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LUNA planning a drive-in double feature

Whistler's Late and Unique Nighttime Alternatives (LUNA) plans on taking people back to the '60s and the '80s with their upcoming drive-in movie screening.

Whistler's Late and Unique Nighttime Alternatives (LUNA) plans on taking people back to the '60s and the '80s with their upcoming drive-in movie screening.

While they wrapped up their season of summertime film screenings at Lost Lake in early August, organizers are getting ready to host a special double feature at Blackcomb's Base II on Friday, Sept. 3, taking the crowd back to the '60s and '80s, respectively, with Taking Woodstock and Heathers.

At 8:30 p.m., they push "play" on Taking Woodstock, a comedy/drama from the Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) inspired by the true story of Elliot Tiber, a down-on-his-luck interior designer who moves upstate from Greenwich Village to help his parents run their dilapidated Catskills motel. It's 1969, the bank is about to foreclose and Elliot is still figuring how to come out to his parents. So, when Elliot hears that a neighbouring town has pulled the permit on a hippie music festival, he calls the producers, thinking he could drum up some much needed business for the motel. Three weeks later, half a million people are on their way to his neighbour's farm and Elliot finds himself swept up in the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival.

At 10:45 p.m., to get in back-to-school mode, they're screening Heathers, the film that made Winona Ryder and Christian Slater household names and went on to become one of the biggest cult classics of the '80s.

Gates open at 7:30 p.m., with BBQ and popcorn available. Entry is $20 per car, $7 per pedestrian and $5 per LUNA or Club Shred member. More film and event details are available at www.lunawhistler.com. The screening will be cancelled in the event of rain.

 

WAC extends support to shutterbugs

Anyone who has lived in Whistler for even a short length of time has probably noticed there is no shortage of talented photographers who call the Sea to Sky corridor home. Just check out the walls of your favourite coffee shop, or visit one of the many photography competitions and slideshows that are hosted throughout the year. You'll see that there are plenty of people who have a knack for capturing the natural beauty of the region, and the talent that dwells within.

To help encourage artists' photographic pursuits, the Whistler Arts Council (WAC) has introduced a $1,000 Photographers' Workshop Bursary, a new award designed to help a Sea to Sky photographer participate in a multi-day photographic workshop anywhere in North America. They are hoping that the selected photographer will then further the artistic achievement of photographers in the area by sharing the information they have learned in the form of a descriptive exhibition, seminar or community workshop.

Applicants must be permanent residents of Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton or Mt. Currie, at least 16 years of age, and a professional or serious amateur photographer. Eligible educational experiences must include a structured workshop or class that has a specified length of time, a series of classes at a recognized institution, or travel workshops for a specified length of time, and all workshops must be led by a recognized instructor or master photographer.

Application packages must be submitted by Thursday, Sept. 30. For more details on portfolio requirements, contact WAC at 604-935-8410.

 

Want to show your work?

Well, WAC has just the space for you! They're looking for talented local artists to showcase their work in the Scotia Creek Gallery space, located in Millennium Place, during the month of November.

They are currently accepting proposals in every medium and genre, including portraiture, landscapes, photography, illustration, design, urban art, sculpture and installation-based projects. Students, emerging and professional artists and anyone in-between is welcome to submit their work for consideration, and they are even open to hosting group shows.

Anyone interested in exhibiting their work should send their idea for a show, along with a few photos, if you'd like, to amueller@artswhistler.com.

Chief Ian Campbell sharing stories

Anyone in the mood for a little local lore should head to the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre this Thursday (Aug. 26). There, Squamish Nation Chief Ian Campbell will share one of the many legends and myths of the Squamish Nation an in all-ages storytelling session, which starts at 1 p.m.

The storytelling session is free with general admission to the SLCC, so while you're there, make sure you take in all of the exhibits on offer. Side note: the SLCC offers a B.C. resident annual membership, which means you pay admission once, and can access the centre for the rest of the year, plus, you get 10 per cent off in the gift shop and café, and guest access for 50 per cent off.

Awarding artistic excellence

The artistic and business community united last year to create the Artist Award of Excellence. Now the partnering organizations, WAC and La Bocca Restaurant, are on the lookout for a new Sea to Sky artist to recognize with the second annual award.

The award is based on a concept that arose from the Whistler2020 Arts, Culture & Heritage Task Force, to create a program where WAC and the community can identify and celebrate artists in the corridor for their achievements.

"We saw a great selection of strong submissions for the inaugural Artist Award of Excellence," Doti Niedermayer, executive director of the Whistler Arts Council, said in a recent release. "The talent and professionalism shown by these artists affirmed the fact that the corridor is an inspirational home for a thriving arts community."

The award recognizes artists in a range of disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and mixed media. Eligible applicants must be at least 16 years of age and permanent residents of Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton or Mt. Currie.

Applicants may submit to the Emerging Visual Artists Award or the Professional Visual Artists Award categories, with the recipient of each award receiving $1,000 and a gallery exhibition at Maurice Young Millennium Place in Whistler. In 2009, the inaugural year of the competition, Alison Hodson received the Professional Visual Artists Award of Excellence and Angela Teng received the Emerging Visual Artists Award of Excellence. The deadline for application is Monday, Oct. 25, 2010. For full guidelines and application forms, visit www.artswhistler.com and check the "Calls for Entry" section.

 

Bosa donates $6 million to Cap U

Over 20 years ago, Nat Bosa, a prominent member of B.C.'s construction industry, stepped up to get the ball rolling on the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and Blackcomb Ski Club cabins, donating seed money for the projects and issuing a challenge to both clubs and other builders to pitch in and raise the rest of the funds.

Now, Bosa has stepped up again, making a $6 million donation to support the Centre for Film and Animation at Capilano University, which is scheduled to open in 2011. It's the largest private donation in the history of the school, and will enable the university to fully equip phase one of the centre and begin phase two, which is the dedicated animation wing.

"We are extremely grateful to Nat and Flora Bosa for their generous donation that will benefit our students and instructors in the learning and teaching process," Capilano University president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Greg Lee, said in a recent release. "Our vision through the centre is to create a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial filmmakers who will become part of the foundation of a broader, more sustainable base of domestic and international film production."

Bosa immigrated to Vancouver from Italy at the age of 13, and gained an international reputation as a development industry leader over the years. He is responsible for a number of commercial and hotel projects in Whistler and is also well known for his philanthropic projects, from a downtown San Diego school serving the homeless and at risk children to generous and ongoing support of the arts.

"I am very committed to supporting education," Bosa said in a recent release. "It is my belief that we have all the talent in the world here, and that if we nurture that talent with the proper training and technology, students will flourish."

Capilano University serves the communities of the Lower Mainland, Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast through campuses in North Vancouver, Squamish and Sechelt.

 

B.C. Museum of Mining Rebrands

Residents of Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish pass by the B.C. Museum of Mining every time they venture down to the city. Passersby have probably noticed that the prominent historical destination is in the midst of some major changes - a $14.7 million three-phase redevelopment project, to be more precise - and soon, there will be some new signage posted along Highway 99, as the museum has recently been renamed the Britannia Mine Museum.

Along with the new name, the museum has launched a new logo and "visual identity" before the completion of their comprehensive redevelopment project in September, which aims to transform the mining legacy site into a vibrant, internationally recognized destination.

"As we head into a new frontier with our newly transformed museum and tourist destination, it is only fitting that we launch with a new name that brings us back to the importance Britannia Mines has played in this storied community," Kirstin Clausen, executive director of the new Britannia Mine Museum, said in a recent release.

"We want to change people's attitudes as they travel along the Sea to Sky Highway that we are now an attraction that will make an unforgettable experience for all ages." n

There's an app for that...

Listen up, all iPhone, iPad and iTouch users: organizers of the upcoming LIVE at Squamish music festival have just released a new application designed to elevate the concertgoer's experience. The handy application features a festival site map, a schedule of performances, bios and additional info on all the artists performing, a photo gallery and more.

The application is free to download; just look up "Live at Squamish" in the app store.

There's an app for that...

Listen up, all iPhone, iPad and iTouch users: organizers of the upcoming LIVE at Squamish music festival have just released a new application designed to elevate the concertgoer's experience. The handy application features a festival site map, a schedule of performances, bios and additional info on all the artists performing, a photo gallery and more.

The application is free to download; just look up "Live at Squamish" in the app store.