Arbutus Sounds Chorus will be performing on Mother’s Day, May 13 at 2 p.m. at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden in West Sechelt. The show, Mothers, Music and Memories, is a fun selection of stories and songs about things your mother may have told you. This will be a wonderful outing with mother, as the chorus entertains with their four-part acapella harmonies. To make the day even more special, enjoy a stroll through the beautiful botanical gardens before or after the show. Refreshments will be served and admission is by donation. The doors open at 1:30 p.m., show is at 2 p.m. Seating may be limited.
Dusty Babes and Resilience
Subject Matter is an exhibition by the Dusty Babes Collective in the Gibsons Public Art Gallery along with Resilience, an exhibition by Pat Chamberlin. The opening reception is on Saturday, May 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. The Dusty Babes Collective is a group of women, feminists and artists working in ceramics. As a collective, they examine a single theme through individual lenses. They are: Amelia Butcher, Angela Hopkins, Sam Knopp, Heather Lippold, Emily Ludington and Dana Vallee. Each artist has chosen a material that will be incorporated conceptually and physically into their piece. That material’s character and history informs the sculpture. They have often sought to connect conversations about craft to language and ideas around feminism, and question prejudices surrounding the use of traditional craft materials in contemporary art.
Pat Chamberlin’s work attempts to express the life force within our landscape. She writes: “I live an off-grid lifestyle on several hectares of recovering forest, last logged some 40 years ago, where I can observe intimately how the trees grow and mature, responding seasonally and yearly to environmental changes. One aspect of my work is our evolving human connection, of being alive and aware within the landscape, which I believe is felt in the movement, colours and some of the forms in my paintings.” The show runs until June 3. For further information, contact Michael Aze at 604-886-0531.
Hansel and Gretel
With sold out shows and people clamouring for tickets, Driftwood Theatre School has added an outdoor performance of The (Almost) Totally True Story of Hansel and Gretel. Weather permitting, the 27 young actors will take to the grass for a final performance at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 at the Gumboot Restaurant Stage in Roberts Creek. Admission is by donation. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Chamber Strings
Suite Diversion, the folk song in concert from the Coast Chamber Strings with conductor Sarah Poon takes place on Saturday, May 12 at 2:30 p.m. at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall (behind McDonald’s). Tickets for $20 (under 12, $5) are at Laedeli, Strait Music and at the door.
This Earth
Jen Drysdale’s show, This Earth, is up for viewing in the Doris Crowston Gallery until May 27. You can meet the artist this weekend on Sunday, May 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Arts Centre (Trail and Medusa, Sechelt). See jendrysdale.com for more.
Silk Road
On Wednesday, May 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Gibsons Public Library hosts a reading with Kate Harris, author of the national best seller, Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road (Knopf Canada). From cycling along the Black Sea, through northwest China and into Tibet, she will now be travelling to Gibsons to share her stories. Harris set off by bicycle down a short section of the fabled Silk Road with her childhood friend Mel Yule. This trip was just a little adventure to pass the time until she could launch for outer space. But somewhere in between sneaking illegally across Tibet, studying the history of science and exploration at Oxford and staring down a microscope for a doctorate at MIT, she realized that an explorer, in any day and age, is by definition the kind of person who refuses to live between the lines. Harris quit the laboratory and hit the Silk Road again with Yule, this time determined to bike it from beginning to end.
Creative Creek
Creative in the Creek puts on a super show on Thursday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gumboot Café, Roberts Creek, hosted by Jess Stephens-Whale. Acts include: Jane Calm on sexuality in community; Gord Halloran reading his new story; Lisa Voth solo performance; Jay Burnam solo bass guitar with original vocals; Kym Chi presenting on permaculture; and a special event from Momo and Isabella, an original play/dance. Admission is by donation at the door.
Inspirito’s First
The first concert performance from the new Inspirito Women’s Ensemble was a huge success for the choir and for their artistic director Sarona Mynhardt. The group performed a variety of songs from the lovely Ave Maria to powerful African tunes before a full house in Gibsons on May 6. Solos from vocalist Maderi Mynhardt and an excellent Vancouver flautist, Bernard Blary, were show stoppers. Looking forward to their next performance.
Foosball
There’s still time to get your teams together for the Rogue Arts Festival third annual fundraiser Going Rogue 3 – with a double knock-out styled Human Foosball Tournament on Saturday, May 19 at 2 p.m. The Human Foosball court was designed and built by local craftspeople and is the only one of its kind. The tournament will include eight teams of six players competing for the glory and killer prizes. Taking place on the Clarke Farm, this will be an outdoor, licensed, all-ages event (15 and up is recommended to play) with music by dj little d, a local food vendor, and a lounge area with traditional foosball tables. Get a team of six together and register, sign up as an individual or just come support the teams and the Festival as a spectator. Tickets are online at share-there.com.
Hula Revisited
Dhyana Bartkow plans a hula class for beginners in preparation for the visit of Puna Kalama Dawson. If you tried to reach her by phone last week, try again. Telus accidentally cut off her service but all is restored now. Call 604-886-9737 or email [email protected].
Message Me
Please send notice of your arts and entertainment events to my email: [email protected] or phone 604-741-9360. Items go into the Art Beat column one day to one week ahead only, depending on space. Deadline is Tuesday noon for Friday’s paper.
