The Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre in Sechelt is presenting a fundraiser for their Syrian family sponsorship. Your favourite old tunes (and maybe some rock) by the Creek Big Band with vocalist Crystal Spence goes from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 at the Activity Centre, 5604 Trail Avenue, Sechelt. All tickets are $20/person and are available at the Centre.
Funktete
Musician Anna Lumiere writes that she will be performing at the Artesia Coffeehouse, this Friday, April 28, at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt, at 8 p.m. with her son Noah on mandolin and fiddle, under the name of their duo, Bellows and Strings.
The following night, Saturday, April 29, she is part of funky music night at Gibsons Legion at 8 p.m. with Funktete, a new band.
Hear Budge Schachte on guitar and bass, Anna Lumiere on keys and bass, Karen Graves on sax, flute and vocals and Regan Haydu on drums. Members pay $5, guests $10.
Hopkins by Austin
April is poetry month. Richard Austin Borthwick performs the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins at the Arts Centre in Sechelt, on Saturday, April 29, starting at 7 p.m. His emphasis will be on the artist, rather than the priest, the wordsmith, passionate lover of nature, and advocate for the environment. He writes: “If you have ever been drawn to his use of words, but put off by his intense religiosity, this is a show for you.” He will gratefully accept donations towards his next recording project.
This weekend
• Coming Home Benefit Concert with Jane Mortifee and the vocal ensemble Sound Eclectic is on Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt, with all proceeds going to Better at Home, helping seniors live independently. Tickets are $25 at Share-There.com, Laedeli in Gibsons, and SC Community Services in Sechelt.
• The Rotary Club of Gibsons hosts the annual Wine and Art Festival on Saturday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Gibsons Public Market. Tastings, entertainment, art auction and demo for your $45 ticket, available at WOW Gallery in Sunnycrest Mall or from any Gibsons Rotarian. Phone: 604-740-6030.
Theatre from London
National Theatre of London via HD satellite presents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt on Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m. The brilliantly funny situation comedy is broadcast live from The Old Vic theatre in London. See www.ravenscrytheatre.com for ticket information.
Mental health
Mental Health Week at the Sechelt Library launches with mental health advocate and stimulating presenter, Victoria Maxwell. She will present her DVD That’s Just Crazy Talk, along with a Question and Answer session, on Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. At the age of 25, Victoria was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety and psychosis. With the help of her family and a good psychiatrist, she became proactive in her recovery. On Tuesday, May 2, at 11 a.m. Violette Clark will share her story in an art journaling workshop. In the afternoon, Micheal D. Mann will recite some of his works. Mann’s external support worker, Richard Austin Borthwick, will participate by reading works of Gerard Manley Hopkins who suffered mental illness throughout his life. Mental health advocate Hugh Macaulay will join the two.
On Thursday, May 4 at 10:30 a.m. the Vancouver Mental Health team will present a workshop and talk. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, author Patricia Hetherington makes a presentation, Daring to Speak a Larger Truth, with excerpts from her forthcoming book. Joining her is Weegee Sachtjen. All talks and workshops are free at the Sechelt Library, Community Room. Registration is recommended. Call 604-885-3260 or see www.secheltlibrary.ca
Pottery
Join Pat Forst in her Gibsons studio and learn to throw pots on the wheel. In this class you will centre the clay and make bowls, plates and mugs with handles. Those who are ready will be challenged to make sets and add knobs and lids. Three classes: Adults: Mondays, May 1 to 29 (no class May 22), 10 a.m. to noon or 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $150 plus $20 for materials. Teen Pottery on the Wheel is on Tuesdays, May 16 to 30, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Cost is $115 plus $15 for materials. Contact Pat Forst at [email protected] or 604-840-0304.
Craft market
The new craft market at the Roberts Creek Hall is on Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. They have now come up with a name: Warm Wednesdays Craft Market. Many of the vendors who are participating also have booths at the Saturday Sechelt Market. Stop by and have a look.
Art courses
The Arts Building in Gibsons has a great line-up of classes and events for you this spring. Choose from art classes such as Introduction to Landscape: From Sketch to Finished Work or writing workshops: How to Write like a Nobel Laureate: The Techniques of Alice Munro. These are just two of the courses on the list. Register and find out more at www.artsbuilding.org
Keep me posted
Items for the Art Beat column will run in the newspaper one day to one week ahead only. My deadline is Tuesday at noon for next Friday’s paper. Email [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692.
