The Sunshine Coast Spinners and Weavers Guild and FibreShed are sponsoring FibreShed Day at the yurts in Madeira Park (12887 Sunshine Coast Hwy.) on Sunday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, From Shepherdess to Knitted Dress, will show the public the process of creating clothing and household items from local fibre and with local labour. The sheep shearing is at noon and lots of demos and mini workshops will follow on everything from processing sheep and llama fleece – sorting, washing, picking, carding, spinning, felting and weaving – to a waulking ceremony at 2 p.m.
This ceremony celebrates a year’s project to create a large woven picnic blanket entirely from Coast fibre animals, and created by members of the Guild who spent the year sorting, picking, carding, spinning, designing and weaving. The final step is to soften and full the blanket through the Scottish tradition of waulking. A group sits around a table singing rhythmic waulking songs traditionally in Gaelic, beating and passing the cloth around the table to the rhythm of the song. The ceremony starts with a procession led by the piper and fiddlers, followed by the sheep producers and those involved in creating it.
Festival opens
The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Performing Arts, now in its 44th year, opens on April 10 with piano performances and adjudication at the Arts Centre in Sechelt. Audience is welcomed, says new Festival president Barbara Lightfoot. Attendance at the sessions is free although donations are appreciated. The Festival continues until April 28 with music of strings and brass, dance performances and the expanded category of speech arts/dramatic arts – new last year – that runs on April 28. The Piano Encore concert is on April 23 and Festival Highlights concert will be on May 7. See www.coastfestival.com for dates, times and venue information.
Art show
On Saturday, April 8 starting at 7 p.m. the works of five Coast artists will be shown at 223 Camp Rd. (near Bonniebrook) in Gibsons. You are invited to an exhibition at the Armstrong home to see watercolour, acrylic and mixed media paintings, photo based images and pottery from Mildred Doubt, George Doubt, Pam Horner, Nancy McMurdo and Ines Tancré. The hosts ask you to park on Ocean Beach Esplanade before the short walk to their home.
Twelfth Night
National Theatre from London performs Twelfth Night live and is broadcast in HD to the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt on Sunday, April 9 at 2 p.m. Tamsin Greig is Malvolia in a new twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identity and unrequited love. Simon Godwin directs this joyous new production. Ticket information at www.ravenscrytheatre.com or phone 604-885-4597.
Films
The Great Howe Sound Recovery is presented by the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association. See five short films and a panel discussion about the ongoing recovery of Howe Sound and how you can take part in the region’s rebound. Presented in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation and Rhizome Up! Media Society’s Green Film Series. That’s on April 9 at 1 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. It’s free.
This weekend
The Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons features the Nell Robinson and Jim Nunally Band on Saturday, April 8 with their authentic music, creating a genre-busting sound that combines country, jazz, folk and bluegrass music. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 advance (share-there.com) and $25 at the door. See www.heritageplayhouse.com for more.
Steve Weave
Steve Weave returns to the live music fold with a special show at the Gumboot Café slated for Thursday, April 13. A multi-instrumentalist who produces music daily at his Sound Studio, Weave will be debuting new material on piano, guitars and ukulele, in addition to playing crowd favourites from past Rainforest Circus events, a few choice covers and more. This event will feature custom live visuals courtesy of local artist Mieke Jay. And the event will be live streamed at www.twitch.tv/steveweave beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are on a sliding scale $20 to $15 available only at the door, which opens at 7 p.m.
Teen pottery
Pat Forst is offering a Pottery on the Wheel course especially for teens to introduce students to the fun of pottery. They will learn how to make bowls, mugs with handles and baking dishes. She has donated one student placement to the Elphinstone U15 SCVC Girls Volleyball Team to help with their fundraising raffle as they head to the regional playoffs and Provincials. Kenzie won the raffle. Pottery on the Wheel for Teens runs April 11 to May 2, Tuesdays 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fee is $150 (plus $15 to $20 for materials). To register, phone 604-840-0304 or email [email protected]
Coffee House
The April Coffee House at the School of Music in Madeira Park is on Friday, April 14. The show features Joan and Ted with their original West Coast sound on vocals and guitar; David Taylor, singer/songwriter, recording artist, on guitar and piano, and Baili Clarke with originals and covers on guitar. Coffee and goodies will be available. Doors open 7 p.m.; music at 7:30 p.m. A $10 donation at the door is suggested.
Dance
DSdanse Youth Dance Company performs The Majestic Project at the Heritage Playhouse, Gibsons, on Friday, April 14 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 15 at 2 p.m. The live dance show highlights the value of the ocean and its majestic creatures within. Tickets for $20 adults and $15 children are at Laedeli Gifts in Gibsons and at share-there.com, or call 604-886-0020.
Noon deadline
Send your notice of arts events by Tuesday at noon for Friday’s newspaper to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692. Please include a contact person’s phone number or email in your notice.
