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Arts briefs

Surfing for Sayulita at GLC

 

Over the past few weeks, record flooding has devastated the small fishing and surfing village of Sayulita, located just north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. The community's main bridge has been washed away and many homes and possessions have been lost.

Andy Lambrecht, a Pemberton resident, Whistler Blackcomb employee and owner of Lambrecht Surfboards, actually met his wife on a surf trip in Sayulita in 2003, and the two were married there one year later. Today, they still maintain close ties with the community.

"We go down there for usually a month every year and I actually did take last winter off and we spent four months down there," he said.

"Over the past three weeks, I believe the majority of the flooding started on or around Sept. 7. So what's happened is they just have had torrential downpours - it's been the biggest flooding they've had in 80 years," Lambrecht explained.

Because of his close ties with the town, Lambrecht is now teaming up with a few members of the Sea to Sky community to raise funds for the people affected by the flooding, hosting a film screening, auction and raffle at the GLC on Saturday, Oct. 2. They will be premiering Heather Hudson's, The Women and the Waves , a film that documents women in the surf world. They will also be auctioning off a custom-built surfboard from Lambrecht's company, photography, plenty of items and services from local businesses, as well as donated services and items from businesses in Sayulita.

"So people are going to be able to win stuff from Sayulita and then go down there and use it for accommodation, restaurants, surf rentals, surf lessons..."

The event starts at 8 p.m., and cover is a $5 to $10 donation at the door.

 

A Great Beer Experience at 10th WFF

The 10th annual Whistler Film Festival is shaping up to be a very interesting affair, indeed. Not only have organizers added an extra day, this year they've partnered with Whistler Beer to create the new Brewski's short film competition.

Organizers recently issued a call for submissions, inviting filmmakers to produce a one- to three-minute short film or animated story that visually tells audiences about "A Great Beer Experience." Tales can be dramatic, fun or outrageous, but they must tell a complete story, rather than simply being an ad for Whistler Beer. The best part? There's a $5,000 cash prize up for grabs! Plus, the top five finalists will be invited to attend the 2010 Whistler Film Festival, where the grand prize winner will be announced at the Closing Gala.

For more information on submission details, visit www.whistlerbeer.com/index.php/promotions. The deadline for application is Monday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m.

 

Creating a CANversation

Fall is always a bit of a tough time in Whistler; many people have just arrived in town and haven't found work yet and businesses may have cut hours significantly in the face of a slower shoulder season. This all translates into smaller paycheques, which means that more residents will be turning to Sea to Sky food banks to help fill their cupboards.

Local artists who are interested in helping support the food bank are being asked to come forward and create for the cause, entering their artwork in Shaw's new CANversation art exhibit.

The competition has been designed to raise both funds and awareness surrounding issues of hunger, with all participating artists asked to create pieces that centre around that central theme. At least one local artist has already signed on: Stan Matwychuk is the artistic director of Homebase Studios in Squamish and an internationally-recognized artist who has shown his work in New York City, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle and the Sea to Sky corridor. Matwychuk will be making a giant sculpture out of donated cans for the occasion. Anyone else interested in making a submission for the show should contact Nicole.fitzgerald@sjrb.ca by Friday, Oct. 8.

Admission to the show, which takes place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 at Shaw's Whistler offices, is a canned good. It should be noted that each donated can will be matched by Shaw and Campbell's Soup, so bring a few to help fill the food bank's coffers even quicker!

 

More food bank fun

The Whistler Museum is also stepping up to do its part to help the food bank; on Saturday, Oct. 2, they're offering admission to their new facility and a trip into Whistler's history in exchange for the donation of a food item.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, they're asking people to bring one or more of the "much needed" items for the local organization (rice, peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, canned veggies and fruit, Kraft dinner, instant noodles, granola bars, crackers, side dishes, shampoo, conditioner, diapers and reusable bags) in lieu of admission. Drop by between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2.

 

Circle Nov. 6 on your calendar

Whistler Arts Council is hosting its annual fundraiser, Our Whistler: Celebrating Our Stories 2010, at their new home at Millennium Place on Saturday, Nov. 6 starting at 6:30 p.m.

This year, which marks WAC's 28th anniversary and the celebration of our Olympic experience, promises to offer an intimate evening of storytelling, tapas-style fare, cocktails, live art and entertainment, as well as silent and live auctions featuring priceless items and experiences. The Community Foundation of Whistler will also be presenting their Citizen of the Year Award at the fundraiser.

Tickets are $100 per person, with all proceeds going towards WAC. They are available at www.artswhistler.com, 604-935-8410 or in person at Millennium Place.

 

SLCC recognized

Cultural tourism has moved beyond being the Sea to Sky buzzword of the past five years and into a recognizable, comprehensive category of its own.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has nominated the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre for the 2010 National Awards for Tourism Excellence, given to organizations that provide a significant contribution to cultural tourism in Canada.

An active part of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the SLCC is a collaborative effort between two Nations - the Squamish and the Lil'Wat - and acts as museum for local aboriginal artifacts and artwork. Over 30,000 visitors have explored the centre's cultural depths over the past year and SLCC organizers say they have reached a global audience through extensive media coverage of performances and activities at the Whistler location.

The SLCC is currently working on the second phase of the Sea to Sky Cultural Journey, funded in part by a grant from Canadian Heritage Council earlier this month, to increase the presence of aboriginal tourism and awareness in the corridor.

The SLCC was one of three organizations nominated for the award. Winners will be announced on Nov. 2, 2010 at the Tourism Summit in Gatineau, Quebec.

 

2010/2011 Performance Series announced

Since 1987, the Whistler Arts Council has presented an annual Performance Series, featuring a diverse range of theatre, music, dance and comedy acts from across Canada and abroad to the community at an affordable price.

Earlier this week, WAC announced the upcoming season's lineup of talent: Septeto Nacional, a Cuban seven-piece band; Canadian indie rockers, The Trews; Al Simmons, an inventor/entertainer; the Christmas Carol Project; a tribute to Joni Mitchell; Carlos del Junco and The Blues Mongrels; Alpha Yaya Diallo; and Dufflebag Theatre.

Tickets to the performances range from $18 to $28, and all shows will be staged at Millennium Place. For more information on the performances, or info on Performance Series passes, visit www.artswhistler.com. n