Renowned Sunshine Coast poet John Pass has been short-listed for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize for his latest book, crawlspace (Harbour Publishing).
The Poetry Prize is one of seven BC Book Prizes, awarded annually to celebrate the best writing in the province, and they carry a cash prize of $2,000 plus a certificate. The poems in crawlspace, Pass's first volume of poetry since he won the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry in 2006, work within the narrowing passages imposed upon us by the inevitable strictures and limitations of living and experience: aging, love and loss, tightening or unravelling family ties.
Close to home as always, in one instance literally under the house he has built, Pass's work is grounded too in the wider world. His most recent books, comprising the quartet AT LARGE, are The Hour's Acropolis (Harbour), Radical Innocence (Harbour), Water Stair (Oolichan) and Stumbling in the Bloom (Oolichan), winner of the Governor General's Literary Award.
Pass lives with his wife, writer Theresa Kishkan, in Madeira Park.
crawlspace's publisher, Harbour Publishing, received a total of four award nominations in three categories. The winners will be announced in Vancouver at an awards gala on May 12.
Meet the artist
Meet the artist silversmith Tien of Lucky Monkey Home at Woods Showcase at Sunnycrest Mall in Gibsons from noon to 3 p.m. this Saturday, March 17.
Tien will share his work, his inspiration, philosophies, techniques and portfolio. Bring your questions, ideas and open heart for fun, light, beauty and joy. Singapore-born master artist Tien showcases two creations: sterling silver jewelry, individually hand-fabricated, and potions. A silversmith for 16 years, he has been making potions for over 20 years, inspired by his childhood love for chemistry and Arthurian tales of magic.
St. Patrick's Day
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a gift of clean water for all at a WaterCan event at 6:30 p.m., on Saturday at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre. The price of this event has been reduced to $20 (or $40 with tax receipt). Tickets are available at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG) and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Sechelt. Auction items can be seen on www.OurCommunityCan.info. See more details on page 26.
Also on Saturday evening, enjoy a real old Irish Kitchen Party with Irish fun, jigs, reels and sing-alongs at Kinsmen Hall in Dougall Park, Gibsons. Entertainment at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12, available from Laedeli, Gaia's Fair Trade, or, reserve by calling 604-989-3858.
Film
A Quebec film, Incendies, in French with English subtitles, is the next presentation from the Sunshine Coast Film Society on Monday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons.
Nominated for best foreign language film at the Academy Awards, the story concerns a sister and brother who receive enigmatic instructions from their late mother's will. It's a powerful and cathartic film. See www.scfs.ca for more.
Cousins concert
Rose Cousins is a singer/songwriter from the East Coast who will be playing at St. Bart's Church Hall in Gibsons on Sunday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Cousins finds insight in solitude and strength in numbers. Supported by a thriving Halifax music scene and welcomed by an equally vibrant Boston community, her new albumWe Have Made A Spark was made in the spirit of community and collaboration. It follows Cousins' two multi-award-winning albumsThe Send Off (2009) produced by Luke Doucet andIf You Were For Me (2006) produced by CBC in Halifax. Tickets are $12. Doors open at 7, show at 7:30 p.m.
Art classes
The GPAG is offering children's art classes during spring break in the mornings from March19 to 23. The cost includes all art materials. The teacher is artist Miyuki Shinkai. For more, see www.gibsonspublicartgallery.ca.
Book reading
On Tuesday, March 20, at 10:30 a.m. local author Heather Conn will gather kids aged 6 to 9 (or younger) and her puppets at Woods Showcase to read from her book, Gracie's Got a Secret. Parents are welcome to drop in with your children.
101 Art
For the month of March, 101 Office Supply is displaying canvasses by Kecia Scholerman. A painter for 15 years, the artist has developed a unique folk style inspired by her children. Wrought in bright colours, many of them finished in sparkle, the pictures bring warmth to the space wherever they are hung. One of her larger works hangs in Vancouver Children's Hospital, and she has sold to clients from all over Canada. The store can be found on Cowrie Street in Sechelt.
Hot Mammas
Musician Nikki Weber presents a fabulous night of vocal variety featuring the Hot Mammas from Vancouver who will be at the Montreal Jazz Festival later this year. Tom Arntzen, the talented and well known pianist, will be accompanying the Hot Mammas and other musical groups who include many members of the MellowTones: Mellow Fellows, the Quintet, and the trio, Anything Goes, with the exception of Maddy Weber and Robyn Edgar, part of the quartet Pops and Punks.
In the second half, the Hot Mammas will give you a taste of their expertise and delightful stylings.
Each "mamma" has a lifetime of entertainment and talent to offer.
Catch the Mammas at the Sechelt Legion Hall, on Saturday, March 24, at 7 p.m. for pre-concert dessert and coffee and 7:30 p.m. performance. Tickets are $22, available at Gaia's Fair Trade in Gibsons, or phone Nikki at 604-740-0933. Tickets are also available at the door and the price includes cake and coffee.
Tuesday deadline
Send notice of your arts events to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692 by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Friday's newspaper. Let me know who, what, where, when, why and ticket info briefly. Because of the volume of submissions, Art Beat covers events one day to one week ahead only.
