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Local art on charity skis

Youth Ballet offers its take on a fairy tale
arts_arts1
ski art Whistler artist Vanessa Stark shows the painting that will become a topsheet for charity. Photo submitted

Local art on charity skis

Whistler artist Vanessa Stark will have her work emblazoned on 40 sets of skis as part of a new fundraiser for the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.

The foundation chose Stark and local ski/snowboard maker Prior to craft the limited edition series as a way to raise cash for the charity while offering a uniquely Whistler product. "We really like her art," says David Steers from the foundation. "We wanted this to be a Whistler project. We wanted a Whistler manufacturer and Whistler artist. It's about as local as you can get."

The skis will be available to purchase at Can-Ski starting Dec. 15 for $899.99 with $50 from each sale going to the foundation. On Jan. 26, the original pair will be auctioned off at the Roundhouse as part of the Telus Winter Classic.

"The design is Peak to Creek, that's what I called the painting," says Stark, who was also one of the recent winners of Prior's topsheet competition. "It's from the top of the mountain to the valley. It's snowy and looking prime for shredding."

Squamish Youth Ballet performs
Sleeping Beauty

You were expecting a production of The Nutcracker this time of year, weren't you?

The Squamish Youth Ballet has performed the classic for the last two years, starting in 2010 after Shalimar Blanchard, director of Howe Sound Dance Academy formed the group. This year, though, the young dancers are offering their take on the fairytale Sleeping Beauty, running Dec. 7 and 8th at the Eagle Eye Theatre.

"(The dancers) wanted something different, so we thought we'd do Sleeping Beauty," says Ofelia Blanchard, administrator with the group. "There's a lot of things for kids in there as well. In the final act some of the guests are well-known children's fairy tale characters."

Catch the opening night performance Friday at 7:30 p.m. or the Saturday shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the Eagle Eye Theater on Dec. 6, between 5 and 8 p.m. or before the shows.

Backyard Booty party

Celebrating local talent, Coast Mountain Culture magazine is hosting a party Dec. 7 at Millennium Place featuring film, photos and spoken word by everyone from photographer Mark Gribbon to local film producers Sherpas Cinema. The variety show will be hosted by writer Mitchell Scott. Tickets are $20 and available at artswhistler.com.

Electronic dance music doc screening

Whether you're baffled by or enamoured with electronic dance music this free documentary, screening at the Savage Beagle Dec. 9, promises to shed some light on the music and culture behind it.

Electronic Awakening features interviews with artists like The Crystal Method and Jason Knight, along with experts on the genre and scenes from festivals around the world to deconstruct the music and examine its spiritual elements. Doors for the event open at 8 p.m. with a post-screening KosmiK Jam party hosted by DJ Miss KosmiK.

Audain museum update

Members of the Audain Art Museum board, along with Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, met with members of the public Tuesday to share the progressing plans for the museum, which will house work from collector Michael Audain's personal collection.

With Patkau Architects already planning their design (images of which should be ready in the New Year, according to board member Jim Moodie) Audain is hoping to break ground in May 2013. The goal: to have the museum — filled with work by First Nations and contemporary B.C. artists — opened by late 2013 or early 2014. The board also made a presentation to council later that night. Council plans to sign a memorandum of understanding Dec. 18.