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WORCA fundraiser adds art to Crankworx

Also in arts news: The Whistler Readers and Writers Festival announces its lineup, JOMAW LAWSUIT
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bike art Sarah King's coasters, made from a pruned pine tree using pyrography, are on sale as part of the WORCA ARTworx Fundraiser. Photo submitted

Crankworx is adding artistic flair to its events for the first time with local artists displaying their work as part of a fundraiser this year.

The WORCA (Whistler Off Road Cycling Association) ARTworx Fundraiser takes place Aug. 16 at the Red Bull Viewing Tower featuring mountain and bike-themed pieces by Sarah King, Vanessa Stark and Dave Petko, among other talent from the Sea to Sky corridor. Bike photographers including Reuben Krabbe, who won the 2012 Deep Summer Photo Challenge, Sean St. Denis and Blake Jorgenson will also have their images on display.

"It's a mix of painting, illustrations and photos that make up the gallery," says Kevani Macdonald, spokesperson for the event. "On top of that we'll have live art."

For that component — dubbed "Pimp my Beater"— local artist, Taka Sudo will paint helmets, bikes or other riding-related gear for a minimum donation of $45. (Sudo will take over from Baz Carolan who painted on Wednesday.)

Interested customers can email ahead of time (worcafundraiser@gmail.com) to book their paint session or visit the pop-up gallery in person in Skier's Plaza.

"We did it at State of the Art (for the World Ski and Snowboard Festival) with people wearing and using their art," Macdonald says. "It doesn't need to just be on the wall. It's another way of celebrating the art, riding around on it and wearing it. It's a great way to raise awareness for the artists and have fun."

Pique will also have a display of its Crankworx covers from the past decade. The event offers a way for WORCA to be part of the festival's roster of activities. The organization helps maintain and protect Whistler's network of bike trails. "We are really excited about this new event," says Hilary Davison, WORCA's director of fundraising in a release. "Art and photography plays a big role in communicating how special the trails are in Whistler. We hope the exhibition will help us build enthusiasm, awareness and support for the work that we do to protect, maintain and develop this world-leading trail network."

Check out the show Friday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Readers and Writers Festival announces lineup

The Whistler Readers and Writers Festival unveiled its lineup and officially released tickets for sale last week.

Opening the festival on Oct. 18 is the jazz and books gala, hosted by local writer Stephen Vogler with writers Patrick deWitt, Mary Swan, Peter Zuckerman, Janet Love Morrison, Roberta Rich and writer-in-residence Ania Szado.

Also on the roster is a main stage reading Saturday night by Giller winner Will Ferguson with CBC host and fellow writer Jian Ghomeshi.

The Q personality will also host a brunch chat on Oct. 20 with authors Lisa Moore, Richard Wagamese, Jane Silcott, Meg Tilley, Genni Gunn and local talent Sue Oakey-Baker.

There are also several workshops running throughout the three-day event — which wraps up Oct. 20 — covering topics like memoir writing, historical fiction and journalism. Ticket prices range from free to $35. Tickets are now on sale at Armchair Books or online at www.theviciouscircle.ca/pages/festival-2013.

Jazz on the Mountain lawsuit

A B.C. Supreme Court judge stayed proceedings in a civil suit filed by Jazz on the Mountain at Whistler Society against the Resort Municipality of Whistler last week.

A notice on the court's website says JOMAW must file a new notice of civil claim. Festival organizer Arnold Schwisberg could not be reached for comment. The RMOW, meanwhile, says it does not comment on ongoing legal matters.

The society filed a notice of claim suing the RMOW for $704,000 plus damages and punitive damages from incidents stemming from its 2011 festival.

Organizers allege that the RMOW is in breach of duty of care for compromising the festival's financial viability, refusing to offer financial and conceptual support and allocating Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funds to other concerts running around or during the festival.