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Special Offer! See below.

Re:Verse

RANDOM ACTS OF POETRY
» Thursday 2 October 2008 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing people and ideas featured in Okanagan ARTS. Join us as Marion Barschel, Jeremy Auld, David Crawley, Carl Hare, Janet Anderson and Valerie Stetson present a stimulating journey of discovery into the magical world of poetry.

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» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE

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Celebrities Celebrate the Power of Poetry

Poetry is our first voice, and some might argue, our final voice. From cradle to grave, and for much of the journey in between, it is poetry more than any other literary form that captures the peak moments in our lives. For decades children grew up on the poetry of A.A. Milne, and later in life grew to love William Wordsworth, or William Blake. Today's generation more commonly find poetry in lyrics, but it has also morphed into the modern-day form of spoken word - a combination of poetry and theatre art where top-notch practitioners command peak pay for their slam performances.

"Poetry has been changing its image these days - young people are coming to it with new skills learned from music and the Web. It's revitalizing the Canadian literary experience," says Nancy Holmes, a poet and UBCO associate professor who has spent the last few years bringing Random Acts of Poetry to the streets of Kelowna.

This year, Holmes has joined forces with the Okanagan Institute to put on a special poetry event featuring a variety of poets, lovers of poetry, and spoken word experts reading from their own works, and others. As part of the event, Holmes has invited her university students to assist the audience in creating their own poetry.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to remind people of how creative they are, and to pay attention to the seemingly small things in life," says Karin Wilson, co-host and associate director of the Institute.

This coming Thursday, October 2, the Okanagan Institute Express presents Re:Verse - Random Acts of Poetry, hosted by Nancy Holmes at 5 pm at the Bohemian Café in Kelowna. Marion Barschel, Jeremy Auld, David Crawley, Carl Hare, Janet Anderson and Valerie Stetson present a stimulating journey of discovery into the magical world of poetry.

Marion Barschel is the host of CBC Radio's Daybreak which airs throughout the Southern Interior. Prior to her arrival in Kelowna eight years ago, Marion worked for CBC Radio in Regina. Daybreak has made it part of its mission to bring poetry to the people through its annual summer poetry contest, produced with the assistance of John Lent from Okanagan College in Vernon. The series has succeeded in introducing regional poets to listeners throughout the region.

Jeremy Auld likes to do things a little differently. In keeping with the mindset of the MSN generation, Jeremy mixes numbers with letters in unusual ways to make people think about the way the choose to communicate. As he says: "I started wrighting when I was 16. I like 2 wright in a way that allows people to think and ask questions. My motivation is 2 paint murals with the colour of words and inspire beauty in the world."

David Crawley is the retired Anglican Archbishop of B.C. and retired bishop of the Kootenay Diocese. He's also a story-teller, cook, sausage maker, skier�and occasional writer who failed third year English but loves poetry.

Carl Hare retired to Kelowna 11 years ago after a lifetime in the theatre community. Founder of the theatre department at the University of Victoria, he also taught at the National Theatre School, and was chair of the Drama Department at the University of Alberta. Trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England, he was a professional actor and director and the Artistic Director of Company One Theatre. Since his arrival in Kelowna he has acted both with Sunshine Theatre and the Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops and been narrator with the Okanagan Symphony on a number of occasions. Over the past two decades he has also explored the writing of poetry and is presently engaged in a major work.

Janet Anderson is the Artistic Director of Festivals Kelowna, producers of the Life & Arts Festival, Parks Alive!, Arts Alive!, and the Kelowna Canada Day Celebrations. Prior to arriving in Kelowna, Janet worked for 10 years organizing groundbreaking collaborative projects in theatre, print, video, sound, computer graphics, multimedia, and virtual reality. She also coordinated and stage managed many special events in Alberta including the Celebrity Sports Invitational Auction and Gala for Robert Kennedy Jr. She also has wide-ranging experience as an actor, producer, teacher and director of children's theatre workshops and productions.

Valerie Stetson is a writer living in Kelowna. Her first book, a collection of short stories called The Year I Got Impatient, was a runner-up for the 2008 Danuta Gleed Literary Award. The title story also received The 2001 Bronwen Wallace Award. Her second book, a collection of poems called Living In Gravity, was published in 2008. She is currently writing a novel.

Nancy Holmes writes both short fiction and poetry. She has published four collections of poetry, Valancy and the New World (Kalamalka Press, 1988), Down to the Golden Chersonese: Victorian Lady Travellers (Sono Nis, 1991), The Adultery Poems (Ronsdale, 2002) Mandorla (Ronsdale, 2005). Her poetry and fiction have recently been published in Room of One's Own, Lichen, The Malahat Review, Matrix, Prairie Fire, Grain, The Harpweaver, A Room of One's Own and The Antigonish Review. She teaches Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and has worked as an editor, writing instructor, and mother.

Re:Verse - Random Acts of Poetry is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 60th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, and others from a variety of creative fields.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE

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Dear Community Cultural Partner: In appreciation of your dedication to the cultural life of our community, Ballet Kelowna is pleased to invite you to the fall season opening "Bolero & Other Works" at Kelowna Community Theatre on October 3rd & 4th at 8 pm with a special offer of 20% off the price of regular admission. Breathtakingly beautiful, Ballet Kelowna captivates audiences with classical and innovative dance. Be Moved! Complete tour schedule information is available at http://www.BalletKelowna.ca. To use your passwords, follow the link above to purchase online or call (250) 860-1470 to speak with a call centre representative. Passwords: CCP1 = Adult | CCP2 = Student Child | CCP3 = Senior

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Where Enquiring Minds Gather. Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.

The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that have gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.

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26 Sep 2008

Concert season in Oliver gets underway on Friday October 17th with ‘I Tromboni’

Five trombones and one extraordinary experience will jump start the concert season this year. The executive of the South Okanagan Concert Society is thrilled to have I Tromboni on stage at Venables Auditorium, Friday, October 17th at 8:00 p.m. The virtuoso ensemble is made up of five of Canada’s finest young trombonists who reach diverse audiences by combining unique arrangements of both well-known and new music with stylish and often humorous delivery. The talented group incorporates music of many genres into their performances: baroque, classical, jazz, romantic, contemporary and popular. Full of fun and energy, their performance promises an exciting evening of live music and a great start to the four concert series.

Tickets for the series are on sale at Periwinkles in Oliver and Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos. A Four Admission Flex Pass will get you into all the concerts but, if you prefer, it can be shared with a friend so both of you can come to two concerts. You can also put a group of four together for an evening and use up one pass at one concert. The pass costs only $55 and is the envy of music lovers in larger cities who pay far more to be entertained by this level of high caliber live talent. Single admissions can be obtained at the door for $20 and in order to encourage a love of music in young people, students 17 and under are welcomed free.

On Friday, November 21st, Infinitus String Quartet, an ensemble known for upbeat performance style and energetic audience interaction will be showcased. The four versatile young award winning musicians from Canada and the United States play both modern hits and classical repertoire. They are technically superb, wonderfully informative and enormously fun!

The new year brings a special treat the day before Valentine’s Day. Opera With a Twist & a Kiss features Canadian born tenor Paul and soprano Melina Moore. They delight fans with their love of music, mayhem and each other. These Julliard trained vocalists are masters of their art. They wow the audiences with their incredible vocal range, charisma and enthusiasm. A little opera and Broadway for Valentine’s Day will cheer those of you starting to find the winter long!

Trio Verlaine will conclude the series on Friday, March 13th, 2009. McGhee, Harding and Krutzen were drawn together by friendship and a keen desire to further an unusual instrumental combination dreamed of by Debussy. Flute, harp and viola are not natural companions but with superb musicianship and complete mastery of their respective instruments, the separate instrumental voices blend readily without sacrificing individuality. This is music making at its finest.

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25 Sep 2008

The Rotary Centre for the Arts will be bustling on Friday October 4th with performances by LYPService, The Shirleys and a fabulous art opening featuring artist Michael Rathjen.

LYPService will be performing in the Atrium for the free Munch 'n' Music pre-show at 7pm. This dynamic, all female vocal group incorporates piano and percussion into their delicious acapella performances that include everything from 20's swing to current pop songs.

Following the pre-show, The Shirleys will be performing in the Mary Irwin Theatre at 8pm. This fantastic septet will be singing everything from Graham Central Station and Afro-Cuban Orisha songs to Native American lullabies. Wowing audiences wherever they perform, The Shirleys' harmonies are complex, full of passion, and sung in at least seven different languages!

Guests are also encouraged to stop by the Galleria to view the featured exhibition by photography-based artist, Michael Rathjen. The show titled On Trees focuses primarily on the forests affected by the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire. An opening reception to celebrate the exhibition will be held from 6-9pm. The artist will be in attendance and everyone is welcome to attend!

To find out more about these events and what's happening at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in October please visit www.RotaryCentrefortheArts.com.

About the Rotary Centre for the Arts

Located in the heart of Kelowna's Cultural District, the Rotary Centre for the Arts is a multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts centre and a rental venue providing enjoyment of a wide array of events and festivals. At the RCA, the community can experience artists and performers in action, and share in the excitement of developing and strengthening art and culture in the Okanagan.

Rotary Centre for the Arts Shelly Vida Performing Arts Coordinator email: svida@rotarycentreforthearts.com phone: 250-717-5304 ext. 105

Rotary Centre for the Arts Jennifer Novy Communications Coordinator email: jnovy@rotarycentreforthearts.com phone: 250-717-5304 ext. 102

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24 Sep 2008

Theme: Celebrating the Artists in Our Valley…

Expanding culture, enriching lives… reflecting on their lives. What goes on behind the scenes and in preparation for the artistic experiences we all enjoy? What is now in preparation or the soon-to-be-released projects?

Capsule College, the on-going lecture series co-sponsored by the University Women’s Club of Vernon and Okanagan College, Kalamalka Campus, resumes on Thursday October 9, 2008 at 9:30 am in the Halina Centre (in the Rec Centre, 3310 37 Avenue).

The first talk on October 9, “Another Day in the Arts, perhaps…” is presented by Bob Kingsmill, well-known Vernon and Vancouver area potter. Through an illustrated talk, Bob will speak about his forty years of experience as a studio craftsman, a journey of unanticipated consequences and unexpected rewards.

The second presentation on October 16, “A Woman on the Podium!” features Rosemary Thomson, conductor and music director, Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. She responds two questions she often receives: “What does a conductor do anyway?"  and "There aren't many women in your field are there?" Rosemary speaks to her experience as a pioneer in the exciting male dominated profession of orchestral conducting.
The third presentation on October 23 “Make ‘em Laugh” will be given by Christine Pilgrim, actor and historical interpreter. Comedy feeds whatever Christine does, whether it's a show, historic interpretation, storytelling, writing or teaching.  She is convinced that laughter keeps you healthy, aids memory and is the best way to approach life.  Christine shares the secrets and lessons of 40 years in show biz.
The fourth talk in the series “A Teller of Tales” will be presented by Jack Whyte, author, who reflects on his journey as a successful and popular author, and about the love of language, its uses and usage that has provided him with a lifetime of successful work despite the fact that the various elements of his multiple careers and achievements might appear, at first glance, to be unrelated.

Admission to Capsule College is $7 per lecture or $20 for the series, payable at the door. Proceeds support the sponsorship of two scholarships each year for students at Okanagan College.

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24 Sep 2008

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24 Sep 2008