Entertainment

Sooke artist Jessica Ruth Freedman is one of nine virtual in-residence artists who share the creative process, conduct webinars, write and offer sage advice with artsUNITE, a free online wayfinding platform for artists. (Contributed - Jessica Ruth Freedman)

Sooke artist joins artsUNITE, getting creative through pandemic

National program brings much-needed support to arts community

Sooke artist Jessica Ruth Freedman is one of nine virtual in-residence artists who share the creative process, conduct webinars, write and offer sage advice with artsUNITE, a free online wayfinding platform for artists. (Contributed - Jessica Ruth Freedman)
Victoria mural artists Joshua Lundrigan (from left) and Paul Archer join Rob Chyzowski, co-owner of Belleville’s Watering Hole and Diner in front of an Archer-designed mural that went up on Thursday at the Inner Harbour restaurant. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Positivity rules with new outdoor mural from Victoria artist

Paul Archer teams with Belleville’s Watering Hole and Diner for patio project

Victoria mural artists Joshua Lundrigan (from left) and Paul Archer join Rob Chyzowski, co-owner of Belleville’s Watering Hole and Diner in front of an Archer-designed mural that went up on Thursday at the Inner Harbour restaurant. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Campbell River’s Sonny Assu has been selected as one of five artists to receive the prestigious 2021 Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship. Photo Courtesy Sonny Assu

Campbell River’s Sonny Assu awarded prestigious international art fellowship

‘It’s wonderful to be recognized and be able to give back a little bit,’ Assu says

Campbell River’s Sonny Assu has been selected as one of five artists to receive the prestigious 2021 Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship. Photo Courtesy Sonny Assu
‘From the Boardwalk’ by Hilary Farmer, ‘Fawn in the Forest’ by Cindy Friesen-Ford Ashurst, ‘Heralds of Early Spring’ by Brenda Brown and ‘Wind in the Sails’ by Jan Byers (cropped, clockwise from top left) are among the paintings in the Federation of Canadian Artists Nanaimo chapter’s Spring Art Showcase. (Photos courtesy FCA: Nanaimo)

Nanaimo chapter of Federation of Canadian Artists spring exhibition cancelled

More than 150 paintings by 44 artists were to be on display in ‘Spring Art Showcase’

‘From the Boardwalk’ by Hilary Farmer, ‘Fawn in the Forest’ by Cindy Friesen-Ford Ashurst, ‘Heralds of Early Spring’ by Brenda Brown and ‘Wind in the Sails’ by Jan Byers (cropped, clockwise from top left) are among the paintings in the Federation of Canadian Artists Nanaimo chapter’s Spring Art Showcase. (Photos courtesy FCA: Nanaimo)
The show winner Gloria Ainsworth Mount’s work titled “Islander Dahlia” for the 2020 spring exhibit. The Spring Juried Exhibition for 2021 will showcase at the McMillan Arts Centre from April 6 until May 2. (Submitted photo)

Parksville’s MAC to host Federation of Canadian Artists juried exhibition in April

2021 marks 25th anniversary of event for chapter

The show winner Gloria Ainsworth Mount’s work titled “Islander Dahlia” for the 2020 spring exhibit. The Spring Juried Exhibition for 2021 will showcase at the McMillan Arts Centre from April 6 until May 2. (Submitted photo)
Author Des Davidge with his first book, ‘Along The Shore And Through The Trees’, on Thursday, March 18, 2021. It depicts Davidgeas own memoirs and those of his late wife, whose father spent more than three decades maintaining a telegraph line. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Author tells unique tale of a shared Vancouver Island history, decades apart

Two lives connected by a telegraph line along the coast of Vancouver Island

Author Des Davidge with his first book, ‘Along The Shore And Through The Trees’, on Thursday, March 18, 2021. It depicts Davidgeas own memoirs and those of his late wife, whose father spent more than three decades maintaining a telegraph line. (Mandy Moraes photo)
Dan Richey’s Dungeness Crab, which has stood in Maffeo Sutton Park since 2013, is among the public art works the city is removing due to “material degradation.” (City of Nanaimo image)

Popular art piece will crab-walk off Nanaimo’s waterfront

Maffeo Sutton Park sculpture, Deverill Square Park paintings coming down due to damage

Dan Richey’s Dungeness Crab, which has stood in Maffeo Sutton Park since 2013, is among the public art works the city is removing due to “material degradation.” (City of Nanaimo image)
Frequent buskers Johnny Bomblast, left, and Dave Harris perform in front of Munro’s Books on Government Street. The roommates recently completed a new album of original material entitled Clouds. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

VIDEO: Not even a pandemic can keep a good Vancouver Island street musician down

‘One Man Band’ Dave Harris and Johnny Bomblast team up to record pandemic-inspired album

Frequent buskers Johnny Bomblast, left, and Dave Harris perform in front of Munro’s Books on Government Street. The roommates recently completed a new album of original material entitled Clouds. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Wordstorm Society of the Arts artistic director Carla Stein says artists have had difficulty meeting during the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Aviva Stein-Wotten)

Nanaimo spoken word group launches virtual venue for artistic discussion

Wordstorm Society of the Arts presents ‘Omniform Lounge’

Wordstorm Society of the Arts artistic director Carla Stein says artists have had difficulty meeting during the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Aviva Stein-Wotten)
Mark Brandon has discovered there are more acting roles available for seniors now than ever before. (Photo submitted)

Act your age means more movie roles for seniors like Mark Brandon

Island-filmed The Baker’s Son provides a prominent role as a news anchor

Mark Brandon has discovered there are more acting roles available for seniors now than ever before. (Photo submitted)
The late Hermann Nieweler, centre, founder of Hermann’s Jazz Club, poses with the Tom Vickery Trio on stage at the club (from left, Vickery at piano, Josh Dixon, Sean Drabbitt). Vickery and his current trio headline a March 31 show that is a fundraiser for the B.C./Yukon Kidney Foundation. Nieweler was a kidney transplant recipient in 2010. (Courtesy Hermann’s Jazz Club)

Kidney Month show at Hermann’s honours memory of Victoria jazz club owner

Tom Vickery Trio headlining fundraiser being livestreamed online March 31

The late Hermann Nieweler, centre, founder of Hermann’s Jazz Club, poses with the Tom Vickery Trio on stage at the club (from left, Vickery at piano, Josh Dixon, Sean Drabbitt). Vickery and his current trio headline a March 31 show that is a fundraiser for the B.C./Yukon Kidney Foundation. Nieweler was a kidney transplant recipient in 2010. (Courtesy Hermann’s Jazz Club)
The Valley's Margaret Carlson was honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance last year as the prestigious institution celebrates its 100th anniversary. Pictured is Carlson, left, with her daughter D. Gwen Carlson-Redcliffe. (Submitted photo)

Royal Academy of Dance highlights mid-Island dance icon

Margaret Carlson taught dance in the CowichanValley from 1954 to 1997

  • Mar 24, 2021
The Valley's Margaret Carlson was honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance last year as the prestigious institution celebrates its 100th anniversary. Pictured is Carlson, left, with her daughter D. Gwen Carlson-Redcliffe. (Submitted photo)
Alan Tudyk stars as Alien Harry Vanderspeigel in the new series Resident Alien (Photo by: James Dittinger/SYFY)

Ladysmith-filmed ‘Resident Alien’ renewed for season two

The hit SYFY series will return to film season two in Ladysmith

Alan Tudyk stars as Alien Harry Vanderspeigel in the new series Resident Alien (Photo by: James Dittinger/SYFY)
Nanaimo comedian Peter Hudson’s debut single is Plexiglass, a parody of SexyBack by Justin Timberlake. (Photo courtesy Sam Balsangkar and Bryce Hills)

Vancouver Island comedian releases COVID-19-themed parody song ‘Plexiglass’

Peter Hudson lampoons Justin Timberlake hit on first single from upcoming debut music CD

Nanaimo comedian Peter Hudson’s debut single is Plexiglass, a parody of SexyBack by Justin Timberlake. (Photo courtesy Sam Balsangkar and Bryce Hills)
A screenshot featuring some of the works on display by VIU visual art students. (VIU website screenshot)

Vancouver Island University art students display latest work in online show

View Gallery is presenting the exhibition, plans to open in time for grad show

A screenshot featuring some of the works on display by VIU visual art students. (VIU website screenshot)
“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Parallels between Chemainus and fictional town evident in Hallmark movie

Tourism boost likely down the road from publicity after a week of filming

“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The Vancouver Island Symphony brass quintet – Scott MacInnes, Nick Atkinson, Karen Hough, Mark D’Angelo and Stevan Paranosic (from left) – present Brass and Song on March 27. (Photo courtesy HA Photography)

Vocals replaced with horns in upcoming Vancouver Island Symphony brass concert

‘Brass and Song’ the next in orchestra’s ‘Symphony from your Sofa’ live-stream series

The Vancouver Island Symphony brass quintet – Scott MacInnes, Nick Atkinson, Karen Hough, Mark D’Angelo and Stevan Paranosic (from left) – present Brass and Song on March 27. (Photo courtesy HA Photography)
Art boxes, like this one Ann Zanbilowicz had built for the Kye Bay neighbourhood, are popping up all over the Comox Valley. The boxes allow artists to exhibit their work. New pieces are placed in the box regularly, for your viewing pleasure.

New public art boxes providing a window into Vancouver Island’s creative soul

New Comox Valley-based initiative gives artists a COVID-safe way to exhibit their work

Art boxes, like this one Ann Zanbilowicz had built for the Kye Bay neighbourhood, are popping up all over the Comox Valley. The boxes allow artists to exhibit their work. New pieces are placed in the box regularly, for your viewing pleasure.
It’s almost hard to tell which is the window and which is the art in Skye Skagfeld’s great landscape artwork. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Colorful scenery abundant in Chemainus spring equinox art exhibit

St. Joseph’s Artist Studio Gallery the site for bright landscape paintings

It’s almost hard to tell which is the window and which is the art in Skye Skagfeld’s great landscape artwork. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The Koksilah Music Festival, taking place online March 20 and 27, features a host of Indigenous performers speakers and more. (koksilahfestival.com photo)

Koksilah Music Festival to showcase Indigenous culture

Family-friendly performances and workshops to be streamed online

  • Mar 19, 2021
The Koksilah Music Festival, taking place online March 20 and 27, features a host of Indigenous performers speakers and more. (koksilahfestival.com photo)