Monday Morning Artists - just what you need on a Monday

I understand that there are a group of local artists that meet every Monday morning, and paint. NO they don’t paint each other OR paint collectively one one canvas, but what they do is come together for companionship and just paint. If they talk, that is okay, and if they don’t, that is okay. They may ask each others opinion about colours, technique, subject matter or talk about nothing to do with the art at all. How was your weekend? How are your kids? What are you going to do for your summer vacation? How about those Leafs?

Isn’t that an amazing thing? You know, the life of an artist could very well be a very lonely one. A very singular occupation, unless you make yourself get into a social setting. I would imagine, so much more can get accomplished if you are on your own, focusing on what story you want to tell with strokes on a canvas. But there are times when you need to hear the sound of anothers breathing, sighing and maybe laughter. Or just sense someone beside you.

AND once a year they also put together a show of their pieces.

Artists of Uxbridge Art Show and Sale – held on Saturday, April 24^th and Sunday, April 25^th from 10 – 4. It will be held at the Museum School House on concession 6 just outside of Uxbridge.

REMEMBER that a number of these artists will also be participating in the Uxbridge Studio Tour during the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts in September. ART ART ART - no excuse in Uxbridge why each of us shouldn't have an original art piece in our home.

Way to go Nancy - see, you are the best.

I wanted to give a special shout out and blog just for my friend Nancy Melcher. Who is Nancy Melcher you may say? Well besides being one of the most tireless volunteers I have seen; being the most sought after supply teacher (for difficult classes), a fabulous Uxbridgeite and a great running partner, she was recognized last night at the ACTCO gala awards as one of the nominees for Best Producer for a comedy production that happened over the last year.

Nancy was not only the Producer for Port Perry's "Midsummer Nights Dream" last November, she was also the lead Stage Manager. Doing both of those very difficult jobs deserves a special award itself. (I also want to mention that I can bet my retirement income that she also helped with building, installing and painting the set as she always does).

Nancy has also stage managed numerous other productions in Port Perry and Uxbridge for a number of years, AND has also performed on stage for a number of productions. She just does it all, brilliantly.

I want to particularly highlight Nancy for all of her contributions to the arts in Uxbridge and Port Perry, because so much of what she does is done pre-production and backstage. Never in the limelight and yet, without her and her energies, there would NEVER be a production. It just would not happen and here are those actors, looking for the spotlight, waiting for the applause, expecting the accolades, and Nancy and all those other producers, make up artists, set designers, set painters and contruction"ers", costume designers, sewers, prop makers, stage managers, front of house managers - sometimes get overlooked and forgotten.

That's it! Never again! We just can't let this happen! They are pivotal and must be remembered! That is why it is so great that she was nominated as Producer for Midsummer Nights Dream. I am so proud of you my friend.

Uxbridge and area well represented at the ACTCO awards ceremony

I had the privilege of enjoying the ACTCO Gala Awards at Vaughan last night and I have to say that we should be wonderfully proud of the Uxbridge and area productions and actors/musicians/singers/stage managers/producers and on and on (you know what I mean). They were very well represented last night.

For anyone who is not familiar with ACTCO, it is a regional non-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting community theatre in Central Ontario, and part of what they offer is the adjudication of performances. They are invited to adjudicate, and then those events are included in an awards ceremony once a year. These are need to be community theatre in the categories of Musical, Comedy and Drama.

Now I am going to attempt to remember and list the Uxbridge and area people that were honoured last night and I apologize, I know that I will forget some.

Roger Varley was nominated for leading male role in "Blackpool and Parrish" with OnStage Uxbridge. This was a Canadian play with a very small cast, and had some wonderful press from it. It was directed by first time director Colin Murphy, and if what I hear said is true, he is going to be bringing some amazing skills to that role again.

"Les Miserables High School" edition which was performed at Oshawa Little Theater had many Uxbridge area people involved including Carol and Mallory Salomone, Michael Williamson from Port Perry, and my son Derik Gould (WHOM I AM SO PROUD OF I COULD SCREAM) from Uxbridge. It had a number of nominations, WON a number of awards including Best Musical. What a wonderful honour and if you had the privilege to see it, you would know why it won.

Borelians own "Midsummer Nights Dream" performed in Port Perry was also highlighted with many nominations and took home a number of awards. I have to say that this was one of the most visually intoxicating plays that I saw this past year, and I have to really shout out to Jen Hardie who was honoured with creating the costumes for this production. Just wonderful.

I know I have missed something, but what I want to highlight is Uxbridge, Port Perry and many people from both towns are talented beyond just the families praises. They are so talented that they were recognized in all of central Ontario's own theatre community as some of the best.

Arts is alive and well, and not very far away at all.

25 hours to create a masterpiece? Yes, at Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25

I am thrilled to be part of the executive putting together the 25th anniversary of Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts. This is a 2 and 1/2 week celebration of all things ARTS in September of 2010 - yes that is right, that is this year. I have described it before and this year will prove to be, from our meeting and the enthusiasm of the executive, exceptional and a blast of excitement for all of the senses.

I am on a couple of the "teams" creating the events, shows, activities, programs and showcases of the Celebration, and I am very excited about so much that is going to happen.

One of the teams that I am part of is the, and remember this is a secret code name - 25 hour event. Remember this is a secret code name!!!! don't spread it around, but all I ask you is to forward this blog to EVERYONE you know - but keep it secret.

Do you think that you can create a show-worthy, precise, enjoyable, memorable piece of art in 25 hours? Well some people are going to have the opportunity to do just that. On the Gala Saturday night performance, part of the program will get to the stage, brand spanking new entertainment. I mean, it won't even have been rehearsed until 25 hours before the Gala.

I don't want to "let the cat out of the bag" or "show all the colours" yet, and the rest of the information will just have to wait. This way we confirm time, place, event, people and more.

Needless to say - this is going to be very a fresh, new, exhilarating and amazing performance of ART.