It's called the Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival (GLFAF) even though the workshops and juried exhibition of the popular August event take place uphill from the Landing, at Elphinstone Secondary School. But on Saturday, Aug. 21 the festivities return to the Landing area with a full day of fun for all in Winegarden and Holland parks.
One of the festival's directors, Bodhi Drope, who is organizing the day, said the Saturday activities are not looked on as a money maker.
"This is a way to give back to the community," he said.
There's lots of free stuff planned that he hopes will bring out parents and children.
The popular children's craft tent will be open all day with free instruction from Laurel Sukkau and free materials. Involving young people in making crafts is important to Drope who is also a visual artist and author.
The day opens with entertainment for children and adults, as Pan Wilson and the Stilt Walkers will be roaming in the parks.
"The way they interact with kids is fabulous," Drope said.
Susan Rule will offer free face painting using traditional Squamish Nation designs. The magic man, Mr. E. Shelby Penner, performs, and young Maya Broeke will play her wandering violin.
In recognition of the historical settlement of Gibsons on Squamish Nation traditional territory, the official opening of the day will start around 10 a.m. with a welcome from the ambassador of the Squamish Nation, Wes Nahanee. It continues with music from Jeremy Thom, Squamish Nation story telling, and Driftwood Players travelling theatre.
At 2 p.m. Jean Pierre Makosso's Village will give a taste of Africa in their performance, followed by some tunes from Bad to the Bow, part of Coast String Fiddlers.
The craft of working with fibre is celebrated throughout the day during demonstrations: from 10 a.m. to noon, Pender Harbour's Hattie Olsen shows how to weave her Ponderosa pine needle baskets. From noon to 1 p.m. artist Heather Conn demonstrates a paper art called soul collage, and from 1 to 2, an accomplished textile artist, Jill Denton, shows her "nuno" felt scarves.
A juried artisan market of 12 vendors selling mostly fibre related items will be open at 10 a.m. on Saturday housed in a tent, also in the Landing. A free shuttle bus from the school takes festival participants up and down the hill.
This year the directors of this 11th annual GLFAF have expressed doubt about the future of the festival. Most of its stalwart directors in key positions have served lengthy terms and will be stepping down without the new volunteers necessary to build 2011's festival in its present format that includes workshops, receptions, exhibition, merchant mall and the Landing festivities.
"I would certainly like to see this aspect of the festival continue," said Drope. "It's a creative celebration."
For more on the festival see www.gibsonslandingfi brearts.com.
Also on that same Saturday, eight galleries are hosting an Art Stroll in Gibsons Landing.
The stroll launches Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Gibsons Public Art Gallery witha gala reception open to all where a quiltdisplay can be seen. Then, for the next three days, Aug. 19 to 21, you can walk the picturesque harbour area during regular business hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) with your map, and have your brochure stamped at all eight to allow you to enter a draw for three artworks: paintings by Todd Clark and Nancy Hache and jewellery by Lydia Lemay. In addition to the GPAG, the hosting galleries areWestwind, The Landing Gallery, Gift of the Eagle, Waltzing Whippet, Daffydowndilly, Art Works Tours and Coastal Creativity. For more on the Art Stroll visit www.gibsonspublicartgallery.ca.
