Gibsons writer Marion Quednau recalls the year Canadian booksellers were threatened with bombings should they sell the novel The Satanic Verses.
People were afraid.
"They moved away from me in a bank line-up, because I was wearing a button that said Free Salmon Rushdie," Quednau said.
Rushdie had to live many years in exile because of a price put on his head by a fundamentalist regime that did not believe in freedom of expression.
Millions world-wide suffer imprisonment, censorship or exile due to the perceived threat of the written word. There are numerous challenges each year to youth readership in schools and libraries of authors as celebrated as Alice Munro or Maurice Sendak, and of titles as beloved as Oliver Twist.
If you want to learn more, and risk having some fun, attend the Freedom to Read event hosted by writers Heidi Greco and Quednau at the Gibsons and District Public Library on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m.Admission is free.
Ten Bear and Buck
This Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m., John "Ten Bear" Thompson will present a concert in the Gibsons Public Art Gallery along with Sandy Buck giving a puppet theatre performance to musical accompaniment. All are welcome, by donation.
Return of Butler
After an 18-year hiatus, the Coast's finest ska/funk/reggae dance band, Butler in the Hey! reunites at the Roberts Creek Legion this Saturday, Feb. 22. It features original members Michael Lacoste, Grant Olsen and Robert Marion and new member Ohan Vandermeer.
Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Members pay $5, guests $10.
Storytelling
Authenticity is Not a Mystery storytelling workshop is this Sunday, Feb. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Creek Gallery in Roberts Creek.
David Roche and Marlena Blavin bring their experience as performers, mentors and storytelling coaches to this playful, powerful workshop.
For more information, contact Roche via email [email protected] or call 604-740-0465. To register call Laurie Verchomin at 604-670-8474.
Pink Day film
Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) students at Chatelech Secondary School will offer a screening on Pink Day, Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in the Chat Theatre, of the new documentary My Prairie Home, with the support of the National Film Board.
The documentary, featuring Rae Spoon and directed by Chelsea McMullan, is an extremely entertaining and personal story of a young transgendered musician growing up on the Prairies. The public is welcome.
The students are doing this as a fundraiser to raise awareness of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, queer) youth issues on the Coast and to support greater opportunities for kids from area schools to organize events and share resources.
The Hunt
The Hunt, a Danish film with English subtitles, is presented by the SC Film Society this Monday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons.
Mads Mikkelsen is Lucas, a divorced daycare worker hoping to win custody of his teenage son. Lucas has a special bond with Klara (Annika Wedderkopp), who he frequently finds wandering the neighbourhood alone - her only respite from arguing parents. Driven by exceptional performances from a stellar cast, The Hunt is one of the most troubling and powerful cinematic experiences of the year.
Admission: $5 members, $9 single event.
Love music
"If music be the food of love" then the Coast Symphony Orchestra will "play on" and give the audience much to love on March 1 and 2 with their light classics concerts. Inspired by love in its many forms, CSO artistic director Edette Gagné has created a fascinating collection of music on the themes of temptation, courtship, danger and tragedy. Each section will be introduced by a poem -the winners of the Symphony's recent competition for local poets.
The conductor presents her pre-concert chat 30 minutes prior to each show. Tickets: $15 and $10 (children ages five to 12) are available at: Laedeli, Gaia's Fair Trade, Strait Music, Earth Fair Store.
Concerts are March 1 at 7 p.m. at Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons and March 2 at 2:30 p.m. at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall.
Coffeehouse
Artesia coffeehouse takes to the stage next Friday, Feb. 28, at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt.
This month will see another appearance of the grand piano being playedin the first setbyone of our younger performers, Naida Behji. Next up will be Coast favourites Reg and Lynne Dickson, with their joyful vocals and guitar. The second set is Ken Dalgleish on piano and Vancouver vocalist Wanda Nowicki.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with show time at 8. Tickets are $10 at the door. Come early to get a good seat, enjoy treats by Trish and the current art show. For more details, email [email protected].
D2D ticket trade-in
Delhi 2 Dublin plus DJ Yum Yum returns on Friday, March 7, at the Creek Hall presented by Sunshine Coast Jazz and Entertainment Society.
This is to make up for the Nov. 16 dance when the band was unable to play because of a hard drive melt-down.
If you had a ticket for that show you must trade in your ticket stub for your free ticket beforeMarch 1 at Gaia's Fair Trade in Gibsons, MELOmania in Roberts Creek or Strait Music in Sechelt. See www.facebook.com/coastjazz for more details.
Banners available
The Town of Gibsons is extending the deadline of the banner silent auction to Feb. 28. Those who got bids in for the Feb. 14 deadline will get to purchase those particular banners, but there are a lot of banners that have no bids on them at all.
To view the banners, go to the Town Hall during office hours, weekdays.
Tuesday deadline
Send me notice of your arts events, one week ahead, for this column by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Friday's paper to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692. Keep it brief, please.
