Well, the avalanche risk may still be high, but those looking for a sneak peek of the backcountry will get just that with this year's annual Out of Bounds: Tales From the Backcountry exhibition.
The month-long photographic exhibit, which runs throughout February at MY Millennium Place, kicks off with a spectacular launch party on Friday, Jan. 30 from 7 until 9:30 p.m.
The fifth annual competition is a joint initiative between the Whistler Arts Council and Coast Range Heliskiing. This year, the event yielded an impressive roster of 18 photographers who have all been selected to participate in the exhibition. Among them are Cam Unger, Rich Glass, Todd Hellinga, and Dagan Beach.
The launch party, which is free, will feature live music by a local DJ, appetizers, photographers, and, of course, a cash bar. This event also signals the start of the People's Choice Award for Best in Show, when members of the public are invited to vote for their favourite photo and the chance to win a heliskiing trip with Coast Range Heliskiing.
And in late February, stay tuned for an Out of Bounds special session with alpine expert, John Baldwin. Baldwin, an author, nature photographer and outdoor enthusiast with an interest in mountain photography, will present a slideshow featuring some of his favourite destinations and stories, complete with a Q&A session afterwards.
Hi-def, human-powered
Step off the sled for just a minute: the Protect Our Winters (POW) group is bringing a film to town, and you might want to check this one out.
This time 'round, they're showcasing a high-definition human-powered adventure snowboarding film by Leeward Cinema, entitled My Own Two Feet, which is meant to encourage a sustainable and responsible attitude towards the environment.
The film will premiere at the GLC on Friday, Jan. 30 at 9 p.m., featuring a screening of the film at 9:30 p.m., and a dance party with DJs Milton and Stevie James afterwards. Great prizes from Rossignol and other sponsors will also be up for grabs during the raffle. Proceeds will go towards a local organization, Hilltrip, to help with their environmental sustainability and educational efforts.
For a sneak peek of My Own Two Feet, head to http://leewardcinema.com/2feet.
Animal-friendly yogis unite
Yoga and vegetarianism, they go together like peanut butter and jelly, right? Here's your chance to find out.
On Friday, Jan. 30 and Saturday, Jan. 31, Sharon Gannon, one of the founders of a unique type of yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, will be in Whistler hosting workshops at the new Loka Wellness & Yoga Centre, which recently opened in Nita Lake Lodge.
Jivamukti yoga practice features vigorous postures set to funky music, rhythmic chanting, and conscious contemplation. Following Gannon's two-hour classes, she will be sharing highlights from her newest book, Yoga and Vegetarianism, which argues that the two lifestyles go hand-in-hand.
The workshops start on Friday evening at 9 p.m. and Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Tickets are $55 for each, or $99 for both. For more information, or to register, visit www.lokawellnessandyoga.com.
Sound Tracks on the rails
Climb aboard the Rocky Mountaineer and the Whistler Mountaineer trains next month for a special, musical experience.
As part of the New Music in New Places concert series, presented by the Canadian Music Centre, stationary carriages of both trains will play host to an assortment of musicians, including Ariel Barnes, Kathryn Cernauskas, AK Coope, Heather Pausey and Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, on Sunday, Feb. 15. The tracks will be reverberating with the sounds of cello, flute, clarinet, piano and vocals, as these musicians give solo and ensemble performances starting at 7 p.m.
The trains will be at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station in Vancouver for this special event, and admission is free, though reservations are required. Call the concert hotline at 604-606-7361 or email [email protected] to book a spot.
Extended artistic reach
Local artists looking to have their work exhibited beyond the Sea to Sky area now have a new option: the Leighdon Studio Gallery.
The new gallery, which is located in Vancouver, at 190 West 3rd Avenue, b
between Main and Cambie, is accepting submissions from B.C. artists until Saturday, Jan. 31 for their Spring '09 Art Exhibition. For submission guidelines, visit www.leighdon.ca.
