Anyone who attended the Luminescence opening at Deer Lake Gallery last year will no doubt remember the lineup that wended its way down Deer Lake Avenue.
Visitors waited upwards of three hours to get in the door for what turned out to be one of the hottest events of the year: opening night for the exhibition that featured two- and three-dimensional art celebrating light.
This year, the Burnaby Arts Council is giving people a chance to bypass any potential lineups by buying a special $25 VIP pass for opening night on March 18. Luminescence 2, like its predecessor, is timed to celebrate the spring equinox and will feature the work of more than 25 artists.
Ron Simmer, who created the infinity room installation that was the talk of last year’s show, is back this year. Other highlights include installations by the Optical Illusion Museum and Metro Vancouver Art and Mural Society, an interactive sculpture called Pulse Quasar, by Vancouver-based artist Robert Turriff, and a new media installation by Hfour, a.k.a Ben Z. Cooper and Stuart James Ward.
Luminescence 2 opening night is set for Saturday, March 18 at 7 p.m. VIP guests can get access at 6 p.m.
You can find out all you need to know at www.burnabyartscouncil.org, or call the gallery at 604-298-7322.
COLLEGE ART EXPLORES URBAN SCENES
An interdisciplinary artist from Vancouver is in the spotlight with a new exhibition at the McGill branch of Burnaby Public Library.
Burnaby Art Gallery is presenting the off-site exhibition, The Errand and the Epiphany, from March 21 to May 15 at the library. It features the photo-based collage work of Jessie McNeil.
McNeil’s work was seen in the city last year, when Deer Lake Gallery hosted her Urban Subjects exhibition in June. The new exhibition at the McGill library is being presented in association with Capture Photography Festival.
“Featuring everyday studies of environment and wonders, The Errand and the Epiphany reflects on how built spaces impact human participation in public life,” a write-up about the exhibition says.
See www.burnabyartgallery.ca for more information.
Once it’s opened, you’ll be able to see the exhibition at the library (at 4595 Albert St.) at any time during opening hours.
CLAY SYMPOSIUM COMING
Interested in the ceramic arts? You’ll want to check out more about the Canadian Clay Symposium, coming to the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts on Saturday, March 18.
The all-day symposium brings together 10 national and international artists to share their expertise with students and professionals in the ceramic arts – covering areas such as sculpture, hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing and firing technology. There are also a variety of theoretical discussions and panels.
Registration closes on March 13, and you won’t be able to sign up on the day of the event.
Check out www.canadianclaysymposium.com for all the details, or call 604-291-6864.
While you’re around for the symposium, you may also want to check out the new gardenWORKS exhibition at Deer Lake Gallery. The outdoor group exhibition will feature three-dimensional contemporary ceramic works, and it’s timed to run in conjunction with the symposium.
It opens March 18 and runs to April 8.
The gallery is at 6584 Deer Lake Ave. See www.burnabyartscouncil.org for more.
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS
If you’ve got small people in the house, you’ll know the fun of curling up in front of a movie on a Friday night. Burnaby Public Library’s McGill branch is making movie night even more enjoyable by offering a couple of Disney film screenings during spring break.
On Friday, March 17, kids and parents can turn out for Treasure Planet, which puts a futuristic twist on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island story.
On Friday, March 24, it’s Enchanted, the live-action-meets-animation twist on princess movies – complete with singing, dancing and, of course, a ball.
Both movie screenings are set for 7 p.m. No registration is needed, but arriving early is recommended. Parents must accompany kids under age 10.
The McGill library branch is at 4595 Albert St. in North Burnaby. Check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events for details.
LIVE MUSIC AT SHADBOLT
Love live music? Be sure to note some upcoming dates at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.
If you have time during the lunch hour, don’t forget about A Little Lunch Music, presented monthly on Tuesdays at Encores Café. You can enjoy a special buffet lunch starting at 11:30 a.m., with music from noon to 1 p.m. The buffet lunch is $12, but music is free.
On Tuesday, March 28, Mohamed Assani performs on sitar and table. On Tuesday, April 18, Blackthorn brings Celtic music to the stage, and on Tuesday, May 23, it’s the jazz sounds of the Brad Muirhead Trio.
If jazz is your thing, then don’t forget about the regular Jazz Jams, also held monthly on Tuesdays, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. Jazz musician Cory Weeds hosts the nights, which are open to anyone who wants to join in and play, or just sit back and listen. The next jam nights are coming up on March 28 and April 18. It’s all free.
Check out www.shadboltcentre.com for more.
THE GREAT B.C. NOVEL
Is there a novel manuscript gathering dust in your desk drawer? Take it out, dust it off, polish it off, and get ready to enter the fourth Great B.C. Novel Contest.
The contest, which is run by Mother Tongue Publishing, is searching for submissions from writers living in B.C. Unpublished novel and novella manuscripts are welcome – you have to submit the first chapter and a synopsis of your completed literary work. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll then have to provide a hard copy of the full manuscript.
Check out www.mothertonguepublishing.com for all the details.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
