SSI Scrabble Fundraiser
Saturday, March 6, 7 p.m.
SSI Grandmothers in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Howard and Mimi
Friday & Saturday, March 12 & 13, 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 14, 2:30 p.m.
The Academy Presents….Howard and Mimi by Caroline Gold. Directed by Lynda Jensen. Caroline Gold, playwright and writer for BBC radio and television has been awarded Best Play at the Fringe Report awards in 2006 for her latest play Howard and Mimi. Howard and Mimi are human embodiments of the animals they are. Mimi (Sue Newman) is sophisticated, witty, content, the mistress of her own home. Her perfect world is shattered by the arrival of Howard (Luc Blanchett) an unwelcome guest. Howard is an enthusiastic, boisterous, appalling and slightly smelly hound. Innate hostility and suspicion gradually turn to domesticity and affection. This quirky and unusual play looks at issues from politics and death, to love and battle of the sexes.

Carmen – Met Opera Live in HD
Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m.
The encore presentation of one of the most popular operas of all time, Carmen “is about sex, violence and racism – and its corollary: freedom,” says Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre about his new production of Bizet’s drama. El?na Garan?a plays the seductive gypsy of the title in her role debut, opposite Roberto Alagna as the obsessed Don José.

ArtSpring presents: Janina Fialkowska
Tuesday, March 16, 8 p.m.
March 2010 marks Chopin’s 200th birthday, and distinguished Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska helps us celebrate with an all-Chopin recital. Born in Montreal and educated there and at Juilliard, Janina Fialkowska has made a career as a soloist in all the major concert halls of the world. She played for us at ArtSpring to a sold-out house in 2006. We are delighted to have her return for this special celebration. “She brings incredible relish to her playing. Endowed with phenomenal technical skills and effortless musicality, Fialkowska performs with a clarity that sets her apart from the ordinary superstars.” Toronto Star
Pre-concert chat at 7 p.m.

ArtSpring presents: Chor Leoni
Saturday, March 20, 2:30 p.m.
Founded by Diane Loomer in 1992, Chor Leoni is widely recognized as Canada’s pre-eminent male voice choir. Their concerts move fearlessly between musical genres, always aiming to communicate, engage, and entertain. Engendering tears of emotion, peals of laughter, or gasps of awe from its audiences, Chor Leoni prides itself on its ability to perform in many languages and styles, always sung with fresh energy and poise.
“Chor Leoni has a polish, a sound, a spontaneity and a style that I feel is unequalled by any male voice choir that I have ever heard.” Maestro Bramwell Tovey, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Garry Oaks Winery Tasting at 1:30 p.m. Tickets: $29.

Marlyn Horsdal Book Launch
Sunday, March 21, 1 p.m.
Join us in celebrating Marlyn Horsdal’s debut novel Sweetness from Ashes. Guest readings by Ann Eriksson (Falling from Grace) and Margaret Thompson (Adrift on the Ark). Sometimes it is those moments in life that we push hardest against that bring us closer together.  Set partially in Vancouver, partially in rural Ontario and partially in West Africa, Sweetness from Ashes is a vibrant novel about family in its various forms.

Driftwood 50th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, March 26, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Death of a Clown
Friday, March 26, 8 p.m.
ITSAZOO Productions comes to Salt Spring Island with Death of a Clown by Sebastien Archibald. Infusing the Epic Theatre of Bertolt Brecht with the art of clown, this hilarious satire is for the rabble-rouser in all of us. The story follows Roy, a floppy fun-loving clown who suppresses his true nature in favour of a life spent clawing his way up the corporate ladder. But when he meets Anna, a sassy clown with big plans to turn the world upside down, Roy’s life is thrown into chaos. Which path will he choose? Following its debut at the 2006 Victoria Fringe Festival, Death of a Clown has evolved from a modest experimental show to an award-winning audience favourite, and a multi-media extravaganza featuring original songs, dance numbers, video, animation, projections and a live band.

Hamlet – Met Opera Live in HD
Saturday, March 27, 10 a.m.
Simon Keenlyside and Natalie Dessay bring their extraordinary acting and singing skills to two of the Bard’s most unforgettable characters in this new production of Ambroise Thomas’s Hamlet. For the role of Ophelia, the French composer created an extended mad scene that is among the greatest in opera.

ArtSpring presents: Victoria Collegium
Sunday, March 28 – 2:30 p.m.
Catch the very best young musicians from the Victoria Conservatory’s enrichment programme in an exciting recital of music for string quartets, piano trios, piano soloists and a host of other combinations showcasing tomorrow’s rising stars in the field of classical music.
Tickets are only $12 for adults and $5 for all youth.

ArtSpring presents: Mexico City & The Russian Play
Wednesday, March 31, Thursday, April 1 & Friday, April 2 – 8 p.m.
ArtSpring is thrilled to present Halifax-based 2b theatre’s production of two one-act plays by Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch. Mexico City is a comedy about a suburban Canadian couple on holiday in Mexico City in the 1970s. They have brought everything with them from Mississauga – cameras, Hawaiian shirts, and their frustrations with each other – but the city gradually works its transformative magic on them. The Russian Play recounts the tale of a Russian peasant girl named Sonya, the “foolish mistakes” of her youth, and the love affair that leads to her ruin.
“Hannah Moscovitch is the hottest Canadian playwright on the scene today.” Belfry Theatre

Posted: March 4th, 2010 under Classical, Events, Music, Opera, Theatre.
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You are invited to a FREE concert of fine classical music on Tuesday, March 9 at 8:00pm.

We want to thank all ArtSpring members for your continued support for our work by presenting three bright young musicians (an oboeist and a guitar player from Barcelona and a pianist from Comox) in what promises to be a lovely concert of music ranging from Vivaldi to Piazzola.

Please see this page for details of the concert and bios of the musicians.

Each of you who is a member in good standing of Island Arts Centre Society (ArtSpring) is entitled to two complimentary tickets. Please contact the Ticket Centre in the normal way to book your seats. Since we have over 300 members and only 259 seats, the tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis.

Look forward to sharing this fine musical evening with you.

George

Posted: February 15th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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Feel free to join up with us via Twitter or Facebook

We also have our twitter feed here.

Posted: February 8th, 2010 under News.
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ArtSpring presents: Tokyo String Quartet
Monday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m.
The Tokyo String Quartet is one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world. Founded 40 years ago, the quartet has performed around the globe and built a comprehensive catalogue of critically acclaimed recordings. At ArtSpring the four musicians, Martin Beaver and Kikuei Ikeda (violins), Kazuhide Isomura (viola) and Clive Greensmith (cello), will play works by Haydn, Beethoven and Bartok. Preceded by a Garry Oaks Winery tasting, 7 p.m.

Shirley Valentine Fundraiser for Haiti
Friday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Grace Jordan is back performing the popular classic Shirley Valentine. Standing in her kitchen wondering what else she could do for the people in Haiti, Jordan decided that Shirley Valentine would be the perfect solution. “A great night of theatre, a wonderful story, all of us gathered together knowing why we are there. Where else would you want to be?” The Government of Canada through World Vision will match all the funds raised, translating each $20 ticket into $40 for the Haitian people. Made possible by sponsorship from ArtSpring, The Driftwood and Imagine That Graphics.

Simon Boccanegra – Met Opera Live in HD
Saturday, Feb. 6, 10:00 a.m.
Four decades into a legendary Met career, tenor Plácido Domingo makes history singing the title role in Verdi’s gripping political thriller, which is written for a baritone. Adrianne Pieczonka, Marcello Giordani and James Morris are his co-stars in this moving and tragic story of a father and his lost daughter. James Levine conducts.

Theatre Alive! presents: Baba Brinkman
Saturday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.
ArtSpring Gallery
Baba Brinkman is a former tree-planter who worked in the Rocky Mountains of B.C. every summer for more than ten years, personally planting over one million trees. He is also a scholar with a Masters in Medieval and Renaissance English Literature. His thesis drew parallels between the worlds of hip-hop music and literary poetry. Since 2004 Baba has toured his award-winning hip-hop theatre show, The Rap Canterbury Tales, to dozens of cities around the world. He performs the rap version of The Miller’s tale at ArtSpring. Sponsored by the Salt Spring Theatre Alive Society and the Canada Council.

ArtSpring presents: Ladies’ Aires & Dances
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2:30 p.m.
Vancouver’s Historical Performance Ensemble is dedicated to presenting accurately reproduced Baroque and Renaissance performances of dance, music and costuming. Accompanied by live music on period instruments, the performers of the ensemble present a delightful narrated tour through dance styles of the 17th and 18th Centuries. Whether you enjoy dance, baroque music, or gorgeous costumes, this will be a special evening unlike anything you have seen outside of a Jane Austen soiree.

GISS Drama
Wednesday, February 10, 7:30 p.m.
Second Story Theatre presents student-directed one-act plays.

The Geology of Salt Spring Island
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2:00 p.m.
This free presentation by local geologist, Hugh Greenwood, will outline the geological history of Salt Spring Island and include remarks on the applications of the map. The map allows property owners, hikers, and tourists to identify rocks at any point on the island. Information: lefebure@uvic.ca

Don McKay & George Sipos poetry reading
Sunday, Feb. 14, 3 p.m.
ArtSpring Gallery
Don McKay is Canada’s most distinguished poet, winner of the Griffin Prize and Companion of the Order of Canada. George Sipos is ArtSpring’s Executive Director and will be launching his new collection of poems, The Glassblowers.

A Very Special Valentine’s Evening with Jenn Beaupre
Saturday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Join one of Canada’s fastest rising singer/songwriters for a very special Valentine’s performance. Jenn Beaupre burst onto the music scene when she appeared as a contestant on Canadian Idol. Audiences, judges and critics alike took note of her incredible talent, and she’s been going strong ever since. Her powerful, classically trained vocals are layered atop gorgeous accompaniment and combined with humorous storytelling and audience interaction. Jenn’s performances are memorable and come straight from her heart. With special guest, Gemma G.

ArtSpring presents: Salt Spring Chamber Players
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m.
Following last season’s hugely successful performance of the complete Brandenburg Concertos, Jim and Laurie Stubbs convene a smaller chamber ensemble of Salt Spring and Victoria to present Schubert’s famous Octet, as well as works by Albinoni and Alexandre Tansman.

ArtSpring presents: Rankin/Church/Crowe
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m.
Friends and colleagues Raylene Rankin (Rankin Family and the Rankin Sisters), Cindy Church (Quartette, Lunch at Allen’s, and The Nearness of You), and Susan Crowe are all award-winning recording artists from Atlantic Canada who bring their varied musical signatures to the stage in a mix of elegance and accessibility. Folk, country, jazz and contemporary singer-songwriter are blended with a confident ease that makes for richly textured harmonies and a welcoming rapport with their audience. “Only good things can come from this union.” Charlottetown Guardian

Posted: January 27th, 2010 under Events.
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Looking for more news? Read our latest newsletter, dig in the archives, or to sign up for eNews visit the newsletter page.

Posted: January 20th, 2010 under News.
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Our January newsletter is now available, click here to get it now

Posted: January 13th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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The Met production of Carmen is coming on Saturday, January 16. Tickets, as you might imagine, have been selling briskly. To make sure everyone on Salt Spring has a chance to see this greatest of all operas, we have arranged to also show the encore broadcast on Saturday, March 13. So you now have two choices:
- Some tickets are still available for January 16
- We have just opened up all March 13 seats for sale.

Prices are the same for both the live broadcast and the encore presentation.

If you have already purchased tickets for Jan 16 and would like to exchange them for March 13, please just drop by the ArtSpring Ticket Centre any time when the box office is open. We will change your tickets and waive the customary $2 exchange service charge.

Have a happy New Year, and watch out for those gypsies – they’ll steal your heart like a song.

Posted: January 4th, 2010 under Events, Music, News, Opera.
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conducted by George Ehring.

George’s popular music appreciation classes have been enjoyed by many islanders, whether they were looking for an introduction to classical music, or were experienced listeners hoping to gain new insights into familiar music.

In the theatre at ArtSpring, on seven Monday evenings from January 18 through March 8, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (There will be no session on February 1, when the Tokyo String Quartet will be performing.) The cost is $45 per person, $80 a couple. Light refreshments will be served. All proceeds go to ArtSpring.

Go here for further information or contact the ArtSpring Ticket Centre to sign up for A Little Night Music.

Posted: December 22nd, 2009 under Classical, Educational, Music.
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Islands Arts Centre Society AGM

Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010
Time: 5:00pm
Place: ArtSpring Multi-purpose gallery

You are invited to attend the IACS Annual General Meeting which has been re-scheduled to Jan 17 from its earlier announced date of Nov 22. In addition to the customary business of receiving the audited financial statements for 2008-09, electing new Board members, etc, the AGM will be asked to consider a proposed revision of the IACS Mission Statement. The current Mission Statement and the proposed revision are shown below.

Current Mission Statement:
The purposes of the Society are:
a) To support all other organizations on Salt Spring Island having as their purpose the advancement of the performing, visual and creative arts and crafts.

b) To promote, build, operate and maintain, and to acquire the necessary property and proprietary rights for, a theatre, gallery, display space and workshop space for the performing, visual and creative arts and crafts.

c) To develop and execute public education to support the performing, visual and creative arts and crafts through a theatre, gallery, display space and workshop space.

Proposed Revision:
The purposes of the Society are:
a) To support the advancement of the performing, visual and creative arts and crafts on Salt Spring Island.

b) To operate and maintain, develop and promote ArtSpring as a facility comprised of a theatre, gallery, display space and workshop space for those engaged in the performing, visual and creative arts and crafts as well as for other groups and individuals engaged in activities of community benefit.

c) To develop and execute public education to support the performing, visual and creative arts and crafts.

d) To bring high quality BC, Canadian, and international performing artists to Salt Spring audiences by presenting music, dance, theatre and other professional performances.

Posted: December 16th, 2009 under Events, News.
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A Theatre Stagecraft course is being offered at Artspring  starting January 8th 2010, running 2 nights a week  Friday night and  Sunday night 7:30 to 9 PM through 26 sessions.

Do you want to learn Theatre terminology,  the secret language of theatre?
Where is upstage?  What are germans?  What is a ghost light, a ghost load,  a grid, a flygallery,  a sandbag,  the difference between a Leg and a Leko or where is the greenroom?
We will learn theatre etiquette, (what is expected from the patrons to the stagehands)  theatre protocol, do’s and don’ts and why.  Also covered will be the job functions of everyone in the theatre from the executive producer to the gopher. We will cover a detailed analysis of all crew involved in a production, covering from what is required for a small show to what may be involved in a large production.

Full details can be found here.

Posted: December 7th, 2009 under Educational.
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