Arts Scene

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Choral surprise

Art Garfunkel’s song “Woyaya” always meant a lot to Jane and Robin Bustin. The Berwick couple had it played at their wedding three decades ago.

When Robin, who is a well-known family physician, decided he’d like to surprise his wife with a choral version of the tune, he knew exactly where to go. He commissioned Edward Enman, who is accompanist for the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir.

A Steam Mill resident and a senior music student at Acadia University, Enman took the 1973 tune from Simon and Garfunkel’s album Angel Clare and arranged it in four parts for the honour choir. Last week, conductor Bill Perrot led the young singers as they delighted Jane, who is president of the parent organization.

The Bustins have had three of their children - Erin, Kyle and Claire - sing in the choir. Claire, the youngest, graduates this spring.

The occasion was the Valentine’s Day social the choir holds annually. The Kentville event raised funds for the choir’s trip to Europe this summer.

Mid-winter garden

Twelve artists who belong to the Alliance of Kings Artists will showcase their work for sale next week at the Women of Wolfville (WOW) production.

The artists include: printmakers Judith Leidl of Wolfville and Bob Hainstock of Glenmont; sculptors Nistal Prem de Boer and Beverly McClare of Grand-Pre; painters Jeanne Smith of West Brooklyn, Terry Drahos of Wolfville and Alex Porter of Kentville; watercolourist Twila Robar-DeCoste from Aylesford; along with Donna and Bill Underwood, Susan Geddes and Lara Martina.

Wolfville artist Gudrun Mueller-Both has organized the exhibition with a mid-winter garden in mind. She says the lobby at Festival Theatre is a terrific space to show off the talents of the local art community.

When art is purchased, a portion of the cost will be returned to the artist and a percentage will go toward the various WOW charities.

Opera presenting

The Magic Flute, by Mozart, will be performed twice next weekend at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville.

This opera features magic spirits, a bird catcher, his sweetheart, a prince, a princess, an evil queen, three mystical ladies and a heavenly priest.

Director Susan Dworkin says both children and adults will love this light-hearted fantasy of the triumph of good over evil.

Showtimes are Saturday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 24, matinee only at 2 p.m. Tickets for $20 for adults and children are $12. They’re available at Just-Us Cafe or Light and Shadow Video in Wolfville.

Grandmothers’ grant

A community learning networks in Kentville just received its fourth annual grant from the departments of Seniors and Education.

Kings County Grandparents International Storytelling Group is holding a 26-week program for 50 seniors that will include the Health Literacy manual and special guest speakers.

At Fundy Film

Fundy Film continues its Winter Edge Series with Emotional Arithmetic. In our troubled times of polarized politics and debilitating war, this extraordinary Canadian film asks how we will heal emotional wounds that linger after great upheaval. Emotional Arithmetic is about personal transformation and places extraordinary demands on its actors. Susan Sarandon, Christopher Plummer, Gabriel Byrne and Max von Sydow are more than equal to the task.

It will screen at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets ($8) are available 30 minutes prior to the film.

For further information, see www.fundyfilm.ca or call 542-5157.

Check it out

The annual Acadia Art show, in its 17th year, focuses on the arts in the community and is well worth taking in.

Acadia Art Gallery director Laurie Dalton says the call for submissions included paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, ceramic art, and sculpture. The diversity is exceptional.

The opening recently attracted a considerable crowd, but Dalton is hoping local residents will drop in and see what their friends and neighbours have created.

Gallery hours are: Tuesday to Sunday, 1-4 p.m. The exhibition continues until March 28.

Coming up

Feb. 21–23

Psst: Wanna Know a Secret? Women of Wolfville, Festival Theatre, Wolfville

Feb. 23-24

The Magic Flute, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville

Until March 20

Death of the Party, art exhibition @ Ross Creek Centre, near Canning

Until March 28

Acadia Art Show, Beveridge Arts Centre, Wolfville

(Please send arts items to: welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca)