By Wendy Elliott
Sound of Pop nominated
The Wolfville-based music business Sound of Pop was nominated last week for an ECMA Award for Company of the Year.
President Glenn McMullen said he was thrilled and honoured to receive a second nomination. The firm was also nominated last year.
The 2012 East Coast Music Awards will be held April 11 to 15 in Moncton.
Tours and Jaunts
The Tours and Jaunts of Dr. Fox will be on display until Feb. 16 at the Gallery Annex in the Acadia University Art Gallery.
This show is a text-based conceptual project by Dr. Barry Fox of the Department of English and Theatre. A single work, the piece comprises seven panels of words, images and arrows. In it Dr. Fox describes (using snapshots) his problems with reaching the Tate Modern Gallery in London when contradictory directions confuse him.
He makes meaning of his situation, said gallery curator Laurie Dalton, in light of Magritte and Saussure’s statements about signs. When he enters the gallery he sits and draws a horse. Damien Hirst dragging along a rotting shark sees it and has the curator hang it in a nearby frame, which overlooks a vast poster for the current Futurism exhibition. Suddenly Hirst leaves (to deal with paparazzi), and Fox is distracted by the relief his horse smelt less than Hirst’s shark.
A version of this exhibition was shown in 2010 at the Nova Scotia College and Art and Design’s Anna Leonowens Art Gallery in Halifax. The booklet derived from it is now in the Tate Galleries’ Artists’ Library.
At Designer Café
Woods and Water by artist Greg Dickie is on display at the Designer Café in Kentville until March 1.
Dickie has lived his art as a backwoods hiker, paddler and wilderness camper, turning each adventure into sketches and photographs to develop into art.
Years near and on the ocean have given him a unique perspective of life on fishing boats and sailing craft.
More of his work can be seen at Copper Fox Gallery at Halls Harbour or The Apple Bin Gallery at Valley Regional Hospital.
See cartoons
An international exhibit of editorial cartoons is making two stops in Kings County. The Freedom of Expression in Broad Strokes exhibit runs until Feb. 10 at the Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec Campus in Kentville and from Feb. 13 to 22 at the Acadia University Athletic Complex in Wolfville.
The travelling exhibit showcases work of editorial cartoonists from around the globe. The work is themed on freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The exhibit is open to the public, free of charge.
Special screening
The Annapolis Valley Regional School Board will be hosting a screening of the powerful and profound documentary film Prom Night in Mississippi. The screening will be followed by a discussion led by the film’s director Paul Saltzman on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. Admission is free to residents within the district.
Saltzman's visit is part of the board's Annapolis Valley Initiatives in Diversity Series, which features guest lectures and presentations on race relations, cross-cultural understanding, and human rights.
The MIPAC screening will begin at 7 p.m., with the lobby opening at 6:30 pm. There is no charge for this event. For more information, contact Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts Centre at 798-5841 or the board at 538-4735.
Boot Camp
Nova Scotia’s award-winning theatre company Two Planks and a Passion Theatre will be running a special Audition Boot Camp Weekend Feb. 17 to 19 at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts near Canning. This workshop led by professional instructors is designed to assist emerging artists who are either developing materials for theatre school auditions or preparing for professional audition opportunities in the theatre.
For more information on these workshops, visit www.artscentre.ca or call 582-3073.
Learn to write
The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) presents Great Beginnings, a creative writing workshop with Christy Ann Conlin, at the Union Street Café in Berwick.
Great Beginnings takes place on Monday evenings from 7 until 9 p.m., starting Feb. 20 and concluding March 19.
The cost is $120 for federation members and $140 for non-members. For additional information or to register, write programs@writers.ns.ca <mailto:programs@writers.ns.ca> or call 423-8116. For more information about the federation, including membership rates and benefits, visit www.writers.ns.ca <http://www.writers.ns.ca/> .
AC/DC Tribute Night
A Dirty Deeds Valentines will take place Feb. 10 at Dooley's in New Minas. This event features the band, Dirty Deeds, considered by some to be the No. 1 AC/DC tribute in North America. These guys rocked more than 10,000 folks at Apple Blossom and now, two years later, they are ready to bring back the rock to New Minas, but there won't be room for tens of thousands at this event.
Tickets are $12.50 if you buy two, or $15 each in advance, available at Everlasting Ink, Dooley's New Minas, Fanfare, Box of Delights, Mama Sofia's and Moe's Place. Tickets at the door will be $20 each with $5 off with a food bank donation.
Annual concert
The Acadia Performing Arts Series presents the annual Tom Regan Memorial Concert, Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Festival Theatre in Wolfville. The concert is named for a former dean of arts who was a great supporter of the Performing Arts Series. The concert showcases the wealth of talent at the Acadia School of Music through performances by School of Music students, faculty, alumni and friends.
The music will span the centuries from Mozart to Canadian composer Robert Lemay and will be performed by solos, duos, trios and ensembles.
Perennial favourites mezzo soprano Christianne Rushton, guitarist Eugene Cormier, pianists Ron Tomarelli, John Hansen and Jennifer King will display their professional skills, as will adjunct professors Tristan de Borba, Jack Chen and Eileen Walsh. Student musicians, professionals of tomorrow, will also perform as soloists and in various combinations.
The feature piece of the evening will be the Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra by Jorge Sarmientos. The marimbist will be Jeff Kingsbury, winner of the School of Music Concerto Competition, with the Acadia String Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Christoph Both.
Tickets are $26 ($20 for students) and are available at the Acadia Box Office 542-8425.
There Goes the Bride
CentreStage Theatre in Kentville is staging the comedy There Goes the Bride. The show is geared towards teens and adults.
The play runs each Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. until Feb. 11. To make reservations, phone 678-8040.
Weblink www.centrestagetheatre.ca.
See Jump
Inspired by John Hughes’ Brat Pack movies from the ‘80s, this original musical is set during one zany semester of high school when the girls from Fairview Academy are forced to attend the boy’s school -George Downing.
The show was written and directed by Kerri Leier, with choreography by Tracy Fritz Nasson, and musical arrangement by Melissa Viditio. Jump! features the iconic music of Heart, Bonnie Tyler, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and other ‘80s hits. Mounted five years ago to sold-out crowds, the show has gotten a facelift.
Jump! runs Feb. 8 to 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville. Tickets are children 16 and under $10,
adults $12, or $15 at the door for groups of four $45.
You can purchase tickets by calling 697-2515 or emailing jump_musical@hotmail.com.
At the Whittle
Fundy Film screens Café de Flore on Sunday: An unconventional dramatic love story in which two narratives are rhythmically intertwined: the relationships between Antoine, his girlfriend and ex-wife in present-day Montreal, and a devoted single mother and her young son with Down syndrome in Paris, 1969. Music plays a crucial role, weaving together powerful tales of emotion and destiny.
Sunday, Feb. 12: 4 and 7 p.m., Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville.
Tickets ($8) 30 minutes before screening
fundyfilm.ca <http://fundyfilm.ca/> <http://www.facebook.com/fundyfilm> or 542-5157.
Brandt in town
Country singer Paul Brandt will bring his tour to the Valley Tuesday, Feb. 14.
He’ll be appearing at Convocation Hall at 8 p.m., along with the band High Valley.
Tickets are available at the Acadia University box office.
Local band performs
The Chimney Swifts will be giving a concert Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville. It will start at 8 p.m.
Concert time
Andy Duinker and Donna Rhodenizer will be giving an adult concert Saturday, Feb. 18 at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville.
Doors will open at 7:15 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concert.
This duo is Juno nominees, ECMA winners and well-loved Valley performers. Their mix of music and stories, wit, charm and top-quality musicianship are just the right recipe for chasing away the winter blues. This performance will highlight songs from their adult recordings Fine Company and Musically Yours. Call 678-8040 to reserve ($20 per person).
A Dottie Singalong
A family comedy and sing-along for ages eight to 108 will be staged at CentreStage Theatre. Beth Irvine wrote the Kitty Cat production.
Join Dottie’s Travellin’ Sing-along at the Tortoiseshell Cat Café for a special performance of KittyCat: A Dottie Singalong. Now that Larry and Louise have ditched the show for warmer climates, what else could possibly go wrong? Come sing-along to your favourite cat songs while romance prowls backstage and Dottie and the cast wrangle this show into shape.
KittyCat stars Ashia Penney, Beth Irvine, Bob Cook, Bryen Stoddard, Cassidy Lohnes, Charlotte Embree, Kayla Penney, Ronald Edmunds, Ryan Lindh, and Cherie Zinck.
This show will run one weekend only, Feb. 24 to 26. Friday and Saturday show time is 7 p.m., followed by a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
All tickets are $5. Call 678-8040 to reserve seats.
Kittycat will be playing as a special performance in the upstairs theatre at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville.
Hear Tommy
Country and western legend Tommy Hunter will be in Wolfville Saturday, Feb. 25 for his final tour. He performs at Convocation Hall at 2 p.m.
At the galleries
- Until March 29 Valley Regional Hospital, Art Gallery featured artist is Beverly Smith
- Acadia Art Gallery’s non-juried art exhibition features the diverse work of gallery members and celebrates the visual creativity in the community.
The popular exhibition runs until Feb. 16.
- Jack’s Gallery in Wolfville is showing paintings
by Keshena Williams until mid-February.
- Jane Rovers’ work Layered landscapes is on display at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville until Feb. 11.
Send arts news to welliott@kingscountynews.ca
