ARTrageous has earned its title as "Whistler's original art party." Attendees can expect a barrage of visual arts - everything from steel sculpture, body-painted models and paintings - alongside live music from the Kings of Canadian rockabilly, The Deadcats, and Whistler's own DJ Chili Thom.
This year, the theme for the annual soiree is "The Good Old Days," and organizers are truly committing to the concept, transforming Dusty's into a soda pop shop and sock hop. So dig out those duds from the 1950s, and bop, swing and hand jive your way down to Creekside on Thursday, Nov. 11 to get in on the artistic action!
The party starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for WAC members and $30 for non-members. (Side note: for $35, you can get a ticket that includes a one-year membership to WAC.) And since this party is a sold-out affair every year, you should probably try and get your tickets ASAP. Visit Millennium Place or call 604-935-8410.
SLCC recognized for Tourism Excellence
Last Tuesday, Nov. 2 Whistler's Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) was recognized for its contribution to the tourism industry in a big way: they received the National Cultural Tourism Award.
The award is just one of 14 Tourism Excellence awards that was bestowed by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and presented by the Toronto Star to recognize the best of Canada's tourism industry during an awards ceremony held in Gatineau, Quebec.
This was the first year for the Cultural Tourism Award category. The SLCC was listed as a finalist alongside Cape Breton's Celtic Colours International Festival and Charlottetown's Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Ultimately, the SLCC was given the award for their ongoing commitment to promote authentic Aboriginal culture through unique guest experiences and engaging programming within their exploratory museum and collection of galleries. For anyone who hasn't yet had the opportunity to visit the centre, it showcases the art and heritage of the Squamish and Lil'wat people through an impressive museum, modern gallery, exhibits, gift shop, café and theatre.
Lil'wat Nation's Sik SiK (Josh Anderson) accepted the award on behalf of the SLCC.
"I have been with the SLCC since we opened two and a half years ago and I am very proud of this achievement," Anderson said. "It is an honour that our work in preserving and sharing our culture has been recognized with such a prestigious award."
"...It is important to both our Nations and the Whistler community to have a strong Aboriginal experience that we can share with visitors."
Reel Alternatives, Round III
It looks like film lovers will have a little something to tide them over until the Whistler Film Festival kicks off on Dec. 1: the Reel Alternatives film series is presenting their third screening, Never Let Me Go , on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Directed by Mark Romanek ( One Hour Photo ) and starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield, this film is based on the acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, which tells a remarkable story of love, loss and hidden truths. The hauntingly poignant and emotional story features Kathy (Mulligan) Tommy (Garfield) and Ruth (Knightley) who live in a world and time that feel familiar, but are not quite like anything we know. They spend their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. But when they finally leave the safe shelter of the school, the terrible truth of their fate is finally revealed to them, and they must confront the deep feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to pull them apart.
The screening starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance at whistlerfilmfestival.com or $12 at the door. For more information, visit whistlerfilmfestival.com.
