It's that time of year again: the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is looking for locals' poems as part of its annual Poet's Pause Poetry competition.
The winning submissions will be displayed at the two Poet's Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park for a full year. Winners will also receive $200 and have their poems read during a council meeting on April 24.
Poets can submit a piece for one or both of the public art sites. The theme of the north site is "listening," while the south site focuses on the idea of "togetherness."
Last year, a jury selected Susan Alexander's poem "Sword Ferns in Spring" and Diana Joy's poem "Be" from around 53 submissions written by 29 participants.
To read them, or for more information on the contest, visit whistler.ca/culture-recreation/arts-culture-and-heritage/public-art-program/poetry-competition.
The deadline to submit a poem is March 29.
The contest, now in its ninth year, is part of a public art concept created by local artist Joan Baron who created sculptures at the sites where the poems are displayed.
Join the après jam
Brian Walker was interested in taking part in the Crystal Lounge's open mic jam night, but there was only one problem: with a 9 p.m. start it was a little too late.
So, he approached the local venue about hosting an après open mic on Wednesdays instead. "The idea is that an open mic in the afternoon provides an opportunity for mature players who are done for the day by the time the entertainment starts at night to air out their instrument with like-minded people," Walker says, in an email. "The Crystal has a decent stage, nice PA and built-in audience to accommodate the session."
The first Wednesday afternoon après jam started on March 7 and will continue every week until April 11 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.
If there's enough interest, Walker says he'd like to continue the weekly jam in some capacity in Whistler. "Our last two Wednesdays have been well received," he says.
Audain Art Museum hosts annual gala
The Audain Art Museum is gearing up for its annual fundraiser gala, set to take place at the Westin Resort & Spa on April 7.
Dubbed the 2018 Illuminate Gala, it will feature dinner, entertainment and silent and live auctions. Black and white attire is requested. The event aims to fundraise for the museum's foundation and celebrate its second anniversary.
Tickets are still available. They range from $400 per person or $3,500 for a table of 10. There are also tickets for premium tables at $5,000 for a Crystal Table, $7,500 for a Diamond Table and $10,000 for an Illuminate Table. (Those three tables come with various perks.)
For more information, or to purchase a ticket or table, visit audaingala.com.
