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Arts briefs

'Wild and Sacred Places' a call to action for lazy people

Everybody has a bucket list of places they'd like to see, photograph or write about. Most of us will sit around and dream about all these places, ticking off a few of them along the way, until we're old and fragile and in need of hip replacements.

But Tim Schumm and Dominik Modlinski are two artists who have made a successful career of painting their adventures. Last year, the two friends travelled to the Yukon, roughing it in the cold, to paint the peaks and valleys they encountered along the way.

The resulting works will be on display in an exhibition called Wild and Sacred Places at Mountain Galleries from March 5 - 11.

"We're very proud of these two painters," said Wendy Wacko, curator of the gallery. "The gallery will never have looked as strong as it will this weekend."

She said this is the first big exhibition the gallery has held since the Olympics. The artists will be at the opening reception, to be held on March 5 from 5 - 8 p.m.

LUNA needs to know 'What's Your Damage?'

Broken bones are about as commonplace snowflakes in this town and now LUNA is compiling multimedia showcase of these injuries for a new exhibit. And they need your help.

LUNA is looking for the most vivid and colorful documentation of your fractured shins, broken wrists and gaping head wounds, to be presented at a free event on Friday, April 8. Audience members will survey the exhibits and vote on the best / gnarliest / most evocative exhibit of an unpleasant mountain experience.

The winner will receive an extensive Injury Prevention Prize Package, which includes a Sandbox Certified Classic Brain Bucket (helmet) custom painted by a local artist, Race Face Full Bike Armour Package, a one-month adult pass to Meadow Park, a pass to Scandinave Spa, a starter package from CrossFit Whistler and a one-month climbing and gym pass to the Core. That's a lot of free stuff so be extra confident on the hill this month.

Entries are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 18 at Whistler's Foto Source in the Village. To enter, visit www.lunawhistler.com .

Elephant and Castle brings back the Beatniks

Last week we noted that Whistler's missing a beatnik scene. It seems that thought had been strewn across the sky like an airplane banner because the owners of the Elephant and Castle picked up on it and have created Beatnik Café.

This will be a weekly open mic night where locals can perform whatever their acts may be, on Wednesday afternoons at 4:30 p.m.

"Everything and anything is welcome," according to a press release, which means our zest for reciting Charles Bukowski poems in the buff while juggling carambolas may finally be shared with the public.

People interested in performing should contact brianwhistler@gmail.com .

 

Artists explore their 'ROOTS' in the natural world

 

Nature's inspiring, right? Sure it is. That's why we place our desks next to windows with views of the water and mountains, or quietly resent those with better views of the water and mountains than our own.

So, to explore this connection to the natural world, the Blackberry Artist's Society - a Port Moody-based collective that has no obvious association with the Research in Motion - will showcase photographs, paintings, sculptures, jewelry and mixed media that have a focus on the natural world in an exhibition entitled "ROOTS."

Many of the exhibits will use natural materials and "wooded inspirations," which sounds like something garden gnomes will enjoy. Whatever the medium, the forest is elemental in the work of all these artists.

The exhibit will run from March 3 to 24 at the Scotia Creek Gallery at Millennium Place. An opening reception will be held on March 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

 

Whistler Art Workshop on the Lake registration now open

 

Learning to paint is harder than it may seem. It takes time, dedication and the acceptance that you're first painting will not be very good. It's just something you have to live with, for the sake of your art, but it certainly helps when you have talented painters as teachers. And who's better than Chili Thom?

If you said, "Picasso," you're absolutely correct, but Chili's good too! And he's teaching Painting for Beginners from June 15 to 17, as part of the Whistler Art Workshop on the Lake.

The program features two- to four-day workshops at Alta Lake Station House. It will run through the summer, beginning in June, from beginner to intermediate level instruction in oil, acrylic and watercolour painting, sketching and life drawing. Besides Chili, other instructors will include Suzanne Northcott, David McEown and Gaye Adams, among others. Prices range from $130 - $425.  Visit www.artswhistler.com for more information.

 

2011 Out of Bounds winners announced

The Whistler Arts Council has announced the winners of the annual photo competition displaying B.C.'s backcountry. Local photographer Eric Berger won the top prize, selected by a jury made up of Blake Jorgenson, Rick Etkin, Todd Lawson and Les Anthony. Lorne Graham won second place for his "Blue Room" photo.

Over 300 people voted for the Best of Show photo challenge held at Millennium Place in February, and the top three spots went to Graham, Berger and Sam McRae for his, "Mike Douglas' monster cornice back flip" by Sam McRae.

All the winners won prizes with top spots getting a heliskiing trip.