ARTS & CULTURE BLOG

JANUARY 6, 2010

ART
On Jan. 7, the Kingston Arts Council presents Naturally Talented from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library. The event is a free “show and tell” by four acclaimed local artists — Marney McDiarmid, Don Stinson, Carolyn Barnett and Laura Donefer — featuring their sensual and powerful art. (www.artskingston.com) Starting Jan. 16, Sorting Daemons, Art, Surveillance and Social Control at the Agnes promises to be an intriguing show about how information tracking systems affect our lives. I’m particularly curious about the afternoon symposium on Jan. 16. (www.aeac.ca) In February, The Organization of Kingston Women Artists Show is at the Wilson Room in the downtown library. This exhibit, which you can catch all month, always features superb regional artists.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Start planning early in order to catch all of your favourite events during Artignite, a first-time arts festival from Jan. 31-Feb. 13. (www.queensu.ca/artignite) The festival admirably aims to mix together both Town and Gown artists, events and audiences. On the Gown side, I’m looking forward to the recital by pianist Jane Coop at Dunning Hall on Feb. 5. (www.queensmusic.ca) On the Town side, I plan to catch the reception for Modern Fuel’s Ad Hoc photography show by local legends Jocelyn Purdie and Noel Bullock. The event takes places on Feb. 6, right after the OKWA reception. (www.modernfuel.org)

THEATRE
Hats off to director Michael Catlin and Domino Theatre for putting on the excellent Marion Bridge by Canada’s exceptional Daniel McIvor, which you can catch from Jan. 14-30 at the Baby Grand. To see or not to see? The King’s Conscience from Salon Theatre, co-produced with Theatre Kingston at the Baby Grand, is a “Hamlet-Ophelia remix” created by young writing superstar Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman and stars Rockne Corrigan. “Hearing ‘to be or not to be’ as rapped by Corrigan might make you think twice about Shakespeare’s true life ambition,” said Montreal’s Rover Arts. (www.kingstongrand.ca)

MUSIC
Can I be your girl? I still get shivers up my spine listening to Jann Arden’s bold and beautiful voice. Hear her at the K-Rock Centre on January 24. The Vagabond Opera, an “amazing cabaret-style, semi-operatic theatrical music group” from Portland, will perform at the funky Mansion, with the sexy and smart Swamp Ward Orchestra opening for them. Canadian Basia Bulat, an Appalachian style chanteuse who is a big CBC favourite, plays at Sydenham Street United Church on Feb. 2.

VALENTINE’S TREATS
Saturday, Feb. 13 will be a busy night for romantics and art lovers alike. There’s an art reception in the afternoon at Verb Gallery (inside of Wayfarer Books) for Scott Wilson. You can then zip over to Art From Our Hearts at NGB Studios for special art trinkets. I’m already booked to attend the Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie’s In Paradisum dance performance at the Grand Theatre, choreographed by Canada’s brilliant James Kudelka, but if not I’d be at the totally fun Cezanne’s Closet fundraiser for Union Gallery. (http://uniongallery.queensu.ca) Everyone who comes gets munchies and is guaranteed to take home a neat piece of art.

Visit Lin Bennett’s personal arts blog at www.kingstonartsdiary.blogspot.com.



NOVEMBER 4, 2009
WARM UP THEIR HEARTS WITH THE ARTS

September was the best kind of crazy. First of all, the kickoff for Theatre Kingston’s season was a thoughtfully sensuous version of Diane Schoemperlen’s Forms of Devotion, a two-hander in which performers enacted text about their evolving and devolving relationship while throwing themselves at each other, intertwining and flirting. It was a beautiful start to an entirely different sort of season from the company (www.theatrekingston.com). I also quite enjoyed Krista Garrett’s well-layered performance in Doug Bowie’s Rope’s End for Domino Theatre, and the disturbing yet beautifully depicted Gas Girls, the Zimbabwe-set, second-prize winner of the national Herman Voaden Playwriting Competition, at Queen’s

The big fall news was Kingston WritersFest, which began with an audaciously mammoth “book launch performance” of Margaret Atwood’s The Year of the Flood (featuring a purposely raggle-taggle choir led by the dauntless Andy Rush). The next night, I attended Art After Dark (as close as we get to Nuit Blanche) over WritersFest, and that was a hard choice! At WritersFest, I adored Gil Adamson’s reading from her extraordinarily well-written book The Outlander, and was inspired by local writer Susan Olding, whose creative memoir Pathologies will make your family look downright sane — perhaps. In October, Olding also hosted a free reading by poet Jason Heroux at Sandra Whitton Gallery — which is a lovely location for just about anything.

The Diane Landry exhibition The Defibrillators at The Agnes was an equally magical feast and featured moving salad spinners, washing machines and umbrella trees. Other noteworthy art experiences during September and October included the hypnotic Chronotopic Village, at Modern Fuel; J.T. Winik’s, Zillah Loney’s and Marney McDiarmid’s winning pieces for the OKWA/ Chameleon Nation juried show (brilliantly moved to the Kingston Glass Studio, just in time for Art After Dark); plus the most successful combination of artists yet at Studio 22: photographs by Bruce Millen and sculpture by Molly McClung. Of course a special place in “Art Heaven” went to The Kingston Prize at the Grand, the national contemporary portrait painting competition stalwartly organized by Julian and Kaaren Brown. You can still see the brilliant portraits online (www.kingstonprize.ca). The second week of October was essentially “portrait week” with a tongue-in-cheek Salon des Refusées at Robert Macklin Gallery (small selections of quality work, but less challenging artistically than The Prize) and two talks, including several group discussions presented by the Arts and Letters Club, provocatively kicked off by Globe and Mail critic Gary Michael Dault. I also had no idea how important Cornerstone Crafts was until seeing their Cape Dorset Print Collection (www.cornerstonefinecrafts.ca). We really must be tourists in our own town more often.

At Kingston Town and Country Studio Tour, I enjoyed snooping through the studio of knitwear artist Carolyn Barnett, discovering the glass-art jewelry of Gisele Beaulieu, the powerful abstracts of Michele LaRose and being introduced to the only “dark and moody” works on the entire tour — wonderful ceramics by former illustrator Diane Black.

Just to balance off the established with the new, I was really delighted to hear those locally-based outrageous “nerdbillies,” The Gertrudes, at The Mansion (www.thegertrudes.com). What verve and creativity — both funky and brilliant. You’ll find up to 10 of them onstage at once. Rueben deGroot play a pretty lively set, too. Spanning the entire adult performing age spectrum, the indefatigable muscular determination of the Garth Fagan Dance group — one 57-year-old dancer in particular — knocked us out. The dance series at the Grand Theatre should be required viewing for everyone, whether you’ve ever heard of the group or not. Total inspiration! La Diva et Le Maestro was a mix of great singing and wonky attitude from soprano Natalie Choquette, presented by the Kingston Symphony. I would have been even happier with Choquette’s fabulous voice minus the clever shtick. Biggest regret: missing John Schreiner talk about German beers (and tasting them) in-between the baroque music at Aurora Dokken’s Baroquetoberfest. (My non-drinking husband called it “the least serious Œserious music’ series in town.”)

DON'T MISS: Colder months may not involve as much running around on the streets, so you’re going to need skates or a Ski-Doo to get from one neat thing to another. Maybe you’ll generate enough heat in the process to reduce your fuel bills. Here’s what do see and do this November and December.

Fun Fare: The two events that most catch my eye are Modern Fuel’s Good Tastes/No Frills silent art auction on Nov. 7 and the LiveWire dance Dehli to Dublin on Nov. 21. The Modern Fuel auction features previews online or in person and advance bidding from Nov. 3-7. The event still involves munchies and is back at their Queen Street home base to keep it cost-effective. Several notable artists — including J.T. Winik, Dave Gordon and Ben Darrah — donate and have the option of sharing the profits (www.modernfuel.org). The LiveWire dance group is a Celtic Punjabi band and, with Al Rankin and Live Wire’s impeccable tastes in music, probably couldn’t be cooler. Tickets are available at Brian’s Records, Tara Natural Foods and Renaissance Music.

Theatre: A good value and a treat for the eyes and ears, Judith Fisher’s art deco/Cole Porter-tinged version of Twelfth Night plays at Queen’s Convocation Hall, Nov. 5-8 and 11-14 (www.queensu.ca/drama). If you like to work with the pros, you might still have time to get into one of two theatre workshops at the Thousand Islands Playhouse on Nov. 6 (www.1000islandsplayhouse.com). Back in Kingston, a must-see is Goblin Market — Theatre Kingston’s Canadian premiere of an erotic musical based on the Christina Rossetti poem, featuring brilliant musician Danielle Lennon, from Nov. 19-28. Previews and matinees are all Pay-What-You-Can (www.kingstongrand.ca and www.theatrekingston.com). I’ll also be going to see what is arguably Norm Foster’s most moving piece — Ethan Claymore — when Domino brings it to the Baby Grand, Dec. 3-5,10-12, 15 and 17-19. For performance lovers of another kind, there are always poetry readings on the second Tuesday of the month at The Artel. The next readings will be Nov. 10 and December 8, 7-10 p.m. (www.the-artel.ca). Shall we call it a poetpourri?

Music: Book any Cantabile Choir tickets now, because they always sell out. If you can still get into it, on Nov. 7 Brown Eagle, Black Raven will bring us throat singing from Nukarik and the choir (once again under Mark Sirett) will perform a selection of world music (http:cantabile.kingston.net). At the Grand Theatre, I don’t know if I’ll be able to catch the flyin’ fiddlers of Barrage on Nov. 27 or the bone-stirring Yamato (taiko) Drummers on Nov. 28, but I will certainly once again go utterly nutso for the roof-raising exuberance of the legendary gospel singers, The Blind Boys of Alabama, on Dec. 1. If you love local and unique combinations, on Nov. 8 The Kingston Chamber Choir presents Theresa Mass by Joseph Hayden, a new piece by Juno Award winner John Burge, and a unique appearance by saxophonist Jonathan “Bunny” Stewart (www.kingstonchamberchoir.ca). For another interesting combo of taste and space, I’d also strongly consider the great Swamp Ward Orchestra’s hurdying and gurdying at The Mansion, Nov. 21. There’s also an encore of Aida from the Met at the Cineplex Odeon that day. On Nov. 27, Brasswerk’s hilariously named Splendour in the Brass features original works performed at their new home, Sydenham United Church (which has a great ambiance for music). Or you can combine music with beverages and pop into one of Cam Shaefer’s easygoing “Blazz “ (blues and jazz) Fridays from 7-9 p.m. at the RCHA Club. The first Sundays of the month, Shaefer also does a Song Lab there, testing new songs with some great musicians.

The holiday music season gets going early with Canta Arya perfroming The Messiah at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 (www.kingstonchamberchoir.ca) at St. George’s Cathedral, where I’ll certainly see the Kingston Symphony with the Kingston Choral Society for A Candlelight Christmas at 2:30 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 13. (For that one, you can hear everything from carols to Mozart.) There’s also the kooky Cool Yule by the Limestone Chorale at the Playhouse in Gananoque on Dec. 14 and Kingston’s favourite choir, Cantabile, with Green Grows the Holly, Dec. 18 and 19 (they’ve added a matinee on Dec. 19). You might want to take in the Lennon Christmas at the Grand Theatre on Dec. 19, just to “give peace a chance.”

Art: There’s the serious art and there’s the “it’s time for the holidays” art. Throughout November, Kingston Frameworks features new works in paper by Sylvia Naylor, fused glass by Florence Niven and painting by Sally Chupick (www.kingstonframeworks.ca). Back at The Agnes on Nov. 8, I’ll gladly spend a Sunday afternoon at the Artists Solo Series Roundtable Talk for a chance to hear Su Sheedy, Lisa Visser, Michael Davidge and Erika Olson toss around their lively views. It’s also a chance to see the new show, It’s Alive — Bertram Brooker and Vitalism. This visionary artist was all about “a visual language that appeals directly to physical desires” and was an early experimenter with the boundaries between mass media and fine art (www.aeac.ca). In addition to her women’s Creative4Play evenings, the bright and fun Julie Davidson-Smith is also holding a weekend encaustic workshop at her Cataraqui Street studio, Nov. 21 and 22. I’m going to do it. I’m going to do it . . . (www.creative4play.blogspot.com)

Art as Gifts: One you, and one for me — isn’t that how holiday shopping goes? A whole range of quality showcases begins Nov. 14 at Sandra Whitton Gallery’s The Art of Giving Show (presented by Sandra Whitton Gallery and Chameleon Nation) featuring more than 30 artists, and works from $15 to $250. This will be followed by the Kingston Potters Guild 2009 Christmas Sale, Nov. 26-29 at 370 King St., and the Country Home Christmas from Thousand Islands Arts (www.tiarts.org), in studios located between Gananoque and Lyn. From Dec. 4-6, The Gift Giving Show at Fort Henry is good place to find beach glass jewelry by Lindsay Fair and one-of-a-kind sweaters by Carolyn Barnett. Preview the works at www.giftgivingshow.com. My favourite presents of all are still gift certificates for classes. There are both adult and kids classes at places such as Kingston School of Art; 5,6,7,8 Dance or Kingston School of Dance.

Something with the Kiddies: My kids are long gone and the grandbabies aren’t around, but if I did have someone of the Younger Persuasion, I think we’d do one of the Grand Theatre’s music events. I’d quite possibly break down and take them to the Kinsmen’s Wizard Of Oz (which always has the greatest casting), Nov. 6- 21, just because I never took my own when they were young. There will also be two Nutcrackers at the Grand Theatre to choose from in December. The Kingston Symphony production features live music and has a new “partner” this year from the Ontario Ballet Theatre, playing Dec. 4 and 5. Dec. 22 and 23, Ballet Jorgen Canada brings back the charming woodland setting for the Group of Seven Nutcracker. Now, pantomimes aren’t my particular cup of tea, but it’s the first year the Playhouse Theatre will be doing this particular tradition as they ham up Cinderella from Dec. 17-30 at their Firehall Theatre. It might even be the perfect post-holiday hoot! See www.1000islandsplayhouse.com for more news. Now, grab an arty scarf and warm up your heart with the arts! It works every time.

Visit Lin Bennett’s personal arts blog at www.kingstonartsdiary.blogspot.com.



SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
MAKING TIME - AND RESERVATIONS - FOR THE THINGS THAT COUNT

Two different events during July and August totally shifted the soggy ground under my feet. The first, a visit to the Bread and Puppet Theater in Glover, Vermont, repeatedly brought me to tears. Our visit to the out-of-the-way, rugged, three-storey barn housing 40 years of work and literally thousands of giant masks and puppets reminded me of how much could be done with just papier mâché, physical energy and sheer dedication. To top it all off, the 72-year-old founder still performs on 15-foot stilts!

At the other end of the continent, the tragic loss of three talented children in a B.C. theatre community shook people across the country to the core. After being paralyzed in shock, more than 1,000 people of all ages (including the parents) still found a way to use the arts to create a beautiful memorial after this terrible event.

Also in July and August . . .
Pirate hats off to the Thousand Islands Playhouse and John Corrigan for The Mollycoddlers, a theatrical piece that was fun, innovative and downright daring in these times. It used every bit of landscape and panache available (and how DID they get that full moon, just for opening night?). Matthew John Lundvall was a wonder in the show; I hope he’ll be back soon. Kingston-raised national star Julie Stewart’s talent was no surprise, but she was still extraordinary at the Firehall’s The Blonde, The Brunette and The Vengeful Redhead. The Conflux exhibit at Union Gallery also proved there’s more than enough artistic talent here to justify a gallery dedicated to local art, and Harry Symons’ “tangled cultures” piece summed up a lot about the challenges here. Although getting any one landscape painting to stand out in a hall filled with them was a challenge, I discovered Belleville’s surreal/ decorative realist painter Bill Keast (www.paintingsbykeast.ca) at the Rideau Valley Art Festival. Even one find makes a long journey definitely worth the trip! I was also knocked out by the work of aboriginal artist Bear Thomas, whose audiovisual work was brought to the Native Friendship Centre by Modern Fuel. The DJ/VJ work of emerging artists like Bear is paving the way for a whole new generation to enjoy video art.

As we hit a new arts season, no matter what new schedules you are adjusting to, I hope you also make time for the things that will last, and to inspire others. You’ll never know what a difference you could make. Now — since I’ve already bought my subscriptions — do I sign up for a dance, poetry or painting class? How about you?

Fall starts with some unique special events. On September 12, those creative crazies at Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre (www.modernfuel.org) are having a Solid Gold Fundraising Dance, “8 p.m. till late.” It kicks off with a sound art performance, a dance and raffle of some “uniquely altered LPs” and the sleeves that have been created by local artists. Gotta love ’em! September 17 to 19, Canada DanceSport’s first Kingston World Ranking Championships at the K-Rock Centre will get your bodies eager to move. The passion is utterly contagious (but last year I should have brought a sweater). Save the service charges and buy tix at the K-Rock Centre box office in person. Otherwise, visit www.k-rockcentre.com. A slightly more classical idea is the Stars at an Exhibition concert from the Kingston Symphony, September 19 and 20, with visuals created by astronomer Dr. José Francisco Salgado of the Adler Planetarium accompanying Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Tickets available from the Grand Theatre box office (www.kingstongrand.ca).

I can hardly wait to see Merilyn Simonds’ brainchild, the new Kingston WritersFest (www.kingstonwritersfest.ca), happening mostly at the Holiday Inn Waterfront, September 23 to 26. It will be launched at the Grand Theatre by Margaret Atwood’s theatrical piece The Year of the Flood, featuring Atwood, herself, plus music by Kingston singers and dramatic readings by mellifluous-voiced Jim Garrard and his Salon Theatre cohorts. If you have daytimes available, there are tons of workshops, and I’m particularly looking forward to Bill Richardson’s Saturday night event at the Holiday Inn Waterfront.

The entire third week of September is Arts & Entertainment Week in Kingston. On September 24 from 7 to 10 p.m., this year’s final Art After Dark gives you a chance to munch your way down Princess Street and to the side streets for gallery tours. On a poignant note, that night you’ll also be able to catch the opening of the impressive OKWA — Organization of Kingston Women Artists juried show, Chameleon Nation’s last opening in their well-loved space. Ashleigh Fortune and Kate Graff will be going virtual now — a creative approach to the economy and pricey rents! Stop in, buy a souvenir of the important business that has been so devoted to emerging artists and community groups, and then check out their new, enhanced website (www.chameleonnation.com). If you’re planning to go to Joseph Boyden and Michael Crummey’s talk for the WritersFest, you can fit in the art walk first.

I’m breathing a big sigh of relief, since the Grand Theatre is back with a rich and stimulating season ahead after two months dark. We’re anticipating jazz greats Oliver Jones and Ranee Lee on October 2 as part of the 2009 Kingston Jazz Festival, followed by The Lion King’s choreographer’s troupe Garth Fagan Dance October 20. I might also slip into Afro-Cuban All Stars on October 24. Tickets and information at www.kingstongrand.ca. While you’re checking out the Grand website, make sure to look into Domino Theatre and Theatre Kingston’s upcoming offerings, both kicking off the local theatre season with works created by acclaimed local writers. From September 3 to 19, closet romantic Douglas Bowie shows his wittily sweet side in Rope’s End from Domino at the Baby Grand Theatre. From September 25 to October 10, Theatre Kingston will present Mark Cassidy’s adaptation of Diane Schoemperlen’s sensual and brilliant Forms of Devotion. In spite of feeling a lack of connection to most touring theatre, I might not be able to resist singing along with What Do The Simple Folk Do? in the Grand’s presentation of Camelot, October 13. Tickets for all of these shows are available through the Grand Theatre box office, 613-530-2050.

Elsewhere, Queen’s Drama Department’s prestigious biennial Herman Voaden Playwriting Competition’s two staged readings at the Vogt Theatre October 3 are a great way to catch excellent work while it’s new and free. The readings feature professionals such as Matthew Gibson and Shane Carty, and the plays (such as 2007 winners Kevin Loring’s Where The Blood Mixes and Charlotte Corbeil Colman’s Scratch) quickly go on to major productions elsewhere. For information, call 613-533-2104. In October, at Gananoque’s Thousand Islands Playhouse, The Wingfield Trilogy alternates presentations, and in September the charming playwright Norm Foster himself stars in the (questionably titled) Old Love.

Exhibitions . . . This fall, all three of the usually more academic galleries have some true brainplay happening. From September 8 to October 8, Union Gallery (http://uniongallery.queensu.ca) features Abject Nature, “tackling existential issues using video, animations, improvisational song and poetry.” As well as continuing with the Jack Bush exhibition through October, the Agnes Etheringron Arts Centre (www.aeac.ca) features the provocative Diane Landry: The Defibrillators from September 5 to December 13, with a special performance and reception on September 30. From September 19 to October 17, Modern Fuel (www.modernfuel.org) will once again challenge their audiences to play with time and spaces in Chronotopic Village, curated by Wanda Nanibush. On October 2, the Art for Heritage Show and Gala ($10) happens at St. George’s Cathedral (show only, October 3). The biennial Kingston Prize, a major national portrait competition (www.kingstonprize.ca/), finally moves to Kingston this year, and the 30 stunning and unique portraits chosen from more than 450 entries can be seen at the Grand Theatre from noon to 5:30 p.m. October 9 to 25, (before it goes on national tour). And though I hate to think of Thanksgiving being so close, try the Westport region’s Fall Colours Studio Tour scattered around 11 different locations from October 10 to 12. I’ll definitely visit Isidora Spielmann’s workshop. More information at www.artatwork.ca/westport_studiotours. The following weekend, the 2009 Kingston Town & Country Fall Studio Tour (www.townandcountrystudiotour.com) features so many of my favourites (Hannah Back, Jane Thelwell, Carolyn Barnett, Deb Tate-Sears and Wendy Cain). Talk about value added — the fall colours are free too!

Happy trails . . .



JULY 1, 2009
FRESH, LOCAL AND LIVE — TIME TO INDULGE IN SUMMER ARTS FARE

It’s hard to believe, as we get more languid now, that for some of the events in May there was still snow on the ground. I certainly needed something to cool me down after the art/spiritual experience of having seen Leonard Cohen intimately perform for “a few thousand of his closest friends” here in May. If he (and, at The Grand Theatre, Arlo Guthrie) didn’t put Kingston’s venues on the “happy map,” I don’t know who could.

A few of the 2009/2010 season launch announcements are pretty “map-making” too. Before you know it, we’ll enjoy the inaugural Kingston WritersFest in September (featuring Margaret Atwood performing, plus Joseph Boyden and Erika Ritter) www.kingstonwritersfest.ca. It’s followed by the Kingston Symphony’s Friday Night series and The Grand’s World Beat Series. Why not just book them now (www.kingstongrand.ca) and get on with summer?

P.S. There are more May and June memories at the end of our summer menu . . . and family fare at the end.

It’s now time to punctuate your gardening, basking and sailing with those arty pleasures you can’t fully savour during the colder months. Most everyone I know fits a little Stratford, Shaw, AGO or big-stage Toronto treat into their summer, but there’s also a fair share of pro talent here to mix with the perfect settings. You’ll pleasantly surprise your neighbours, relatives and the out-of-towners when you introduce them to the local productions.

The Grand Theatre has now closed for the season, so the 20-minute drive along Highway 2 to the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque (or an equally quick jaunt along the 401) is your road to regional theatre heaven. I already loved Miriam Toews’ Summer of My Amazing Luck starring the equally amazing Haley McGee, but I can’t wait to see Kingston-bred Julie Stewart (formerly star of Cold Squad) in The Blonde, The Brunette and The Vengeful Redhead at the Firehall Theatre. My hubby, who has seen the very engaging Canadian Broadway hit The Drowsy Chaperone in both NYC and Vancouver, reports that the Playhouse version (on until August 1) ranks “right up there ” — particularly Ramona Gilmour Darling’s jaw-dropping Toledo Surprise number! Note that the super-engaging How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? No. 4 finalist Marisa McIntyre plays the high-kicking ingénue. Book or inquire about deals at www.1000islandsplayhouse.com. While you’re there, you owe it to yourself to check out the acclaimed Beautiful Women Project by Cheryl Ann Webster at the waterfront’s Arthur Child Heritage Museum. I’d also consider Cracker Crumbs Gallery nearby, or heading up to Lansdowne’s Balleycanoe & Company before the shows to get architectural salvage stuff for making your own art.

Another theatrical day trip worth the time and gas includes Prescott’s lovely outdoors St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival July 11 to August 15. This year they present Measure For Measure and The Taming of the Shrew (Kingston’s witty Craig Walker directs there for the third year in a row), www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca. Before the show, you might want to stop into Intrigue into the 1000 Islands, the second annual juried show at the state-of-the-art MVS Gallery on the Brockville campus of St. Lawrence College, July 9 to 29 (Monday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

In the other direction, Kingston-bred Rockne Corrigan (whose dad, John, wrote The Mollycoddlers, at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in August) performs in Kingston’s Salon Theatre’s one-man The King’s Conscience, by award-winning Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman, at The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival July 2 through12, www.fringetoronto.com. (It also plays here from Theatre Kingston in January 2010.)

On the art front . . . I’m going to start jumping up and down if I hear one more person say they’ve never been to the prestigious and very accessible Agnes Etherington Art Centre (www.aeac.ca). It’s summer — park on the street; walk a whole block from the parkade across from the hospital; ride your bike, and then zip down to the waterfront afterwards. I guarantee that anyone can enjoy the whimsical driftwood starships of Michael Campbell’s Field Recordings of Icebergs Melting or the wonderful colour and verve of Bright Colours, Big Canvas: Jack Bush. Kids will go home and paint big walls or build wooden spaceships afterwards. Icebergs closes on August 16, but if you go before August 7, you can pop a block down the street to the Union Gallery (next to the Stauffer Library) for Conflux, which features pairings of emerging and established artists such as Ben Darrah (campground influenced abstracts) and the wild mixed media of Harry Symons (http://uniongallery.queensu.ca).

If you’re a last-minute type, visit the mixed bag of the annual Women’s Art Festival at City Park on Sunday August 16, then go to the Agnes for a “cool down.”

Downtown, eee Show organized by Hennie Marsh (www.art-muse.blogspot.com) is a lively show from July 9 to 29 at the Wilson Room of the downtown library, featuring more Ben Darrah, the ever-evolving Marsh, and other artists such as Terry Culbert. In August, We’re High on Kingston, a provocative exhibition of an overwhelming 90 paintings of “domes, spires, towers and their ghosts” by Shirley Gibson-Langille will “haunt” the same space.

Afterwards, do a little art walk of your own and head towards Market Square for the works of very popular painter Susan Oomen at the beautiful Robert Macklin Gallery. (They can also give you great tips on art to see elsewhere.) Hop across to King Street’s Studio22 (which will host Voices 3, three different exhibitions paired with three concert experiences over a five-week period, www.studio22.ca) for a mixed show of the gallery’s favourites. You might want to pop over to Ontario Street for the sound/light spectacle of Sadderday Night at Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre until July 25, or The Glass Studio on Ontario Street. You might also want to stop in at Chameleon Nation for a show of their favourites — always a good cause to support. Out-of-town guests might enjoy Gallery Raymond, near Clergy and Princess, and particularly the new “stable studio” out back. A little farther afield, you can travel to the Westport region’s Rideau Valley Art Festival in the Enchanted Forest Aug 22-23 (great fun). And any time you’re just exploring, a must is discovering Bon Eco Design Shop & Gallery in Tamworth (613-379-3074).

On the music stage . . .

Monte’s in the Prince George Hotel may not be “art” but it has some great talent. I’m definitely in for Danielle Lennon on July 16 (of the Swamp Ward Orchestra) and aka kazpar on July 23. Limestone City Blues Festival, August 27 through 30, will get plenty of promo, especially with Robert Cray and the incredible Mavis Staples opening it August 27, but until then there’s much music to keep your ears peeled.

You don’t have to be a Yankee to send up fireworks over the presence of the scrumptious jazz duo Kevin Barrett and Julie Michaels, on July 4 at Yarker’s neat Waterfall Tea Room, with or without dinner, www.waterfalltearoom.com. Downtown Kingston, the St. Giles’ Cathedral Choir of Edinburgh visits St. George’s Cathedral on July 11 (7:30 p.m. performance) and free noon-hour concerts are July 9, 16 and 23 (www.stgeorgescathedral.on.ca).

Speaking of free . . . concerts in the parks abound, with the entire lineup at www.downtownkingston.ca. Kyra and Tully on July 7 will be my first choice, but there are also choirs on Thursdays between 7 and 8 p.m. I’m so excited that I’ll finally be in town July 17 or 18 to see the Kingston Symphony’s 1812 Overture at Fort Henry.

Kid friendly? Upper Canada Performing Arts College at 260 Brock St. features Integrated Arts Summer Week for ages six to 14, $175 for five days (cheaper than a babysitter.) I love the concept of Origami Club at the Made 4 You artisan co-operative (near the Screening Room, on Princess Street), 2 to 4 p.m. every second Sunday. It’s both focused and magical. Bottle Tree Productions presents Aladdin July 7 to August 1 (matinees only), www.bottletreeinc.com. You can also catch the Barefoot Players in Myth Takes (www.queensu.ca/drama) at a park near you. In August, you might as well splurge and take the kids to The Mollycoddlers at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, a brand new pirate extravaganza that even performs on the decks. In case you’re “sit-a-phobic,” stop off on the way at the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum (or go to the beach next door for a swim).

OK, it’s getting too hot to write any more. Go out there and indulge yourselves!

Rear View — May and June highlights:

The K-Rock Centre really did rock with all those world-class names (especially Leonard C!). I was particularly happy for the Playhouse that they packed them in for the charming Forever Plaid. It was also an eye-opener to meet the young and unsung talents of Kingston (plus some great writers and the brilliant, eclectic Swamp Ward Orchestra) as I got to perform in Theatre Kingston’s Moveable Feast. Dramatic Impact’s You Can’t Take It With You, though a mite slooowww for a farce, had the most wonderful characters and actors (particularly Nikki Rea as a “constant dancer”). Kudos to Kingston School of Dance as well, whose new artistic director, Ebon Gage, created a year-end performance that was actually riveting. And those “over-30” women, featured in Cubafest, really had something you don’t see often here. More and more of that, please.

The Juried Arts Salon from the Kingston Arts Council seemed smaller than usual, but works were of a unanimously high quality. Later, the Downtown Kingston-sponsored Art After Dark tour fed both body and soul. I loved discovering the new carriage house space in the alley behind Gallery Raymond (featuring fascinating psychedelic landscapes by John Lennard and gritty still life by Bonnie Brooks plus many more in a setting that’s even better than the main space). I was knocked out by Debra Tate-Sears’ intricate architecturally focused classic watercolours at Frameworks, which has small, but well-curated, shows changing regularly. Studio 22’s best, and most focused, exhibition yet came in the form of the powerful and playful ecologically themed photographs of Andrew Danushevsky at Studio 22’s In Her It exposition. Although I could only catch two Cubafest exhibitions (loved the challenging yet accessibly quirky and graphic work by Harold Coego at Modern Fuel), I think every year could have some international theme . . . or maybe interprovincial, anyway! Quebec Fest, anyone?



MAY 1, 2009
BUSTING OUT ALL OVER - WHISH, BAM, SPLAT!

I stifled a laugh when The Globe & Mail art critic Gary Michael Dault explained, during a packed April meeting of the Arts and Letters Club, that he (also an artist and poet) tries to write reviews that are a “sensuous equivalent of the work itself.” I immediately thought of a few March and April events that would have to be described as “whish, bam or splat,” (although I don’t think that’s exactly what he meant). I always wanted to live in a colourful cartoon — and here we are! First, some recent memories, and then on to events in May and June.

Let’s start with the memories . . .

A heady ride was provided by the challengingly relentless bodywork and visual complexity of Montreal’s Compagnie Marie Chouinard at the Grand Theatre. (The edgy aesthetics caused several of the faint-hearted to leave at intermission. Too bad — Act 2 was really an eye-popper! And no, not because everyone was half-naked). The word is that the Grand is bringing even more dance — and more musicals — next season. I couldn’t be happier. They’re filling a gap, and doing it brilliantly and with style.

Quite unexpectedly, I found myself in tears for every note sung by Ian Shanahan as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha from Queen’s Musical Theatre. He was absolutely pitch, emotion and character perfect. Equal, but totally different, was the delight from Peter Nielsen and Matt Stewart in their gut-splitting Men Telling Stories.

I passed through video hell downstairs at “The Mansion” to a funky heaven above for the musical effervescence of the Swamp Ward Orchestra (Alison Gowan, Laura Murray and Jan LeClair) with Quebec friends Bette & Wallet. The Ward’s Mansion benefit May 9 is their last Kingston show before the Mill Race Festival and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival.

I saw Deepa Mehta’s mythic yet wrenching film Heaven on Earth at the Kingston Film Festival, with her casually popping in afterwards. The town was jumping.

On one of the free Thursdays at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, I grappled with the mystifying abstract work of Holger Kalberg’s Stadiem, followed by a mind-popping Art Docs screening about Vancouver reformed bad-boy artist Attila Richard Lukacs.

I was introduced to the dramatic, classically inspired paintings and woodcuts of Melody Telford and Vicky Wagner at Union Gallery, minimal but elegant new metal and encaustic work of Su Sheedy at Sandra Whitton Gallery, the intricate fibre art of Denise Sokolsky and Phillida Hargreaves as well as the wire “basket” from Delvalle at the Kingston Fibre Artists show, plus Susan Farber’s brilliant felt sculpture at Chameleon Nation. The vibrant colour and painting technique of prolific Teresa Mrozicka (at Studio 22 until May 24) were also impressive and energizing, if not a bit of overkill.

I viewed Jocelyn Purdie’s pix from the ongoing Swamp Ward Window project and Jan Allen’s slides about equally capricious art installations at the Agnes, seen at a Union Gallery curators talk. Kingston is both art-smart AND fun, folks (although I’m sure the curators would have a far more intellectual way of saying that).

Speaking of art-smart fun, on to springtime! Here’s what’s happening for May, June and July . . . come on out, the weather’s fine.

Art:
May starts with the spicy energy of Cubafest (www.cubafestkingston.ca), taking you all over town for dancing, films and art. Check the Robert Macklin Gallery from May 1 through 9 for lively prints of Eduardo Roca Salazar (Choco). May’s Cubafest carries on until June 6 at Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre with Cuban/Canadian Harold Coego’s “inkly ironic” characters. Mother’s Day weekend, I love the Kingston Studio Tour (www.kingstonartists.com), and will visit the new Sydenham Street United Church Springtime Salon (www.ssuc.org). Some of the city’s best are featured in the NGB Studios Mother’s Day Open House, 12 Cataraqui St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the same Sunday (www.anglinbaypottery.ca/images/NBGMOM09-WEB.jpg). The Kingston Arts Council’s Juried Arts Salon is on from May 2 through 29 in the Wilson Room at the downtown library, and watch the Arts Council’s website (www.artskingston.com) for the imminent announcement of deadlines and criteria for this year’s city arts funding applications. Deadlines will probably be very early in July. This funding has made a tremendous difference — pray for continuance! There will also be city announcements soon about the new Tett Centre tenants.

A fan of free food and good art? On May 28 the Art After Dark tour (www.downtownkingston.ca) features downtown galleries such as Chameleon Nation (the Shifted Perspectives show) and the classy Robert Macklin Gallery (featuring Alice Burton’s sumptuous colourscapes, Post Modern Impressions of the Thousand Islands, before he launches an exhibit by popular Susan Oomen on June 18). Also keep your eyes peeled for many of Canada’s most colourful abstract artists at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (www.aeac.ca) in the show Bright Colours, Big Canvas: Jack Bush (with a special free tour May 14) and their May 23 (7 to 9 p.m.) joint opening reception for the intriguing and controversial Field Recordings of Icebergs Melting/Works from the New American Century Project. You’re guaranteed to have an opinion about one of these shows (especially if you have feelings about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). They both run May 23 to August 16. Studio 22 (www.s22.ca) presents In Her It, May 28 to July 5, Andrew Danson Dunushevsky’s “photo documentation of aspects of the planet’s deterioration” — un-manipulated photographs and “fabrications.” Take the kids!

Theatrics:
Playing until May 10, Judy Cooke stars in Talking of Michelangelo at the Grand Theatre, a world premiere of Kim Renders’ intricate play about a feisty older woman. May brings the welcome relief of regular top-notch professional theatre at Gananoque’s Thousand Islands Playhouse (www.1000islandsplayhouse.com). My picks for May and June are Miriam Toews’ hip and funny Summer of My Amazing Luck playing June 4 to July 11 at the Firehall Theatre and the tap-a-rama Broadway comedy The Drowsy Chaperone opening on June 18. (Tip: new four-ticket flex packs are a great deal!)

In Kingston, Domino Theatre wraps an excellent season with the gay-friendly hit Mambo Italiano from May 21 through June 6. At the Baby Grand, June 15 to 20 brings Theatre Kingston’s tasty theatrical potluck of Kingston scenes in Moveable Feast. Tickets to both shows online at www.kingstongrand.ca. Why not use some of the summer to ready something for Bottle Tree Production’s One Act Play Competition — www.bottletreeinc.blogspot.com. The deadline is in November. They’re also doing A Midsummer Night’s Dream from July 7.

Music:
Early in May, Cubafest (www.cubafestkingston.ca) has Jane Bunnett, and you can still get tickets to Michelle Shocked on May 7 at Sydenham Street United Church (tickets through Brian’s Record Option or the Ban Righ Centre, 613-533-2976). On May 22, I get to spend a night with Leonard Cohen (www.k-rockcentre.com) but have to miss Orchestra Kingston’s Gone to the Birds (www.stgeorgescathedral.on.ca). Legendary singer Heather Bishop plays at the Octave Theatre May 23 (613-533-2976) and on May 30 Cantabile Choir’s Jigs and Reels with the Celtic Rathskallions (http://cantabile.kingston.net) sounds like just the fun I need to take me into June. The superb Lunch at Allen’s (with Murray McLauchlan and Cindy Church) visits the Thousand Islands Playhouse a month later on June 29 (www.1000islandsplayhouse.com) — but buy early.

Now, bip, bop, kazaam . . . let’s take our hats off to summer!



MARCH 1, 2009
A THRILL FOR EVERY BUDGET, EVERY TASTE

January and February may have begun slowly, but quality triumphed over quantity in ways I could never have dreamed. Most notably, the triumph of the incendiary dance troupe Ailey II at The Grand Theatre in the sort of harmonic convergence of time, people and place that only live performance can provide. Later, Live Wire’s trio of top-notch performers — fiddler Anne Lindsey with Jason Fowler and quirky keyboardist/songwriter Michael Johnston — at the Octave was also a total delight, with an improvisation around the Quaker hymn Simple Gifts that “simply” raised the roof.

Theatre Kingston’s new actor/manager Brett Christopher also raised the Baby Grand’s ceiling a few feet, in his tour de force performance of I Am My Own Wife. On the gallery front, I also enjoyed Sandra Whitton Gallery’s Black Madonna show, curated by Tim Soper (especially work by Jane Thelwell, which totally eclipsed her more conventional Anglin Bay pottery). The Organization of Kingston Women Artists work at the public library was superb, and I particularly enjoyed a monoprint by Rebecca Cowan, Isadora Spielmann’s 2-1/2-dimensional teapot, and Mary Peppard’s whimsical diorama. Finally, you have to hand it to Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre for combining as many senses as possible. In addition to their sense-stimulating fundraising auction at Aroma, they had a Bad Eats, Good Beats; A Miracle Fruit Dance Party that involved eating a special, magical fruit that made everything sour taste sweet. On the other hand, Geoff Smith’s debut show, Point of View, at Kingston Frameworks would have been the perfect show to accompany Kingston School of Art’s classes, Anyone Can Paint & I’ll Prove It.

On to spring. As a nod to these cost-consicous times, this month I’m giving you the chance to choose your personalized palette of local arts activities with a nod to the budget. Let’s start with the freebies, but there are definitely events at the end of the list worth saving your loonies for!

Free events:
Most gallery visits cost only your time. Admission to the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (www.aeac.ca) is free every Thursday, including their talks and ArtDocs films. My Agnes choices for March/April include the reception for the BFA Select Exhibition (March 19), Jan Allen’s talk on the same (March 16) and the evening ArtDocs film (April 16) on the superb late Betty Goodwin (who has a whole room of work at the new Art Gallery of Ontario). You can also visit the exhibitions of Holger Kalberg, Yves Gaucher and Poet, Priest, Dauber: The Painter in the Renaissance and Baroque Eras while you’re there. In April, Studio 22 (www.s22.ca) has very strong Richard Martin-influenced student photography from LCVI Grade 12 students. There’s a room full of talent at the Frameworks Portrait Show opening March 27 (including the accomplished Ben Darrah, Sally Chupick and Samphan Usher). I always enjoy Chameleon Nation’s (www.chameleonnation.com) colourfully themed events downtown (March will be The Art of Nesting including Tammy Shane and the versatile Mary Peppard.) Craft meets art at the Kingston Fibre Artists Inspiration and Explorations show in March at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, a versatile group that includes Phillida Hargreaves (also in the Chameleon Nation April show) and feltmaker Andrea Graham (www.kingstonfibreartists.ca). April 29 through May 3, try the Kingston Potters’ Guild (www.kingstonpottersguild.com) show at 370 King Street West. Free events at Queen’s University include MOSAIC on March 11 (www.queensmusic.ca) and a reading by Heather O’Neill (author of Lullabies for Little Criminals) on March 16 in Watson Hall. Something new? I love the idea of Free Family Movie Nights at the Firehall Theatre in Gananoque (March 27 and April 17, www.1000islandsplayhouse.com). Almost free? For $4 try Facebox Theatre Company’s unique 17 monologues + 17 miniature theatres + 17 audience members on March 10, 11 and 12 in the Vogt, Rotunda and Room 106 at Queen’s University (www.queensu.ca/drama).

Under $25:
At the Baby Grand March 12 to 14, a guaranteed quality piece is Side Man, the Tony award-winning drama about the relationship between a man and his jazz musician father, presented by Domino Theatre. This is a bold venture for the company, under the excellent direction of Michael Catlin (students/seniors $12 on Thursdays; www.kingstongrand.ca). Back at Queen’s University, try Greg Runions’ Jazz & Samba Ensembles at Grant Hall (March 31), or the stunning combination of Queen’s Choral Ensemble with the University of Toronto Symphony Chorus and Chamber Orchestra (April 2). Consider the heady Mass for Prisoners of Conscience by Dr. John Burge, Dr. Aurora Dokken’s Polyhymnia (March 26) or Queen’s Symphony with Gordon Craig (March 27), www.queensmusic.ca. You might also want to look ahead to Passionate Revelations from the Kingston Chamber Choir (May 3) at St. George’s Cathedral www.kingstonchamberchoir.ca. A little farther afield, Murray McLauchlan is at Picton’s Regent Theatre (March 27, www.theregenttheatre.org).

$25-45:
Based on the impeccable choices by Al Rankin for his Live Wire music series (www.livewire.absolutelymusic.on.ca), I’m already up for the Afro-Beat dance featuring Mr. Something Something (March 28) at the Portuguese Cultural Centre. Rankin’s also presenting Mary Gauthier, singer/songwriter and compatriot of Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams, (April 24, at Octave). Tickets are $20 if bought in advance at Tara Natural Foods or Brian’s Music. At the Grand Theatre (www.kingstongrand.ca), a must-see for me is Montreal’s Compagnie Marie Chouinard (April 1), especially after the other two power-packed dance performances in the series. If you have teenagers, they apparently all go nuts over Cranked, a powerful piece for audiences 12 and up about addiction and drug culture (April 17) with music written by Kyprios & Stylust, hip-hop artists from Vancouver. If blood pressure meds are more your speed, try Wingfield’s Inferno (April 22), the same production that was at the Playhouse in 2007.

$45 and over:
At the K-Rock Centre (www.k-rockcentre.com), there’s the extraordinary k.d. lang (April 14), who has come a long way since I saw her kicking up her legs in a cowgirl skirt in the ’70s in Vancouver. The K-Rock Centre also presents Willie Nelson on April 5. Canadian singer/songwriter Neil Young plays the K-Rock Centre on April 13. Subscribe early for your pick of five shows in the 2009 Thousand Islands Playhouse (www.1000islandsplayhouse.com) season, notably Miriam Toews’ Summer of My Amazing Luck and the funny, tap-dance heavy The Drowsy Chaperone. (Starting at $115 for five shows, this should be in the lowest price range, per ticket.) And if you like doing, instead of watching, Kingston School of Art’s (www.ksoa.info) all-day Saturday workshops feature Barb Carr’s collage workshop (March 28) or a KSOA fundraiser, James Keirstead’s painting knife workshop on April 4.

Heads up! In March and April you may also need to buy tickets ahead for Diana Krall (May 5) and Leonard Cohen (May 22) at the K-Rock Centre, or the ageless Arlo Guthrie (May 10) at the Grand Theatre.



JANUARY 1, 2009
KEEP THE POSITIVE FLOWING

If you're reading this, the good news is that you survived both the holidays and the past few months of dismal headlines and projections. You also know that, in spite of the shadows hanging over us, good times were had and are still out there for the taking. I know that engaging and nourishing creativity is one of our most important survival techniques, so I'll give you some of the upcoming events and a list of many arts classes that can keep the positivity flowing.

Wordplay: Theatrically, it's a truly mixed bag in January. A youth company, Blue Canoe, ambitiously takes on the bloody Titus Andronicus January 8-17 at the Wellington Street Theatre (www.wellingtonst.net). At the other end of the spectrum, it's The Heiress, from Domino Theatre in the Baby Grand from January 15-31. Those clever Queen's Musical Theatre students will be performing Jekyll & Hyde January 13-18 at the Grand Theatre. Then, a big Broadway version of Oliver takes over the main stage at the Grand Theatre on January 28 (www.kingstongrand.ca). The word sport of Spoken Word, hosted by Bob MacKenzie, accompanies the Chameleon Nation shows on January 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. and on February 21. (To participate, call Kate at 613-545-0832, www.chameleonnation.com). In February, two well-known shows will be staged in Kingston: the acclaimed I Am My Own Wife, performed by Brett Christopher at the Grand Theatre from February 4 through 14, and Warren Leight's edgy Side Man, from Domino Theatre at the Baby Grand, starting February 26 and playing through March 14.

Music and Dance: In January, watch for the Tokai String Quartet (free/inexpensive admission) on January 9 or 10 at Queen's University School of Music (613-533-2558). The astounding dance group Ailey II arrives January 21 - check the Grand website www.kingstongrand.ca for additional visual stimulation. Musicians Amy Sky and Marc Jordan are at the Grand Theatre on January 24, and multi-award-winning fiddler/violinist Anne Lindsay plays with Jason Fowler and Michael Johnston January 30 at the Live Wire Music Series (www.livewire.absolutelymusic.on.ca). Big hot tip: you can pay only $50 and get to see THREE Live Wire shows between January and March. On January 31 and February 1, virtuoso pianist Angela Cheng plays with the Kingston Symphony at the Grand Theatre. On February 8, Brasswerks has a cheekily named We Can Handel Playing Bach to the Future at St. George's Cathedral featuring Edward Norman, "high quality and plenty of fun," (www.brasswerks.ca). On February 27, the second in the three-ticket Live Wire package brings Kevin Breit (who has played with everyone from k.d. lang to Celine Dion). On February 28 it's A Midwinter Break, with the lively new Orchestra Kingston (and soloist Larry House) at St. George's Cathedral.

Art and Art Events: If you enjoy superb cuisine, great art, and a good deal, try Modern Fuel's Good Tastes silent auction January 24 at Aroma restro-winebar (www.modernfuel.org). A portion of proceeds from the delectable dinner will go to Modern Fuel, but you can also just pop in for a drink and art bargain. Artists featured include Scott Wallis, Gabrielle Sims and Dave Gordon, and you can preview the works the week before. For tickets, call 613-541-0330. In the same vein, I love Cezanne's Closet, the egalitarian auction fundraiser for Union Gallery February 7, where $135 gets you nibbles for two, and you're guaranteed to walk home with a piece of art (613-533-3171, http://uniongallery.queensu.ca). Yes, Valentine's Day is here just as you've started to pay off the credit cards from Christmas, but February 14 gives you a chance to enjoy A Musical Celebration of Love and Shakespeare, a literary and romantic fundraiser at the Prescott Golf Club to support the constantly delightful St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca).

A visit to an art gallery is always the best bargain around for inspiration and delight. Free Thursdays continue at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (www.aeac.ca) plus a wide range of other free events including a book launch, artists' talks, and the February 8 screening of The Little Black Schoolhouse by Sylvia Hamilton. The Robert Macklin Gallery (www.robertmacklingallery.com) across from Market Square has a host of superior work, ranging from the bold woodcuts of Rose Hirano to works of David Brown, powerful portraits by Daniel Hughes, and a $35,000 painting by Eser Afacan. Sandra Whitton Gallery (www.sandrawhitton.com) features an intriguing group show on the theme of The Black Madonna curated by Tim Soper, followed by a selection of works including Laurie Sponagle's meticulous chalk drawings, J.T. Winik's dark portraits, and Harry Symon's paintings. I know I'll catch Union Gallery's intriguing Profane Illuminations show from January 13 to February 3 by Genna Kusch and Morgan Wedderspoon.

Arts workshops and classes are one of Kingston's best-kept secrets. Internationally acclaimed fibre artist Carolyn Barnett has workshops on February 14 and 15, 16 and 17 (www.barnett-knits.com), and I love the sound of Creative Foreplay, an ongoing women's workshop to be run by Julie Davidson Smith (www.sharinginspiration.blogspot.com). The Agnes Etherington Art Centre is also offering one- or two-day classes, including Found Images or Still Life with Ben Darrah and Thursday night watercolour with Dave Gordon. A dynamic new organization called the Upper Canada Academy of Performing Arts on Brock Street has everything from Extreme Puppetry from Blue Dragon and puppet costuming by Isidora Spielmann to voice, movement or audition training by the versatile Michelle Girouard, and classical music (www.ucperformingarts.com). Aspiring singers should also check out the 10 weeks of group vocal technique classes ($195 - a steal!) from the accomplished Marie Anderson through Queen's University School of Music, starting January 10. The Kingston School of Art (www.ksoa.info) starts registration on January 9, and you might try daytime studio classes or Wednesday evening life drawing. There are also individual or small group classes Tuesday through Thursday from the fascinating Marie Claude Delcourt, who does paintings, boxes and "everything except watercolour." St. Lawrence College also has a series of classes in creative writing (poetry or biography) and illustration for kids' books. If you just need to share, the artists in business roundtable at KEDCO is led by Lindsey Fair at 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of the month.

Now, if you've read this and you're still whining about the economy, I'll go out with some "tips for tough times" from a few arters in the region:

• "Do something you love simply for the love of doing it . . . I think about other countries where having the opportunity to do art is not even possible." Bonnie Brooks, painter

• "When times are tough, I like to go to live theatre. Its stories uplift me and challenge me, and often make me realize how wonderful my life really is." Barb Linds, Theatre Kingston board member

• "When times are tough, that's when I dig through my stash and create from what I have, often being very successful with what I come up with!" Carolyn Barnett, fibre artist

• "Fear is the great eater of hopes and dreams and lives - Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous maxim: 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Matthew Gibson, actor and co-founder of Hope Theatre

• "When times are tough, I like to focus on buying local - everything from necessities to art. This will keep our local economy strong and not as affected." Lindsey Fair, business consultant /beach glass artist

I hope you connect with at least one of these people or groups soon. Times of challenge do build community!



DECEMBER 1, 2008
KAZOOS AND CRAYONS

While listening to the 150-plus passionate, volunteer singers of the Kingston Choral Society and Queen’s Choral Ensemble at the Kingston Symphony’s massive November concert, I was struck by the realization that, over the last year, I’ve been gifted by the efforts of well over a thousand people in this space. All have shared their art, voices, imaginations, ideas and organizational talents . . . and they have inspired, uplifted, baffled and even occasionally appalled me. So, my deep thanks to all of these artists for provoking what can only be called a richness of life.

Let’s pause for a moment to recall November’s significant pleasures. I revelled in the bright and disturbing encaustics by the late Kay Wostenholme at Union Gallery; the work of Debra Tate-Sears and Valerie Burton in Art of Culture at Chameleon Nation; the lively paintings by Steve Elliott and multimedia of Winona Elliott-Schep at Diversity IV in the Kingston Frontenac Public Library’s Central Wilson Room; newer choral pieces from Cantabile Choir’s Preludes; and the Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s Artists Talking about Artists with Maureen Sheridan.

Other hits were Kate Sykes’ sensual textile art at The Artel; Michelle Girouard and Theatre Kingston’s clever the garbage and the flowers; Craig Walker’s staging of German playwright Bertolt Brecht’s Drums in the Night; the inspired photo perspectives by local photographers in the Exposures exhibit at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre; and my old hero Bob Dylan at the K-Rock Centre.

Applause, also, to the superior musicians who transcended the inanely scripted, musical version of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame at the Wellington Street Theatre.

On to the holidays! December brings three versions of the Nutcracker: the Moscow Ballet at the K-Rock Centre on December 4; the Kingston Symphony featuring the Quinte Ballet School on December 5 and 6 at the Grand Theatre; and Ballet Jörgen Canada’s new Group of Seven Nutcracker on December 22 and 23, also at the Grand Theatre. (Visit the Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s Inhabited Landscape before December 22 for more Group of Seven.)

On December 7, the Thousand Islands Playhouse has a special Holiday Gala to celebrate the season. I like the sound of both The Barra MacNeil’s Celtic Christmas on December 13 at the Grand Theatre and Handel’s Messiah and Carol Sing from the Kingston Chamber Choir at St. George’s Cathedral (also December 13). St. George’s also offers a wonderful array of concerts, and Cantabile Choir’s popular Noels will be on December 19 and 20.

For arty gifts or a seasonal palate-cleanser, try Sandra Whitton Gallery’s Annual Christmas Show (where 27 artists sell items for $250 or less), Studio 22’s A Delightful Circumstance (until December 21), or Art of Culture at Chameleon Nation.

Many of the Exposures exhibit photographs from the Agnes Etherington Art Centre are scheduled to move to Frameworks and Sydenham Street Studios. Paintings by Hennie Marsh are at l.s.p. designs in Portsmouth Village (partial proceeds to the Kingston Grandmother Connection), and Angel Martin shows are at Dwell Interior Design Boutique.

Looking for something hands on? Check out the workshops at the Made 4 You collective operated by Kingston artisans. How about resin casting or screen printing on December 7? There’s a regular monthly Artists in Business Roundtable Discussion Group at KEDCO on December 2 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Enough holiday stuff? Try Parallel Spaces by Jennifer Prevost and Jan Fougere at the student-run Union Gallery (at Queen’s University) or German filmmaker Harun Farocki’s hypnotic video installation at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.

Now, may Santa fill your sock with kazoos and crayons!



NOVEMBER 1, 2008
ART TO WARM THE SOUL

As we’re blown about by the winds of a cooler November, accompanied by the chill of economically uncertain times, many of us might think we’re justified in cutting back our arts enjoyment. Bah, humbug! Instead, I suggest we “buy local and buy the arts,” especially when gift shopping for the upcoming holidays. You’ll thank yourself for the enduring pleasures — and so will the artists.

In October, my hands-down (and affordable) thrill was the drumming performance at Queen’s University by Indian tabla guru Pandit Divyang Vakil and his acolytes. In their lightning-paced playing and “talking” the score, these dedicated souls proved just how truly extraordinary humans can be.

I enjoyed the timeless Group of Seven-era Inhabited Landscape: Selections from the Canadian Historical Collection exhibit at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (runs through to the end of April 2009) and Yi-Jia Susanne Hou and Elaine Hou’s brilliant Grant Hall concert; and I’ve now vowed to keep the path between downtown and the Queen’s campus well travelled.

A fun contrast is the hilarious but poignant To Whom It May Concern video readings of Internet love letters, on view in the elegant Etherington House through November. Note the extended hours and free admission at the Agnes Etherington on Thursdays and holiday Mondays.

Fall events at The Grand Theatre were . . . well, grand, with my favourite being Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, an accomplished, sexy and smart group that’s just what Kingston needs. The Kingston Jazz Festival in the newly renovated Baby Grand Theatre was also a treat.

The Domino Theatre presents Grace and Glorie (playing until November 8 on the stage at the Grand) with a somewhat predictable script, but 80-year-old Mary Barclay is an inspiration in the main role of Grace.

On October’s art circuit, I followed the complex, vibrant (and frequently funny) rug art of Rhonda Kellett, Laurie Sponagle’s fascinating charcoal waterscapes, and the new fish prints of Kathrine Christensen.

To uncover November’s art discoveries, I’d start with Diversity IV at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library’s Central Wilson Room (reception is on November 6). Then try the November 8 screen-printing workshop at Made for You, or Re-Collection, a look at memories gained and lost, at The Artel on Sydenham Street, running until November 9. A Delightful Circumstance, open until December 21 at Studio 22 Open Gallery, and Art of Culture at Chameleon Nation on Princess Street, both feature selected artists from their collections. The Sandra Whitton Gallery presents Small Pieces (with everything under $250) starting November 24. Thousand Islands Arts (www.tiarts.org) rural Country Christmas Artists’ Home & Studio Tour is scheduled for the weekend of November 29 and 30.

Theatre Kingston brings “a sensual tour of the Limestone City” to the Baby Grand Theatre with their collaboration Garbage and the Flowers from November 12 through 22. Sheer curiosity may also drive me to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the musical adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel, playing at the Wellington Street Theatre November 6 to 30.

On the concert stage, November offers everything from Weekend Jazz at Monte’s in the Prince George Hotel, baritone Bruce Kelly with the Kingston Chamber Choir at St. George’s Cathedral (November 9), the one-and-only Bob Dylan at the K-Rock Centre on November 15, and the acclaimed Eroica Trio at Grant Hall on Queen’s University campus on November 22.

Feeling adventurous? Choose between Applecrisp’s Snowblink at Modern Fuel on November 18, or the Squid Precision Drummers on November 24 at The Grand Theatre. For a full-body harmonic massage, don’t miss The Nylons at the Grand on the evening of November 28.

Check out more than a couple of these events and you’ll feel warm, cosy and wealthy again . . . I guarantee it!



OCTOBER 1, 2008
ARGUING AGAINST THE DARKNESS

The image of a “firefly, arguing against darkness” was just one of several I took away from the impeccable Souvankham Thammavongsa, the poet who read at Carolyn Smart’s Queen’s series in September. The feisty firefly is as precise an image of an artist as I can imagine . . . frequently ephemeral, but always a vehicle of surprise you can count on.

Since it’s a political month, I recommend the Canadian Conference of the Arts website (www.ccarts.ca) for information about the cuts everyone is talking about. To that end, there’s also a local awareness-raising event called Art is Your Story, organized by the Queen’s drama department. Since September 29, the drama folks have been visiting public places throughout Kingston, reading poems and short stories, singing, playing music and performing other forms of art in an effort to demonstrate their belief that we’re all bound together by the arts and the stories artists tell. The group invites members of the general public to tell their own stories by participating in three scheduled events: Sunday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout Kingston; Tuesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 9, any time, throughout Kingston; and Tuesday, October 14 (election day!) on Queen’s campus.

What can get our collective mojos working during October? How about new things from all the galleries that were on the phenomenal and very accessible Art in the Dark walk in September? New experiences for me were nine artists at Sydenham Street Studios (not always well identified, but lively), Frank Danielson at Studio 22 (on until mid-October) and the beautiful new Robert Macklin Gallery at Market Square. Forest Station, a humorous show, is at Modern Fuel until October 18, the day before the Burtynsky and New Robiotics shows close at the Agnes. Chameleon Nation even features a Dog Show on October 18, to go with Art of Outdoors! Kingston Town and Country Studio Tour, featuring artists and artisans such as Carolyn Barnett, Bonnie Brooks, Wendy Cain, Peter Coffman, Hannah Back and Sally Milne in Kingston, Perth Road Village, and the Mill at Lower Brewer’s Lock the same busy weekend.

Prescription Number Two: Try some music and movement. Jazzfest is scheduled at the Baby Grand October 3 to 5, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal will light up the Grand October 9 and Brasswerks plays with Limestone Chorale at St. George’s Cathedral on October 17, followed by a Queen’s Showcase Concert at Grant Hall October 18. The Kingston Symphony presents The Ladies of Swing October 24, and more than 120 choristers from local church choirs will shake the heavens at St. George’s on October 25.

Up for stimulating new concepts? I’d start with the juried exhibition On The Water’s Edge at the Playhouse in Gananoque October 3 to 5. The following weekend, gallop to Three Horse Studio, a five-artist show in an Equestrian Ring at 859 Highway 2 in Lansdowne from October 11 to 13. (You can get a bit more traditional by hitting the TIA Arts Tour while you’re out there.) On October 14, it’s “Voaden Day” — a free reading of the early visionary work of Herman Voaden at the Rotunda in Queen’s (while you wait for the election results to come in). To reward yourself for surviving the elections, do finish off with the free reading by brilliant novelist Maggie Helwig at Queen’s Watson Hall (Room 517, 12:30 p.m. on October 17) or the very cool Tone Deaf Festival (October 21 to 26) at Modern Fuel.

Now fireflies (and voters), get out there and do your stuff!



SEPTEMBER 1, 2008
IT’S ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MONTH — EVERY MONTH

Call me crazy, (OK, call me a Virgo), but I breathe a guilty sigh of relief when the reality of September enters my pores with its cooler air and “getting down to business” demands. Autumn is a bittersweet challenge, rushing (well, ambling) to gather up the final indulgences that will justify my hiding out with books and paintbrushes later in the season.

The past month’s highlight was again my absolute favourite Kingston event: July-end’s Dusk Dances. This brilliant Toronto group actually unleashed three grass-chewing, deadpan, “peeing and bonking” non-anthropomorphized sheep into City Park, courtesy of their hilarious performers. The range of pieces they showcase is totally inspiring. Afterwards, we saw Maureen Sheridan’s impeccable paintings (created with a patience I can’t even conceive) at Gallery Raymond. Theatrically, I was in full rapture watching Rick Miller’s Bigger than Jesus, followed by the small and perfect Kingfisher Days at the Firehall (on through Sep. 13). I also enjoyed Hope Theatre’s grumpily loving couple in April in Paris at the Baby Grand. On the other hand, the long-awaited pleasure of the Cowboy Junkies concert at Festival of the Islands was somewhat marred by watching 7/8 of the sheeplike spectators leaving before show’s end. BAAA.

Art kudos to Chameleon Gallery for its Street Art exhibit and events. They smartly showcased quality work — and styles — of some very engaged youth. Also loved Sandra Whitton Gallery’s Women’s Work, particularly Andrea Graham’s felt lamp and “label dresses” and the political “apology dress” by Rebecca Soudant. Kingston’s Women’s Art Festival standouts were assemblages from Penny Gorman (from Lansdowne’s Balleycanoe), Kate Sykes and Heather Snow, plus paintings by Elizabeth Bourgeois. For photography, I was surprised to prefer parts of Modern Fuel’s more conceptual Infra-Ordinary show to the Bernard Clark-curated show at the Whitton. Exception . . . Kingston’s Preston Schiedel, who was in both. I do wish Modern Fuel was more accessible, in all ways. Is an easily readable explanation of the artists’ visions too much to ask?

For September art, look for Art in the Dark downtown Sep. 25 (6-9 p.m.). There is also Peter Montgomery at the Playhouse Gallery in Gan (complementing the award-winning play Half Life), Art of Women at Chameleon Gallery, enviro-savvy work from painter Jan Derby at the Whitton, and glass artist Cheryl Dunsmore Aug. 28-Sep. 24 at Kingston Glassworks. Inhabited Landscapes has just begun at the Etherington, where photostar Burtynksy speaks Oct. 2 at 4 .pm., with an evening reception.

They’ve generously proclaimed one whole “Arts and Entertainment Week” September 18-27, starting with Canada DanceSport at the K-Rock Centre Sep. 18-20. (It’s performance art of a whole other kind , if you watch the spectators, too!) Domino presents the lovely Humble Boy at the Baby Grand from Sep. 11-27, and the 20th brings the Symphony Gala with Richard Margison, followed by the Grand Presents opener Natalie McMaster. The factory-style oddity Blue Man Group at the K-Rock Centre isn’t for meŠbut I adore the self-created brilliance of Rick Miller’s MacHomer, playing Sep. 27 (again at the Grand!). The Simpsons meet Shakespeare? I’ll raise a donut to that, any day!



AUGUST 1, 2008
TURN, TURN, TURN . . . THE SEASON FOR ART & THE OUTDOORS

“To everything (turn, turn, turn...) there is a season (turn, turn, turn...) and a time for every purpose, under heaven.” Ah, the joys of living in Kingston! One July Tuesday, I experienced the inspiring 89-year-old Pete Seeger at The Grand singing this song, and on Saturday, I enjoyed a group of actors about 65 years younger performing it in Prescott’s St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival’s As You Like It with ALMOST as much energy. Whether people were enjoying the ’60s for the first time or the second, it was a great week.

Back to the future, my favourite July mixing and matching was a leap into the “terrifying beauty” of our planet’s destruction via two Agnes Etherington shows and a movie. We braved the ridiculous lack of crowds at the AE to see Material World, the long-awaited Burtynsky exhibit, and its neighbouring New Robiotics Research project by Kathleen Sellars, followed in the evening with the bleak and yet charming animated movie wall-e! There couldn’t be a better match between visions and realities. When Burtynsky lectures at the Agnes in September, let’s show him that not only the students are interesting people here!

Now it’s August, and the rush to stay outdoors as much as possible is on. Indoors, you should still catch April in Paris before August 10, which inaugurates the Baby Grand space. This romantic comedy is performed by Hope Theatre spouses/founders Mathew Gibson and Jennifer Radford Gibson. On a larger scale, musical lovers might find it hard choosing between passion and charm, but both Les Miserables (Playhouse, until Aug. 30) and Anne & Gilbert (Grand, Aug. 13-30) are marvellously performed.

Mid-August, I’m personally leaning towards three very special musical events an hour or less from Kingston. August 14-17, it’s Prince Edward County’s Jazz Festival, where my picks are Jackie Richardson, Saturday night, or the Jazz Poetry on Friday at Books and Co. In Gananoque, August 18, the fabulous Molly Johnson plays at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, followed later in the month by the Cowboy Junkies in Gan’s Festival of the Islands. In Kingston, there’s the Bluesfest (of couse) but also the totally free and fresh Music in the Gardens concerts. Watch for Kyra and Tully or Spencer Evans. There’s also the herstoric Women’s Art Festival in City Park on August 19, for performances and arts & crafts.

Artwise, I’ll be certain to catch Journeys by Maureen Sheridan at Gallery Raymond until Aug. 17. An exhibition at Studio 22 Aug. 9-31 of works by Samphan Chayaraks Usher that had been “created and hidden away for ten years” also sounds intriguing. Combining “funs?” Studio 22 is open from 6-10 on Thursdays, and the same night there are free movies at Springer Square across the street. How (literally) cool is that? Award for novel art event of the month? Gananoque’s dedicated Dreams in Motion studio is doing an Art-A-Thon to raise funds on August 15. Just how much arting could you do in an hour?



JULY 1, 2008
HIP ’N HOPPING . . . GREAT STUFF, CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

I’ve deduced that my favourite art days (or dates, for that matter) tend to combine unique ideas with great settings and intriguing conversations. In June, a trip to the third annual Art Among the Ruins exhibit in Newburgh kicked off one such day, providing a delightful opportunity to prowl through the ruins of an old mill, have a fairly wide gamut of encounters with arty ideas and objects, and to spend an hour in conversations with the diverse exhibitors and my “artcrawling” husband. (We particularly enjoyed Maureen Swann’s found object sculptures.) To separate the possible purchases from the passes, we finally agreed (for this month) that “art is something that keeps releasing information and inspiration over time.” Although we didn’t buy anything at “the ruins,” our standards for functional art were fabulously met 20 minutes further north in Tamworth at Bon Eco Design, whose owner, Carolyn Butts, has been dedicated to transforming difficult-to-recycle material (tires) into inspired décor objects for nearly 20 years. The beauty and uniqueness of her work knocked me out, and the sustainable design principles of the pieces are simply “added value.” I also enjoyed the June opening at Princess Street’s Chameleon Nation, where the shows are always theme-based and lively. Catch Chameleon’s Birthday Celebration from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 6.

June was a good solid month for theatre. I was most impressed by: the overwhelmingly professional acting quality of Dramatic Impact’s DA, and the sharp writing of playwright Hannah Moscovitch in the Firehall’s impeccably performed The Russian Play. I’ll also single out Reminder to the Audience by Kevin Fox at Domino’s One Act Play Festival. But can we have equal time for a Reminder to Theatre Companies? If you’re a company who can’t bother to tell us who these performers are — and where to see them next — maybe you shouldn’t be surprised when new audiences feel shut out of the in-crowd, and don’t return. Next month, we’ll talk about audibility. . . .

In July, anyone with an ounce of hip, class or kids older than 10 should take 20 minutes to drive to the Playhouse for the hip and hoppy Four Horsemen Project or to hear the tremendous musical talents in Les Miserables. (Adults can catch the phenomenal Rick Miller there in Bigger Than Jesus. It’s honestly the best theatre piece I’ve ever seen. Don’t let the momentum stop there . . . sign up for the Grand Theatre’s 2008/9 dance or children’s series and then dash to the Burtynsky exhibit at the Agnes. Guilty pleasures? Look at these excursions as an eco-statement, since the venues are saving you litres and litres by bringing truly major folks to your doorstep. They’ll also inspire everyone who is producing locally. Speaking of local, I’m “down with” going to Cinderella at the Wellington — as long as we chat about Prince Charming (or the pressure to be one) afterwards. Can you take more fun? End the month with Dusk Dances, the multicultural and brilliant dancers in City Park, July 24 to 27. I dare you!



JUNE 1, 2008
PROS, PROSE AND THE CRAFT OF ART

Amateur versus professional. Craft versus art. Stimulation versus decoration. The mind reels when trying to judge artistic experience. What separates the things that garner my admiration from those that elicit my lukewarm (or negative) response? May was a big month for Kingston studio tours and galleries, and it kept both mind and eye very busy. Stimulation usually trumped craft when attracting my attention, but concept without equal craft seemed downright indulgent. Writers: Care enough to speak audibly! Artists: Ideas alone are not enough!

May studio tour standouts were Bernadette Pratt’s beautifully crafted yet conceptual porcelain work, Julie Davidson Smith’s encaustics, Andrea Graham’s felt “sculptures,” and Silvat Aziz’s multi-layered photography at a Bob Lovelace fundraiser. At the Kingston Juried Arts Salon (which was cleverly used later for a somewhat disappointing “professional” poetry reading), I loved Suzy Lamont’s Burtynsky-esque photography, Laurie Sponagle’s award-winning drawing Compulsion, Sue Sheedy’s encaustic, another Andrea Graham work, and Marney McDiarmid’s ceramic. I would, however, like to see curator/juror notes describing the criteria for selecting the winners. Later, I enjoyed the stunning new Kingston Glass Studio and Gallery on Queen Street. Laura Donefer’s glass “amulet baskets,” Joel Alexander’s pieces that used blown glass and “beaver-chewed wood” caught my fancy, but there are some other spectacular “high craft” works.

For performing arts, I declare a bias towards professional theatre (someone, please do a forum on this hot subject!) but in May, I genuinely enjoyed Kinsmen’s Beauty and the Beast, which was well done (in spite of the plastic Disney script.). And the gorgeous Grand Theatre is, finally, exactly what Kingston deserves.

Coming up in June: Visually – run, don’t walk, to the Agnes Etherington exhibition Edward Burtynsky, Material World, from the 28th of June through to October. (Dates for his fall talk, TBA.) Burtynsky has donated 47 works to the Agnes; the exhibition is drawn from them. I’ll also head out to Newburgh June 14 for an intriguing Art among the Ruins, and then pop over to the Bon Eco studio in Tamworth for a day of country innovation. Closer by, it will be good to see a show by longtime Kingston artist Robert Blenderman at Studio 22, as well as the “Chairs of Gananoque” by Laurie Sponagle at the Firehall Theatre for most of the month.

Performance-wise – For a “First Capitol Days” flashback to the 19th century, St. George’s Cathedral has concerts on June 19 featuring trumpeter Larry House and keyboard player and early music specialist Aurora Dokken, and on June 26 featuring the Kingston Chamber Players. My personal picks are Theatre Kingston’s theatrical collaboration I Said I (mixture of arts pros and fascinatingly diverse community groups) of Peter Handke’s “Self-Accusation” at the Grand for June 26 (cheap day!), 27 and 28, the moving Irish play Da, with a cast of Kingston favourites, at the Grand on June 12-21, and Assorted Candies as well as Russian Play (big out-of-town stars) at the Playhouse. Might be interesting: EODL festival of one-acts, Domino at the Tett, June 12: the “Susan Smith Tapes” by the sometimes controversial recent arts grad Jennifer Kenneally.



MAY 1, 2008
HEAVEN - OR THE ALTERNATIVE?

If David Byrne (Talking Heads) was right when he said: “Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens,” I suppose I’d choose the other direction. The April arts events I chose not only ranged from Hell to Paradise, but also increasingly involved our community with the worlds/afterworlds in which they were set.

“Hell” (purposely) was Judith Thompson’s Crackwalker from Bottletree. Perhaps Bottletree thought that because the oft-produced play was Kingston-set, it was reason enough to do this early work again. I found Thompson’s unrelentingly dreary (and outsider’s) view of her subjects has dated, and neutered any genuine impact of the piece for me. Kudos, however, to two excellent young actors, Talia Acker and Peter Jensen.

“Paradise” was Chameleon Nation’s Art of the Garden exhibit, which featured a charming talk by Jennifer Dickson, whose acclaimed garden photographs were a large part of the show. The only slightly hellish part was in bringing a guest and then discovering the “donation” to charity for the talk was a fixed $12 amount.

Bouncing between supposedly evil and almost sublime were What Have You Done, at the Agnes Etherington, and Salon des Refuses at Studio 222 on King. I initially loved the apparent controversy that some “poor graduating students” who had supposedly been denied their inclusive and expected grad show at the Etherington had been swept up for the Studio 222 show. Apparently, they had known since 2006 that a curated Agnes exhibition was coming up. Maybe the “controversy” was a touch of contrived PR to welcome the students to their afterlife in the “real” world.

Next, Theatre Kingston’s Talking of Michelangelo was a fascinating visit to the limbo that awaits us all, taking audiences through the sharply meandering mind of an elderly woman (hopefully) facing death. TK also had a community-inspired connection – adding speakers such as death-defying philosopher Adele Mercier to the show.

Speaking of death-defying . . . Most of us thought Richie Havens had passed on years ago. To hear him here, up close, at Sydenham United was quite . . . transcendental!

On to the Glorious Month of May! You’d have to be tied to your couch not to venture out for the opening of the finally renovated Grand Theatre. Beauty and The Beast uses about every community theatre person around. The Thousand Islands Playhouse gets three shows – Glorious, The Russian Play and Essay – to open the Springer and Firehall seasons.

My own Heaven in May will be the huge number of artists’ works and studios you can see. You start with the Kingston Art Tour May 3 and 4, followed by NGB Studios’ Mother’s Day Open House at 12 Cataraqui Street. Opening May 8, for all of May, is the annual Juried Arts Salon at the Central Library, where you can probably find many of the same artists, and more. Five minutes away, you can visit some important works the city actually owns at the Art for the Community Show at the Etherington. Did you know you own a Lismer, a Bieler, a Milne, a Lemieux and an A.Y. Jackson? You do!



APRIL 1, 2008
FROM THE SLUMS TO THE STARS

In March, I had just returned from a whirlwind Africa trip and, hungry for even more stimulation, leaned mostly towards visual experiences. Before I left, I was particularly looking forward to the Parallel World exhibit (Modern Fuel, until April 19) by Boja Vasic and Vessna Perunovich, about “forced nomads” living in makeshift shacks on the edge of Belgrade. After seeing hundreds of huts and the shacks of Kibera, Africa’s biggest slum, I felt this exhibition was too close to being an example of how the West “poverty pimps” – even in art. Adding a constructed shack did three-dimensionalize the experience, but the monotonous photographs were unimaginative, and my responses felt manipulated. On the other hand, social meaning is conveyed with enormous artistic skill, vision and humour in the wonderful Carol Condé/Karl Beveridge retrospective Working Culture, at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre until June 8. This multi-layered retrospective shows the couple’s longtime use of staged photography to depict stories and situations of real workers in a variety of situations, including one local example. Rant: The Agnes Etherington’s exhibitions are so reliably brilliant; why doesn’t the city encourage locals and tourists to get there? Talk about keeping great art hidden in academe! Ironically, this inaccessibility sums up everything Condé and Beveridge have worked so hard to change.

Since it’s garden season, Princess Street’s Chameleon Gallery has very wisely invited garden art specialist Jennifer Dickson (whose work I saw at the National Gallery years ago) to speak on Saturday, April 12 at 2 p.m., in conjunction with their show Art of the Garden. Speaking of blooming talents, fertilize yours with workshops by Julie Smith, (613-531-8901). On April 11, Printmaking basics; April 20, Encaustics; April 27, Creative Families. You might even make the April 11 entry deadline for the Kingston Arts Council’s annual Juried Arts Salon (613-547-2466). I’ve also found two local arts blogs to check out: Julie Smith’s juliepaint.blogspot.com and Hennie Marsh’s art-muse.blogspot.com. Feel free to tell me about others.

Theatrically, it’s an intriguing month. April 17-27, Theatre Kingston presents Kim Renders’ Talking With Michelangelo, a hypnotic piece in progress at Queen’s Vogt Studio. Various speakers or readers (myself, included) preface the performance by Judy Cooke on different nights. The Domino presents the chilling classic The Collector April 3 to 19 and a playreading on April 8 at 7 p.m. It could be too much of a good thing, but the 12-Hour Poetry Marathon at Chapters – April 18, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. – comes with free coffee and tea. If you want to read, contact mail@leahbrowning.net.

Musical treats include Live Wire’s Slide To Freedom, a groundbreaking world music collaboration with Doug Cox and two classical Indian musicians Sunday, April 13 at L’Octave and I solisti di BrassWerks (featuring the premiere of John Palmer’s Celtic Suite) April 18 at St. George’s. Finally, finish off the month with the stars. If you hurry, there might be tickets left for the legendary Richie Havens on April 25 and Holst’s The Planets from the Kingston Symphony April 26 and 27. Brilliant!