One Bad @%$ September 25th day

I cannot believe what I am going to tell you about the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary - Saturday the 25th is going to be so busy and filled with so many exciting things to do, that right now you will have to take a deep breath, calm down and look at the next paragraph.

There are 4 separate events that you can get yourself busy with on Saturday, September 25th and the best thing is that you can in fact do ALL OF THEM!!! As you would suspect, since this is the 25th and this is our 25th anniversary, it just seems to make so much sense.

Event #1 - Shorts for the Shorties - is the best in new and classic cartoons and aimed for the kids to see at Roxy Theater on Brock Street. Bring your kids to see some great cartoons being played on the fabulous screens of the theater - and it starts at 9:30 am but the doors open at 9am for the best seats.

Event #2 - from 9:30am - 5pm, the downtown part of Uxbridge will be closed off so that the families in the area can truly enjoy art with all of their senses. The theme is The Senses: see, hear, smell, touch, taste and ??? the sixth sense. This is called 25 on 25 Street Party. All of the local merchants have worked together to open up the streets for over 25 different opportunities to experince art first hand. Of course there is no admission fee and goes all day.

Event #3 - Second Lunch Hour Concert at St. Andrew's Chalmers Presbyterian Church and featuring Welcome Back Students. This time we are welcoming back local youth who have moved onto university to study music/voice. We will hear the amazing voices of Meghan McKibbon, Travis Smalley and Christina Campsall. Accompanying all is the ever talented Jackie Crawford. This will be an exciting hour, where you can sit and relax and listen. Free Will offering is the cost.

Event #4 - Silver Gala - oh what a night this will be. The evening will be a reflection on the past and honouring those who have truly been pivotal for the Celebration - and then welcoming in something new in the way of the 25 Hour Masterpiece. The evening will start at 7:30pm at the Uxbridge Music Hall and tickets can be purchased for $25 at the door (if available) or at Presents, Presents and Blue Heron Books.

Performing for us again this year is the wonderfully talented Carol Gibson and electric Tom Baker and Friends. To start the program though is the world premiers of performance art in play, poetry, short story, video, comedy and music - all created just 25 hours before.

Okay everyone - let me hear an audible WOW!!!!!

Art shows for Young and Old

Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25 Anniversary is all about traditions and on of the constants and traditions would be the 14th Annual Juried Art Show and the Children's Art Show. These are both housed in the Uxbridge Township offices, and the Council Chambers is transformed into an art gallery for 6 days.

This is a long process for selecting the art that will be displayed and honoured AND then selections are made from our jurors and judges as to the BEST. They would have at least 80 pieces submitted for the Juried Art Show, and the Jurors are Maura Broadhurst, Curator of Latcham Art Gallery, Lee Petrie, Curator for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and Daniel Colby, local award winning artist.

For the Children's Art Show, the art will have been completed at the end of last school year and presented this year. It is wondrous to see the skill and talent of the youth in our community, and this is one way to showcase their talents.

Both of these shows start with a Opening reception on September 21st (tonight) at 7:30pm. They art will be on display from September 21 - September 26th from 10am - 6pm.

Please come to see the wonderful works and see the future of art in Uxbridge.

Ken Whiteley in concert - this Saturday

Every year during the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts, there are many events happening, and things that could keep you busy almost every night for 10 days - but one of the most anticipated is the first Saturday night event. This year is no exception.

On Saturday September 18th, Ken Whiteley and his band will be blowing the doors off of the Uxbridge Music Hall with his rich background sound created by his incredible influences in blues, gospel and folk. The "One World Dance Concert" will start at 8pm and the tickets are $25. You can get the Tickets from Presents, Presents and Blue Heron Books and if you are lucky, there may be some at the door. There will be a cash bar.

Some background on Ken- he has played at virtually every major folk festival in Canada, and has performed and recorded with such legends as Pete Seeger, Blind John Davis, Stan Rogers, Raffi and more. He is also an active record producer having worked on more than 80 albums. And not just any albums - these have resulted in Ken being honoured with 11 Gold or Platinum Albums, 22 Juno nominations, 2 Juno awards and 2 Grammy nominations. That is some big load of awards.

Ken welcomes his full band including The Levy Singers (vocals), Joe Sealy (piano), Ben Whiteley (bass), Bucky Berger (drums), Colleen Allen (saxophones), and Ken himself on guitar and mondolin. This night promises to be electrifying.

Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts Lunch Hour Concerts

The Lunch Hour Concerts during every year's Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts has been happening ever since I can remember. I started going because I found it to be a very enjoyable distraction from my normal Saturday and it really did not take too much time out of my day.

And the tradition continues during this 25th Anniversary year.

Every Saturday from 12:30 - 1:30, performing artists are invited entertain the audience with songs, dances, drum beats, big band sounds, piano playing and more. This years performances are September 18th, September 25th and October 2nd held in the sanctuary of St. Andrews Chalmers Presbyterian Church on Toronto/Church Strs in Uxbridge.

For the first Saturday Lunch Hour concert is themed "World Music Hour" and featuring the sounds of the Shimoda Family on Japanese recorders as well as Susan Luke on her fiddle and she had invited some surprise guests to play with her.

If you have not had the chance to hear the haunting sounds of the wooden Japanese recorder, this is your chance. The Shimoda Family have performed during a Uxbridge Music Scholarship night as well as at the Foster Memorial. It is amazing to hear the different sounds of the multiple sized recorders - when I heard them, they played a wooden recorder that was 8ft tall and one that was 6 inches. AMAZING.

The second half of the Lunch Hour Concert will be listening to the toe tapping music of Susan Luke and friends on their fiddles. Susan is well known in Uxbridge as one half of the group Poor Tom, and she teaches not only in the public school system, but also teaches privately on the violin and fiddle. East coast here we come.

Please do come out and the cost for the hour is "free will offering" - whatever you can afford. An appreciative audience is what we want and need.

Uxbridge Studio Tour - Art at its best!

The Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary cascade of events, would not be what it is today without the fabulous event that happens right along with it. The 25th Annual Uxbridge Studio Tour will be happening on September 18th and 19th from 10am - 6pm.

Okay so think about this - you have the opportunity to see the artists location of creation - the pad of creativity, where it all happens; and of course meet the artist themselves. There are 25 artists studios on the tour this year, and many of those will also have guest artists with them. I believe if you are able to make it to all of the studios and meet all of the artists, you will speak to 50 artists. Yup, 50. That's alot of "Art Talk".

You can find all the information you want by going to www.uxbridgestudiotour.com. Read through it, ponder your strategy, and I dare you to fill those two days with nothing but the excitement of art and conversations with the artist themselves.

And it begins ..... Well soon!

I have not been as diligent as I promised myself that I would be with this blog - and the news of the Uxbridge township and the very full and exciting Arts events that happen around here. I am sorry - life just seemed to get in the way - BUT whether life got in the way or not - the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary year is quickly approaching.

The Celebrations start on Sept 16th and then don't end until October 9th. REALLY!!!

That does NOT mean that every day there is something, but for all of that time, there will be well over 14 different events that you can attend. One day - oddly enough, on the 25th, you can fit in 3 different activities.

Let me again highlight the kickoff event for the Celebration - on September 16th at Uxbridge Music Hall, Motley Theatre will present a play reading. Starts at 8pm and the tickets are $20 (which includes refreshments and a cash bar) and you can get the tickets from Presents, Presents and Blue Heron Books. There will be tickets at the door if there are any left (and it has been known to sell out).

Don't forget to pick up your Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts full program at many places around Uxbridge and it was also sent in the local papers. See you there - and then at another event, and at another event and so on and so on and so on!!

Audible WOW.

Uxbridge Unplugged - yes another new event

As I have been sharing with you, all of you wonderful people of the world, and my very dedicated 5 followers, Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts, 25th Anniversary, has been coming up with some of the most exciting, exhilarating, entertaining and, well just darn fabulous new events. Another is Uxbridge Unplugged.

On Friday, September 24th at 8:30 pm at the Uxbridge Music Hall, 4 very accomplished singers from the area - four very different style- will share their passion of music in one evening.

Not only are you going to hear their beautiful voices and haunting melodies, but you will hear from each of them the "Why" and "Where".

Tamara Williamson has toured and recorded in Canada and Europe and has been dubbed the "Godmother of Indie" for her very independent sound within her 5 albums. Having shared the stage with artists such as Feist, Oasis and Rheostatics, she will fill the stage on her own.

Carlie Laidlaw, who is an established Uxbridge vocalist, lead in a number of bands and heard at events such as the Royal Winter Fair. You can hear her on the recently released "Hummingbird" project, a CD of local original music.

Bringing along her country/rock attitude and voice, is Leah Daniels. Born and raised in Uxbridge, she has very recently spread her wings to Vancouver, opening for Johnny Reid at the 2010 Olympics, as well as a writing trip to Nashville.

Whitney Ross-Barris is an emerging solo artist on the Toronto Jazz scene, as well as a professional actor for over 11 years. Her performances have taken her all over Canada, the US and to Europe. We are thrilled that she will stop and be with us.

TO TOP IT ALL OFF - the evening will be hosted by Neil Crone and with that will come its own form of entertainment and excitement.

Doors will open at 8pm and the tickets are $15. Cash Bar. Tickets can be found at Presents, Presents; Blue Heron Books or at the door if available.

25 on 25 Uxbridge Street Party - Wild day of fun in Uxbridge

It is absolutley crazy the number of NEW ideas that we are introducing during the upcoming Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary year - and here is another one.

How about "25 on 25"? I know what you are saying - you are saying "Huh" or "What" or even "Whaaa" but I do promise you, it will be a fun filled family day right in Uxbridge town on Saturday, September 25th. So it is "25 on 25 Uxbridge Street Party".

Let me tell you more about it - Working together, the Celebration of the Arts, the shops of Uxbridge, and the Uxbridge Studio Tour Artists are organising an amazing Street Party to celebrate 25 years of absurdly rich cultural life in Uxbridge.

The theme is The Senses: and we are inviting everyone to come and see, hear, smell, touch, taste and explore that elusive sixth sense.

Experience the knitted tree cosies… Eat crazy Ted Reader's world famous sliders…put your sense of smell to the test… and watch as a team of creative Uxbridge folk rehab one of the downtown buildings!

Interactive events, competitions and a parade will bring everybody a myriad of sensory experiences: tasting delicious local foods cooked by local chefs; music and poetry performed on the street; incredible art installations by our fine local artists; sensational smells; the sixth sense – a lot of us think we have one, but what is it and can we access it on demand? And everyone is invited to explore the sense of touch with hands-on events – drawings and making many interesting fun things.

Some of the things that we can potentially expect to see - Speakers Corner, Performance Art, Storytelling, Noise Maker Parade, Chefs, Painting River, Singers, Sounds Experiment and so much more. BUT we do want more ideas to consider. If you have an idea, or wish to perhaps participate during the day - please contact flyfree@sympatico.ca or submit in paper to Blue Heron Books. But hurray, this needs to be confirmed very quickly.

See I told you it was going to be so exciting and new.

Motley Theater is ready to go to dinner

As many people know, there is no better way to start something, than to kick it right in the butt with a winner - right off!!! That is what the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary this year will be doing. Our very first event is the always popular "Motley Play Reading". This event comes from a long standing group called Motley Theatre where Anna MacKay-Smith and Kenneth Welsh would bring in special guests, actors who are Canadian up-and-commers and seasoned well-knowns, and they would do a play reading.

Yes that is different from a theatre show, and I know that I am stating the obvious. It is a play reading, as the performers sit, but sometimes not, with script in hand, reading through the play. It is in NO WAY boring, or predictable, it is so amazing that within 5 minutes, you are so wrapped up in the performance, that you don't even see the book in their hands. Minimal props and staging and it is brilliant.

WELLLL - again the Motley Play Reading with start the Celebration with the play reading of a piece that received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2000, "Dinner with Friends" by Donald Margulies. Anna MacKay-Smith will again grace us with her skill and experience on stage, however as of todays date, no other performers have been announced.

It will be on Thursday September 16th at 8pm at the Uxbridge Music Hall. The tickets are $20 at the door, or can be purchased at Blue Heron Books OR Presents Presents, both located on Brock St., Uxbridge.

SO come out to the first of the events for the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts - heck, come out to all of them. Can I hear an audible "Wow".

Highlands of Durham Games in Uxbridge Elgin Park

Oh you loyal readers of mine and Celebrating Arts in Uxbridge for 25 years, I have let you down. The problem is life got in the way and I apologize for the length of time between blog posts. It is NOT that there was nothing going on - as you can see from the rest of the blog, there is SOOO MUCH going on.

For those who have been around Uxbridge for the last 16 years, has had the pleasure of walking through Elgin Park Uxbridge and have been transported into Old Scotland through Highland of Durham Games. The event will be happening on July 24th and 25th, 2010 and all activities will be held on the park grounds. There is plenty of parking off Elgin Park Drive, and so there is NO NEED to be parking on the streets. (as a resident not far from the park, I am imploring you to pay the extra and keep our streets safe).

I am wondering if anyone can truly see everything that is offered during these two days because the Highland Games is packed with things to see, competitions, vendors, entertainment, food and so much more. Here are just a few things to consider:

- entertainment goes from 11am - 11pm on Saturday and 12 noon - 5pm on Sunday

- there will be vendors selling food, clothing, costume, treasures and you can even find out what Clan you belong to

- bands, bands, bands

- dancing, dancing, dancing (there is nothing more graceful than watching all ages doing highland dancing)

- heavy games that include stone throw, hammer throw, sheaf, and more

- you can even watch the amazing art of Dry Stone building - a form of building dating back 4,000 years

Needless to say - you really need to see this. Take a look at the information on how to buy tickets - Purchase Tickets and the cost is $19.99 for a day pass and anyone under 16 years old is FREE.

"Ceud Mile Failte!" is the Scottish Gaelic for 100,000 Welcomes.

25 Hour Masterpiece - closer than you think

Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25^th Anniversary is thrilled to announce that we have selected the participants for the 25 Hour masterpiece. THRILLED I tell you. And I hope that the participants that we selected are also THRILLED.

As you may be aware and those wonderful 5 people who are my blog followers – I love you guys – will know, Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts executive committee for this coming September, decided to try something new this year and implemented as part of their Gala Event on September 25th, something we call our 25 Hour masterpiece.

Okay for those who don’t know, this is how it works – selected participants in the performing arts categories of poetry, short story writing, videography, playwriting and performing, improv, dance and musical composition will be given a word, phrase, line, theme and/or prop at 6pm on September 24^th and will have 25 hours, until 7pm on September 25^th, to create a piece that they will perform during the Gala Night event. The only exception to this is the Improv group, who will be given 25 seconds to prepare for their performance.

The invitation for submissions was sent out at the end of May/beginning of June and we had 15 people submit for the committee to consider. It was a very difficult process, but we finally did do it.

There will be performers from Uxbridge town to our neighbouring communities of Port Perry and Ajax. The performers range from age 13 to, well, WAY beyond 13. We have published writers, award winning writers and performers, and some that are just starting out. All in All – the Gala night event, starting at 7:30 on Saturday, September 25^th at the Uxbridge Music Hall will be a night to remember.

Please consider this one of your many events of the Celebration that you can come and support.

AND did I mention that Neil Crone will be our MC for the night. YUP and audible WOW – another blog about that later.

Summertime Rehearsing

You know, it is interesting that many people feel that when summer comes, all activity stops. That everything goes on holiday to laze around the pool, drink in hand and enjoy the sunshine. NOT!!!! Though that sounds like an amazing way to enjoy the summer, there are many groups that are still planning, organizing, rehearsing and foreseeing a wondrous array of art activities for Uxbridge and community.

I know that I have been going on and on and on about the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25^th Anniversary that will be happening in September, BUT as every year, they still organize and meet during the summer to get this going. We are offering you this huge entertaining opportunity to the community and beyond to enjoy art like you have never enjoyed it before. There are so many talented and diverse artists in the community, that it is hard not to get excited about this 2 ½ weeks. AND I don’t want to hear any excuses that you could not find something that you were interested in going to – with art exhibits, studio tours, music nights, author readings, play readings, dance events, all day “buskers”, concerts, plays and so much more – there is NO EXCUSE, so don’t even try to give me one (you may not notice that my head is turned away from your excuses AND my hand is held up to your mouth – funny sight).

There are also rehearsals going on for a play that OnStage Uxbridge will be performing called “Into the Woods”. This is a Stephen Sondhiem at his best play, and with Ruth Smith and David Geene involved in the directing, it will be wonderful to see. Keep on working actors and try to enjoy your summer.

Recently, there were auditions for another OnStage Uxbridge show – “Noises Off” – that will be performed in November but the rehearsals for that will also be happening in the summer. This is directed by Cathy Cristoff which I feel guarantees one of the best comedy farces that will hit the Uxbridge Music Hall stage.

What else is happening – well the Uxbridge Youth Theater recently had their auditions for their new play, and roles have been cast. I am sure that scripts have been handed out and music will be practiced.

What else is happening? Mmmmm – help me to know and I will be happy to blog about it and twitter about it. I sometimes know but I may not know it all (though I sometimes say I do know it all).

Help me by telling me.

More Studio Tour artists for Uxbridge Studio Tour

Hello and I am so sorry that I have been much too long between blogs. All for a very good reason, but I am back.

I realized that with all the information that will be coming out about the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary from September17 - October 9, the largest bit of information are the wildly talented artists on the 25th Annual Uxbridge Studio Tour, September 18 & 19. I talked about the first 5 listed on the tour pamphlet and some of their guest artists in a previous blog, and thought teasing you with more information on some of the others might be just the right thing on this Sunday night. I hope it will whet your appetites for more.

Listed on the brochure:

6 - Lynn Bishop is not only an artist on the Studio tour, she is also the lead in putting it all together. Thank you Lynn. Her eclectic mixed media works will grab you from the moment you see them. She will have guests at her studio of Tom Loach (Multi Media Artist) and Dennis Jenings (Stained Glass Artist).

7 - Linda Lee Purvis is a very well known artist in the Uxbridge area, and her Multi Media work with use of nature, will touch your heart.

8 - A name that you must have heard of before when looking at the beauty of a Ceramic Artist, would be Cynthia Cupples. She has won many fans and awards in her years as an artist. She will be welcoming a guest artist of Kim Robertson (Painter) to show along with her.

9 - There are only a few potters on the Studio Tour, and Della Cavanagh is one of them. Not only are her pieces aspects of lovely art, but they are functional too. Joining her for the two days of the tour, is another Potter, Sherry Rossi.

10 - Using the thrown away, and what others would think of as useless, is the Multi Media Artist of Jean Pierre Schoss. Animals often are the subject of his art, but you are also surprised at the delightful and whimsical way that he makes you smile with his art imagination.

There are many studio tours around, and many communities have them. As we have been doing them for 25 years, I think the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts is so pleased to have as part of our offerings the - 25th Annual Uxbridge Studio Tour.

Come on - you know you wanna come!!!!!

The Motley Theatre - be taken for a ride - you will love it.

Historically, the first event that kicks off the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 2 1/2 week party of arts events, is The Motley Theatre. This is a play reading, and if you have never been to one, boy you have missed something.

This is exactly as you think it would be with a word like "play reading". The actors on the stage actually "read" the play, with scripts in hand and all. I know, you think how boring that must be but it is FAR from boring. It takes only a few minutes from the beginning of the reading to absolutely forget that the actors have books in their hands and they are reading the lines. You become so engrossed in the pace of the performance, the tempo of the lines being delivered, the voice dynamics, the facial expressions and the great way that all lines float around you to embrace you in the story. I am not kidding, it is really like that.

We are quite blessed to have the very talented Anna MacKay-Smith (well known not only as an actor, but as a director and teacher) lead this play reading over the last number of years, and Uxbridge has seen great and well known Canadian actors participate. The likes of Gordon Pinsent, Rachel McAdams, Barbara Budd, Rosemary Dunsmore, Paul Gross and Ken Welsh have graced the stage.

What is going to be read this year? Well, I don't know. Who will be reading this year? Well, I don't know that either. Will it be the best way to kick off the 25th Anniversary of The Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts. OH YA!!!!!

Mark your calendar for The Motley Theatre on Thursday, September 16th, at 8pm at the Uxbridge Music Hall.

Uxbridge Youth Choir wins Gold Medals in Ottawa

I often talk in this blog about other events, activities, concerts and arts related fun stuff happening in the Uxbridge community. And I hope often, you actually go and attend and enjoy some of the many events happening in our fine community and there is another coming up that will celebrate the voices of youth.

Jennifer Neveu-Cook has been organizing and conducting The Uxbridge Youth Choir since 2004, and the skill of both Jennifer and the choir has been extraordinary. This group does a couple of concerts a year, and their final concert for this season will be on Wednesday June 2nd at Trinity United Church on 2nd Avenue in Uxbridge. I believe the start time is 7:30 - but please check when you purchase your tickets.

Performing with The Uxbridge Youth Choir will be special guests, Bella Nove (a young women's group that Jennifer also directs. The harmonies of this group are so very sweet to listen to), Kathryn Dnes on Violin and Adam Gribble, performing on his guitar.

The other reason that this concert is so special to The Uxbridge Youth Choir is because they just attended The Nationals Music Fest in Ottawa and came away with Gold Medals for both the Intermediate and Junior choir levels. YES - Gold Medals. That is a stunning achievement and to show support for the musicians of our communities future.

25 Hour Masterpiece - only 7 DAYS to get your submission in

The first deadline for the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary year is coming up very very quickly - on June 7th, 2010. Yes I did say it - June 7th, 2010.

I can hear so many people say "I thought I had lots of time to get it to them - now I only have 7 days!"

Are you someone who is interested in being selected to be involved in the 25 Hour Masterpiece portion of the Gala Event night on Saturday, September 25th @ 7:30? Are you a poet? Dancer? Short Story Writer? Videographer? Playwright/Director/Actor? Composer? Improv comedian? Then this just might be for you.

If you haven't heard, the Celebration's 25 Hour committee is accepting submissions from interested performers in all of those genres, who think that have the "spark" to create a performance piece in 25 hours. The committee need to hear why you feel you can create something of performance quality in that short timeframe - what experience you have - your artistic ability.

If you are interested, please go to the Celebration of the Arts site and find the document that will tell you everything that you need to know. If you have any other questions, please contact me.

But we need those submissions - DEADLINE DATE - June 7th, 2010

Now the fun begins - 2010 Studio Tour

For as long as the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts has been doing their "thang", showering us with so many arts experiences and educational opportunities - so has the Uxbridge Studio Tour. They too are turning 25 this year, and what a line up this year.

Over 24 artists are participating and that means over two days, you can visit them in their studios and not only see the wonderful work and creative ways they see life, BUT many of them have special visiting artists as well. Audible WOW time - you actually have the opportunity to see almost 50 artists and their creations in genres of quilt-making, pottery, water colours, ceramist, sculptor, photographer, multi media artist, goldsmith, furniture craftsman, blacksmith, and silversmith.

The 25th AnnualUxbridge Studio Tour is on September 18th & 19th, 2010 from 10am - 6pm each day. There are brochures and maps available and you can find them online as well. These are studios in and around Uxbridge community, so you will need a vehicle to get to most of them.

Because I don't have a lot of room on my blog - and my many (well 3) followers, do not want me to drone on and on - I will highlight the artists from 1 - 5 today to give you a taste - and a tasty taste it is.

1 - Judith Tinkl (QuiltMaker) and Viktor Tinkl (Sculptor) with special guest Diana Lopez Soto (performance artist) and Ken Nice (Sculptor). This is really a MUST see as you wonder around the property to find yourself surrounded by a whimsical, and sometimes not, sculptures.

2 - Lynda Cunningham (Painter) with guest artists Craig Telfer (furniture craftsman) and Mary Hinton (Mosaic Artist). Wow I have never seen a Mosaic Artist before and looking forward to experiencing that.

3 - Joan Yerema & Jay Yerema Weafer (Painters) with guests Mayta Markson (Ceramic Artist) and John Stuart Pryce (Painter). John Stuart Pryce donated the first painting print for the Uxbridge Preserve and is a wonderful view of a small pond.

4 - Carmel Brennan, (Photographer/Painter) - I am always amazed at the stunning photographs that Carmel snaps, with wonderful and interesting views of the world.

5 - Francis Muscat (Sculptor) with guests Karen Franzen (Ceramic Artist) and Frank Ditomaso (Woodworking Craftsman). Francis is a sculptor who is so generous with his talents in the Uxbridge community, and can be seen in a tree sculpture on Bascom Street as well as assisting the Youth Centre with a mural just outside their front door on Brock St.

More to come later. Audible WOW

The French are coming - The Amabile Choir that is

As you may be aware, the Uxbridge Chamber Choir performs from 2 to 3 concerts a year, the powerful Christmas Carol concert and reading comes to mind - and this week, they are welcoming the Amabile Choir from Pau, France. On Thursday, 30 new friends will be picked up and billeted in and around Uxbridge for the next 5 days. This is 21 singers, and 9 partners or "hanger oners", but we welcome them all.

Also showing the hospitality that comes through a mutual love of music, is the Monday Morning Singers who will also provide house and friendship to our guests. But these 5 days in the area will not be quiet for our guests - and if you wish to see/hear them, you will have many chances.

Welcomed on Thursday to our little community, the fun starts on Friday.

On Friday, May 28th, our Mayor, Bob Shepherd and members of the Uxbridge Township council will be officially welcoming them to Uxbridge with a lunch and ceremony at the Township offices at 12:30pm. Later that evening, at 7:30, the Choir will be sharing time at the Foster Memorial.

On Saturday, May 29th, we take the choir to Pickering and area to perform a concert held at Pickering Village United Church on Church Street, at 7:30 and we will also be welcoming the church choir of Pickering Village.

On Sunday, May 30th Uxbridge Chamber Choir, Monday Morning Singers and The Amabile Choir will be performing "The French Connection" a full concert being held at St. Paul's Anglican Church at 3pm. Tickets at the door will be $18 Adults, $15 for Seniors and students and children under 12 are free.

This will be a concert not to miss. With the mixture of the voices, and repertoire, this will be a very enjoyable way to spend a Sunday Afternoon.

The rest of the time, the choir members and their billets will be seeing the beauty of Uxbridge and township, as well as a trip going north.

I look forward to being one of those billeters and cutting through the language barrier to make some lasting friendships.

25-hour masterpiece - Come on. You know you want to do it!

You know it is very exciting when something comes out of a question – "just think wild" - "something we have never done" – "something that will cause a lot of excitement" - "just think way out there".

I know the 25 hour masterpiece is not really “way out there”, I mean it has nothing to do with neon paint nor fireworks, or parachuting from a burning airplane, or kissing a boa constrictor - now those are way out there - but it is new and it is exciting. As you may be aware, the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25^th Anniversary is coming up from September 16 – October 6, and it is a 3 week celebration of the wonderful mix and variety of artists in the Uxbridge area. With arts shows, studio tours, concerts, play readings, meet authors and so much more, we wanted to add a special element to the Gala Event on September 25^th, and so we have added 25-hour Masterpiece.

The concept is that a selected group of performance artists (videographer, poet, short story writer, dancers, musicians, improve group and playwrite/director/actors) have 25 hours before the actual Gala Event to create their performance or presentation. WHAT? I can hear you say. YES! I respond. There is nothing better than a deadline to get the creative juices flowing.

In order to be considered for this event, you are asked to submit a number of things that includes resume of experience, perhaps a CD/DVD of something that you have already done, and WHY you want to be a part of this new event. You can find that information on the Uxbridge Celebration website or by contacting me. The deadline date is June 7^th to get your submission to us.

It is very exciting the people that I have already spoken to range from 12 year olds who want to take on a challenge of creating a song and performing it for the first time, to some veteran stage performers who want to continue to be a part of the wonderful celebration of arts.

Things to remember if chosen – you must be available to perform your ‘masterpiece’ on Saturday September 25^th at 7:30 (and there will be time given to you to practice during the afternoon of the 25th), you must live within 75KM from Uxbridge center, the content must be kept to a family audience, you must be willing to create this masterpiece starting at 6pm on Friday, September 24^th after receiving your word, theme, phrase, and/or prop.

Come on – you know you want to do it!!!!!

25 Hour Masterpiece - have you got what it takes?

WOW - the 25 Hour Masterpiece portion of the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary year is rip roaring along. Just today we have started to pass the information along and forwarded to a number of networks, groups, associations and individuals the "Submission Document". The Durham Region news website has also posted a story about it. This offers information on what we are looking for, what performance art disciplines we are looking for, and how to be selected.

Here's how it works - During the Gala Night Event on Saturday September 25th, starting at 7:30 pm held at the music hall, part of the program will be the creations and masterpieces of a selected group of people. They will have 25 hours - from 6pm Friday, September 24th, to create their "art". The reason they have to wait until then is because at that time, the committee will give them a word, phrase, theme and/or prop that they need to use when creating their piece. Yup, on pins and needles until they know exactly what they need to do.

Sound easy? I don't think so. Sound exciting, energizing and challenging - OH YA!!!

The art disciplines that we are looking to have participation in are - Video documentary/movie; Dance; One Act Play; Poem; Short Story; Improv skit; and Musical Composition/song.

Think you got it to do this? Submit your information and the requested experience information to the committee, and we will be happy to review it. The Information/Submission document should be posted on our Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts Website soon OR contact me, giving me your email address and I will send it to you.