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Arts News

Blues festival cancelled

It's a blue week for the blues. The inaugural Whistler Week of the Blues has been cancelled.

The weeklong festival was set for Monday, May 16 through Sunday, May 22 and was supposed to include 12 performers at a variety of locations in the Village, along with a week of music workshops.

Now it's all fallen apart.

"(There were) not enough dollars coming through the door," said organizer Scott Kittleson.

He chalks this year's cancellation up to rushed deadlines but tells Pique that he will "absolutely" try again next year. Some of the performers have already expressed interest to play at the 2012 festival.

Masquerave may return

It's still a maybe but one of Whistler's most popular parties is one step closer to returning.

The Masquerave Party was a staple of the Cornucopia wine and food festival held at the Bearfoot Bistro but was cancelled five years ago over liquor licensing issues.

Whistler council voted on May 3 to extend the hours of liquor sales until 4 a.m. and to send a letter of support to the provincial Liquor Control and Licensing Branch who will be reviewing Bearfoot Bistro's application for a special liquor license, which is essential to throwing Masquerave.

The restaurant's owner, Andre Saint-Jacques, declined to comment for this story, noting that council's support is just one of a series of steps needed to actually throw the party. In a letter of support from Tourism Whistler, president Barratt Fisher wrote: "The reintroduction of this charitable marquis event will prove to be an exciting, positive marketing asset to not only Cornucopia but to Whistler as a whole."

Tourism Whistler has signed a letter of support for the proposal, as well as several Whistler hotels.

Paper Show set for Millar Creek Café

Arne Gutmann, mastermind behind Poo Font, is also a fervent paper-maker. He's hand-made dozens of sheets, some out of natural fibre and some from post-consumer material, including old cigarette packs, credit cards, phone bills, socks and American money, "because Canadian money is worth too much," he says.

Gutmann invited 30 Whistler artists to use his paper as canvas and the results will be on display at Millar Creek Café starting this Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. Artists include Chili Thom, Dave "Pepe" Petko, Devon White, the Incredible Amoeba, Pique artist Jon Parris, Kate O'Connor and Mike Riccardi, whose piece is so graphic it will be on display for opening night only. Gutmann says all the mediums are well represented at the show, from graffiti to acrylic to Sharpie work. All the paintings will be for sale, ranging from $70 to $350.

"I hung it by eye. I didn't even measure one piece and it hung beautifully. It looks gorgeous," Gutmann says.

Take this from a man who's made a book of his own poo.

Bass Coast lineup finalized

The much-beloved four-day weekend of peace, love and dance is returning for a third year and the line up has been finalized.

This year's headliners are Dave Nada of Nadastrom, DJG, EPROM, Jacques Greene, Jon H of Fort Knox Five, Robot Koch, Salva, Mat the Alien, Prison Garde and Adham Shaikh. Over 70 more artists are set to perform over two stages that weekend, including fusion belly dancers Luciterra, Sweet Soul Burlesque and trippy child-performers-for-adults the Funginears.

Pre-sale tickets are $160 plus HST. Tickets at the door will be $170 plus HST.

Skis offer insight to culture

Frank Salter has an unbelievable amount of skis. Hundreds and hundreds of pairs. It's incredible and his collection is a fascinating archive of ski history and an example of how hoarding is not always debilitating.

Salter will be at the Whistler Museum on Wednesday, May 18, to discuss the development of ski culture using his vast collection.

Book sale needs donations

The Giant Used Book Sale is coming up fast and the Friends of the Library are now looking for donations of used books.

Collection boxes are located at Nesters Market, TD Canada Trust, and Whistler Public Library. Fiction and non-fiction, hard or soft-cover, adult or children's books as well as CDs and DVDs are all accepted. Books at the sale are sold by donation and all proceeds go towards Whistler Library needs.

The Friends have funded a variety of projects of the past several years, including the new laptop bar, other additional seating, the International movie series, Books for Babies and Youth Book Club. For large donations, or to volunteer at the sale, please contact Jane at 604-932-3665.

Star Search set for Squamish

Star Search will take place this Friday, May 13, at the Eagle Eye Community Theatre in Squamish.

Twenty pre-auditions participants from across the Sea to Sky will perform, and two winners will be announced, one in the youth category and one in the child category. Tickets are $12 at the door. All funds raised will go to the Access Music Education fund, which awards bursaries to local youth to pursue music education.

Star Search is produced by the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association to promote and encourage young local talent.