Posted on

Pitch for Arts & Culture Centre made by CVCAS

It’s time for the rubber to hit the road, or rather, brushes to meet big-picture canvas, for supporters of an Arts & Cultural Centre in Chemainus.

Spearheaded by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society Past President Peggy Grigor, who has talked to just about anyone who would listen, the concept of an A&CC will be put the test at a March 6, 7 p.m. meeting in the Chemainus Legion Hall, with a pitch to people with the skills, persuasiveness and drive to make the dream come true, to get behind the initiative.

“All the people I’ve talked to have told me that they love the idea, and that they are in support of it,” Grigor told MIF. “So now we’re asking them to step up with us, and make it happen together.” More to the point, Grigor will be looking for people to volunteer for a board that will be formed to continue pressing forward with a project proponents say will benefit not only Mural Town, but the whole Cowichan Valley Regional District. Continue reading “Pitch for Arts & Culture Centre made by CVCAS”

Posted on

Haunted Vancouver Island


In this video Craig Spence, Mid-Island Focus Editor, interviews Shanon Sinn, author of The Haunting of Vancouver Island.

Gord Barney’s ghost didn’t have quite the dramatic flare of Macbeth’s Banquo, who took the seat of honour at his Lord-and-murder’s table, drawing the culprit’s terrified denial, “Thou canst not say that I did it; don’t shake thy gory locks at me!” Nor did he respond to the specter’s appearance with the bulldog suavity of Winston Churchill, who, emerging from a bath during a post-war visit to the White House, was surprised by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, and is reputed to have said coolly: “Mr. President, you seem to have me at a disadvantage.”

But the Nanaimo retired logger still has a pretty good tale to tell. He had deked downstairs during a friend’s house party to ‘drain my bladder’, but when he looked into the nether bathroom mirror, a withered crone glared back, threatening to scare more than the piss out of him.  “Get out of my house!” the hag shrieked, convincing Barney to evacuated the loo as quick as he could. “I was shocked,” he said. “The music from the living room was blasting, but I heard those five words so clear I’ll never forget them.” He ran upstairs, where he complained to the party’s hostess. “Well that’s not very nice,” she grinned. “I’ll have to have a talk with Lucy when I see her again.” Continue reading “Haunted Vancouver Island”

Posted on

McMonos an artsy wrap for fast-food

Chemainus artist sees kimonos in fry boxes – Diana Durrand, while out walking her dog one day, came across a McDonald’s french fry box that had been opened and flattened. It reminded her of a kimono. From that moment of inspiration 15 unique works of ‘McMono’ art, which will be at the Excellent Frameworks gallery in August, have sprung. The McMono show opening is August 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Excellent Frameworks, 28 Station Street, Duncan.

Posted on

Saltair Quilters celebrate Canada’s 150th

The needles were flying, and the machines humming as a group of Saltair quilters put the final stitches into a giant 10 foot quilt that was unveiled in June as a run-up to Canada Day 150. Christa Stegemann and her crew of about 12 quilters talked with me just before the unveiling about the significance of the project and the pleasures of quilting at their space in the Saltair Community Centre on South Oyster School Road.

 

Work on the project began about a year ago, when the quilters group heard the Saltair Community Centre was planning a grand opening event in June. What better way to recognized the the now and then of Saltair, than by coming together in the production of a commemorative quilt. “I thought that it would be a good idea to provide a quilt that would somehow reflect the local scenery, and also reflect our love of quilting,” Stegemann said. Continue reading “Saltair Quilters celebrate Canada’s 150th”