The Pender Harbour Choir celebrates the 150th birthday of our country with their concert Shades of Summer Light, A Canadian Tribute. The program, conducted by Kenneth Norman Johnson and accompanied by David Poon, features Canadian music, including well-known folk songs, songs written and made popular by Canadian artists, and new works by Canadian composers. An evening not to be missed, featuring a welcome reception followed by the concert program. Shades of Summer Light takes place in the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden in Sechelt on Saturday, May 27, and again at the historic School of Music in Pender Harbour on Sunday, May 28. The receptions for both begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, and available at Earth Fair in Madeira Park, Sechelt Visitor Centre and from choir members.
Music Makers
The Music Makers will hold their year-end celebration on Saturday, May 27 at 7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church in Davis Bay. On the program are the adult choir, the Guitar Gang, Reflections Women’s Choir, Ashley Hautala, Definitely Divas, and of course, Reg and Lynne Dickson. Tickets are $15 from the Sechelt Visitor Info centre, Laedeli in Gibsons or from any Music Maker.
Art Show
An Artists’ Show and Sale takes place on Saturday, May 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Shirley Macey Park, off Chamberlin Road near Gibsons. Artists Mary Burgess, Rita Crossley, Janice Edmonds, Marie Sharpe, Julie Skippon and Leo White will be showing their work. All are invited; free admission.
Cloverpoint Drifters
Born in rural Appalachia, traditional bluegrass weaves together musical traditions from Celtic folk songs to American blues, folk and country. After almost 20 years together, the Cloverpoint Drifters have established themselves as masters of this musical genre, both in their fine harmonies and in their instrumentals on double bass, guitar, banjo, dobro and mandolin. The group comes to the Music School in Madeira Park on Saturday, May 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets for $25 are online at penderharbourmusic.ca or at Harbour Insurance in Madeira Park and the Sechelt Visitor Centre.
Diamond Forever
The songs of Neil Diamond continue to attract new fans to go along with the legions of old. A show such as Jason Scott’s Diamond Forever – a Celebration of Neil Diamond is an entertaining recognition to the music and talent of this legendary singer-songwriter. On Saturday, May 27, Scott dons his sparkly shirt and performs his tribute at the Sechelt Legion starting at 8 (doors at 7). It’s an interactive show, the performer says, a Neil Diamond party in which the audience can dance and sing along to the greatest hits. Tickets are $20 at the door. Phone the Legion at 604-885-2526 for more.
Mini Makers
On Sunday, May 28 the third annual Sunshine Coast Mini Maker Faire takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Dougall Park, Gibsons. Celebrate the collaborations and creations of over 65 Coast Maker members and their business and non-profit organization partners.
Writers and Readers
Starting Wednesday, May 31 at 8 a.m. you can buy Festival of the Written Arts passes and tickets on line through www.share-there.com. Telephone ticket sales will begin on Wednesday, May 31 at 8 a.m. at 604-885-9631 or 1-800-565-9631. Join the summer gathering of Canadian writers and readers, now in its 35th year on Aug. 17-20.
Writers Open Mic
This monthly free event is open to all levels, all genres and even works in progress. Each writer will have five minutes to share their latest work, listen to others and get to know and network with other writers on the Coast. Come to the Arts Building, beside the library on South Fletcher, Gibsons on Wednesday, May 31 at 7-9 p.m.
Artist at WOW
Sechelt artist Catherine Woods will show her work in oils and acrylics at the WOW Gallery, Sunnycrest Mall in Gibsons on the weekend of June 2. Stop by to browse.
Messiah Choir
The Coast Messiah Choir is looking forward to concerts on June 2 and 4 at St. John’s United Church in Davis Bay with special guests Coast Chamber Orchestra directed by Sarah Poon. Three baroque masterworks will be on the program: Vivaldi’s Gloria with the choir and orchestra, Handel’s Messiah Part 3 with choir and string quartet and harpsichord, directed by Joy McLeod and also the first movement from Bach’s Concerto in D minor for harpsichord and orchestra, directed by Poon with Carolyn Mitchell playing the harpsichord solo part.
Tickets are $25 available at Laedeli or Sechelt Visitor Centre or by calling 604-885-9015. Along with the concert there will be an art show in the basement of the hall (see United Artists below).
This will be the last concert for choir director Joy McLeod as she will be moving east soon. She writes: “I have had some wonderful times here in the last 11 years and will certainly miss many people that I have come to know. It has been a privilege to work with talented and enthusiastic musicians and I will have many fond memories to recall on cold winter nights.”
United Artists
The St. John’s United Artists are having their annual sale of art on June 2 and 3, at 5085 Davis Bay Road, St. John’s United Church. Artists will be on hand from 10 a.m. Friday, but the opening reception is on Friday, June 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. when visitors can meet the artists and enjoy some goodies. This group of active hobby artists get together every Thursday afternoon to paint, learn, laugh, and support each other. Come to view their paintings in which they try to portray a love of life in floral, landscape, portraits, birds, and animals. All are welcome.
New Gallery Show
A new exhibition opens on Thursday, June 1 at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery. Things We Found at the Lake, an exhibition by Cath Hughes, and Jervis Inlet by Mavis Assad, will hold their opening reception on Saturday, June 3 from 2-4 p.m. Hughes’ mixed media show explores the imagery of bathers at the lake. There is an element of voyeurism as we observe people engaging unselfconsciously with the landscape or interacting with one another. In some pieces the activity is juxtaposed by elements of fantasy: a hobbyhorse, a mummer, a stag’s head and groups of archetypal Canadian wildlife. Hughes will give an Artist’s Talk on Sunday, June 4 at 2 p.m.
Jervis Inlet, acrylics by Mavis Assad, represents majesty, strength and grandeur. “These are the feelings that overwhelm me,” the artist says, “when in the presence of the beautiful west coast beaches, forests, and mountains.” The show runs until June 25. Phone Cath Hughes: 778-997-2284 or Michael Aze: 604-886-0531 for more information.
Keep me Posted
Please continue to send me your arts announcements but note that they will run in the newspaper one day to one week ahead only. My deadline is Tuesday at noon for next Friday’s paper. Email: [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692.
