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Creekside is soon to be abuzz with excitement, as parents, children and talented entertainers gather for two days of arts, crafts and music, during the 25 th annual Whistler Children’s Art Festival.

Creekside is soon to be abuzz with excitement, as parents, children and talented entertainers gather for two days of arts, crafts and music, during the 25 th annual Whistler Children’s Art Festival.

This long-time festival typically attracts over 3,000 visitors, with a wide range of crafts, contests, music, magic, acrobatics, and storytelling taking place from the Creekside gondola and throughout Franz’s Trail from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13.

“Having been involved in the festival for 25 years, I am proud that it has remained true to its original purpose while developing and evolving with the needs of the community,” Joan Richoz, chair of the Whistler Arts Council Board of Directors, said in a recent press release.

“In 1983 local school children had no fine arts program at school, so a passionate and dedicated group of volunteers decided to change that. The experience of hands-on workshops with professional artists has encouraged many children to pursue their artistic abilities. The transition to Creekside was only made in 2005, and now a much greater number of local and visiting children and adults are able to experience visual, literary and performing arts activities.”

The organizers of the event, the Whistler Arts Council, are looking for volunteers who are interested in helping with everything from workshops to registration. In addition to that warm, fuzzy feeling you’ll get from helping out, you’ll also have a chance to win prizes, including tickets to the Pemberton Music Festival, Whistler Music Festival, ARTrageous, and the Whistler Film Festival.

To volunteer, contact WAC at 604-938-9221 or email volunteer@whistlerartscouncil.com .

 

A bright idea

 

A favourite local artist, known for his vibrant abstract landscape paintings, is going to be teaching a few tricks of the trade during the Whistler Art Workshops on the Lake.

Chili Thom will be teaching Creative Colour Techniques, a two-day intermediate workshop on effectively creating depth, colour control and saturation, professionally finishing pieces, and other painting shortcuts.

“You need to have the basic knowledge of brush technique, mixing colour, the types of canvases you use, the certain types of paint — you need that basic knowledge, so it’s not for beginners,” said Ali Richmond, marketing coordinator for the Whistler Arts Council.

Thom was born and raised in B.C., and after almost 10 years of painting, has developed a unique and distinct style that incorporates bold, bright colours.

This is the first year Thom has gotten involved with the workshops.

“It’s pretty exciting that he’s come on,” said Richmond. “This is his first year and he’s well known in the community and outside the community. I think it may also draw maybe a different type of crowd.”

Organizers are hoping Thom’s workshop will draw a younger, local crowd, and have lowered the price a bit to ensure this demographic will be able to participate. The Creative Colour Techniques workshop will cost $150 and be held on Tuesday, July 29 and Wednesday, July 30.

This is the third year of the Whistler Art Workshops on the Lake, which were launched back in 2006 as a pilot project with the municipality. The two to four-day workshops range from beginner to intermediate level instruction in oil, acrylic and watercolour painting, sketching and life drawing. All of the workshops take place in Alta Lake Station House, a rustic heritage home along the waterfront.

The workshops are gaining popularity each year, and Richmond said the July classes are already almost sold out.

 

An artistic touch on the Games

 

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games is integrating the arts into Games venues.

According to an update on the 2010 Commerce Centre website dated May 21, 2008, VANOC’s board of directors has approved the transfer of $2 million from the Venue Construction Central Contingency account to the General Venue Construction account to support an Aboriginal Art at Venues program. A detailed announcement, including a call for Expressions of Interest, will take place within the next month, inviting Aboriginal artists from across Canada to participate in the program.

The Venue Construction Central Contingency has now been amended from $23.6 million to $21.6 million.

Connie Watts, mixed media artist and a business owner of Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan and Kwakwaka'wakw ancestry, based out of both Port Alberni and West Vancouver, will be managing the new Aboriginal Art at Venues program. Watts has exhibited her artwork across North America, and has completed a large executive project that unites her expertise in art with design. She also works on commissioned work for various corporate and private collectors, with the largest installation being the Thunderbird sculpture, Hetux, for the Vancouver International Airport.