A new show opens at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG) with an opening reception on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 2-4 p.m. The show runs to Sunday, Oct. 16. Looseness in the Current is an exhibition by Margaret Witzsche and in parallel, in the Eve Smart Gallery is Talking to a Stranger, an exhibition by Bill Edmond. Artist Witzsche writes: “The paintings are a free interpretation of my study and thoughts on the Fraser River. I grew up beside the Fraser, experiencing the love and fear that one has as a child, of swift and dangerous current, the equally dangerous log booms accessed easily from shore, the wildlife, beauty, wonderful scent of the river.”
In Talking to a Stranger, Bill Edmonds has been exploring the anonymity of the Internet and the relationships formed by strangers online by making contact with random individuals through chat rooms and asking the strangers to send him a photo so he could paint their portrait in return – with interesting results. GPAG is open Thursday-Monday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For further information: Michael Aze: 604-886-0531.
Flatrock
Flatrock from Toronto plays tonight, Sept. 23 at the Gumboot Café, Roberts Creek, at 8 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door. Flatrock is wrapping up their tour from Newfoundland to Roberts Creek with their newly released CD, The Hill. The indie rock band features Mellissa Murphy, Dan Rougeau, Matt Rousseau and Roberts Creek’s own James Law. For more info, 604-886-4768 or see: www.flatrocksound.ca
Concert
At 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 David Millard presents an Organ Concert—From Amsterdam to Lubeck at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church, Sechelt. It’s a whirlwind tour of the North German school of organ music including works by Sweelinck, Buxtehude, Bohm and Bach. Tickets for $15 are available at the door. Proceeds go to Rotary’s Polio Plus program for the eradication of polio.
Author at Arts Centre
In his remarkable and entertaining memoir of his beloved grandfather, author Ted Chamberlin conjures up vividly the never-before-told story of a particular time and place not long after Canada was founded. This is the story of when Sorreltop Jack was friends with Crop Eared Wolf and of two decades, 1885 to 1905, when the people in the foothills of modern-day Alberta – First Nation and Métis, rancher and settler – respectfully set out to accommodate Blackfoot sovereignty and new settlement, before Canada broke its treaty promises to the first peoples. Chamberlin will be hosting a book launch for his book, The Banker and the Blackfoot, with Talewind Books at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m.
Arts Building
The Arts Building on South Fletcher in Gibsons is back in session with new classes including Your Life as Your Masterpiece. Get Out of Your Box: Liberate yourself! Grow your creative powers; expand your capabilities and increase your business effectiveness on Sept. 25 from 10 to 1. See: http://artsbuilding.org/events for other courses including ukulele and writers reading from their works.
Dheepan
The Sunshine Coast Film Society presents Dheepan, a French crime-drama in Tamil and French with English subtitles on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. (Doors open at 7.) This searing French film follows a Tamil family from Sri Lanka to Paris where its members must use their hard-won survival skills to navigate a whole new world. Having escaped the chaos of civil war they find another kind of chaos in their crime-ridden housing complex. A Cannes winner, Dheepan’s conclusion is controversial. Admission: $5/members, $9/non-members with an annual membership of $20. Friends of the Film Society pay $99/year that covers all screenings including any special events.
Author Returns
Jim Christy is a writer, artist, and tireless traveller. The author of more than 30 books, including poetry, short stories, novels, travel, and biography, he is a former resident of the Sunshine Coast. He has covered wars and exhibited his art internationally. His most recent books are Rogues, Rascals, and Scalawags Too and the poetry title, The Big Thirst. Christy will be reading from his work at the Gibsons Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m. For more, call 604-886-2130.
Arts Integration
Are you a professional artist interested in working with young people and educators in schools? Or do you already have some experience and want to enhance your skills? The Arts Integration Learning Lab is a professional development experience for artists of all disciplines, designed to build their capacity and position them to work alongside educators in schools. This event offers a series of five practical, experiential learning workshops taking place in Nanaimo, from Nov. 14 to 18. Professional artists living on Vancouver Island and the Coast region are invited to apply by Sept. 30 at artstarts.com/infusion. The cost for artists selected to participate will be subsidized and is made possible through funding support from BC Arts Council and the Government of British Columbia’s Creative Futures program.
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.
