Tonight (Friday, Oct. 19), there is a special meet-and-greet of featured artists Will Millar and Deborah Czernecky at The Gallery at the Chemainus Theatre Festival.
You can meet the artists and discuss their displayed works before enjoying the play, Outside Mullingar, in the theatre itself.
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May Ling Kwok is back by popular demand to present The Golden Age of the Piano on Sunday, Oct. 21 at St. Michael’s Church in Chemainus, according to a note from Marion Priestley of Chemainus Classical Concerts.
This pianist extraordinaire will enchant her loyal audience with some of her favourite works from the early 1800s, a time when Chopin, Schumann, and others, were creating a new world of piano music in an intimate setting.
Tickets are $18 in advance, or $25 at the door. For places to buy in advance, check out www.chemainusclassicalconcerts.ca
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Two of my favourite people, Amy and Tafadzwa Matamba, have plans for Little Zimbabwe, their Cultural Arts & Education Centre on a seven acre farm on Cowichan Lake Road.
“The summer allowed us to host people, artists, educators, community groups, classes, concerts, tours, and other special opportunities on the farm and on our large outdoor deck. Now that winter is on the way, we can no longer continue all these great events and activities as we need a dry and warm space that is separate from the small house.
“We would like to renovate the garage into a large, heated room that will accommodate classes, events, and other cultural arts and education activities to our community and visitors. ZMS Farm has already begun working with neighbouring schools — they’re right beside Tansor Elementary, for instance — plus community groups, musicians and artists, to create a positive, educational, and inclusive environment.”
They’ve started a Gofundme campaign for this $15K to $20K job and are “beginning renovations as quickly as possible”.
Find them on Gofundme at https://www.gofundme.com/little-zimbabwe-farm-reno?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_content=cta_button&utm_campaign=upd_n
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Sue Coleman, whose luminous work graces many walls both in the Cowichan Valley and far beyond, is the featured artist at Imagine That! in Duncan until Oct. 26.
The genial painter has earned international recognition for her distinctive watercolour paintings, especially her “interpretive” Northwest Coast First Nations images, which have been reproduced and sold to collectors worldwide.
“Her years of research have culminated in a book entitled An Artist’s Vision. Many of her native interpretive paintings, accompanied by legends and history, are displayed therein,” says Katie Daniels of Imagine That!
Coleman maintains a studio with superb views of the Cowichan Bay estuary, painting a variety of subjects from misty west-coast scenes, wildlife, landscapes and more while actively working to promote environmental awareness and wildlife conservation.
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The energetic Ann Andersen is blowing the horn of the Trivia Challenge on Oct. 28.
It’s all about supporting early literacy, a cause that’s dear to my heart as well as hers, so, if you want a team trivia contest and spending a fun afternoon stretching your mind and memory, Literacy Now Cowichan has an event for you.
From 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28, teams of two to eight people will wrestle with skill-testing questions as they vie for their name on the Star Trophy in LNC’s Fourth Annual Fun-Filled Team Trivia Afternoon. (Excuse the capital letters. I’m still in a bombastic mode after last week’s Aida performance.)
Entry fee per person is $35.
“There’ll also be an opportunity to peruse toonie auction baskets filled with treats and surprise items, a chance to win a door prize bottle and enjoyment of yummy mid-afternoon refreshments. Come in costume (optional), and you could win the award for best costume,” says Andersen.
As well as helping young kids, LNC offers useful support for adults. Last year’s Team Trivia Challenge raised $2,100. Registration forms should be returned immediately.
Entry registration forms, contest rules and further information are available at: Literacy Now Cowichan, 250-597-1776, kathleenlitnowcow@gmail.com or barbdegroot@shaw.ca
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And, lest anyone think I’m pulling the wool over their eyes, there’s this: the annual Cowichan Valley Fleece and Fibre Festival is being held Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cobble Hill Hall.
You’ll find fibres of all kinds plus wool for those winter projects, weaving, fleeces, garments, and experts to talk to.
What you might not find is parking near the building, unless you get there early.
This event is really popular, especially since it’s found its home in Cobble Hill.
