We apologize if you have received this eNews more than once!
1. In The Mind’s Eye
Toni Hafkenschied and Karine Gibouleau
NAC’s Main Space Gallery
Saturday 15 March - Saturday 19 April
Opening Reception: Sunday 16 March 2pm
Toni Hafkensheid’s work explores what constitutes fact and fiction in a photograph by blurring the limits between reality and fiction. Although his photographs represent actual places, the way in which he photographs them makes the landscapes look like model train sets. In the series we will be presenting, he plays with the illusion of real and fake in the landscape by utilizing a shallow depth of field to make some parts of the image soft and others in focus. The colours are tweaked to resemble old postcards and to recall a certain American dream, an idealized view of an immediate future typical of the 1950s.
Karine Gibouleau is a Montreal-based emerging artist who has been actively working as a visual artist for the last six years. Her installation, The Bulles de Vie (Life Bubbles), scheduled to be shown at NAC in March, consists of miniature worlds encapsulated in clear globes of Plexiglass. The dioramas of figurines inhabiting alien landscapes--what she calls “caricatures of reality”--are at once fragile, funny, and dark.
2. The Great Canadian Surreal Beaver Ball
Refuse Locale: An Evening of Surrealism in St. Catharines
Wednesday 5 March at 7pm
Tickets available at the door
$8 adult | $5 student/senior/artist
Join us on Wednesday 5 March 2008, for a very special evening celebrating the ongoing legacy of surrealism in Canada at the Niagara Artists' Centre at 7 p.m.
The Department of English features readings by contemporary surrealist poets Stuart Ross and Beatriz Hausner, and acclaimed Automatist scholar Ray Ellenwood reading from his recent translation of Thérèse Renaud's /The Sands of Dream/ (the first book of Canadian surrealist poetry), the evening will also include surrealist games, films, art, and activities.
From the Department of Visual Arts, the evening will see the launch of the Great Canadian Beaver Balls Multiples installation. Great Canadian Beaver Balls is an exhibition of 1600 artist multiples created by 120 Brock University students from five different classes, representing three disciplines in the Humanities department: English, Art History and Studio Art. Encapsulated in plastic balls and sold from a classic Northern Beaver Vending machine, artworks include: miniature bookworks, temporary tattoos of concrete poetry and sculptural explorations in a wide range of media. Beaver Balls will be available from vending machines for $2 each during gallery hours. The Multiples exhibit will run at the NAC until Mar. 15, 2008.
To cap off the evening, theatre company Suitcase in Point, will present an original production of Claude Gauvreau's remarkable "In the Heart of the Bulrushes."
Tickets available at the door: $8 adults | $5 students/seniors/artists.
- from the press release
3. New Sounds Niagara
Saturday 15 March 2008 8pm
Niagara Artists’ Centre
Tickets $15 Adults | $10 Students/Arts Workers
Order Tickets by phone 905-468-1525 or online at www.galleryplayers.ca
A Mini Concert Series dedicated to presenting new Canadian compositions, featuring James Mason (Oboe), Julie Baumgartel (Violin), Douglas Miller (Flute), Patrick Jordon (Viola), Margaret Gay (Cello) and Devon Fornelli (Vibraphone).
4. The Great Farini
by NAC Member Anne Warren
Saturday 15 March - Friday 11 April
Opening Reception Sunday 16 March 2pm
The Great Farini is a portrayal of the amazing life of Albert Hunt. Growing up in Port Hope he trained himself to become a superb athlete, rivalling Blondin in his feats on the high wire crossing Niagara Falls. He had a true Victorian spirit however, with a restless enquiring mind. Not only was he a great showman and businessman but a thoughtful and imaginative inventor. I created these little theatrical boxes to highlight some of the moments in his long and fascinating life.
- from the artist's statement
5. Mini Film Series
Akira Kurosawa Double Feature
Wednesday 19 March & Wednesday 26 March
Both screenings at 8pm
$8 or $6 for NAC members
Wednesday March 19th: Rashomon (1950)
Kurosawa’s early, breakthrough masterpiece. An analysis of perspective, objectivity, and the plasticity of “truth,” Rashomon changed our understanding of both Japanese film and film in general.
Wednesday March 26th: Seven Samurai (1954)
Kurosawa’s defining film. It succeeds as both jidaigeki, serious period drama, and chanbara, a swashbuckler with emphasis on swordplay. Either way, Seven Samurai remains a shining example of textured, complex filmmaking. Oh, and Toshirô Mifune is an acting god.
Guest Speaker Rohit Dalvi
Both films on 16mm.
6. Main Space Exhibition Selections Meeting
Saturday 8 March, 4pm at NAC
Members are welcome!
7. Out of the Cold
Sunday 16 March
We need volunteers for the following time slots:
Three people between 3pm and 5pm to set-up
Six people between 5pm and 8pm to serve it up
One person overnight from 12mn until 6:30am
Two people for morning clean-up from 6:30am until 7:30am
Please email Natasha at natasha@nac.org to sign up!
8. Don’t Go Back to Sleep
June Etta Chenard
Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Brock University
7 March – 16 March 2008
Opening Reception Saturday 8 March 3 – 5 pm
NAC member, June Etta Chenard, will be exhibiting in the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre, Brock University Centre for the Arts. The exhibit will run from March 7 until March 16. Please join us for an opening reception from 3 to 5 PM, on Saturday, March 8 (International Women's Day).
Chenard's paper collages are striking at first glance, and thought-provoking upon closer examination. Her multi-layered work incorporates hand-dyed papers (from the finest of Japanese papers to common tissue paper, waxed paper, deli sandwich wrap and old-fashioned cleaning papers), as well as dried plants, photos and text. Enchanting colours and intriguing layers draw us in, where we are confronted with compelling, sometimes provocative, messages, calling us to look more closely, to remain awake. "a poignant meeting of the sensuous beauty of the images and the edginess of the texts".
9. Call for Submissions
Distracted by Abstraction
City of St. Catharines Annual Juried Exhibition
23 May - 22 August 2008
Entry Forms are available at NAC
The City of St. Catharines Public Art Advisory Committee invites area artists to participate in Distracted by Abstraction, the City’s fourth annual juried art exhibition.
Pablo Picasso asked, Why do you try to understand art? Do you try to understand the song of a bird? Artists are encouraged to submit work that freely explores creative expression and challenges and questions conventional thinking about what art is.
Submissions will be considered from professional, student and amateur artists. Works that best respond to the exhibit s theme and reflect the artistic community of St. Catharines and Niagara will be selected. Artists will be paid an exhibition fee, and their work will be considered for inclusion in the City of St. Catharines’ Art Acquisition programme. Only two dimensional works of art can be exhibited.
Distracted by Abstraction will be on view on the 2nd Floor of St. Catharines City Hall from May 23 to August 22, 2008.
Deadline for Submissions: 14 April 2008
All submissions should be mailed or delivered to:
St. Catharines Public Art Advisory Committee
c/o Rod Demerling, Cultural Services Supervisor
City of St. Catharines
Recreation & Community Services
320 Geneva Street, P. O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2
For more information contact Rod Demerling at
905-688-5601 ext. 3134
rdemerling@stcatharines.ca
www.stcatharines.ca and click culture
10. Call for Submissions
The Annual London Pride Art Exhibit|
Deadline for submissions Friday 2 May 2008
London Pride invites you to be a part of history through one of the single longest running Pride events in Canada. The exhibit is designed to encourage artists to look at the issues of sexual diversity that affect all Canadians from a personal perspective.
As a community focused event, the annual London Pride Art Exhibit has two components, first, a juried exhibit open to professional artists working within Ontario.
Entry Forms available at NAC
For more information please visit www.pridelondon.ca
11. She's Mine
By Stephanie Jones, directed by Sky Gilbert
Essential Collective Wine and Reading Series
Hosted By Hernder’s Estate Winery
1607 8th Avenue, St. Catharines
Thursday 13 March 2008, 6:30pm to 9:30pm
pay-what-you-can - suggested $5
For more information
www.essentialcollectivetheatre.com
The Essential Collective Theatre is very excited to have partnered with Hernder’s Estates Winery for its second Wine & Reading Series. This year audiences are invited to take a tour of the beautiful and picturesque winery located on the edge of St Catharines. After an informal tasting session the latter half of the evening will feature a staged reading of 'She’s Mine', a new play by acclaimed performer and playwright Stephanie Jones, directed by Sky Gilbert one of Canada’s most celebrated and unique artistic forces.
She’s Mine tells the story of Mary, a young girl who must navigate her family’s break up caused by her Mother’s unexpected announcement that she’s a lesbian. Mary’s values are challenged as she is forced to reconcile her own feelings about her mother’s decision with her catholic upbringing. Religion & politics collide in this beautifully written play that examines how we cope when our belief systems fall short.
12. Open Call to Artists!
Theatre Beyond Words is calling all Niagara Artists, both professional and student, to submit entries to the 2008 Make a Face mask live & silent auction to be held Friday, June 6, 2008 at 7:30pm located at the Niagara Artists Centre in downtown St Catharines.
Continuing on the highly successful Mask-R-Aide in 2006 where 28 imaginative masks were created and juried; this year’s Make a Face will give 50% of the auction bid back to the artist! Here’s your chance to make a mask to help raise funds for you and Theatre Beyond Words!
What’s eligible?
Artists may work in any medium. The Make a Face mask is meant to be WORN – on a face or head and the wearer must be able to ‘see.’ (Not necessarily through the eyes of the mask, if there are any). The mask should not exceed 18” square, and must be ready to hang on a wall. We are looking for the ‘inner world of the artist’ that transpires through the object created. A mask with no openings for breathing; a mask you bought from a third party; a mask you have worn before; or a mask you want returned to you after the auction is not eligible
How does the judging work?
All Make a Face masks are eligible for jury. A panel of judges consisting of Harro Maskow, Reinhardt Reitzenstein, Cameron Porteous, Rod Demerling and Tanya jean Peterson will review each entry, on the merit of an individual piece, not a collection or portfolio. A first, second, and third prize ‘mask’ will be determined. New this year, a ‘people’s choice’ mask will also be selected. $750.00 in total cash prizes with four prizes being awarded in both the professional and student categories (8 in total).
For Adults: 1st Prize $200, 2nd Prize $125, 3rd Prize $75 and People’s Choice $75
For Students: 1st Prize $100, 2nd Prize $75, 3rd Prize $50 and People’s Choice $50
All masks will be on display at the Niagara Artists’ Centre, 254 St Paul Street, St Catharines for one-week beginning may 31, 2008 leading up to the auction. There will be an artist & judge’s reception on Monday, June 2, @7:30pm. The public preview with bids/sheets begins Wednesday, June 4 with the live and silent event auction commencing Friday, June 6, 2008 @7:30pm, door open @ 6:30pm
General admission to the event is $22.50 adult, $17.50 senior & $12.50 student. Wine and cheese and hors d’eouvres are included in the price of admission.
We will offer each contributing artist one free admission, but we encourage you to bring a friend at the admission price above. Tickets will be on sale Friday March 14, 2008 through Centre for the Arts, box Office, Brock University at 905-688-5550 ext 3257.
On Friday, June 6, all masks made by professional artists will become part of the live auction and sold to the highest bidder for the full amount of the successful bid. All student masks will become part of the silent auction, and will be sold to the highest bidder. All items will be sold “as is,” with no refunds or returns. Items in this auction will be subject to a minimum bid. Theatre Beyond Words will not be responsible for any errors or omissions. Items that do not attract a minimum bid, or any masks auctioned but not paid for, may be returned to the artist. Payment is made by Cash, Check, Visa, & MasterCard.
What’s the deadline and what should I send with the mask?
Friday, May 2, 2008 or sooner: Masks must be received at Theatre Beyond Words, 145 King Street, St Catharines, in time to be styled, & photographed. Submissions will be considered from both professional and student artists. A submission letter of intent is due by Friday March 7th, 2008 or sooner; a signed release form (prepared by you) that states: u am the mask-maker, and I hereby give Theatre Beyond Words the right to use photos of the mask(s) and mask-maker(s) in an auction catalogue, if applicable, and/or all promotional materials, and if I should wine the competition. The form should also include: Name, Address, City, Province, Postal Code, Phone/Mobile, Email, List of Materials Used, Mask Dimensions, Title of Mask, Artist Statement (optional), Photo, Bio or Note, Signature and Date.
For more information and to send submissions:
Theatre Beyond Words, 145 King Street, St Catharines, ON, L2R 3J2
Tel: 905-687-4896; Fax 905-687-4057; Email: info@theatrebeyondwords.com