Monthly Volume 1 Issue 7
Puppets AFKO raises profile of early Francophone settlers in new production
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The West Kootenay’s Entertainment Guide
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DECEMBER EDITION 2014
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The Nelson Star, 514 Hall Street, Nelson BC
Phone:
250.352.1890
Email:
editor@nelsonstar.com
Image: Wiki. Allowed use: Labeled for re-use with modification
Publisher: Karen Editorial: Kevin, Tamara, Will Sales: Tara, Kiomi, Lisa Circulation: Liz Office Administrator: Cheryl {vurb} is published monthly by Black Press. The points of views or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher of {vurb}
more online www.nelsonstar.com Facebook.com/KootenayVurb Twitter.com/Kootenay Vurb
Features 2
Seussified
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Foodie corner
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Pioneer puppets
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Juried art show
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Event Listings
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Selkirk Loop
WELCOME TO THE REGIONAL {VURB} {vurb} will showcase the many local West Kootenay events that are happening around you. Get ready for editorial on events, food, fashion and technology. {vurb} covers the latest and upcoming events in the arts and entertainment industry. To submit editorial for the January edition, email editor@nelsonstar.com before December 15, 2014
A Seussified Christmas DINNER THEATRE FUNDRAISER HOSTED BY THE STUDENTS OF SEVEN SUMMITS CENTRE FOR LEARNING
Kick-start your holiday season with a Seussified evening of dinner theatre on Friday, December 5, 5:30 p.m. at the Miners Hall. This fundraiser is entirely student driven. Come join the students of Seven Summits Centre for Learning in an essential part of their arts education. Recent UVic theatre graduate Sharmila Miller, encourages you to not only come witness an important arts education experience, but to participate in an applied learning environment. There will be a silent auction included in the evening’s festivities, so leave your “Bah! Humbug” mindset behind and invest in the future of our kids, community, and education. Help our kids “discover their passions, as academically minded, self-expressive, and socially conscious individuals.” “The students have created teams to design everything from sets, props, and costumes to hall décor,” Miller says, “and are directing everything from rehearsals and marketing to the silent auction component!” As Dr. Seuss says, UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. So head on down to Café Books West, or the Alpine Grind to pick up your tickets. Or call (250) 362-7772.
NOvEMBER EDITION 2014
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[ fee-cher stohr-ee]
By Will Johnson - VURB
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GIANT FRANCOPHONE PIONEER PUPPETS
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rancophone pioneers Henri Bourgeois, Elie Carpentier and J.O. Patenaude all arrived in the West Kootenay area during the period between 1891 and 1907, over 100 yeas ago. But this year the Association des Francophones des Kootenays Ouest (AFKO) is launching an ambitious project that will commemorate the trio with a production that features giant puppets. “There were many, many francophone pioneers in the West Kootenay, so we wanted to honour that. We want everybody to know about it,” said director Lyne Chartier. The project stemmed from a historical research project undertaken in 1991, which was eventually developed into a website. But as technology progressed, the website became defunct. “It was too old, but we thought it was so amazing we took back all the research, all the information about the french pioneers,” she said. The trouble was how to introduce it to the wider community and overcome the language barrier. AFKO has decided to make the show bilingual, so they can share the stories with everyone. “It’s fun for everybody, because it’s giant puppets! Everybody goes crazy. Kids, not-kids.
Now we’re going to have three, and taller than we’ve done before,” she said. The puppets are constructed of lightweight metal, with two pieces of wood that rest on the puppeteer’s shoulders. They will ultimately be double the size of an average human being.
Local experts contributed to build the set, the puppets and the costumes. Bilingual signs will be designed to illustrate the story of each character. In addition, French schools, French immersion classes, and the general public will be invited to an exhibition at the Touchstones museum in March 2015.
“I already made all the costumes for the small version,” said Madeleine Arsenault, referring to the small-scale display in the glass case at the corner of Ward and Baker.
Chartier said they’re still looking for strong puppeteers to play Bourgeois, Carpentier and Patenaude. The role is demanding. Chartier said they’re still holding auditions and looking for volunteers.
“These will be over two times the size of human people, so it’s quite challenging. It’s a lot of fabric to work with, I was worrying `ah, did I order enough fabric?’” she said.
AFKO has already lined up six events for the giant puppets, and is interested in organizing more. The puppets’ official introduction will come on December 13, as part of their Christmas Celebration in Crescent Valley.
The puppeteers will also be assisted by Trafalgar Elementary french immersion students, who will help move the arms. “We want to involve the schools and get them to make small puppets to be present at the show,” said Chartier.
Anyone interested in being a puppeteer for the AFKO shows should call Chartier at 240-352-3516 The production also includes music by four local musicians. It will be about 20 minutes long, with plentiful singing and dancing. Anyone interested in being a puppeteer for the AFKO shows should call Chartier at 240-352-3516. To learn more about the upcoming shows, visit afko.ca.
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DECEMBER EDITION 2014
ONGOING until december 19
Friday, december 5
Thursday, december 11
Annual Christmas Sale
Opening Reception of Member’s Show & Sale
Selkirk College Night
Visac Gallery, Trail
Touchstones Gallery A, Nelson
Touchstones Gallery B, Nelson 7:00-9:00 PM Back by popular demand, this exhibition will once again showcase the wide-ranging talent of the gallery’s members, featuring work by local artists. The exhibit is intended to be as inclusive as possible in order to encourage and support the gallery’s members who make art. Much of the work will also be for sale, offering a great opportunity for current or aspiring art collectors.
Thursday - Sunday, dec.4-7
Saturday, dec. 6 ONGOING
bedtime Rhymes Pantomine
Member’s Show & Sale
Capitol Theatre, Nelson The Capitol Theatre presents its 27th Anniversary Christmas Panto! Written by Lisel Forst, Directed by Jeff Forst, Musical Direction by Sydney Black and Choreography by Mackenzie Hope! This year’s production showcases a cast of 55 featuring Eli Geddies, Darren Fuss, Brian Munroe, Oksana Maslechko ...and so many more! Showtimes are December 4, 5 & 6 at 7:30 pm and matinees on December 6 & 7 at 2:00 pm.
Touchstones Gallery B, Nelson
Friday, december 5
Trail & district Arts Council presents black Umfolosi
ONGOING until december 24 Christmas at the Gallery Kootenay Gallery, Rossland
ONGOING until February 15 Amy bohigian: Wide Shot/ Close Up
Smalltown dJs Spiritbar, Nelson 10:00:00 PM Smalltown DJs have played shows across the globe from Fabric in London to Paris & Helsinki, from U-Hall in DC, to Brooklyn to LA. With highlights that include a one-year stint in Las Vegas, Sean White’s gold medal party at the Olympics in Vancouver, and the Mad Decent Block Parties two years running.
Friday, december 5 Opiuo with Organic Mechanic Spiritbar, Nelson 10:00 PM
Sunday, december 7 Sunday Cinema presents The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and disappeared Royal Theatre, Trail 4:30 PM
Tuesday, december 9
Charles Bailley Theatre, Trail 7:30 PM A self taught Acappella singing and traditional dance group that was formed in 1982 by the then school age members who wanted to develop themselves and contribute to their community. Specialising in imbube music, gumboot dance and Zulu dance, they have delighted audiences all over the world. This year, their tour includes their interpretation of Christmas favourites.
Wednesday, december 10 The Capitol Theatre and The Civic Theatre’s collaborative project Performance on Screen: The Nutcracker, Mariinsky ballet and Orchestra from The Royal Opera House Civic Theatre, Nelson 7:00 PM
Spiritbar, Nelson
Friday, december 12 Jazz nights:The Old Fire Hall in Rossland 8:00 PM The Clinton Swanson Jazz Quartet featuring the Bullens
Friday, december 12 Stickybuds Spiritbar, Nelson 10:00 PM Bringing the Ghetto Funk back to Nelson - it’s always a throwdown when Stickybuds takes the stage. Spiritbar Events are are always thrilled to bring this west coast legend back to town!
Saturday, december 13 blackberry Wood Flying SteamShovel, Rossland
Saturday, december 13 Snow on Snow - Nelson Choral Society with friends Capitol Theatre, Nelson 7:30 PM English Christmas music through the ages. Allison Girvan - soloist, Jeff Faragher - cello and and there will be tubas!
Saturday, december 13 Clinton Swanson’s Happy Holidays dance Party Spiritbar, Nelson 7:30 PM Clinton Swanson LIVE has curated a night featuring three well known local acts: Clinton Swanson and friends featuring Syd Black, Hornography and Below The Belt + DJ Olive! Come out for a full on electro swinging courtesy of Clinton Swanson!
DECEMBER EDITION 2014
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�rts and Entertainment Listings
DECEMBER 2014
Sunday, december 14
Friday, december 26
Sunday Cinema presents PRIdE
boxing day bash with The Foggy Goggle boys
Royal Theatre, Trail 4:30 PM
Flying SteamShovel, Rossland
Sunday, december 14
Saturday, december 27
Snow on Snow - Nelson Choral Society with friends
25 or 6 to 4 - The Chicago Story
Capitol Theatre, Nelson 2:00 PM English Christmas music through the ages. Allison Girvan - soloist, Jeff Faragher - cello and and there will be tubas!
Spiritbar, Nelson 25 or 6 to 4 is a new band comprised of the West and East Kootenay’s finest musicians – 12 in all – coming together to pay tribute to one of rock’s most successful bands: Chicago!
Thursday, december 18
Wednesday, december 31
Johnny 2 Fingers & The deformities
New Year’s Eve Party: The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer with John Lee’s Hooker
Flying SteamShovel, Rossland
Friday, december 19
Flying SteamShovel, Rossland
RCAC presents: Christmas Plays the Jazz Andrew Cullen Trio
Wednesday, december 31
Old Firehall, Rossland
New Year’s Eve Party
Friday, december 19
Finley’s, Nelson
val Kilmer & the New Coke
Wednesday, december 31
Spiritbar, Nelson
New Year’s Eve Party with Soup, Wallis and Rhapsody
Saturday, december 20 bCdC - Christmas Crank Off 2014 Spiritbar, Nelson
Friday, december 26 boxing day bash with Wells and Sweetpickle Spiritbar, Nelson
Friday, december 26 Jazz nights:The Old Fire Hall in Rossland 8:00 PM There are a few performers we are in conversations with to create the perfect Christmas ambiance for you, your family, friends and visitors alike.
Spiritbar, Nelson
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DECEMBER EDITION 2014
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LA DOLCE VITA
A burger to die for By Lorne Eckersley
Should food really cause this much angst? The thought weighed on my mind as I scouted out one of the many food vendors at Spokane’s annual Pig Out in the Park event in the summer. I felt like the day a friend gave me a couple of record albums he didn’t want when I was 13 or 14. Excited, but a bit trepidatious after he told me, “They are really heavy.” Heavy as in rock music (they were Steppenwolf albums, and would earn a place among my all time favourites) and not as in the burger I was about to order. We were in our motel room watching the news before we walked over for our first day at Pig Out and I had watched a local news clip about some of the food available on site. One of the items featured was the Glazed Donut Burger, one of the new rages in the US as Americans compete to see just how many calories can be packed into a meal that can be held in one hand. I have to try one, I decided. Not that I thought that a beef patty and traditional fixings would be improved by putting them between a split glazed donut, but I would volunteer for the mission in the spirit of research. Take on for the team, I told myself. I stepped up to place my order. Do I want fried onions and bacon on it? Uh, yeah, sure. Want to make it a triple? I was tempted to say yes, of course, but just couldn’t get the word out of my mouth. No, I said, make it a double. Wrapped double burger with bacon and onions in a glazed donut in hand, I did what any normal person would do under the circumstances. I walked over to a beer garden, bought a mug of draught, then found a seat as far from anyone else as possible. Steppenwolf came to mind as unwrapped my lunch. This is really heavy, I thought, with more than a twinge of worry, knowing that eating it was also going to be really stupid. The donut held up a bit better than I expected, but my immediate impression was that the sugar glaze added nothing to the flavour of the beef, bacon or onions, all of which I happen to really, really like. I don’t even put ketchup on my burgers, preferring tangy mustard to go with the other not sweet flavours. I persevered, washing down bites with my dark draught, but I couldn’t help but think about how much better it would be with a nice fresh bun, and not a donut, to told the contents together. Later, we got a kick wandering around the food vendors, seeing the extremes to which food is being taken. Bacon-wrapped corn dogs. Deep-fried apple pie on a stick with caramel. Deep-fried lasagna (no lie!). Deep-fried Pop Tarts. The list goes on. To be fair, there were appealing alternatives like roast corn on the cob, wok-fried soba noodles and veges and the like. But even the servings of French fries—most commonly referred to as a Block of Fries (curly potato strings packed tightly enough in the fryer so that they stayed in a block shape when plopped into a cardboard tray)—were enormous. That night we sat in front of a stage to enjoy the music. Los Lobos was playing and it was a thrill to see how good the band still is after all these years. How Will the Wolf Survive, indeed. We decided some popcorn would be nice so I wandered over to a rare vendor that didn’t serve the kettle corn I dislike so much, again not liking sweetness with my salty snacks. I’ll take a medium I said, handing over my money. The vendor reached down beneath the counter hand hauled up a threefoot-long bag. We eventually headed back to our motel, bag in hand, and it was far from finished when we checked out a day later. Not having learned my lesson—the memory of poor experiences seems remarkably short—a few weeks later I found myself perusing menus on a dozen food trucks on the banks of the Bow River in Calgary. My eye was immediately drawn to one illustrating Chix ‘n’ Waffles. Deep-fried chicken on a waffle, with goodness knows what kind of topping. Maybe maple syrup. Then I noticed the Sold Out sign. I took it as an omen and headed over to another truck to order a wood-fired thin crust Pizza Margherita. Not exactly a kale smoothie, admittedly, but I was reasonably sure it wouldn’t kill me.
DECEMBER EDITION 2014
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CORNER GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH THIS PECAN CREAM CAKE
FOR THE CAKE: 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened 2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ cup vegetable shortening 2 cups sugar 5 eggs, separated 1¼ cups shredded unsweetened coconut 1 cup finely chopped pecans
CAKE: Heat oven to 350°. Butter and flour three 8” cake pans; set aside. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Whisk buttermilk and vanilla in a seperate bowl. Cream butter, shortening, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, alternately add dry ingredients in three batches and wet ingredients in two batches. Increase speed to high, and beat until batter is smooth (5–10 seconds). Whip egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites, coconut, and pecans into batter.
FOR THE FROSTING: 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 4 tbsp. softened unsalted butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract ¼ cup toasted chopped pecans
FROSTING: Using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth.
Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth top with a rubber spatula; drop pans lightly on a counter to expel large air bubbles. Bake cakes for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, Let cakes cool in the pans then invert onto wire racks. Cool completely.
ASSEMBLY: Place one cake layer on a cake stand and spread with 1/3 cup frosting; top with another layer and spread with 1/3 cup frosting. Top with remaining layer. Cover top and sides with remaining frosting and sprinkle top with pecans. Chill for up to an hour until frosting is firm.
DARK BEER SEASON By Chad Hanson
It’s the season for hauling in cords, complaining about early Christmas decorations and dark beer! Some would say dark beers taste amazing year round and that’s hard to argue with. Sales though show that when the temperatures drop, more and more of you look to the tasty dark roasted malt beers to enjoy!
NELSON BREWING COMPANY BLISSTANK ORGANIC TRIPLE CHOCOLATE STOUT The black beauty is back after a two year break. We loved making this beer a couple of years ago and with three additions of organic chocolate you can see why. It pours with a nice three finger head and the aroma. The flavour profile of the malt really give this beer a unique profile. You see we don’t use an flavourings in this beer that would give the impression of artificial sweetness. Its a deep delicious yet bright tasting beer with a tight carbonation that brings it all to life. A limited edition 400 case batch wont last long, so enjoy it while you can!
CRANNOG ALES - BACK HAND OF GOD STOUT We have always kept this article to the beers that you can buy at your local bottle shop. This time around though an honourable mention to one of the best beers in the province from a brewery with standards as high as any other. The amazing Back Hand of God Stout from Crannog Ales. They are a draught only brewery. Why you ask? The mission statement below describes it. “We are committed to bringing our customers the freshest, best quality ales we can, and on maintaining our personal touch. Providing both home-scale and full-size kegs allows us to meet our customers’ needs without sacrificing affordability, quality, or the environment.” If your at the Lions Head pub in Robson see if they have a keg on tap and enjoy!
VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWERY HERMANNATOR ICE BOCK A staple in the BC dark beer community Hermannator is often referred to as the
Grandaddy of them all. Brewed in limited batches it was first introduced by one of the breweries original brewers as a holiday gift to clients and close friends which is a pretty nice touch that shows the heart of craft beer! Crafted to 9.5 per cent abv this German Eisbock is cellar aged for more than three months. It’s as dynamic as they come and deserved best beer in BC at the BC brewing awards in 2013.
for information on upcoming performances and events go to
rosslandartscouncil.com
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DECEMBER EDITION 2014
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Jazz returns to the Old Fire Hall following the launch of a new platform for funding community projects. Rumors are true, Jazz has returned to the Old Fire Hall in Rossland. After many years languishing empty, the Historic Fire Hall was filled with anticipation on November 14th as patrons awaited the return of the much loved Old Fire Hall Trio. Candlelight created dancing shadows on the timbers, reflections in the large windows, and as the first cords of jazz reached out to fill the Hall it illuminated the smiles of both those who remembered the space, and those experiencing it for the first time. How this sold out community event came to life is a bit unconventional. In this case the venue of the Old Fire Hall in Rossland had become accessible and the greater community expressed its interest in experiencing Jazz together once again in this beautiful space. Appreciating the opportunity to requite the communities requests for Jazz, the event coordinator met with local jazz legend Tony Ferraro to establish a tentative lineup of 10 Friday night jazz performances between November and March to bring magic back to the Hall. The story now takes a turn. Instead of gambling on whether the line-up, price and ideas were right and going straight to selling tickets per event, the organizer instead chose to ask the intended buyers first.
(representing 40 of the potential 100 attendees) being surpased by almost $1000 in under seven days. Yes – they wanted Jazz Nights. And it gets better, because the project manager is a Community Contribution Company, 60% of profits generated through its business activities are returned to the community. This means the community not only benefits from the Jazz nights, but in buying their tickets they help support non-profit organizations through community contributions. A rather Jazzy win win win way to launch a project. Event organizer and co-founder of basincrowdsource. com Amber Hayes comments: “It is difficult for many rural towns to establish/ fund a successful project in their communities. The model of the jazz nights is intended to be replicated in other regions and for a variety of projects. We drafted a project based on community feedback. We told the community we needed 40 people to commit to the 10 nights of the series in order to launch - they responded by buying 60. This translates into the ability of the organizers to directly move forward in
The jazz series was published online and using a locally owned crowdfund platform www.basincrowdsource.com the community was invited to demonstrate interest in the project by purchasing passes for either 5 or 10 nights at a discount rate. The response was overwhelming, with the $6000 goal
The Kootenay Gallery of Art in Castlegar is hosting its annual Juried Christmas Exhibit and Sale. The show is on now and runs until December 24 in the Kootenay Gallery. Among the 100 local artists and craftspeople featured is instructor, mentor and painter Mirja Vahala. Vahala owns and operates an art studio out of the ground floor of the Windborne Bed & Breakfast just outside Castlegar. After graduating from the graphic design course at Kwantlen Polytechnic, Vahala worked for a publication company before establishing, then selling after 15 years, her own design company. She then began the life of full-time artist and instructor. Drawn to nature and the great outdoors, she made the trek from BC’s Lower Mainland to the West Kootenays to establish the Mirja Vahala Art Studio. For over 12 years now, Vahala has been an instructor of arts and painting and since 2007 she has taught on behalf of Selkirk College’s continuing education program. “I love teaching. Teaching isn’t even the right word. I love facilitating people to be creative,” Vahala said. While she herself is a proud educator, Vahala admits she doesn’t know everything. “My mandate is never-ending learning, and I pass that on.” “There is endless learning out there. You can never stop growing as an artist, and I think to be successful
executing the jazz nights. It makes it so much easier as a project manager to be able to use a tool like this to build support for a project or program instead of investing and launching something without any tangible support. We were also able to do this without any grants yet return funds to non-profits. It was very rewarding to see the community rally around this project. I hope to support other communities in using this platform to support their unique projects or community’s needs. With the establishment of platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe we felt it valuable to offer a similar tool to local organizations, but retain dividends in our communities instead of outside our region. I am looking forward to more Jazz nights and events in the Old Fire Hall, and I thank the community for making it happen – this Jazz night series belongs to them and will be a great celebration every night music and crowds again fill the Hall.“ The event organizer limited the project from selling out only on pre-sold passes so a few seats would be available for people visiting the area and/or those able to attend only one or two nights because they felt everyone should be able to have the opportunity to experience both the amazing ambiance and performances this space offers. Approximately 20 tickets will be available online at www.rosslandsocialclub.com the Monday prior for the remaining shows. Interested individuals should visit the website to sign up for ticket alerts and/or join the Facebook group. Links on how communities can use crowdsourcing to launch new projects are also available on the website. Photo by: josefin svedberg
as an artist and to be happy as an artist you need to constantly challenge yourself. Be uncomfortable. If you get comfortable you can get bored and it shows up in your work.” Vahala stays uncomfortable by constantly upping the ante. Be it through new ways of paint application or switching from landscapes to portraits she is always trying to do new and interesting things. Speaking of new and interesting, over the years, Vahala has traveled around the world painting for many different groups. She has received invitations to paint in locations ranging from Oregon to Antarctica.
“To be honest, I don’t have that interest anymore. It’s more interior. Now when I paint I want it to be more about how it affects other people. I’m not worrying about what other people think of it, but rather trying to make some kind of connection for people. Like awareness of how beautiful the simplest things are.” “Whenever I paint I try to have more than a pretty picture. I’m always working for something that has sense and symbolism to it.” “If people are enjoying a painting for it being something beautiful in itself that’s fine. But for me as a painter it keeps it more interesting.” “It’s going to be a year of exploration.” Vahala’s artwork can be viewed at MirjaVahala.com and information on classes plus contact information can be viewed at MirjaVahalaArtStudio.com.
Now, after so many years of showcasing her art, Vahala is thinking it may be time for a change of pace.
By Chris Stedile
“Next year for me is focused on developing my own work further and focusing on shows less.” Vahala explained.
Photo credit Chris Stedile
“I’m at a point in my life where I get to thinking, what do I want to leave behind as a legacy as an artist.” “When I was younger and I first started to paint I think I was painting to make myself visible. So I think it was more about my ego.”
Mirja Vahala stands next to one of her many paintings within her house. Vahala said landscape paintings are among her most numerous and comfortable paintings.
A trifecta of Clinton Swanson bands are playing a Christmasthemed dance party at Spiritbar on December 13.
By Will Johnson - VURB
Christmas bash features
Clinton Swanson trifecta Twelve days before Christmas Nelson musician Clinton Swanson is bringing a trio of bands to Spiritbar for an energetic, multi-hour dance party. The busy Kootenay saxophonist, who recently performed at Nelson CARES’ Room to Live campaign, said he’s thrilled to once again invite the community to boogie down as part of his “happy holidays dance party” at Spiritbar on December 13. Swanson said residents can expect to hear groovy funk, electronic drum solos, lots of swing numbers and plenty of songs to celebrate with. And though you’re allowed to show up in winter-themed costumes, you don’t have to. The evening will begin with Clinton Swanson and Friends, and will feature Sydney Black from 8 to 9:15 p.m. “That’s the swing part of it, to get everybody warmed up,” said Swanson. That aspect will be high energy, with people twirling and shaking across the dance floor. Next up will be Hornography from 10 to 11:15. That set will also feature special guest DJ Rafferty Funksmith. “This is the groovy dance party part,” he said. And finally, Swanson will take the stage for a third time with his band Below the Belt at midnight. He said he’s particularly thrilled about drummer Tony Ferraro’s electronic jungle kit, which he said produces plenty of rave-style effects. “It’s going to be a full night of dancing and having a good time. There may even be mistletoe, so pucker up! We’re going all night,” said Swanson. A festive figure is rumoured to be making a special appearance. “I just want to have a show that expresses my appreciation for this town, because so many people come out to support me. I want them to come out and have a rocking good time,” he said. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are now available at the Hume Hotel.
Join THE 119 YEar old HoTEl Ymir Monday-Sunday
Open 3pm-9pm, will stay open later for parties! Over 20 musical instruments to choose from to play anytime Every Friday join us for the Country & Bluegrass Jam
Henri Bourgeois
(1904-1958) - Crescent Valley In 1904, under his doctor’s prescription, he had to migrate to a milder climate and chose Nelson where he recovered. In 1906, a fire destroyed the residence of Bourgeois located at the corner of Latimer and Josephine. In 1907, the family moved to Bourgeois Sidings later to take the name of Crescent Valley. Henri Bourgeois was one of the first to indulge in dairy farming. To honor his contribution to the Kootenays, AFKO created a giant puppet of him and will bring it back to Crescent Valley, Dec. 13th for their annual Christmas celebrations. www. afko.ca for the complete list of events!
STaY THE nigHT!
Presented by:
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PinThis! I am an Architect. I work from home. My workday begins by opening emails while sipping an espresso. Lately I’ve noticed a trend and reckon that I am not alone. On a daily basis my inbox is flooded with Houzz Updates telling me to “Cozy Up my Kitchen” and urgent warnings from Pinterest: “Don’t miss out on these Pins!”. Obscuring the boundary between blog, online community, and social media, sites like Houzz, Pinterest, Tumblr and Twitter are becoming vast visual libraries - a valuable resource for design professionals and ‘regular folk’ alike. It was not long ago that students of architecture would go on pilgrimage (often to Rome) to sketch and gain knowledge of the world’s masterworks. Even more recently, the only way to learn of a new Herzog and deMeuron building was to snail-mail an obscure magazine published in Germany. Access to ‘high design’ was traditionally something you earned through scholarship and great effort. Today, have your pick from any number of design blogs, online communities, notice boards, user forums and mobile apps. The world’s trends in design
are available to anyone anywhere through the simple flick of a finger.
Perhaps that is the great success of sites like Instagram - by transporting buildings from around the world to the inboxes of the masses, they democratize the industry of ‘high design’. Tumblr has 211 million blogs, many of them by skilled artists, designers and architects. Home Decor’ is among the most popular categories on Pinterest, which has an estimated 70 million users. The Houzz database has more than 4 million home design photos and a directory of 2 million home design professionals. Their mobile app has been downloaded 10 million times. I am reminded of Frank Lloyd Wright’s words: “Less is more, only when more is no good.” With an endless tapestry of online design resources, growing exponentially by the day, we are faced with a classic dilemma: “quantity vs quality”. On the Houzz website I can scroll through 757,814 Kitchen Design Photos, find several Kitchen Design consultants in my area and purchase a Garden Gnome riding a Harley. If I have doubts about my Gnome on a Harley, I click on the
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A reflection on the flourishing blogs and online forums that bring ‘high design’ to the masses.
‘Advice’ tab, post photos of my garden and ask the world at large “Does my Gnome look good beside my kale, or should it be with the sunflowers?”. My query will be among 201,522 other Discussions about home design currently underway on the site. These Discussions range from practical (Help me decorate my man cave) to educational (a ‘Garottage’ is the fusion of a Garage and Cottage, who knew?) to nervous and neurotic (Need help picking pillow colour for couch!). With so much information at our fingertips, we must carefully discern good from bad. If we don’t, our homes become a grab bag of dubious advice and snap-shots from websites. Imagine you are mining for gold. Find the right vein (follow the right Pinners, Tweeters and Bloggers) and you have a valuable source of inspiration and education. Make a wrong turn and you’ll end up in the dark, lost and confused. A couple Boards I follow on Pinterest include Arielle Schechter’s ‘Wood Products + Details for Architecture’ and Uncle Mike’s ‘architecture’. There are many other good ones. On the visually appealing
Tumblr, architects and designers (i.e. Bjarke Ingels) enjoy rockstar-like followings, while the real rockstars try their hand at architecture. Moby, one of this year’s headliners at the Shambhala Music Festival, has a blog documenting the strange and beautiful architecture of Los Angeles. Used properly, Tumblr can be a vast resource and inspiring visual record of contemporary design. It is also a showcase for new ideas and talent from around the world. Don’t get distracted by adverts for American Apparel knee high socks. For design geeks on the fringe, these sites offer a reassuring sense of community. I admit to ogling over modern ‘Brutalist’ buildings. Where others see heavy concrete and institutional drab, I see shadow and light cascading over abstract, expressive forms. With the majority of my friends disagreeing, at times I have felt ostracized and alone... until I found ‘FuckYeahBrutalism’, a Tumblr blog with 100,000 followers. My peeps! At their best, Pinterest, Houzz, Tumblr and Instagram are about sharing ideas and inspiring people. An endless pool of images to flip, click and scroll through.
And there’s the rub - we risk drowning ourselves in seductive imagery. Are we commodifying good design? We should not forget that behind every one of these images is hundreds of drafts, hours of meetings, years of skilled labour and, most importantly, designers willing to explore new territory. A mentor of mine once told me: “When I look at images of houses it is to see what is being done, so that I don’t do it.” This mantra I repeat to myself, sipping my espresso, anxiously opening my email from Pinterest: “Fresh Pins for you!”. Matthew Stanley is Principal Architect at S.O.A. in Nelson. Visit his website: www.soahome.c
NOvEMBER EDITION 2014
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What’s Hot?
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TECHNOLOGY
TOYOTA has a hydrogen powered vehicle that emits only water vapor. How cool is that? This vehicle ushers into the future with the launch of MIRAI (Japanese for future) It is a vehicle equipped with a “Fuel Cell” that generates electricity through the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to power the motor driving the vehicle. The MIRAI system provides better energy efficiency than internal combustion engines, superior environmental performance with no emissions of CO2 or SOCs when driving.
431 Baker St, Nelson 250-352-5033
What’s
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NOV. MOVIES
TV ADDICT AIRING ON SYFY: ASCENSION In 1963, the U.S. government launched a covert space mission sending hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the Ascension to populate a new world. Nearly 50 years into the journey, as they approach the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission. AIRING ON NETFLIX: MARCO POLO In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, “Marco Polo” is based on the famed explorer’s adventures in Kublai Khan’s court in 13th century China.
BOOK WORM bLOOd MAGICK - NORA RObERTS
THE HObbIT: THE bATTLE OF THE FIvE ARMIES Having reclaimed their homeland from the dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance. INTO THE WOOdS Into the Woods is a modern twist on several of the beloved brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. based on the classic 1980s broadway musical written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.
book Three of The Cousins O’dwyer Trilogy. County Mayo is rich in the traditions of Ireland, legends that branna O’dwyer fully embraces in her life and in her work as the proprietor of The dark Witch shop, which carries soaps, lotions, and candles for tourists, made with branna’s special touch. SHARP ObJECTS - GILLIAN FLYNN Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.
IT’S A PRE-CHRISTMAS TRADITION: THE NELSON CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE. Each year music director Kathleen Neudorf conjures up a program of music appropriate to the season, performed by the 60-member choir and guest musicians. This year’s theme is Snow on Snow: English Christmas Music through the Ages. “It is the imagery of an English Christmas that inspired my selection of music this season. I see carollers with scarves tightly wrapped around their throats singing at night while snow is falling. I see massive English cathedrals with choirs singing, chanting processions while the music echoes off the ancient stones,” says Neudorf. “I think of Dicken’s Christmas Carol, of Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales and those many stories set in England being read by Alan Maitland on CBC radio. I think of Salvation Army brass bands marching, the sound fading off into the distance as they disappear down the street. I think of gatherings with steaming drinks, roasts being brought out of the oven, shortbread being inhaled by children and mugs being brought together as the New Year is hailed.” Concert selections include traditional English carols, the evocative and moving“In the Bleak Midwinter, based on an 1872 Christmas poem by Christina Rossetti, and the transcendent O Magnum Mysterium that recalls Gregorian chants. The rousing Hallelujah Chorus from George Frideric Handel’s Messiah will catapult you out of your seasonal blues. The feature piece is Ralph Vaughan Williams’s layered and joyful Fantasia on Christmas Carols, which features soloist Allison Girvan and cellist Jeff Faragher. Christoph Martens accompanies the choir throughout. “I invite the audience to travel with us, to journey to a place where many of our own traditions are rooted, to allow our singing to conjure up visual images of whatever this holiday season may mean for them,” says Neudorf. Two performances at the Capitol Theatre: Saturday December 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday December 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets $15 at the Capitol Theatre Box Office or at the door (children 12 years and under free).
ross Klatte Celebrates the sPeCtaCular selKirK looP
By Will Johnson - VURB
Local author wrote the text accompanying photo homage to popular tourist attraction
Local writer Ross Klatte has always loved the Selkirk Loop, so when two American photographers approached him to write accompanying text for a photography book they were working on, he jumped at the chance. “My part was to write about 20,000 words. I started doing research and I had a lot of books in my own library, plus I spent a lot of time online,” said Klatte, who worked as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune before moving to a Nelson homestead in 1971. Featuring over 300 images by photographers Jerry Pavia and Tim Cady, the resulting book Selkirks Spectacular contains chapters written on the history, geology, communities, natural features, flora and fauna of the area. He said the book may teach Kootenay residents surprising things about their surroundings. “People who have lived here longterm tend to know a lot about the area, but on the other hand there’s lots of people who don’t know the
history, or maybe don’t know the flora and fauna,” he said. The book will give them the chance to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. He’s especially interested in the Selkirk Mountains. “Those are very, very, very old mountains. Millions of years older than the Rockies. And way back when these mountains stood as an island.” He said the Selkirk Mountains are much more welcoming than the Rockies. “The Rockies are kind of cold and craggy, but these ones are sort of soft and warm and welcoming.” Selkirks Spectacular highlights both sides of the International Selkirk Loop, named by Rand McNally as one of five “Best of the Roads.” This journey in photographs and
text takes readers from Lake Pend Oreille to Kootenay Lake and includes wildlife from endangered woodland caribou to ruffed grouse. The book features historic photographs highlighting the area’s native and ethnic cultures, mining and logging legacy, and boomtowns. Klatte’s memoir Leaving the Farm was published by Oolichan Books in 2007, and he was selected for the Journey Prize anthology in 2011 for his story “First-calf Heifer”, which appeared in the New Orphic Review.’ Klatte said he can’t wait to see the end project on coffee tables. When he saw the final product he was flabbergasted.
“Seeing it, finally, three years after writing the text for it, was like, I imagine, doing a part in a movie, then waiting years for the movie’s release to see what you looked like on the screen,” he said. “The book is full of beautiful photos. I can’t, in all modesty, comment on the text.” The book is now available wherever books are sold.