This is your last week to check out This City, Our Way: New West Through the Lens.
The exhibition is on until Sunday, July 30 at the Gallery at Queen’s Park. It explores the city through the lens of members of the New Westminster Photography Club.
“The Royal City has it all: New and old, modern innovation and rich historical heritage – endless inspiration for those who strive to capture their surroundings with camera in hand,” a press release says. “But no two photographers see the aspects of a place in exactly the same way; subjects of interest and vantage points vary and are always strongly influenced by the individual perception and personality of each image maker.”
Coming soon
Starting next week, catch Ashes and Paint: Abstraction in Contemporary Ceramics and Painting, featuring works by Dorothy Doherty and Frank Turco, at the Gallery at Queen’s Park.
“Doherty’s paintings explore the act of revealing the imperceptible layers in the creative process, whereas Turco’s ceramics are determined by the unique influence of the ash within the firing process of a wood-fired kiln,” notes an event write-up.
Ashes and Paint will be on display until Aug. 27. There is an opening reception planned for Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery. Otherwise the artists will be at the gallery on the weekends.
The Gallery at Queen’s Park is in Centennial Lodge. It’s open Thursdays to Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1 to 8 p.m. It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission to the gallery is free. For more info, go to www.acnw.ca.
New West teen onstage
Check out rising New West talent Daisy Hulme on stage this weekend in Romeo and Juliet.
The classic Shakespeare tragedy is being put on by Carousel Theatre for Young People’s teen Shakespeare program. The six-week intensive program trains kids 13 to 18 years old in voice, movement and text analysis, giving them the chance to “enhance their performing abilities,” noted a press release.
Hulme, who in February played Paulette in New Westminster Secondary School’s production of Legally Blonde the Musical, joins a cast of 15 teens led by actor, director and theatre educator Mick Stack.
“Teen love has never felt as grand as it does in the timeless tale of passion, prejudice and the risks we take to overcome it,” reads the release.
Romeo and Juliet opens Saturday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. Can’t make it? There’s a preview planned for Friday, July 28 also at 7:30 p.m. The show runs nightly Monday to Saturday, July 28 to Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. on the Performance Works Outdoor Stage, 1218 Cartwright St., Granville Island.
Dress warmly and bring some change for the concession. In case of rain, the show will be moved inside. Admission is free but seating is limited, and for $5 you can reserve a premium spot. To reserve your spot go to tickets.carouseltheatre.ca or call 604-685-6217.
Art Squared needs art
Artists are invited to submit their pieces for the New West Artists next show Art Squared.
The show is open to any visual artists, you do not need to be a New West Artists member. There is a three-piece limit and they must fit within the follow specifications: eight inches by eight inches, 10 inches by 10 inches or 12 inches by 12 inches.
The deadline to submit is Monday, Aug. 7. There is no fee to participate. For more info or to submit a piece, email [email protected].
New West Artists is a non-profit society made up of visual artists of all skill levels. The group’s goal is to inspire, encourage and celebrate visual artists through connection, education and promotion. For more info, go to http://newwestartists.com.
Poetry in the Park continues
There’s still time to take in some poetry surrounded by the beauty of Queen’s Park.
Every Wednesday in August, drop by the bandshell for Poetry in the Park 2017, sponsored by the City of New Westminster and hosted by the Royal City Literary Society.
This family-friendly event is completely free, so pack yourself a picnic, grab a blanket or lawn chair and head over to the bandshell. Poetry in the Park runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and includes an open mic portion open to anyone.
The next Poetry in the Park event is Wednesday, Aug. 2, featuring Alan Hill and Janet Kvammen. For more information, go to https://rclas.com.
PechaKucha heads outside
One of New Westminster’s favourite night outs – PechaKucha – returns for a 16th installment next month at Queen’s Park.
The popular presentation pop-up will be at the Queen’s Park bandshell on Saturday, Aug. 12. Derived from the Japanese term for chit chat, 10 presenters will show 20 slides for 20 seconds each for a total of six minutes and 40 seconds each. The presentations get started at 8 p.m. and there will be a brief intermission halfway through.
No presenters have been announced yet, but organizers always manage to recruit some really interesting people. Previous presenters have included Reena Meijer Drees, retired nuclear physicist; Christa MacArthur, owner/designer, Lodge Craft; Rohan Singh, lead project manager, Avcorp Structure and Integration; Erika Mashig, parks and open space planner, City of New Westminster; and Andres Markwart of Steel & Oak. (Oh and yours truly.)
Guests are welcome to come early and enjoy food and drinks and entertainment by DJ Mutes Ito. Tickets are free but you need to register. Sign up for your free ticket at pechakuchanw.eventbrite.ca. For more details go to www.pechakucha.org/cities/new-westminster.
