It’s called Wa-Gakki Matsuri, a celebration of Japanese musical instruments, and it’s coming to the Sunshine Coast this weekend for the first time. It promises to be alternately dramatic – with thundering taiko drums – and gently quiet, with bamboo Zen flute, folk flute and the three-stringed spiked lute. Traditional and original pieces will be played by some outstanding and internationally recognized players based in Vancouver, and by acclaimed flutist Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos of Madeira Park. Special guests will be Tonbo Taiko of Roberts Creek. Saturday, Nov. 24, doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m., at High Beam Dreams, 350 Glassford Rd. Tickets are $20, $25 at the door. Pre-sales available at Laedeli Gifts, MELOmania, Strait Music, Sechelt Visitor Centre and Eventbrite.com
Many Hands
You might remember the stories last year about a flotilla of nine ocean-going canoes paddling from Egmont to West Vancouver as part of the Canada 150 celebrations. “Many of the paddlers, from all walks of life, were affected in ways they had not expected,” according to a release from the makers of a documentary film about the adventure. Many Hands – A Cultural Canoe Journey, is being screened Saturday Nov. 24 at Gibsons Public Market, 473 Gower Point Rd. There will be tours of the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre at 6 p.m., the film starts at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Crafty Christmas shopping
The Sunshine Coast Spinners and Weavers Guild is hosting its annual Fibres Plus Sale, featuring juried items of spinning, weaving, felting, dyeing, and knitting. There also will be guest artists, demonstrations, and door prizes. Admission by donation Friday, Nov. 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, Trail and Medusa, Sechelt.
And there’s the 49th annual Roberts Creek Christmas Craft Fair. More than 50 vendors offering hand-crafted, local products, hot lunch and refreshments, door prizes and gift-basket raffle. Friday Nov. 23, 5 to 9 p.m. (with appys and wine), Saturday Nov. 24 and Sunday Nov. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Roberts Creek Hall and the Masonic Hall.
Sublime stoneware
Davis Bay potter Laurie Rolland does extraordinarily fine and unique work, and it’s no wonder that she has pieces in the Permanent Collection at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto, Canada’s national institution for ceramics.
Laurie will be hosting her annual pottery open house, featuring “a selection of functional ceramic work as well as exhibition pieces in a broad range of prices.” Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 4676 Whitaker Rd., Davis Bay.
Funny You Should Say That!
One of the best free shows in town and more opportunities for musicians, authors, and singers to entertain. The show really rolls along as most acts get just five minutes. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24 and 25, 2 to 4 p.m., with the final show Wednesday Nov. 28, 7 to 9 p.m. at Gibsons Public Art Gallery, 431 Marine Dr.
Georgia Fats
Three-man band The Georgia Fats has been out on a series of road gigs, spreading their unique brand of “diesel-soaked blues” across Alberta and southern B.C. They’re doing a homecoming show at the Roberts Creek Legion, Friday Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. $15 for non-members, $8 for members.
Mellow music
The J Tones Trio – Joy Germaine, Jan Gillis and Joan Vernon – will be performing nostalgic songs with their special guests Julian Alphilbert, David Jones and Colin Mailey. They will be joined by Walter Martella on keyboard, Sasha Fassaert on guitar and Barry Taylor on drums, Sunday, Nov. 25, at Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club in Roberts Creek. Show time is 2:30 p.m., doors at 2 p.m. Dessert, tea and coffee are included in the $25 tickets, available at Strait Music in Sechelt, The Blackberry Shop in Gibsons, or from Nikki Weber 604-740-0933.
Audio/Visual 101
Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by technology you don’t understand while being responsible for sound and/or projections for a presentation? Calling all presenters, teachers, workshop operators: this presentation will give you the basics to deal with all those duties, from microphone use and mixing boards, to projectors and trouble-shooting your computer when things aren’t working. Musician, educator and workshop presenter Steve Wright will guide you through the basics of all things audio/visual to ensure your presentations, performances and special events shine. Sunday Nov. 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sunshine Cost Arts Centre, at Trail and Medusa, Sechelt. Members $15, non-members $25.
Young artists exhibit
Creative Sunshine Coast kids from five to 18 years old have been submitting artworks of all kinds to the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in anticipation of the Young Artists Awards presentations on Saturday, Dec. 15. The works – photos, carvings, sewing, drawings, paintings and more – all had to be created in the past year and outside of school programs. Now we get to see their work, as of Thursday, Nov. 28. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. At Trail and Medusa, Sechelt.
Submissions
If you have an event you’d like considered for Art Beat, please let Rik know at arts@coastreporter.net by 11 a.m. Tuesday. Space is limited.
