Director, artist, musician, theatre founder to join arts, culture wall of fame
An Oscar-winning director, a Juno-winning music artist, the founder of an iconic dinner theatre and an internationally renowned artist will have their faces and names added to the City of Niagara Falls Arts and Culture Wall of Fame in a ceremony this month.
The wall of fame induction ceremony will be held in the LaMarsh room of Niagara Falls Public Library’s Victoria Avenue branch on Saturday, Oct. 27. The event begins at 11 a.m. and is open to the public.
This year, four inductees will be recognized for their contributions to the arts and culture community in Niagara Falls.
This year’s inductees include Alan Barillaro, a Niagara Falls
native who won an Academy Award in 2017 for the animated short film “Piper,” which he wrote and directed.
Isabelle Rezazadeh, also known as Rezz, was named Billboard magazine’s breakout artist of the year and was awarded a Juno for 2018’s electronic album of the year, “Mass Manipulation.”
Also featured will be James (Jim) Cooper, founder of the immensely popular dinner theatre show O Canada Eh? on Lundy’s Lane.
Internationally renowned artist, painter, photographer and film producer Antoine Gaber, who was artistic director of the successful Water for Life exhibit that drew 37 artists from 18 countries to Niagara Falls History Museum this past spring, will also have his name added to the wall of fame.
“With more than 75 plaques on display, the Arts and Culture Wall of Fame is a proud reminder of the talents of the people of Niagara Falls,” Laurie Moffat, co-chair of the Niagara Falls arts, culture and museum committee that oversees the wall of fame, said in a news release.
“This year’s nominees are great examples of the scope and variety of accomplishments in arts and culture, both past and present,” she said.
The wall of fame was developed to serve as a visual memory of artistic and cultural contributions in the city and to ensure that both past and present residents receive due recognition for their artistic and cultural contributions, said Clark Bernat, manager of culture and museums.