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