Last Saturday morning, anyone stepping into the normally quiet Arden Theatre lobby heard the rhythmic beat of drums echoing from Progress Hall.
StArts Fest, the city’s three-day cultural festival, a version of Alberta Arts Days running Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, was strutting its most colourful plumage.
Represented were just about every artistic discipline ranging from drumming, music, painting, quilting, floral design and dance to art exhibits, poetry readings, literary talks, a film showcase and theatre mini-fest.
The St. Albert Public Library really stepped up to the plate programming many children’s activities including building a pioneer diorama, redesigning altered books and hosting a workshop with playwright Marty Chan, non-fiction writer Gayleen Froese and mystery writer Wayne Arthurson.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of the weekend. This year we had some new things that were quite successful such as the Story Slam and the self-publishing workshop. The one event that continued to draw quite a few people were the one-act plays,” says StArts fest committee co-chair Peter Moloney.
One of the first activities to kick-start the festival was a drum circle workshop attended by about a dozen people. Rather than teaching technique, facilitator Marilyn Berezowski used the opportunity to create a relaxing state of flow.
One of the drummers who benefited from the experience was Linda Kropf of Edmonton.
“The last couple of years, I wanted to join a drum circle. The drumbeat is a connection to Mother Earth and the heart. It is a healing journey. I was looking for a connection for myself. I was trying to find my rhythm.”
Upstairs the library’s small second-floor computer room was jam-packed with about 25 people eager to learn more about every aspect of self-publishing. The information presented by various speakers was solid and the questions flew fast and furious.
Edmonton resident Jason Norman had just received a grant from the Albert Arts Foundation for a book of short stories.
“I was really interested in learning more about the machine – how easy and really cheap it is for someone like me to do publishing, and it’s in my own back yard.”
Also in the library – a salute to St. Albert’s 150th anniversary – children were building shoebox dioramas of pioneer houses complete with potbelly stoves, woodbins and quilted beds.
Grade-schooler Ayesha Elkorazati, whose favourite program is Little House on the Prairie, proudly proclaimed, “If I have a doll that’s small enough, I’ll put it in.”
The St. Albert Theatre Arts Guild attracted over 100 people to Arden Theatre for its round of locally written plays. From David Haas comedic Shining Way where a couple of proselytizers meet a nut bar, to Patricia Drapeau’s disturbing Flesh and Blood about elder abuse, each play presented universal moments in people’s lives.
St. Albert’s Jane Beacham was particularly caught up with the compelling Flesh and Blood.
“It has a community message. It teaches us to look out for elder abuse, step in and call for help.”
Over at Ric’s Grill, the place was stacked with literary fans watching the debut of Story Slam. The 10 slammers not only treated the audience to their wacky vision of life, but they were lively, fun and entertaining.
Coincidentally, the winner was Jason Norman with his rendition of House on Fire.
“It felt good winning. But I like getting audience reaction. They laughed and that’s the most important thing.”
Back at St. Albert Place, the floral, paper and quilters’ guilds had fewer folks passing through. However, the potters’ guild was a noisy gathering as wannabe potters tentatively experimented throwing clay on a wheel.
This year, the Prairie Tales film fest only attracted about a couple of people and that may have been due to its location in the St. Place boardroom on the third floor.
Overall attendance at StArts Fest appeared lower. Moloney speculated that a variety of influences might have contributed.
“The farmers’ market had a reduced number of people walking about and that may have affected us. Also the Enjoy Centre was having their official opening on Saturday and I guess that drew some people.”
Although a few sites had smaller draws, StArts Fest was ultimately a special magnet for arts lovers and the all-encompassing energy was contagious.
