This month I want to tell you about arts events during the BC Day weekend in our town and also about an exciting event in our Sister City of Anacortes the following weekend.
During BC Day weekend, Odette LaRoche is again planning to hold the annual Plein Air Paint Out on Saturday, July 30. Now in its ninth year, this is one of Sidney’s main events for the holiday weekend. Artists have been invited to set up along the waterfront by 9 a.m. and by 12:45 p.m. have an interpretation of the spectacular view or of some aspect of the area. The results can be seen during the afternoon as the paintings will be set up in the Beacon Park pavillion.
Jurors James Gordoneer and Clement Kwan have been invited to look at the finished work and select the most noteworthy pieces.
Prizes will be awarded at 2:30 p.m.
We are all hoping for sunny weather so that visitors can stroll along Sidney’s waterfront pathway meet the artists and watch how the paintings are being done.
And as you go along the seaside walk don’t forget to take in the present show at the Tulista Community Art Centre. Artisans Summer Gift Gallery has a selection of local arts and crafts including jewelry, painting, fabric art, woodwork and pottery. The creative people on the Peninsula have a new selection of their work for you to enjoy this summer.
You might also, during the weekend, want to attend the official opening of the path’s south end, the newly redeveloped Lochside Walkway. The ribbon cutting celebration to mark this part of the pathway’s completion takes place on Aug. 1 at 11 a.m.
Visitors to the art centre in Tulista often express their delight in the gardens especially the variety grasses. The tall ones are spectacular as they sway and swish in the seaside breezes. The town gardeners have a great sense of colour and texture. Indeed, I greatly enjoy the plantings all along the whole walkway and think they are an art form in themselves.
Another stop at the north end of the walk is Gallery by the Sea, the open air gallery on the walls of the Sidney fish market.
Paintings there are up until the end of September and you have opportunity to vote for your favourite.
In addition to enjoying the visual arts, on Sunday, July 31, at 2 p.m., there is the musical presentation of Summer Sounds at the Beacon Pavilion. The rhythm and blues group, The Midnights, will be performing.
Sidney has three sister cities, the closest being Anacortes, Washington. On August 5, 6 and 7, the city will hold its annual arts festival which is acclaimed throughout Washington’s northwest.
It is celebrating its 50th year — a very successful arts event.
The show features 250 juried ‘booth artists’ that stretch for nine blocks along the main street, musical entertainment taking place on numerous stages and culinary arts presenting a variety of traditional and ethnic foods.
This year I plan to catch the Anacortes Ferry which leaves Sidney twice a day in the summer, to enjoy the festival and see how our sister city celebrates their arts.