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 Arts Council of the Central Okanagan 140-1735 Dolphin Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8A6 Kelowna BC Canada V1Y 8T8 Email: Click Here. Elke Lange, Executive Director Telephone: 250.861-4123 Produced in association with the Okanagan Institute
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LATEST ARTS NEWS
Below are the latest news items included on this website in all categories. If you are interested in a particular category, click on the menu items at the top.Theatre Company And Shopping Centre Continue Christmas Collaboration
Kelowna Actors Studio is thrilled to announce that they have been once again commissioned by Orchard Park Shopping Centre to recruit the elves and Mrs. Claus characters for their annual Santa display.
“A child’s visit to Santa should be a fun and exciting part of Christmas, filled with magic and wonder,” says Orchard Park Shopping Centre marketing manager, Natalie Walstrom. “Last year we realized that we had invested a great deal of time and energy into creating the wonderful Santa display that exists at Orchard Park, but we were missing a key element -- the element of wonder.”
“I approached Kelowna Actors Studio because I respect the work they’ve done to create a variety of different worlds. If anyone could bring that element of magic to our Santa display, they could. I was thrilled when they agreed to create an unique partnership.”
“We were very interested about the prospect of assisting Orchard Park with their Santa display,” says Kelowna Actors Studio artistic director, Randy Leslie. “I was clear from the onset that if we were to tackle the project, it would have to be done right. We were so happy that the vision translated into a reality last year and are pleased to tackle the project again.”
Leslie’s artistic vision is that the hired elves will present definite and entertaining attributes, which will be incorporated into their personal costuming and talents. Mrs. Claus will be played as the traditional wife of Santa Claus who assists with the production of Santa's toys, sometimes overseeing their production by Santa's elves. The photographer and additional staff will be dressed in Victorian “Christmas Carol” garb.
A series of interviews and workshops will assist in finding friendly, outgoing individuals who enjoy working with children and adults in an interactive environment. As the individuals will be playing a role as an elf or Mrs. Claus, past performance experience is a plus, but not a pre-requisite. All costuming will be the responsibility of Kelowna Actors Studio.
“I felt that it’s imperative to the overall feel and experience that the ‘set’ be treated very much as a performance and each team member aid in an experience similar to that you would expect in a Disney environment,” says Leslie. “In addition to the love of children, additional talents could include singing, dancing, playing an instrument, juggling or any other specialty ‘circus’ skills.”
Now entering its sixth season, Kelowna Actors Studio's mandate is to produce vibrant, exciting presentations; fun, challenging and enriching learning experiences for students of all ages; and to enrich the cultural landscape of the Okanagan Valley. Orchard Park Shopping Centre, located in the Okanagan Valley, currently offers more than 170 shops and services and has over 6 million shoppers each year. Orchard Park is owned by Primaris Retail REIT (TSX: PMZ.UN) and professionally managed by Oxford Management Services Inc.
As part of this unique partnership opportunity, Orchard Park will be the presenting sponsor of Kelowna Actors Studio’s holiday season production of Cinderella.
“We understand the importance of a child's visit to Santa, and we are excited at the prospect of recreating the magic this Christmas for Okanagan children of all ages at Orchard Park Shopping Centre,” concludes Kelowna Actors Studio’s Randy Leslie.
Giant Chair looms over downtown cityscape in Kelowna, BC
Look up…look way up… Walking through the Cultural District in Kelowna, you can see the back of a giant chair protruding from the inner courtyard space at the Kelowna Art Gallery into the open air. This huge work of art is made from the discarded wooden trusses that were used to build the new William R. Bennett Bridge across Lake Okanagan. Kelowna artist Byron Johnston saw the trusses on the bridge while sailing on the lake, and as the scavenger he is, had the idea to transform the building materials into a piece of art. He wanted to make a connection to the bridge in the materials used and he decided to build a chair big enough to see the bridge from the top of the chair, and to see the chair from the bridge…be careful if you’re driving!
Trained in California in sculpture, Johnston returned to Kelowna – his place of birth – shortly after completing his MFA at the University of California in Santa Barbara in 1990. He began teaching at Okanagan University College in 1991. (In 2005 the College became the University of British Columbia Okanagan, where Johnston continues to teach.) By coincidence, the artist has assigned a “chair” project to his sculpture students each year for a long while, so the concept of working with the chair theme for this outdoor installation was not entirely foreign.
Kelowna Art Gallery curator, Liz Wylie got the idea to do this ongoing project as the gallery has a boat-like sculpture by artist Peter von Thiesenhausen in the hallway, and over the entrance door, a large bell made from woven wicker by Toronto-based artist Mark Gomes. A former curator of the Kelowna Art Gallery, Ihor Holubizky, once speculated on the possibly inauspicious situation of having a boat that cannot float and a bell that cannot ring. And so the idea arose: why not a chair that no one can sit on – a dysfunctional chair – which nevertheless riffs off some kind of chair-ness, to further the collection of our non-functioning objects.
The series of commissions for Dysfunctional Chair’s is envisioned as a way of programming the enclosed but open-to-the-sky courtyard space through all seasons of the year, with contemporary, unique works of art that are meant to take the theme of a non-functioning chair (in some form or other) and run with it. So, while one artist might create a sculpture from pieces of chairs, another might modify an existing chair to make it un-sittable.
Byron Johnston’s Dysfunctional Chair will be in place until January 11, 2009
Not with a BANG but with an SUV
Capsule College Autumn Series Starts October 9
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.
Further information, contact: Linda Peterat 250-545-6171
Fall Classes at Actors Studio
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR FALL CLASSES |
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CLASSES for KIDS and ADULTS REGISTER TODAY! |
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September 22 to December 1 (10 weeks) “Get Into The Act” - FILM, STAGE & GAMES!
Hairspray – Performance Troupe
Stage Struck Teens – FILM, STAGE & GAMES! THE WIZARD OF OZ -- ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT!! ... ADULT CLASSES! ... ADULT CLASSES! ... ADULT CLASSES! ... September 26 to December 12 (12 weeks) Broadway Dance with Tracy Ross
Adult Improv! |
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