a donation.

Real Thing

Author Briony Penn will introduce her new book The Real Thing: The Natural History of Ian McTaggart Cowan on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Ruby Lake Lagoon Society’s Iris Griffith Centre.

An interesting afternoon is planned with clips from the original TV shows of this father of Canadian ecology, as well as readings from the book, recollections of his life and his thoughts on the future.

From his formative years roaming the mountains around Vancouver to his last years as a major contributor to the voluminous and authoritative Birds of British Columbia, Cowan’s life provides a unique perspective on a century of environmental change – with a critical message for the future. He pioneered nature television programs in the 1950s and ’60s and was responsible for hiring a young David Suzuki, who followed in his nature show-host footsteps.

Copies of the book are at the Society’s EarthFair Store in Madeira Park (604-883-9006). All proceeds go to conservation projects and scholarship funds. For more information, see www.lagoonsociety.com

Coast Recital Society

Master harpsichordist Alexander Weimann, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading interpreters of Baroque music, performs for the Coast Recital Society (CRS) on Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Raven’s Cry Theatre, Sechelt, at 2:30 p.m. Weimann  is artistic director of Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra and Seattle’s Baroque Orchestra. The pre-concert chat with CRS artistic director Frances Wainwright begins at 1:30 p.m. Information 604-885-0991, coastrecital@dccnet.com

Noon deadline

Send notice of arts events by Tuesday at noon to jandegrass@dccnet.com or phone 604-886-4692.