The call is out this week from artist Jan Poynter for this year’s Gibsons Landing Plein Air Paint Out on Sept. 11 to 13. Register this week for three days of artists painting on location throughout the Landing, wharf and seawalk, from Armours Beach to Winegarden Park. Poynter Studio and the Town of Gibsons will host a welcome BBQ, studio hub and activities for artist participants. New this year are more demos, Friday’s Sketchcrawl, daily wet-paint display/sales at the Landing Gallery, a Sunday gallery reception and people’s choice award. Check out the event schedule at janpoynter.com.
Artists can register at [email protected] or call 604-886-8918. This is part of the International Plein Air Painters 2015 worldwide Paint Out listing. See the website for photos of plein air events all over the world.
Last Music
The 13th season of Music in the Landing winds down this weekend. Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., singer, songwriter Robin Atchison will be playing at the Gibsons Farmers Market. On Friday evening, 7 to 8 p.m. stroll down the Gibsons wharf to the Gazebo and that spectacular venue with Joe Stanton and Simon Paradis as the sun goes down. Saturday at noon is the annual Youth Showcase celebrating youth in music at the Sun Dial Stage in Holland Park followed at 1:30 p.m. by the Brothers in Farms to make up for their rained-out event.
Saturday evening, bring your lawn chairs to listen to the tunes of Bits of String with Kaia Neilson, Mark Lebbell, Ken Dalgleish and Graham Walker. Sunday for the final show of the season, the Jazz Group of Seven will fill Holland Park, next to the Gibsons Sunday Market, with the sweet sound of pure jazz. Showtime is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with musicians John Frederickson, Carl Montgomery, Ken Grunenberg, Danielle Stephens, Steve Giltrow, Sacha Fassaert and Tim Enns.
This has been a very successful season for Music in the Landing, presented by Town of Gibsons. For a photo album of all 47 shows, 169 local musicians, plus 32 from Germany, go to facebook.com/music.landing
Theatre School
Driftwood Theatre School starts its fall session with new classes and a new teacher, Jessie award winner Varya Rubin. Classes include Drama for kids, a Family Fun Class, Advanced Drama, the Shakespeare Touring Youth Troupe and Acting and Scene Study with Varya Rubin. Register Saturday, Sept. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Bart’s Church in Gibsons. For more info call: 604-886-0143, or email [email protected]
Carving demonstration
Jerry Frost, local carver, will be demonstrating his talent on Saturday, Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. See him in action at Eco-Freako’s Gallery in the Heart of the Creek. Weather permitting.
Harvest Festival
The Botanical Gardens Annual Harvest Festival takes place on Sunday, Sept. 6. Celebrate the fall harvest with plant and garlic sales, live music from Brothers in Farms, Rotary BBQ, astronomers and woodcrafters and a bake sale. Leashed dogs are welcome. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation, 5941 Mason Road, West Sechelt.
Adult choir
Music Makers adult choir will start up soon. This is a fun-loving group of people who love to sing, no stress, no experience necessary. The choir meets on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Music Makers studio in Davis Bay, except for the first night which is a meet, greet, register and sing on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Wilson Creek/ Davis Bay Hall, directly across the field from the studio. It starts at 6:30 p.m. The following weeks will be on Wednesdays.
Poetry chapbook
Poet Dorothy Stott has just published her fourth chapbook, titled Brevity, from Beret Days Press, The Ontario Poetry Society. If you would like a copy, email her at [email protected]
Nutcracker auditions
The Coasting Along Theatre Society is pleased to announce open auditions for the fourth annual presentation of The Nutcracker ballet. Professional and non-professional dance roles will be cast, including male dance roles. Theatrical roles for adults are also needed; dance/theatre experience is a plus.
“The dancers have improved exponentially,” said director Kathleen Holmes. “It’s a season of miracles and watching the growth of the dancers each year just proves that magic does exist. Of course, magic comes with extremely hard work – but hey, the audience doesn’t get to see that part!”
Holmes points out that the choreography has been getting more intricate and difficult each year. The 2015 run will include six performances featuring over 100 dancers with performances being held at the Raven’s Cry Theatre Dec. 19 to 22. Auditions are at the Coast Academy of Dance in Sechelt, on Sunday, Sept. 13. Various age groups should look for their posted time on the website: www.coastingalongtheatre.org
Music Festival
Expect to see great performances in a picturesque setting at Palm Beach Park near Powell River during the 34th annual Sunshine Music Festival Sept. 5 and 6. Shop at the craft market and enjoy the many food vendors. See www.sunshinemusicfest.com for the music line-up. Buy tickets for the weekend or for one day with reduced prices for students and seniors. Call Barb at 604-485-7559 for more info or buy tickets at the gate.
New deadline for submissions
Send your notice of arts events by Tuesday at noon for Friday’s newspaper to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692. Art Beat covers events one day to one week ahead.
