The Newsletter of the Arts Council Of Northumberland

he Arts Council of Northumberland encourages creativity and raises the visibility of the artist and the arts community through advocacy, communications and leadership.

Website: http://www.northumberlandarts.ca/

This newsletter covers theatre, music, lectures, films, workshops and exhibitions.

A long-range calendar of events is available HERE.

A listing of member artists is available HERE

Arts and cultural organizations wishing to place events on the long-range calendar please notify Oliver Steins at soliver@cogeco.net  

ACN Member Artist Of The Week

Jill Battson – Jill Battson is an internationally published poet and poetry activist who is currently the Poet Laureate of Cobourg, Ontario. She was responsible for creating and running the successful poetry reading series The Poets’ Refuge and has initiated and produced many poetry events including The Poetry Express – a BYOV at Toronto’s Fringe Festival; Liminal Sisters – a language poetry event; The Festival of the Spoken Word – a five day spoken word festival; Fightin’ Words – poets in a boxing ring; The Poetburo Slams and the hyper- successful Word Up – a series of interstitial poetry spots airing on MuchMusic and Bravo! which spawned a CD with Virgin Records and an anthology with Key Porter. She was the poetry editor for Insomniac Press from 1999 to 2001.

Please see the notice about DARK STAR below

From The Arts Council

What is our founding member Aengus Finnan up to? Find out HERE

The ACN website now has a map of cultural attractions – galleries, theatres, museums - in Northumberland. It is a work in progress with the possibility of including studios, arts supplies stores and other ancillary businesses. Check it out HERE

Exposure! Exposure! Exposure!  Want Lots of Visitors on your webpage?

1,200 to 1,400 different people visit the ACN website each month.

  For more info on membership, click HERE

Arts Headlines

Rik Emmett at Cobourg Park Playhouse

One of Canada's most successful musicians is coming to Cobourg. Rik Emmett, who achieved stardom as a member of the band Triumph in...

Harwood's Nikki Sage launches singing career

Painting to raise money for local Habitat For Humanity

Port Hope's 'summery things' festival returns

The Arts Northumberland Blog:

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What’s On – This Weekend And The Coming Week

Dark Star Requiem - Premieres June 11 & June 12 at 8:00 pm at The Royal Conservatory, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Koerner Hall, Toronto, TICKETS: $30-50, 416-872-1111 / 1-866-577-4277 ticketmaster.ca
416-408-0208 Royal Conservatory of Music. A devastating global pandemic. A full-scale dramatic oratorio. In this unusual marriage of content and form, poet Jill Battson and composer Andrew Staniland trace the twenty-five-year history of AIDS from its origins to the present day.

Westben presents The Selfish Giant - A new musical by Brian Finley & Ken Tizzard based on the short story by Oscar Wilde, June 11 & 18 at 7:30 pm: June 12, 13, 19 & 20 at 2 pm, Westben, Campbellford

Westben presents a world premiere musical starring Robert Longo as the Selfish Giant along with Gabrielle Prata as Virginia Snow and Donna Bennett as Linette along with the fifty voices of the Westben Youth Chorus & Friends.

Growing out of several months of discussion and debate, this musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s provocative short story “The Selfish Giant” remains both true to the original while standing alone as a modern work. Brian Finley and Ken Tizzard have masterfully recreated the power and magic of Wilde’s ‘words on paper’ into rich musical themes. Equally relevant to both children and adults, this full length, fully staged theatre piece has a colourful musical score which ranges from infectiously sunny to hauntingly beautiful. It finds an amazing musical meeting place between the worlds of music theatre and opera.

Words and Music 2010 - presented and performed by Brad Halls and His Guest Vocalists.  Friday, June 11 and Saturday June 12,  at Victoria Hall, Cobourg. Halls his guest vocalists Eileen March and Catherine Ford present “The Songs of the Beatles”.

Rik Emmett, Saturday, June 19th, Tickets: $36.75’ 8;00 PM at the Park Playhouse, Cobourg. Rik Emmett has his fair share of gold and platinum hanging on the wall after surviving three decades in the music biz. Awards from Best Guitarist at the ‘81 Junos to Best Smooth Jazz Guitarist in 2005, along with induction into the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame in ‘93, the Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Junos Hall of Fame in 2008 highlight an ever-evolving career. The multi-dimensional singer/songwriter at the heart of it has nothing to prove except the dignity and maturity of his continuing commitment to great music.

Moksha Belly Dance, “The Women of Menace” Saturday, June 12^th, 8.00 PM at the Capitol Theatre. An evening of swirling veils, exotic music, dazzling costumes, ancient dance and the occasional weapon. Be prepared to be mesmerized by the empowered allure, seductive confidence, divine artistry and elegant grace of these local goddesses. To view a video please visit www.youtube.com and search Moksha bellydance.

UK Choir to Sing in Port Hope Monday, June 14 at 7:30pm the 21-member Choir of St Chad’s College, Durham University, England, will perform a varied programme of choral music in Historic St Mark’s Anglican Church, 51 King St., Port Hope.

The Choir is on tour throughout Ontario - their second visit to Canada, and third to North America.  The singers are young women and men attending the University of Durham, which was established in the north of England in 1832.  The Choir sings weekly in their College Chapel, founded in 1904. A generous donation from a local music lover will help to cover the cost of the Choir’s travel to Port Hope. Tickets are available at the door ($10 per adult - students free) - for more information please contact Randy Mills through the Church Office.

Film Monday Musical Matinees at the Cobourg Public Library at 2:00 pm – schedule HERE

Classic Movie Matinees at the Port Hope Public Library, Tuesdays 2:00 pm. – schedule HERE

Annual General Meeting of Friends of Music will be held on Tuesday, June 15 at the Port Hope Public Library on Queen Street, Port Hope beginning at 7 PM. All members of Friends of Music, as well as the public, are invited to attend this meeting.

Tuesday Movies at 8:00 pm at the Capitol, Port Hope -  tba

Port Hope Festival Theatre presents Jukebox Jive on stage June 17th - July 10th at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope. Featuring the great songs and dances of the 50s and 60s, this lively musical review is set in a 'Classic Diner" from that era.  Complete with a vintage jukebox, this professional production will whisk you back to those fun-filled years of poodle skirts, bobby socks and saddle shoes! 

A talented cast of eight will woo you with over 30 of the greatest hits of the Boomer Generation including:  You're Sixteen, Leader of the Pack, Calendar Girl, Rubber Ball and Bobby's Girl to name only a few.  Starring:  John Edwards, Danielle Getz, Kayla James, Andrew Hodwitz, Kelly Holiff, Jody Osmond, Scott Pietrangelo and Jeff Schissler. If you loved Rock n' Roll Drive-In last summer....you don't want to miss Jukebox Jive!!! Tickets and showtimes available on capitoltheatre.com or through the box office at 905.885.1071 or 1.800.434.5092

Thursday Movies at 8:00 pm at the Capitol, Port Hope tba

What’s Coming – At The Lectures, Readings, Book Launches and Awards

tba

What’s Coming? - At The Theatre And Dance

The Capitol Theatre summer programme HERE

The Brighton Barn Theatre summer programme HERE

The Stirling Festival  Theatre summer programme HERE

The Fourth Line Theatre summer programme HERE

What’s Coming? - At The Concerts and Opera

The Westben Festival summer programme HERE

There is a new Opera Guild in your neighbourhood! Starting in September 2010, the Northumberland Opera Guild will run a full program of monthly lectures, focussing on the upcoming 2010-2011 season of the Canadian Opera Company, and will organize bus trips to the Sunday afternoon performances at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto. Annual Membership Fees are $25 for a single and $35 for a family. To join, please send your name, address, phone number, e-mail address (if available) and a cheque payable to The Northumberland Opera Guild to: Val Mancktelow, Treasurer, 208 Walton Street, Port Hope, Ontario, L1A 1N9. For more information, please contact Thaïs Donald, President at (905) 885-7483 or northumberlandoperaguild@gmail.com

MuchMusic's SodaPOP Tour, Thursday, June 24th, 7:00 PM, Tickets: $37.15 plus GST at the Park Playhouse, Cobourg.  MuchMusic’s SodaPOP Tour featuring: Emily Osment, Danny Fernandes, The New Cities, Jesse Labelle, Alyssa Reid, Wow
MuchMusic’s SodaPOP music festival hits the road for their first annual nationwide tour, kicking off June 5th in Vancouver BC.  The tour brings some of today’s hottest international and domestic pop artists to 16 Canadian cities from Vancouver to Halifax. Headlining this year’s festival is Hannah Montana’s Emily Osment supported by Toronto born Singer/Songwriter Jesse Labelle, R&B sensation Danny Fernandes, dance-rock outfit The New Cities and introducing pop phenom Alyssa Reid.  

A Benefit Concert and Strawberry Social in support of the GREEN WOOD COALITION Featuring Catherine MacLellan and Guest Artists. Friday, June 25th at 7:30pm at St. John's Anglican Church, Pine Street, Port Hope. Tickets: $20 Available at Ganaraska Art & Framing 105 Walton Street, Port Hope

Tribute2McGraw, Saturday June 26th, Tickets: $31.50 (taxes included), 8:00PM, the Park Playhouse, Cobourg. Presenting a powerful show that thrills and captivates audiences everywhere. This Tim McGraw tribute accurately recreates the music and mystique of country music ICON Tim McGraw.  The timeless sound of Tim McGraw proves appealing to audiences of all ages, bringing back memories and touching the hearts of all. This talented group of musicians showcase Tim McGraws' mega-hits from the 90's such as "Dont Take The Girl","I Like It I Love It" and"Everywhere" as well as new releases from the year 2000 to his current radio hits of today!

http://www.tribute2mcgraw.com/ 

The Magic Flute, July 2, 3, 4 at 2:00 PM, Westben Concerts At The Barn. is a fully staged production with orchestra. The UBC Opera Ensemble are stopping at Westben for three performances while on route to Europe. Milt Jewell is busy with set design, Ron Vogan is preparing the surtitles and lighting design while Jim MacDonald is getting The Barn in tip top shape. Westben welcomes recent Juno Award winner Adrianne Pieczonka, as well as mezzo soprano Laura Tucker and Host Iain Scott to Saturday Night at The Opera, July 24 at 7:30 pm. This concert will be sold out so don't wait to reserve your seats.

Neil Young Tribute, Sunday, July 18^th, 8:00 PM, at the Park Playhouse, Cobourg, Featuring: Francois Choquette, Heather Luckhart’ Trish Robb, PHLO’ Mike Kelly. Please join us for an evening concert with twelve incredible musicians as they celebrate & perform the Music of Neil Young!

What’s Coming – Workshops and Auditions

Northumberland Players Need Your Help To Recruit People To Come To Our First Annual Golf Tournament At The Shelter Valley Pines Golf On Saturday June 26 At 8.A.M. We Are Trying To Raise Funds To Complete The Renovations On The Firehall If You Don’t Golf Join Us For Lunch Only $18.00 9 Holes Of Golf And Lunch $50. Please Register With Mary Lou  Secord At 905-372-6292

Fabrics and textiles often have unique histories and hold special meaning. People treasure fabric from mothers, grandmothers, childhood, special places and events. Local professional artist and educator Alice Vander Vennen is now providing textile art workshops for anyone interested in stitching these and similar materials together into evocative art pieces.

The three workshops Alice is offering are:

“Working with Memory: Creating with Memorabilia”, Friday, June 18, 3-7:30 pm; Saturday, June 19, 10 am-5 pm.

“Journey in Colour: The Visual Story”, Friday, July 23, 3-7:30 pm; Saturday, July 24, 10 am-5 pm.

“Incorporating Nature: Branching Out”, Friday, September 10, 3-7:30 pm; Saturday, Sept. 11, 10-5 pm.

For more information, contact Alice at alice@alicevandervennen.ca, or 905-372-9319. Registration can be completed via her website, www.alicevandervennen.ca.

New Instructors at the Painted Tree, Cobourg - Beth Hoselton and Avril Bull have joined the line up of instructors at The Painted Tree Art Supplies. Beth will be teaching an Introduction to Watercolour course and Avril will be teaching an Introductory drawing course. Summer Kid's Schedule Now Available. Sundays-Buy 2 get 1 free Stretched Canvas!! We are open 1-4:00.

Artworth began uniting children with local professional artists and artisans in Warkworth in 2005.  This year’s camp runs from July 5^th through July16th and is a journey from the self expression of creating art, to the expansion of that expression in creating a performance. The Funtastic Arts camp will include Mask Building; Clowning, Dance, Felting, Pottery; Painting; Tie Dyeing; Baking and Creative Games. Further details about the 2010 program can be found on Artworth’s website: www.artworth.ca .

Cindy Taylor is offering a series of photography workshops through the Fleming College campus in Cobourg.

Please visit the website HERE for information on the courses.

Choral Legacy is a women's choir that sings music in three or four part harmony. Our musical selections encompass a wide variety of styles, including jazz standards, show tunes, and popular music. The chorus rehearses on Monday nights under the direction of Shasta Morey, at Baltimore United Church starting at 7:15 pm.

We are always looking for women who enjoy the fun and friendship that come from singing together. If you are interested in joining our choir, please call Ann Knott 885-6534 or Shasta Morey 349-2188.

This from ACN member Chrissy Poutras:I am the owner of Spark Box Studio, a new artist studio and residency program in Picton, Ontario. We have recently launched an Emerging Artist Residency Award which gives young emerging artists the chance to participate in an artist residency free of charge for up to one week. Along with this opportunity we have also started building a resource site for emerging artists called the Emerging Artist Guide. This guide can be viewed by going to www.emergingartistguide.wordpress.com.. Website: www.sparkboxstudio.com.

The Painted Tree, Cobourg has announced spring classes. Visit the Website HERE. Also a series of kids’ workshops is in the planning stage.

Northumberland Hooks and Needles Guild which meets the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at Regency Manor Nursing Home, 66 Dorset St. E., Port Hope at 7:00 p.m. Contact Yvonne O’Neill 905-885-4872. The 1st Thursday of each month is “Knitter-Knatter” (knitting news, designer of the month, show and tell).

The 3rd Thursday of the month is a workshop:; May 20 – Shawls; Jun 17 – Knitting Challenge Finale.

What’s On And Coming – At The Shows, Exhibitions and Tours

One of the art shows of the year is the ever-popular Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition in Nathan Phillips Square, now in its 49th year, and the largest outdoor art show in Canada. Each year a team of well-qualified jurors selects artists and artisans from the many entries they receive from across the country. This year several Arts Council members are in the show, which runs from July 9th to 11th, including Graeme Coxon, Cori Lee Marvin, Pat Stanley and Alice Vander Vennen. Check here http://www.torontooutdoorart.org/ for more information about this free show.

The Colborne Art Gallery - Open Fields and Gardens, a show by guest artist Susan Fisher. “Where ever I wander or travel, fields and gardens provoke many layers of sensations: the sensation of rhythms and musical sounds; the sense of touch and of movement; of course the sensation of colour – brilliantly stunning or quietly muted. Reaching into the scenes – I extract fragments and weave them together into my interpretation of Nature’s oeuvre. Encaustic allows the composition a dynamic wherein the elements can move visually as they would in reality as we experience it.”

Open Fields and Gardens opens June 19, 2010 with an opening reception from 2-4 pm, and runs until August 8, 2010.  Please join us to enjoy Susan’s work, along with a selection of other new works, by the members of the Colborne Art Gallery.

At the AGN, Main Gallery, Victoria Hall, Cobourg 17th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition - May 13, 2010 – June 25, 2010. One of our most popular exhibitions of the year features art work from the secondary schools in Northumberland County and Bowmanville (formerly in the Northumberland Board of Education) The schools include; East Northumberland, St. Mary’s, CDCI East, CDCI West, Port Hope, Trinity, Courtice, Clarington and Bowmanville High Schools.This is a wonderful opportunity to see the young artists of this community and what they are thinking about and what they are concerned about in the world around them.

The Colborne Art Gallery - Edges, a show by Gallery member Avril Bull until  June  13^th. Bull finds edges are something to run along, bump into, climb on to, hang on or fall off. This show is an exploration in paintings and original prints that encompasses many edges. Those on the edge in school, society and our environment. These edges can be happy , challenging or sad places. Life is edgy.

From The Cobourg Art Club - See paintings by local artists at The Mill restaurant and pub, Cobourg, a continuing show with lots of variety. Also, a continuing and current display at the Dalewood Golf and Curling Club on Dale Rd, Cobourg. Everyone welcome,  for more info call Maureen 372-7214

Kingsley’s Korner returns to Mrs B’s Prince Edward St Brighton. Brighton Arts Council presents for the winter at Kingsleys Korner warmest wishes with art displays by their members. Drop by and view the craftsmanship in wood by Darryl Stutt along with his matted photos of winter scenes, wood carvings of winter birds by Clyde Harvie, country scenes in Oils by Anita Gutteridge, Presqu’ile photos by David Lawler and the internationally famous teddy bears by Trish Pilon. Some items are for sale.

Spirit of the Hills ‘Mpumalanga Memories’ and features photographs taken by Jane Osmond during two mission trips to Mpumalanga Province in South Africa in 2008 and 2009. at the 100 Mile Diner, Warkworth.

Osmond’ photography demonstrates a broad palette of imagery: startling beauty, inexplicable joy, and overwhelming contrasts.  She saw startling beauty in the African people, especially the children, as well as in the wild animals in their natural habitat. Inexplicable joy burst forth in spontaneous a cappella singing and dancing even while these young people struggled to overcome adversity. There were overwhelming contrasts in the rich and the poor, in modern shopping malls and country markets, and in the beauty of the land. This African experience brought tears and laughter, sorrow and joy. Until February 28^th..

HEART OF NORTHUMBERLAND 10th ANNIVERSARY GARDEN TOUR
Great gardens of the Ganaraska! Visit eight delightful and extensive garden retreats set in the Ganaraska watershed and the rolling Northumberland hills. Sunday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call toll free: 1-888-278-2484 or visit our URL www://heartofnorthumberland.ca  All proceeds in aid of Northumberland Big Sisters Big Brothers.

Horizons of Friendship’s 13^th Annual Homes, Gardens and Music Tour

Sunday, July 11^th, 1:00-5:30 p.m. Spend an elegant mid-summer afternoon enjoying live music and light refreshments as you tour homes and gardens in Cobourg and area. Proceeds go to Horizons of Friendship to support self-help projects that provide a viable alternative to poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico. www.horizons.ca Call 905 372-5483 or 1-888-729-9928 for tickets. $30 ($22 tax receipt)

The Friends of Bon Echo Park invite all nature artists to the Bon Echo  Art Exhibition & Sale at Bon Echo Provincial Park, Hwy.41, Cloyne, ON.  The theme of this juried exhibition of original art is about Canadian Nature, Wildlife, or Countryside, and will take place on July 23, 24, 25, 2010.  deadline for applications: March 1, 2010. For Applications & Information:  Derek Maggs, Executive Director, Friends of Bon Echo Park, 16151 Hwy. 41, RR#1, Cloyne , ON, K0H 1K0.Phone:  613-336-0830

Email: fobecho@mazinaw.on.ca       Website: www.mazinaw.on.ca/art

ACN member Trish Pilon invites you to peruse the Teddy Bear Review Digital magazine. HERE Be sure to pause at pages 26 & 54 for some video action. (You can't get THAT in the print edition!!)

Susan MacDonald, textile artist. Her work is on display and for sale at the AGN gift shop at the Upstairs Gallery, Port Hope. .  

What’s Coming? – At The Movies

Movies at 8:00 pm at the Capitol, Port Hope 

What’s On – At The Competitions

"Make it Indie" VENDOR CALL. All creators and purveyors of Fine Craft and Decorative Art are invited to submit work for the inaugural Christmas Fine Craft and Decorative Art Show and Sale, 2010. Please see our website @ www.//makeitindie.blogspot.com for more details and vendor information and forms or call Sally @905-377-0740.Submissions accepted until June 1^st

4th Line Theatre is accepting submissions for its 2010 New Play Competition.

The entry level for new projects is referred to as ‘seeding.’ Playwrights who have had at least one full-length work for the stage professionally produced are invited to submit story ideas, draft treatments or draft scenes of a proposed play project for seed funding. At a later date successful projects may be eligible for commissioning.  Submissions should reflect 4th Line Theatre’s mandate and mission: to preserve and promote our Canadian cultural heritage through the development and presentation of regionally-based, environmentally staged, historical dramas and to develop and present original Canadian works of the highest quality which explore regional themes, history and heritage. The closing date for submissions is April 23, 2010.

Arts Blogs We Like

Jill Battson’s Poet Bureau

‘View On Canadian Art’ Your Cultural Concierge! VoCA offers critical commentary on the Canadian art scene, with a focus on Toronto. Featuring exhibition previews, critics’ picks, interviews and in-depth articles on art in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax.

Art Daily – The first art newspaper on the net!

This newsletter is edited by Walter Luedtke.

Please send any notices or comments to wluedtke@cogeco.ca.