Local Arts

The late artist Mel Kero loved to paint in the outdoors, finding his artistic inspiration in the forests and inlets around Sechelt. He and his wife Eva first began visiting the Coast in the 1960s, where they had a small boat moored at Porpoise Bay.

Most of the workshop participants who studied everything from lace knitting to rustic furniture construction at last week's seventh annual Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival agreed on one thing -it was the calibre of instructors that made the course

Back by popular demand is David Hickey's Crystal Bowl concert, to be held Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2 at St. Hilda's Anglican Church in Sechelt.

At 11 a.m. at the free concert during the second annual Chamber Music Festival in Madeira Park last weekend, there is a comfortably full house with at least a dozen children in the audience. Festival organizer Lise Aylmer welcomes them.

Sunshine Coast music lovers have a rare opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed cellist Phoebe Carraiperform cello suites by J.S. Bach, in two unusual concert settings next week. Carrai performs at Music on the Rock at Willow Farm, Friday, Aug.

In an invitational show you never know what might turn up. More than 60 local artists working in a variety of media were personally invited to submit one piece for the current Arts Centre exhibition. Forty-seven responded.

The first Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival held last year in Madeira Park proved an unqualified success with sold out houses and, to quote one fan, "soul stirring musical experiences.

It started slowly this year. The 24th annual Festival of the Written Arts in Sechelt was heading for a low key opening night Aug. 3.

Last June, John and Verna Elliottwere beachcombing on Brooks Penin-sula on the west coast of Vancouver Island when they came across a hand blown glass bottle with three messages inside, one of which included an email address.

When high school opens next fall, eight teenage dancers who are serious about their art will be involved in a new pilot program.