What’s happening in the Flin Flon and area arts scene this month, inquiring minds want to know? Well if they don’t they should because, as per usual, it’s pretty exciting.
Opening on Mar. 2 at NorVA Centre and Gallery is a new art exhibition by Manitoba artist Jane Gateson called “My House as a Life: Inner/Outer Journey.” On her website it states, “In this series of 22 paintings, 11 paintings tell the whimsical and allegorical story of a little house as it grows up and journeys through life and eleven matching abstract paintings reveal the inner life of the house…This series is on tour throughout Manitoba (2017-18) with Manitoba Arts Network.”
The Manitoba Arts Network is a fantastic source of affordable, professional art shows that tour the province each year. They choose their exhibitions by a jury process from the more than 20 shows submitted each year by artists throughout Manitoba. Flin Flon’s own Karen Clark has a touring exhibition on the road right now of batik works. Congratulations to her and to all the artists who beautify our community with their imaginations.
On Mar. 3 there is another Loaded Mic Night at Johnny’s Social Club. This time around host Trevor Gordon will present Susan and Brent Lethbridge, Derek Kemp, Lane Laderoute, Emily Sparling, Mike Spencer, Beaner Deans, Mark Kolt, Jennifer McLean and Courtney Lycan. They promise to deliver “a stripped-down night of original music and eclectic covers,” so be there or be square. Most of the performers have experienced success at Johnny’s Social Club and other venues in the area, so it will be a lot of fun to hear what they are up to, now. Tickets are $20 and are available at The Orange Toad. Big thanks to Meaghan and the staff there for all they do.
The following weekend, Mar. 9 and 10, Home Routes presents Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno, from Lexington, Va. and Seattle, Wash. respectively. I should tell you a bit about them as you likely are not yet fans – you will be. They met in summer 2016 at a folk music camp where Vivian was teaching voice and Riley was teaching fiddle workshops. After a chance meeting, they spent an evening talking and playing for each other, and the rest, as they note, is history. They play a combination of old style Americana mountain music and carefully crafted original tunes, always respecting the roots of the music. She is a singer/songwriter and guitarist while he is a multi-instrumentalist who also writes and sings. Their song, “Time is Everything” is wonderful.
The music is available in the usual house concert format at 183 Murton Blvd on Friday night – contact [email protected] for tickets – or 19 Hemlock Drive on Saturday where the contact is [email protected]. Tickets are $20 with all the money going to the musicians (they will need it, driving all the way to Flin Flon from Virginia!). Doors open at 7:00 pm and music begins at 7:30 pm on both nights. There are plenty of seats so please don’t be shy, the hosts are really friendly!
Lastly, the Flin Flon Youth Arts Council is working hard and meeting often to bring a show to Johnny’s Social Club. This group of young people will present “Speed Control,” a trio of rock ‘n’ rollers from Whitehorse, Yukon on Mar. 14. There will be more about them in the next column. The Youth Arts Council is a group worth watching. With some financial assistance from the Manitoba Arts Network to cover the performance fees for the band and Domino’s Pizza, to keep them from succumbing to hunger, practical guidance from Crystal Kolt, cultural coordinator of the Flin Flon Arts Council and Mike Spencer, manager of NorVA Centre and Art Gallery, these youth are proving that age doesn’t matter in cultural know-how. Cheers to Lalaine, Mikylo, Pearl and Naomi!
