They like to do things differently in the Creek. Any art event such as the second annual Roberts Creek Arts Festival (RCAF) to be held on the May 17 to 19 long weekend can't be ordinary. It has to be sustainable and low impact on the environment, of course. But it also must be stellar, to showcase the creativity of artists at ten venues in the Roberts Creek area.
"Its like 10 mini-festivals taking place at once," said Lee Roberts of the elegant and contemporary Goldmoss Gallery (Lower Road), one of the organizers of this year's event.
Music, art, film and food - each venue has something different going on to entertain and attract visitors. Art studios such as the Art Barn feature the work of Mardi Ahmed plus the musical musings of Michael Lacoste. There's artisan food - bread, cheese and wild caught fish from local producers sold in front of Goldmoss Gallery. The Gumboot will also be open for more substantial meals and to feature its own art exhibition.
Lots of music is planned: Strait Sound will hold a CD release party for Matt Watson on Sunday at 8 p.m. New to this year's festival are Lotfive Sound - edgy, interesting and superb quality performance from musicians Viviane Houle and Stefan Smulowitz. At another newer venue, the dazzling, multi-media Dreamberry Studios, the funky Fungineers perform.
During the day visitors can see the work of 10 artists at This Is It on Lockyer Road. Steve Weave is back to this venue after his crowd-pleasing sound-bending of last year, and circus artist Pan Willson demonstrates his aerial acrobatics.
Also at This Is It, known as the House of New Experiences, are artists who know how to mix it up, such as painter Nadina Tandy and glassblower Miyuki Shinkai.
Just up the street, Nico Spacecraft shows its creative laboratory. Folks can walk from one to the other, bicycle around the circuit (map available on line) or ride the free bus that will run between venues.
The documentary films on show at the Roberts Creek Hall are worth the visit alone. Stand, a film about surf and stand up paddleboards by Coast resident Nicolas Teichrob, just sold out its première in Vancouver last week. It celebrates the beauty of the Coast while delivering a message about the proposed pipeline. The controversial film Salmon Confidential will be shown, as well as the work of film artist Matthew Talbot-Kelly. Twenty films in total will run for the price of an RCAF armband, a mere $5.
No need to pay in advance -just come on down, Roberts said, and a volunteer will find you at any one of the venues and fix you up with an armband. "You won't be able to see it all, so you'll have to come back again later," he said.
To help visitors stick around on the long weekend, the festival has booked Camp Byng, the Scouts camp on Lower Road, for overnight stays. Details about camping are on the comprehensive website: at www.RobertsCreekArtsFestival.com.
"We're hoping the website will become a cultural hub for the community," Roberts explains.
Evening events such as the CD release party at Strait Sound and the Vancouver band Boom Boom on Friday night at Goldmoss will cost a few more dollars as well as your armband fee. Making the festival sustainable for another year is the goal, and several sponsors have come on board to make it possible. Everyone hopes for a good turnout. See you there.
