Press Release: Bookfest Windsor

Bookfest returns to Windsor October 25-27 at the Capitol Theatre and Arts Centre! Here is the current schedule of events, but don't forget to check the Bookfest Windsor website for the latest information.

Thursday, October 25th:

4pm to 4:50pm – Kill Shakespeare, the graphic novel. Anthony Del Col, Kagan McLeod. Moderator Shawn Cousineau. Joy Family Theatre
5pm to 7pm -  WORD to IMAGE: a panel discussion on the arts and poetics of the word as materiality, presented by Artcite as part of BookFest Windsor 2012.
Moderated by Susan Gold (Windsor ON) and featuring Karl E. Jirgens (Windsor ON), Dennis Michael Jones (Plymouth MI USA), Amin Rheman (Lahore, Pakistan and Toronto ON)
A reception with refreshments will follow, featuring the performance “Headlines”, brought to you by Slow News. Attendance is free and open to the public. Artcite
7pm to 7:15pm -  BookFestWindsor Bound – Presentation of Contest Winner. Pentastar Theatre
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Windsor’s Poet Laureate and Friends. Maxine Gadd, Marty Gervais, Peter Hrastovec, John B. Lee, Bruce Meyer, Ray Robertson. Moderator John B. Lee. Pentastar Theatre
7:30 pm – Who’s Nesta Webster? Conspiracy Rising. Moderator Madam Justice Micheline Rawlins, with author Martha Lee. Joy Family Theatre

Friday, October 26th:

2pm to 2:30pm -  Eugene McNamara reading from his new book of poetry, Dreaming of Lost America (Guernica Editions, 2012). Host Phil Hall. Joy Family Theatre
3:30pm – Picturing the Story: illustration and graphic art. Sheldon Cohen and Alexander Finbow. Moderator Karolyn Hart. Film compendium of Mr. Cohen’s animated films to follow discussion. Joy Family Theatre
4:30pm to 5:20pm -  The untold story of the Black refugees of the war of 1812. Presentation by George Elliott Clarke. Moderator Paul Vasey. Kelly Theatre
7:15pm to 7:5opm -  A Love Affair with Quebec Fiction. Translator Sheila Fischman in conversation with Ferdinanda Van Gennip. Joy Family Theatre
7:30pm – Student Poetry Contest: the Winners Read!!! Moderators Vanessa Shields and Richard Scarsbrook. Kelly Theatre
8pm – Dark Diversions. Presented in partnership with IFOA (International Festival of Authors – Ontario). John Ralston Saul in interview with Susan Pedler. Pentastar Theatre

Saturday, October 27th

At the Central Library 10am – Creative Writing Kick Start! Creative writing workshop for ages 12 to adult with Richard Scarsbrook
In the Foyer of the Capitol, 10am and throughout day Poetry on Demand. Vanessa Shields
10am to 10:50am  – Nigerian Dreams. A celebration of Nigerian arts and culture. Yejide Kilanko with moderator Kenny Gbadebo. Joy Family Theatre
11am to 11:50am – Local Heroes in War and Peace. Bryan Prince, Rosemary Sadlier, and Peter Meyler with moderator Chris Edwards. Kelly Theatre
12noon to 12:50pm -  Literary Undertakings. Multi-award winning poet and author Thomas Lynch in conversation with Peter Hrastovec. Thomas Lynch’s essays, poems, and stories have appeared in The Atlantic and Granta, The New York Times and Times of London, The New Yorker, Poetry and The Paris Review and elsewhere. He lives in Milford, Michigan where he has been the funeral director since 1974, and in Moveen, Co. Clare, Ireland where he keeps an ancestral cottage. Pentastar Theatre
1pm to 1:50pm – TD Bank presents a scene from The Loxleys and the War of 1812. A dramatic production directed by John Nabben. Kelly Theatre
2pm to 3:20pm -  Poetry Cafe. George Elliott Clarke, Phil Hall, Laura Lush, Thomas Lynch, Nicole Markotic, and E. Alex Pierce with moderator Stephen Pender. Joy Family Theatre
2pm to 3:20pm -  L’art de la traduction littéraire : les vedettes en direct! (participation de l’ATTLC) avec Helene Rioux, Lori Saint-Martin et Paul Gagné. Animateur: Jean-Guy Mboudjeke. Pentastar Theatre (sur la scene) / The Art of Literary Translation: Meet the Stars! (cosponsored by LTAC) with Helene Rioux, Lori Saint-Martin et Paul Gagné. Moderator Jean-Guy Mboudjeke. Pentastar Theatre (on the stage)
4pm to 4:50pm – Chilling secrets and betrayals large and small. Anita Rau Badami and Alison Pick with moderator Nicole Markotic. Kelly Theatre
7:30pm to 8:45pm -  Generations X, Y, and Z. On writing for teens and young adults. Eric Walters, Paul Vasey, Richard Scarsbrook, and Carol Anne Biddle with moderator Sara Elliott. Pentastar Theatre
9pm to 10:15pm -  Canada’s Journey: Points of View. Richard Gwyn, James Laxer, and Noah Richler with moderator Veronique Mandal. Pentastar Theatre.

Visit the Bookfest Windsor website for more information on scheduled events and to order tickets. Tickets can also be purchased in person from at the following locations:

Capitol Theatre Box Office (off the street, to the RIGHT, or WESTof the main doors)
from Saturday, October 20 to Wednesday, October 24 from 1 - 5 pm. Visit our volunteers there for tickets and information. 121 University Ave. W.

Windsor Public Library Self-Publishing Lab at the Central Branch downstairs off Ouellette Ave.
Self-Publishing Lab Opening Hours
Monday 10am-4pm
Tuesday 1pm-8pm
Wednesday 10am-4pm
Thursday 1pm-7pm
Friday 2pm-5pm
Saturday* 10am-4pm
*2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month by appointment 519-255-6770 x4603

Press Release: A Girl's Night Out and Sample Sale

Think Pink and Think Art and Think Sale!

A group of local artists is partnering with The Canadian Cancer Society to show some appreciation for women. The Back Room Gallery is hosting A Girl's Night Out and Sample Sale to help raise money for Breast Cancer awareness and to offer women a bargain at the same time!

Ladies consider yourselves invited and get your gals together for some great deals on one of a kind and rare art, fashion, glass, pottery, jewellery, giftware and so much more all at discounted prices. Back Room Gallery artists are clearing out inventory and thought what better way to do that then to help out local women in the process!

 

Girl's Night Out is being held Friday, October 19th from 5pm-9pm at The Back Room Gallery located at 4749 Wyandotte Street East in the heart of Pillette Village in Windsor. Ladies who attend will be treated to light appetizers, refreshments and even "cup-sized" cupcakes all in the name of breast health and drastically marked down beautiful items.

There is a modest fee of $6.00 to attend and have first crack at the great deals to be had. The theme is women and there will also be outside vendors offering all kinds of girlie stuff!
 

The first 50 women through the door will be treated to free goodie bags.
 

 The sample sale continues on and will be open to the public on Saturday October 20th from 10am-3pm.

For more information and to get your ticket/invitation contact:

The Back Room Gallery
4749 Wyandotte Street East
Windsor, ON
519-915-3535
email: backroomgallery@cogeco.net

 

 

Culture Days Kicks off In Windsor & Essex County

Culture Days 2012 is finally here! Get out and experience these free studio tours, workshops, and events happening all over Windsor and Essex County this weekend! You can get started by checking out this collection of local events on the Windsoriana Culture Days Bulletin Board.

There are many ways you can get involved in the free cultural and artistic activities this weekend. Just take a look at this link for information about registered Culture Days events in your area: http://on.culturedays.ca/en/activities/map

Press Release: Having Words; Art Talks with Marty Gervais

HAVING WORDS; ART TALKS WITH Marty Gervais, Windsor’s Poet Laureate. This new monthly series brings together writers who will read and talk about their work with Marty Gervais at ArtSpeak Gallery. The series is intended to promote informal discussion about the craft of writing, exploring the challenges and joys related to poetry. The event to be held on Thursdays is free. It begins at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored in part by the Poet Laureate program of the Cultural Affairs Office of the City of Windsor and the English Department at the University of Windsor.

Press Release: Made in America Cocktail Party @ AGW

YOU ARE INVITED!

PREVIEW TOUR and COCKTAIL PARTYwith special guest Ann Thomas,
NGC Curator

MADE IN AMERICA: 1900–1950
Photographs from the National Gallery
of Canada

Organized by the National Gallery of Canada

Presented at the AGW with the support of
The Morris and Beverly Baker Foundation

Thursday, June 21, 7 pm

Be the first to see Made in America on the inaugural stop of its national tour after opening to rave reviews at the National Gallery of Canada this winter. NGC curator Ann Thomas will lead the tour and provide her insights and anecdotes on putting this exhibition together.

Spend a lovely summer evening on our third floor terraces while indulging the great views inside and out. The City Grill, the AGW’s newest caterer, will prepare a wide range of savoury appetizers that will be a sample of what you can expect from their fine chefs when at the Gallery!

Tickets: $85 AGW members; $100 non-members
Includes appetizers, host bar and exclusive tour
A tax receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket price

For tickets, contact JoAnne Fletcher, 519-977-0013 ext. 133
or http://ca.mc1301.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jfletcher@agw.ca, or visit http://www.agw.ca/.

Image:
Walker Evans; Citizen in Downtown Havana, 1933
Gelatin silver print; 25.1 x 20.1 cm; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa;
Gift of Phyllis Lambert, Montreal, 1982
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Gallery of Windsor
401 Riverside Drive West
http://www.agw.ca/

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Press Release:Plein Air Society 3 Day Show @ Mackenzie Hall

Exhibition: Friday - Saturday May 25 - 26 10 am - 5 pm
Meet the Artists Reception: Sunday May 27 - 12 - 4 pm

Landscapes of Windsor, Essex County & More -en Plein Air-
Mackenzie Hall, 3277 Sandwich St.

Artists:
Margaret Dawson
Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald
Mary Wheeler
Patrick Nicell
Terry Desjardins
Phylmarie Fess
Joan Rieveley

Press Release: Slam Homophobia

The 3rd Annual Slam Homophobia hosted by Dan MacDonald takes place Thursday May 17th - 7pm sharp at the Windsor Pride Centre. Fun, informative, heart-wrenching, hilarious - Slam Homophobia explores perspectives and thoughts on the impact homophobia has had on all of us. If you'd like to share a poem(s) at this event - please email dan.m@Windsorpride.com - you must register in advance to read - space is limited. Small donation mid-show...not mandatory...give what you can give, all proceeds go to Windsor Pride.

Press Release: Call to Artists: Windsor Essex Open Studio Tour

CALL TO ARTISTS
WINDSOR ESSEX OPEN STUDIO TOUR 2012
Application Deadline – June 09, 2012

The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex County invites individuals, groups and organizations working in the Arts and Cultural sector to participate in the 2nd Annual Open Studio Tour, being launched during Canada Cultural Days September 28, 29 and 30th, 2012, with additional Studio and Gallery tours, arranged by appointment, throughout the month of October, 2012.

The Open Studio Tour is an annual event which celebrates and promotes the creative communities and artists that live and work in our region. All art forms are invited to participate including visual, literary, performing, media arts and artisans throughout the Windsor Essex community. We invite you to open your studios/work space to introduce your work and processes to the general public, fellow artisans and interested groups. You may wish to offer demonstrations, hands on workshops, play opportunities to children and youth groups.
Your studio and artistic works will be promoted in the full color Tour Guides and on the Open Studio website with a link to your site. Your name and contact information will be publicized for 12 months from date of listing in the Tour Guide Brochure and on the Open Studio website. As a participant, you’ll receive a series of Free Tour Guides, Signage and postcards promoting the event. The Open Studio Tour 2012 Participation Fees are broken into 3 categories: Individual $130.00; Small Group (up to 4 artists) $160.00; and Large Groups, Galleries, Organizations $200.00.

The Open Studio Tour is designed to showcase fine art and craft in the artist’s working environment demonstrating a broad range of media and styles. The self-guided tour offers visitors the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the artistic process in a wide range of original work. This event is a marketing opportunity for serious professionals and a supportive environment to nurture and present new talent. Last year more than 30 local artists displayed their creations and projects in homes, studios, galleries and community centres. The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex expects the 2012 event to be even more successful. Admission is free.

For additional information and participant registration forms, please go to the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex County website at http://www.artsculturalalliance.org/ or contact Gulnaz Turdalieva at gulnazt@gmail.com

Press Release: Daily Grind @ ArtSpeak

As part of MayWorks Windsor 2012 youth from Catholic Central High School and Holy Names High School have created a piece entitled: “The Daily Grind” a commentary on the meaning of work. They have written stories about their workplaces, usually part time jobs after school and on weekends and have added a few stories by people with whom they come into contact on a daily basis. The work collective consists of the students their teachers Andrea Rice and Laura Vidler and is curated by Elaine Carr.

At ArtSpeak from May 14-18 the students will have on exhibit images and story about their daily grind and on May 14th at 7 pm tonight, they will be in the Artspeak Gallery 1942 Wyandotte St. E. with a performance piece. The work is very engaging and the youth give us much to think about and many laughs as well.

The project is part of the third annual MayWorks Festival of Arts, Culture and Labour.

MayWorks will continue throughout the month of May in venues throughout the City.

The Daily grind is sponsored by OECTA and is a partnership with the Arts Council Windsor Region.

Press Release: Shoppe Local Artisan Boutique Grand Re-Opening

Shoppe Local in Kingsville is having their grand re-opening this Saturday, May 12 from 10am to 5pm. Come out for "country fresh furniture and vintage finds, locally crafted home decor and accessories."
Anyone interested in being a vendor, contact Coleen Thibert at (519) 551-7793.

Laurie Smith's The Truth About Roller Skating @ Tecumseh Mall

Laurie Smith, author of The Truth About Roller Skating, is holding a reading of her book at Coles, Tecumseh Mall this Saturday from 2-4pm. You can read my  review of The Truth About Roller Skating here. You'll not want to pass up this chance to scoop your own copy and meet the author!

Press Release: Windsor Endowment for the Arts Walk for a Creative City

Celebrating Windsor's 120th Anniversary, let's walk to support WEA and Windsor's dynamic arts community! Walk begins 10am at Assumption Park and ends at Dieppe with food, live entertainment and children's activities. Bring the whole family! For more information/pledge sheets, www.wea-arts.com or info@wea-arts.com

Call for Artists Elvis Fest Windsor 2012

Windsor Elvis Fest 2012 is looking for arts and craft vendors. If you want to reserve a space, you'd better hurry! There is only room for a few more!                           

Windsor Elvis Fest 2012

Vendor Registration/Letter of Agreement

Company Name______________________________________________

Contact Name________________________________________________

Mailing Address_______________________________________________

City______________________________Prov/State_________________Postal/Zip Code_____________

Email address_________________________________________________

Phone______________________________Fax______________________

Note: Due to change in location this year, we are unable to accept applications from FOOD VENDORS. Vendor booths will be indoors in a non-ticketed area, open to the public during festival hours only.

Do you sell “Elvis®” memorabilia/merchandise?                                                          Yes______                          No______

(Includes any merchandise with the name or logos of “King of Rock and Roll,” ”Graceland,”

“Elvis,” “Elvis Presley,” “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest™” or his photo or likeness)

If yes, is the merchandise registered with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.?                        Yes______          No_______

MERCHANDISE DESCRIPTION:_______________________________________

Booth opportunities      (Includes vendor listing on festival website, one skirted table/chair inside the venue)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Amount Payable

8’x10’ booth space for full 3 day weekend event*            $200 + HST 13%                                           $226.00

*Spaces LIMITED!

8’x10’ booth space for Friday and Saturday only              $175 + HST 13%                                            $197.75    

 Vendor Requirements

·         All vendors are responsible for their own sales including cash floats. (Note: Windsor Elvis Fest does not take a percentage of sales)

·         All vendors must present a copy of their business license to Windsor Elvis Fest on registration

·         Windsor Elvis Fest is not responsible for any loss or damage to vendors’ goods, nor the security of the vendors’ goods at any time.

Restrictions: No food vendors. We promote family oriented goods. No open flame, alcohol, knives, obscene or offensive merchandise, articles with profanity (t-shirts hats, etc.), body piercing services or drug paraphernalia, etc. are allowed.  Vendor products will be accepted at discretion of Windsor Elvis Fest/Centres for Seniors Windsor.

Registration Deadline June 8, 2012. Payment must accompany registration.  Cheques payable to Centres for Seniors Windsor (sponsor organization)   Mail, email or fax registration to:                    

Windsor Elvis Fest/Centres for Seniors Windsor

635 McEwan Ave., Windsor ON  N9B 2E9

info@windsorelvisfest.com  Fax (519) 254-1869

Credit card #____________________________________Expiry Date________ MC_________Visa________

Signature_______________________________Date_________________________

(Signature required on all vendor registration/letter of agreement forms regardless of method of payment)

Musical Cinco de Mayo @ Walkermole

Walkerville's own Mexican restaurant Walkermole is hosting a line-up of local musicians for Cinco de Mayo starting this afternoon. If you haven't visited Walkermole yet, check out this review from WindsoriteDOTca.

Musician for the night:

2pm - 5pm: Pat Robitaille
6pm: Unquiet Dead
7pm: Mariachi
8pm: Walkervilles
9pm: Years of Ernest — with Mark Boscariol.

World Storytelling Day Themes 2013-2014

The themes for 2013 and 2014 World Storytelling Days have finally been announced! World Storytelling Day is an international celebration of the traditional art of storytelling. Every year, at the spring/autumn equinox, people from around the world gather to tell stories. The stories are told in different languages, in different styles, and a common theme.

Windsor participated in World Storytelling Day for the first time this year when I organised an event at Mackenzie Hall, covered by CBC radio who invited me for an interview with Tony Ducette for the Early Shift. The theme for this year's event was 'Trees' and included mostly traditional stories from many cultures, and a few well-wrought stories by Hans Christian Andersen.

The themes for the next two World Storytelling days are: Fortune and Fate (2013), and Monsters and Dragons (2014).

36th Annual SketchCrawl

April 21st was the 35th Annual International SketchCrawl. SketchCrawl is often described as a 'drawing marathon,' but it's really a good excuse to get out and make some art in the open air. Usually, small groups get together with their sketchbooks and easels, but going solo is just as good. Windsor first participated in the world-wide event in 2010 through the efforts of the Windsor-Essex County Plein-Air Society.

The date has just been announced for the 36th Annual International SketchCrawl: Saturday, July 14th, 2012! If you'd like to participate with a group, or have your sketches featured on Windsoriana post a comment below or visit the Sketchcrawl forum.

By Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald, at Dieppe Gardens during the 35th Annual International SketchCrawl

Call for Artists: “SEEING IS BELIEVING”

“SEEING IS BELIEVING”
A non-juried Art Exhibit on the issue of Homophobia
MAY 14 - 18, 2012

WINDSOR PRIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MAY 9, 2012.

This project aims to show new perspectives on homophobia. Homophobia is a negative attitude or feeling, an aversion towards gays and lesbians or towards homosexuality in general. It is also the rejection of people considered gay or lesbian and of all things associated with them, for example, gender non-conformity.

ELIGIBILITY
• All work must have a theme on the issue of Homophobia
• All media and styles accepted
• No size restrictions
• No limit on number of entries
• All artworks must be originals and not copies, derivatives or artworks based in any way on other copyrighted or published paintings, photographs or other artists works. They must be entirely executed by the applicant.
• Windsor Pride Community reserves the right in its sole discretion to decline any works it feels does not meet the above criteria or its is obscene or offensive in nature

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
The Artist(s) must adhere to the call for submission schedule
The Artist(s) must apply labels provided to all artwork submitted
The Artist(s) waives received an exhibition fee for hanging the works
The Artist(s) grants Windsor Pride the right to use of the images of artworks for publicity, promotion of event, reference and educational purposes
The Artist(s) is responsible for delivery and pick up of artworks
Packaging for shipping will be the responsibility of the artist
The exhibiting Artist(s) is responsible for insuring their work while in transit and on exhibition.

2D ARTWORKS OR WALL HANGINGS
All artwork must be wired and ready for hanging with a finished display or a frame. (i.e. paintings on canvas must have some form of hanging devise)

3D ARTWORKS OR SCULPTURE
All artwork MUST be secure and self supported

For submission form and further details, click here.

Press Release: Exhibition Tour of Land Marks: Contemporary Photographs from the AGW Collection by Professor William Starling

Exhibition Tour of
Land Marks: Contemporary Photographs from the AGW Collection by Professor William Starling

Sunday, May 6, 1 pm

Second Floor, Art Gallery of Windsor 

The Art Gallery of Windsor, SB Contemporary and Dodolab are pleased to announce the impending visit of the eminently knowledgeable Professor William Starling to the city of Windsor. A direct descendant of the small colony of European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) introduced by eccentric drug manufacturer Eugene Schieffelin to New York City's Central Park in 1890 and 1891, Prof. Starling has been discretely visiting Windsor over the past two years to study and converse with the vast local flock of his species. While studying the starling community around Windsor's Ambassador Bridge, the situation on the adjacent Indian Road with its long line of boarded up and empty houses came to his attention. Professor Starling will offer a tour of Land Marks: Contemporary Photographs from the AGW Collection from his unique interspecies perspective, where he adaptation to changing environments and the phenomenon of "invasive species" and habitat loss (his areas of expertise).

Art Gallery of Windsor401 Riverside Drive West
www.agw.ca

Common Ground Gallery General Meeting

The annual general meeting of the Common Ground Gallery is tomorrow, May 1st at 7:00 PM!

Hyper-local news site WindsoriteDOTca featured the gallery for their City Guide. Check out their article to learn more about  the venue, located just inside the front doors of Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre.

3277 Sandwich Street  Windsor, ON N9C 1A9

(519) 252-6380

Additional WSO Brahms concert @ Assumption Church

The WSO have extended the engagement with a performance May 11th. Windsor Symphony Orchestra's May 12th performance of Brahms at Assumption Church is now sold out.

NEW SHOW ADDED:

May 11, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
May 12, 2012 - SOLD OUT
Assumption Church

John Morris Russell, Conductor
WSO Chorus, Joel Tranquilla, Chorusmaster

Johannes Brahms Academic Festival Overture
Johannes Brahms Schicksalslied
Johannes Brahms Symphony no. 1