St. Albert, it is time to circle your calendar for the biggest arts party of the year.
Everything is in place for the second annual StArts Fest coming Sept. 17 to 19 at St. Albert Place, a bold and imaginative cornucopia that unites several hundred artists in assorted disciplines.
Falling under the umbrella of Alberta Arts Days, this festival is more than an artistic showcase. In fact, its two-pronged aim celebrates artists while inspiring community involvement, appreciation and responsibility.
Feeding on last year’s success, the organizing committee has expanded the two-day event to three full days. “We just couldn’t fit everything we wanted to do in two days,” says St. Albert Cultivates the Arts Committee chair Peter Moloney.
Several new, rousing highlights include a hefty film screening of indie works, fire jugglers, a dragon unveiling and a performing artist showcase.
As well, the newly formed St. Albert Theatre Arts Guild premieres at the One Act Play Festival, performing eight original works selected from the One Act Play Competition held last spring.
Next Saturday, the St. Albert Farmers’ Market offers added dazzle as chef Willie White from the River House Grill whips up a cooking demonstration, the Floral Arts Guild displays its quilted car cosy wrapped around a Honda Civic, and the St. Albert Community Band debuts its season under the baton of newly appointed conductor, Dr. Angela Schroeder.
And keep your eyes and ears open for a town crier strolling through the farmers’ market, announcing all the different activities happening at St. Albert Place.
Kicking off the three-day event is the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Gala on Friday, a semi-formal affair that shines a congratulatory light on our numerous artists that often toil in obscurity.
More than 30 nominees — potters, dancers, visual artists, actors and writers — will be feted. Artists in six categories will receive an award designed by local potter Julie Hage and sponsors will be thanked with a stone carving by Ken Q Li.
Sprinkled throughout the evening is a top-drawer bill of performers ranging from renowned drummer Sandro Dominelli and acclaimed contemporary dancer Andrew Murdock to jazz vocalist Lindsey Nagy and the Western Canadian Music Award-winning WindRose Trio.
In addition, the Documentary and Independent Film Festival (DIFF), a non-profit society, will feature Black Angus, an experimental five-minute film noir shot at Ortona Armoury.
“The film has no sound. We shot it in super16 and Wendy (McNeill) sings live along with it. We were striving to do something opposite from the popular music and videos of today. We were looking to create a mood,” explains Dave Morgan, film director and co-founder of DIFF.
On Saturday, DIFF continues to break the mould. At 7:30 p.m. Walk in the Magical Woods, is an art installation created by visual artist Memi Von Gaza in the forested pathway between St. Albert Place and Millennium Park. “There will be lights, projectors, dioramas. It will be humorous and magical.”
And at 8 p.m., an outdoor family film screening of Howl’s Moving Castle, a two-hour animation by Hiyao Miyazaki, takes place on the west end of St. Albert Place.
At the same time, DIFF is setting up multiple projectors in St. Albert Place Plaza and will run videos, films, slides and lights on the building’s walls while Vibe Tribe entertains the crowds. “They juggle fire. They dance. Their physicality and beauty – yet get entranced by it.”
Throughout Saturday, numerous activities are planned at St. Albert Place including fashioning corsages, making plaster reliefs, mini-paintings and tactile lap quilts for seniors with dementia.
One of the most anticipated events is the unveiling of Daniel the Dragon. The six-foot, curly-tailed, 110 lb. clay dragon is a project of local artists Shirley Rogozinsky and Julie Hage. At last year’s festival, more than 100 visitors left clay handprints. The duo took the clay fingers and applied them to the body and spine of the dragon as scales. Daniel is safely hidden until the unveiling, however Hage did say, “Anybody who has seen the finished project says it’s amazing.”
An artist showcase demonstrates the versatility of local talent that ranges from pop-rock-country singer Stephen Lecky to Martha Livingston’s jazz tunes to St. Albert Ballet Academy’s classical moves.
Quetzala Carson, a 2010 Ă©cole St. Marguerite d’Youville graduate and St. Albert Idol winner, is also known throughout the community for her hard-hitting social justice tunes and will sling her guitar at the showcase.
“This is such a great opportunity. As a province we haven’t shown the arts that much support and it’s amazing that in St. Albert, despite budget cuts, we still want to make it a priority and raise our kids with art. It’s a great way for kids to better themselves and better the world.”
Perhaps the most poignant, heart-wrenching moment of the festival will be evoked at Terminal Lowes, a 45-minute musical drama scripted by 2010 Paul Kane graduates Steven Angove and Ashley Lynn. The award-winning musical highlights Lowe’s Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder in males that causes severe mental and physical handicaps.
“Our whole goal from the beginning was to educate the public. We want to let audiences know that real people are suffering,” says Angove.
On Sunday the visual arts take over as St. Albert Public Library hosts an art exhibit and Profiles Gallery stages Beyond the Frame Children’s Exhibit.
DIFF also hopes to launch a film festival in St. Albert in April 2011 and on Sunday evening at the Arden Theatre, they will screen a sampling of 10 short indie works by local filmmakers.
These low-budget pet projects offer a unique perspective of the mind’s eye. For instance, Scott Portingale’s Midnight Matinee is a stop-motion animated film; Eva Colmers End of Rope has a Cirque du Soleil element as actors dance on aerial ropes and Peter Wunstorf’s Patience is a beautifully captured cinematic romance.
Festival costs to the St. Albert taxpayer are minimal. Through ticket revenue and sponsorship, the gala breaks even. And costs for the festival outside the gala are about $80,000. The City of St. Albert is contributing an operating grant of $7,500 and the organizing committee can apply to the province for a one-time Community Initiatives Program grant up to $75,000.
For a complete list of events and activities visit www.celebratethearts.ca.
