Weekly Arts Listings May 12-18
Stage
Fri. may 13
ACTivate – A festival for inspiring theatre, bringing together numerous local theatre companies to nurture their artistic development, further the education of emerging performers and showcase the talent that exists in Victoria’s volunteer theatre community! To SUNDAY, May 15, at various location. For a detailed schedule visit langhamcourttheatre.bc.ca.
Don’t Stop Believing – Karen Clark Dance Studio’s annual dance recital. 7pm at Farquhar Auditorium, University Centre (UVic). $19. 250-721-6561.
DANCEWORKS GALA EVENING OF DANCE – Highlighting some of the excellent dance performances by the participants of the Dance Competition. 7:30pm at the Royal Theatre (805 Broughton). $21. 250-386-6121.
Sun. May 15
The Showdown: the Final Frontier – Seven performers, seven minutes each, one winner. 8pm at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad). $10/$8. 250-589-5857.
Ongoing
PORNOGRAPHY – Simon Stephens’ stark and shattering new play that powerfully captures a portrait of a fractured, insecure Britain. THURSDAY-SATURDAY 8pm, matinee SATURDAY 2pm. To SATURDAY, May 14, at Theatre Inconnu (2-1923 Fernwood). $14/$10. 250-590-6291.
2 pianos 4 hands – From Chopsticks to Bach, the boys play it all in their quest to become concert pianists. Through their trials and tribulations with music festivals, unusual teachers and demanding parents, they learn what it means to be good, but not quite good enough to follow their dreams. THURSDAY-SATURDAY & TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY 8pm, matinees SATURDAY 4pm & SUNDAY 2pm. To May 22 at the Belfry Theatre (1291 Gladstone). $22-$37. 250-385-6815, boxoffice@belfry.bc.ca.
SIN CITY – Live improvised soap opera. TUESDAYS 8pm at the Victoria Event Centre(1415 Broad). To June 21. $12/10. 250-480-3709, sincityimprov.com.
Comedy night – Get your belly aching with Damonde Tschritter and John Hastings. SATURDAY 9pm at Heckler’s. $10. 250-386-9207.
WORDS
THURS. May 12
Phil Edmonston – Author of the bestselling Lemon-Aid Guide series as well as the founder of the Automotive Protection Association gives a lectre entitled Good Buys in a Bad Economy: Survival Tips in a Dying Industry. 7-8:30pm at Victoria Truth Centre (1201 Fort). Free. 250-413-0369.
Fri. MAY 13
NATIVE LAND RIGHTS IN CANADA – Distinguished UVic Anthropologist Dr. Michael Acsh discusses native land rights historically and in modern day Canada emphasizing the evolving legal situation in BC. 7pm in the Garry Oak Room, Fairfield Community Centre (1335 Thurlow). Free. 250-592-1088, info@fonv.ca.
SAT. MAY 14
Growing for the Main Season – Learn how to make soil blocks, plant your summer garden, plant a container garden and more. 9am-3pm at the corner of Menzies and Superior. Free. 250-381-5323, jamesbaymarket.com.
Celebrating our heritage – The Victoria Germans From Russia Historical Society invites the public to celebrate their heritage. With speaker Dr. J. Siebert and the Harmony Choir. 2-4pm at Gordon Head United Church (4201 Tyndall). By donation. 250-721-3405.
MON. MAY 16
Grant Lawrence – Reading and book signing featuring his bestselling debut book Adventures In Solitude: What Not to Wear to a Nude Potluck and Other Stories from Desolation Sound. 7pm at Bolen Books (111-1644 Hillside). Free. 250-595-4232.
pen-in-hand – Featuring Carol Matthews, Jay Ruzesky and Kim Goldberg after open mic. 7:30pm at Serious Coffee (230 Cook). $3. 250-590-8010.
Storytellers’ Guild – The Victoria Storytellers Guild welcomes you to hear and tell stories. 7:30pm at 1831 Fern. $5/$3 for students. 250-477-7044, victoriastorytellers.org.
COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVES & GLOBAL MELTDOWN – Don Brown discusses how inspired co-ops can combat global meltdown. 7:30pm at the BCGEU Building (2994 Douglas). $10. 250-384-8236, wellfoundationorg.blogspot.com.
Smart Meters & Health Concerns – Video and discussion. 7pm at St John the Divine Hall (915 Balmoral). By donation. 250-414-6682.
TUES. MAY 17
AT THE MIC – Authors read from their latest and open the floor to questions and debate. Dinner served. 6:30pm at the Fort Cafe (742 Fort). $TBA. 250-382-3130.
Robert Whitaker – Discusses the controversial findings about the dangers of psychiatric medications revealed in his book, Anatomy of an Epidemic. 7pm at St John the Divine (925 Balmoral). Free. robertwhitaker.org.
wed. MAY 18
Wrestling with Secularism – Benjamin L. Berger explores conceptions of the secular and offers terrain to discuss the meaning of secularism in modern Canadian society. 7pm at the Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue (1461 Blanshard). By donation. 250-480-1081.
Spiritual Aspects of Restorative Justice – Stories with Margaret White. 7-8:30pm at the Church of Truth (111Superior). Free. 250-380-6383.
Words at The Well – Walter Hildebrandt, poet, historian and editor, discusses his work. 7-9pm at The Well (821 Fort). $3. 250-590-4995.WAYSON CHOY – Award-winning Canadian author of The Jade Peony presents a thoughtful discussion on Beyond Multiculturalism. 7:30pm at the McPherson Playhouse (3 Centennial Square). $23/$15. 250-386-6121.
ongoing
trivia pub quiz – General knowledge, guess the song, who said it, (or our variation) who tweeted it! Free. TUESDAYS 8pm at Felicita’s (UVic). 250-721-8626.
THE friday QUIZ -A surreal quiz show with live music and $150 of Ditch Record vouchers to be won. Hosted by Benji. FRIDAYS 7:30pm at Fort Café. 250-382-3130.
Victoria Anarchist Reading Circle – Discuss the lastest in anarchist reading. TUESDAYS 7pm at Camas Books (2590 Quadra). Free. 250-381-0585.
Quiz Whiz Night – Test smarts and friends with a supreme trivia challenge. TUESDAYS 9pm at Ocean Island Café (791 Pandora). Free. 250-385-1784.
Storytime – Enjoy fun, participatory stories for children. WEDNESDAYS 11am at Tall Tales Books (795 Fort). Free. 250-590-3032, talltalesbooks.ca.
Galleries
Fri. may 13
West End gallery – New work by Vancouver artist Patricia Johnston. To May 19 at 1203 Broad.
Sun. May 15
Studio Twelve-Nineteen – 12 Shrines and 19 Other Things, art exhibition. Junk shop 11-3pm. To June 30 at 1219 HIllside.
Ongoing
Coast Collective Gallery –
Plein Air, the latest works by The Al Frescoes. To SUNDAY, May 15, at 3221 Heatherbell.
Collective Works Gallery –
Linear Transformations, Jason Grondin’s art and music are tied together with a common thread of spontaneity and movement. To May 19 at 1311 Gladstone.
Mercurio Gallery – Gaze Deep: The Mercurio House Collection, limners, ceramics and great Victoria painters. To May 19 at 602 Courtney.
Madrona gallery – After the Storm, solo exhibition by Corrinne Wolcoski. Opening reception 1-4pm. To May 21 at 606 View.
View Art Gallery – Immense, artwork by Yuri Arajs and Cheryl Taves. To May 21 at 104-860 View.
MARTIN BATCHELOR GALLERY- The Elegance Of Black, group show by the Watermark Printmakers. To May 26 at 712 Cormorant.
Polychrome Fine Arts gallery – Thicket, a solo exhibition of paintings by Caite Dheere. To May 26 at 1113 Fort.
slide room gallery – Buffet, group sculpture exhibition curated by Victoria-based artist Tyler Hodgins. To May 27 at 2549 Quadra.
Deluge gallery – Candy Floss Pink: A Landscape, installation by Michelle Allard. To May 28 at 636 Yates.
Winchester galleries – Fachada Cubana (The Cuban Façade), work by Jeff Molloy. Opening reception May 15 1-5pm. To May 28 at 2260 Oak Bay. Varied Works from 1962-2004, work by Toni To May 28 at 758 Humboldt.
Xchanges Gallery – Study of a Membrane, work by Ashley Culver. To May 29 at 2333 Government.
Sooke Harbour House – Inspired by Nature, new work by Vedrana Ascroft. To May 30 at 1528 Whiffen Spit.
morris gallery – New work by Jim McFarland, Deborah Czernecky, and Pauline Olesen. To May 31 at 428 Burnside East.
eclectic gallery – Timeless: Mandalas, Mandorlas and Other Mighty Little Inscapes, work by Pat Martin Bates. To May 31 at 2170 Oak Bay.
She Said Gallery – A Little Little Linny Show, work by Linny D. Vine. To May 31 at 2000 Fernwood.
Gallery at mattick’s farm – New work by Taryn Brown. To May 31 at 109-5325 Cordova Bay.
Little Fernwood Gallery – The Roots of Reason, new work by P Jean Oliver. To May 31 at 1923 Fernwood.
Stained – Shelley Miller’s sugar mural. It is best viewed repeatedly as it changes. To the end of May or until the mural disintigrates. Waddington Alley on the side of Hostelling International Victoria (516 Yates).
GOWARD HOUSE – Group show of gallery’s artists. To June 1 at 2495 Arbutus.
Gallery at the mac – Manitouwabi, by Ice Bear. To June 1 at 3 Centennial Square.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria – You Blew It, work by Blair Taylor. To July 3. Silent As Glue, work from Lynda Gammon, Matt Harle and Elspeth Pratt, and Flora and Down the garden Path, work from the AGGV collection. To June 5. The Immortal Garden, includes rarely seen works for the AGGV’s permanent collection. To June 26. Serenity: the Asian Garden, exhibition showcasing objects for the Asian garden. To July 2. On the Edge of Nowhere by Emily Carr, semi-permanent. All shows at 1040 Moss.
Dales Gallery – Common Threads, group exhibition. To June 7 at 537 Fisgard.