Every year the Whistler Arts Council awards $500 to art students from each graduating class from every high school in Whistler, Pemberton and Mt. Currie, as well as $100 to a student from each elementary graduating class.
This year's Grade 12 winners are Devin White from Whistler Secondary School - whose work is currently on display at Millennium Place as part of ArtWalk's group art show - and Haley Joe from Xit'olacw Community School in Mt. Currie. No award was given to Pemberton Secondary School this year.
Grade 7 winners include Maggie Dejong from Spring Creek Elementary School, Graydon Powell from Signal Hill Elementary, Meghan Marof from Myrtle Philip and Zac Davis from Ecole la Passerelle.
Let's give a big round of applause for those who won and a big hug for those who didn't. If the art pours out of you like sunshine from the belly, it shouldn't matter whether you're picked or not. The validation for all artists, of course, is in the work created. Keep on trying though. You'll get there someday.
New WAC chair named
Whistler photographer Leanna Rathkelly has been named the new chair of the WAC. She formerly served as vice-chair and has been on the board from 2004-2008 and again from 2008 until now.
Joan Richoz remains past-chair and Fiona Famulak as secretary/treasurer.
A 25-year resident of Whistler, Rathkelly specializes in photography for tourism advertising, editorial and corporate clients, focusing largely on healthy living. This is all very good for Rathkelly. Big round of applause for her.
Lunaflix returns!
What's better than sitting in the grass and watching a film on a removable screen under the stars? Nothing. There is absolutely nothing better than this.
Which is why LUNA has returned for the ninth straight year with its popular Lunaflicks night, screening films that have not previously been shown in Whistler. The program will run every other Wednesday, starting July 6 with a screening of the Irish drama Ondine . It's a story about a fisherman who catches a dead woman in his trawler's net only to discover that, well, she ain't dead. No sir, she can't die, it would seem, because she's "a myth come true." Now that sounds like a pickle worth biting into, wouldn't you say?
The festivities begin at 8:30 p.m., with live music by local musicians and DJs including Miss Kosmik gracing the park this Wednesday with a fluid set while all the crowd digs into burgers and veggies at the Sunset BBQ - catered by the Rotary Club of Whistler Millennium - and maybe a little popcorn (for dessert?) at the Jiffy Pop station.
New to this year's Lunaflicks is PechaKucha mini, a mix of show-and-tell and open mix, where participants get 20 images at 20 seconds each to present an argument or tell a story.
Entry to this alcohol-free shindig costs $7. Bring a blanket and warm clothes because, heaven knows, this is one sorry excuse for a summer. If it rains, the night is cancelled.
Araxi now caters very long tables
Starting this Saturday, Araxi will host a series of outdoor dining experiences in Pemberton called "araxi longtable @ north arm farm." We're not sure why the event name is all in lowercase but we like the idea of sitting at a very long table in a farm with Mount Currie looming all majestic-like over the party.
Following the first dinner, Araxi will host three more on Saturday July 30, Saturday August 27 and Sunday September 11.
With their $160 person dinner fee, diners will enjoy a four-course meal made from dozens of ingredients "grown just footsteps from Chef James Walt's outdoor kitchen," including the fresh produce, beef from the farm's pastures and day-boat catches from the coastal fisheries. And, of course, there will be wine.
Return "executive" transportation is available from Whistler Village for $35 per person, including tax.
