This Tuesday, Oct. 31, visit the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives for All Hallows’ Eve, an evening of spooky fun for the whole family. Teaming up with Driftwood Players theatre, you can explore the museum where ghouls and ghosts haunt every corner. New this year, the second floor will be transformed into a haunted house, complete with zombies, werewolves and other creatures of the night. As you make your way through the dimly lit exhibits, you will have the chance to learn dance moves from the Monster Mash, and participate in a dance performance, if you dare. The haunted museum experience is self-guided, and will be open from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with dance performances throughout the evening. There will be spooky Halloween crafts for younger children and treats provided by SuperValu. That’s Oct. 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Sunshine Coast Museum, with support from the Sunshine Coast Credit Union. Admission is by donation. For more information, phone: 604-886-8232 or see sunshinecoastmuseum.ca.
Halloween
Half Cut and the Slackers appear at the Roberts Creek Legion Halloween costume dance on Saturday, Oct. 28, with dancing from 8:30 p.m. The four-piece rock and roll band plays hits from the 1950s through ‘70s.
Costume Party
Dominique’s School of Dance in Gibsons is the location for a haunted house Halloween costume party on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m., with music, dance and games for all ages. It’s family friendly with costume prizes and the chance to learn to dance to Thriller. A suggested donation of $5 per person will help support the DSdanse Majestic Project.
Disco Party
Come out for a fun night at a Disco Party at Sechelt Legion on Saturday, Oct. 28. Get dressed up in your 1970s gear for a chance to win prizes for the best costumes and dance to disco music. Dance starts at 8 p.m. with a $5 cover charge. Phone 604-885-2526 for more.
Playback
The classic rock band Playback is at Gibsons Legion on Oct. 28. Don your costume and get there early at 8 p.m. – these guys are popular. Members $6; guests $12.
Halloween Howl
It’s the ninth annual Halloween Howl at the Pender Harbour Community Hall on Saturday, Oct. 28 presented by the Pender Harbour Blues Society. Doors open at 8 p.m.; music at 8:30 p.m. with prizes for costumes. Tickets are $25 at Java Docks, Strait Music and phblues.ca.
Indigo Dyeing
Indigo dye has been used for thousands of years to dye fabric blue. In a workshop at the Arts Building in Gibsons, you will learn how to make an indigo dye vat to dye natural materials. On Saturday, Oct. 28, participants will explore a variety of Shibori patterns to tie, sew, fold and clamp cotton fabric to make striking prints on cloth. You will go home with samples of patterns and the confidence to build your own indigo dye vat. No experience necessary. Instructor is Amber Friedman. See www.artsbuilding.org for more.
Collective Art and Re-Forest
Two exhibitions open at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery From Thursday, Nov. 2 to 26. The first exhibition is titled In Wait by the Full Circle Art Collective and the second is Re-Forest, a show of work by Katherine Johnston. The opening reception is on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. Using the myth of Penelope from Homer’s Odyssey as a starting point, six artists contemplated individually and communally what narratives are created as we actively wait for the tide to turn, crises to pass, connections to re-establish, emotions to awaken and come to terms with aging and eventually death. Unlike Odysseus, who moves heroically in the outer world, Penelope’s life is characterized by inwardness. Her task of weaving is solitary, but communal in unraveling, as her maids participate in deconstructing her creation. As artists the group experienced a desire for a similar communal connection. Each artist was given 30 pieces of quality paper to work in a variety of media, including graphite, watercolour, printmaking and collage.
Artist Katherine John-ston writes: “Trees as frequent subject matter in my artwork, and collage as a favoured medium, have been combined to create this exhibit. I have focused on tree imagery because of a passion for all forms arboreal and a wish to review traditions of the long-established genre of landscape painting.” For further information, contact Michael Aze at 604-886-0531.
Art with Pat
Art classes with Pat Ridgway are offered at Blackbird Studio and Gallery on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No experience is necessary. Email Pat at [email protected] for more details. Space is limited.
Small Guitar
Celebrate a life in an alternate universe in David King’s solo show, Small Guitar. King plays Clayton Gilchrist, a retired ferry worker who has managed to access memories of his life in a parallel world where he was a major pop star. You’ll hear him play his greatest hits never before heard in this dimension. As well, he’ll recount his untimely demise in a helicopter crash with Richie Valance. Not all of you will believe Clayton’s story. He wouldn’t believe it if someone else were telling it. One night only at the Gumboot Café, Saturday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. Admission is $15.
Beòlach
Fiddler Mairi Rankin and her band Beòlach are coming to play at the Roberts Creek Hall on Saturday, Nov. 4. Doors at 7 p.m.; concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at the door are $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Beòlach has established itself as one of Cape Breton’s most exciting and innovative traditional bands. Performing a lively mix of Cape Breton, Scottish and Irish tunes, the group features Mairi Rankin (fiddle, step-dance), Wendy MacIsaac (fiddle, piano, step-dance), Mac Morin (piano, accordion, step-dance) and the newly added, multi-talented Matt MacIsaac (Highland pipes, whistles, guitar and banjo). On stage and in their recordings, Beòlach presents original compositions as well as unique, dynamic arrangements of classic traditional tunes.
Market Vendors
The first of what will be an annual event, The Christmas Market at John Henry’s in Garden Bay, will run on the weekends of Dec. 1 to 3 and 8 to 10. It will offer visitors the opportunity to purchase unique works from local artists, specialty pieces and food items. Vendors will exhibit and sell their work throughout the property, which will be adorned with twinkling lights and holiday season decor. Currently, John Henry’s is searching out local artists as participants. More information for vendors can be found at bit.ly/2y2wF0h. The vendor application form can be found at bit.ly/2fNGa9H. Although the form lists a deadline of mid-October, organizers are still seeking participants.
Finn Bay
Sunshine Coast resident Kenn L. Custance writes that his first foray into the novel arena, Finn Bay, is written under the nom de plume of Kenn L. Conscience. In the picturesque summer of 1969 in the tiny burg of Lund, B.C., the author’s eight-year-old identical twin, along with two latch-key brothers, goes missing. The ensuing tragedies have long-lasting repercussions that haunt the characters to the present day as well as the rookie cop, various mothers, fathers, neighbours and siblings. Why wasn’t the author with his twin when he went missing? Where did they go? Was someone involved? The page-turner brings forth characters so amazingly real, you will imagine they are reading over your shoulder. Now available in Sechelt at Talewind Books or Amazon.ca, or autographed copies are available from the author. Email [email protected] to arrange a pick up.
Keep Me Posted
Please continue to send me your arts announcements, but note they will run in the newspaper one day to one week ahead, depending on space. Deadline is Tuesday at noon for next Friday’s paper. Email [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692.
