Sylvie Paillard
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The Adventure Centre will be humming with music, readings and the oohs and aahs of art lovers during the third annual Wild at Art festival Feb. 24, 25, 26.
The Adventure Centre will be the centre of attraction as artists of all disciplines take a turn in the limelight. The event will be hosted by the District of Squamish and community-minded partners have stepped up to the plate with contributions enabling the weekend to present some "mind-blowingly awesome" events, according to one of the organizers, Tamsin Miller.
The weekend will open with the Friday night Howe Sound Performing Arts Association presentation at the Eagle Eye Theatre of Piano Six founder, Janina Fialkowska.
In her third appearance in Squamish, Fialkowska will perform a program of Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Chopin under the new banner of Piano Plus. Tickets for the event are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and children.
On Saturday and Sunday the range of activities offers fun for the whole family. Perhaps the best part of all, every event and activity is free of charge. The Adventure Centre will host an art gallery of work of international merit by Squamish's own local artists.
"Over one hundred artists will be on display providing a truly eclectic experience and chance to view pieces of world class calibre," said Miller.
In the heart of the Adventure Centre, a little known theatre is the place for local writers to read from their works.
"Stories from many lands will be told - by Canadians who came to live in Squamish from far away. Children from the local schools will share their art, their voices and their literary skills," said Miller. "The performing arts will tempt you with sneak previews from their upcoming productions, and the air will ring with harmony from Banghra to Broadway!"
The main stage tent will shelter Rick Scott, the Funny Stuff Circus and the mad cap Italian commedia dell'arte troupe, BellaLuna. Sharing the stage with these professionals will be a variety of local talent - singing, dancing, fiddling, rocking, piping and drumming.
The workshop tent will allow spectators a chance to attempt a new craft or get creative making a paper bag hat. Participants can try their hand at knitting, rock painting, folk dancing, juggling, rug hooking. A new innovation this year will be a creative colouring competition with a prize of art supplies.
The changing face of Squamish will be represented in the developers' display area inside the Adventure Centre. Here local developers will have models and information regarding their development projects and will be available to answer questions.Finally, there will be no need to go hungry as, in addition to the café located in the Adventure Centre, two local community organizations will be on hand to fill the empty. Squamish Emergency Services will provide their sizzling hamburgers and hot dogs while Rotary will reproduce the infamous 'Loggers Lunch' on Sunday.
