Masks offer a window into cultural tradition
The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts held a Community Arts Day Dec. 2 to open the collection of two ardent mask lovers, Sara Lee and Herb Lewis.
The special day called Masks and Merry-Making included festive food and music, as well as holiday and mask-related arts activities.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Lee, as she is known, thanked the centre’s staff, “who have done an excellent job in mounting our masks and sharing their story.”
She added, “the only thing missing, of course, is Herb, who would have been delighted to see all that’s been achieved in this remarkable space.
Lee noted, “it’s a joy for me to look at the collection in a new light and to remember what fun we had in acquiring each piece. Long before we had internet we learned to rely on word-of-mouth, casual directions and excitement of the hunt to guide us as we explored back lanes, markets and shops in far-away places.”
“Bringing our treasures home through customs was often a challenge, and we quickly learned that on-the-spot fumigation was essential to ensure that only inanimate objects graced our walls,” she said. Each mask has a story.
Herb Lewis, who was born in Montreal in 1929, had parents who were ardent collectors. He collected 8,000 books, thousands of recordings and dozens of stampbooks.
Herb taught at Acadia University and headed the philosophy department for 29 years, while sharing his extraordinarily wide knowledge. He died in 2001.
Herb’s wife, Lee, moved to Wolfville in 1971 after working in journalism and arts promotion in her native Montreal. She was one of the three co-founders of Mermaid Theatre and served as managing director from 1991 – 2015. She continues to be the theatre’s public affairs consultant.
For more than 30 years the Lewis’ enjoyed travel, folk art and ethnology together. The majority of their masks were purchased directly from artisans in half a dozen countries, such as Guatemala and Japan.
Spanning different eras and cultures, and often with important cultural or ritual purposes, masks are a window into traditions and art forms that are often endangered, or have been changed for a tourist market, the couple learned while spending a sabbatical in Mexico.
Lee was awarded the Order of Canada in 2000 and an honorary degree from Saint Mary’s University in 2014. She has always been a champion of the Nova Scotia arts community and currently sits on Wolfville’s public art committee.
Jessie Forman acted as curator
Christmas concert
On Dec. 19, Windsor welcomes ‘To Bethlehem with Kings’ A Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir concert at 7 p.m. at Christ Church (Anglican), 543 King St. Admission is $15, or $20 for a pulled pork supper beforehand. For info, contact: 902-798-9449; 902-790-6173; or 902790-3409.
Lauren Soloy ARCAC artist in residence
The Annapolis Region Community Arts Council has selected Lauren Soloy as its new artist in residence. The residency is supported by the Parker Mountain Wind Turbine Society, and will take place Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.
Lauren recently signed a twobook contract with Tundra Books (a division of Penguin Random House Canada) to write and illustrate two picture books, and will be using the residency to work on the final art for the first book.
As part of the residency, she will be offering open studio hours, hands-on activities, and storytimes for families, and an artist talk on her path to representation and publication. To see more of Lauren’s work, you can visit her at: www.laurensoloy.com.
Annapolis Region Community Arts Council is located at 396 StGeorge St. in Annapolis Royal.
Open hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; weekends from 1-4 p.m. (It’s operated by volunteers so call ahead.)
Info: 902-532-7069.
Go Online: https://arcac-artsplace.weebly.com/
Concert
Join Broken Leg Theatre at the Wolfville Baptist Church for a ‘Singing for Our Supper’ event on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.
Seasonal songs and stories will be staged by sensational singers and storytellers. This show is an annual fundraiser that takes place at the Wolfville Baptist Church to raise money for the Wolfville Community Christmas Supper (that happens on Christmas Day at the Wolfville Lions Hall). A freewill donation of money or non-perishable food items, which will be given to the Wolfville Area Food Bank, will be collected.
The concert will be held at 487 Main St. in Wolfville.
For info: donnaholmes712@ gmail.com
Live Nativity at Valley Ex barn Dec. 23
Lawrencetown United Baptist Church’s live nativity brings the for the exhibition, which was supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and province.
The Lewis Collection is on display at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts gallery until Dec. 21.
story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to life Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in a rustic barn setting at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition grounds in the village.
While most of the cast members are local, there will be a wise man from Ontario who is visiting at Christmas time. Others are from St. Croix Cove, Hampton, and Lawrencetown. Animals are coming from Brickton and Lawrencetown.
“It’s an outreach,” said Marian Pietersma, one of the organizers. “Especially for the people who don’t come to church but will come to another venue like the exhibition, which is very open to everybody.”
A freewill offering will be accepted and donated to local food banks. Everyone is invited.
Trent McClellan in Wolfville, Annapolis Royal
The newest cast member of the award-winning show This Hour Has 22 Minutes is launching his Maritime ‘Laugh Every Day Tour’ in 2019 and he’ll be making stops in Wolfville and Annapolis Royal.
McClellan, originally from Corner Brook, is a stand-up comedian, writer, podcaster, and actor known for his approachable, candid, and effortless observational comedy.
McClellan joined the cast of This Hour has 22 Minutes in 2017 after contributing as a writer for several years. He has had numerous filmed television performances from the Just for Laughs Montreal, Winnipeg and Halifax comedy festivals for CBC Television, and has recorded comedy specials for CTV and the Comedy Network.
He is also a favourite on the Canadian airwaves. He can be heard on the CBC radio program ‘The Debaters’ and he was a panelist on CBC’s ‘Canada Reads’ where he defended ‘February’ by Lisa Moore.
The ‘Laugh Every Day Tour’ is produced by Premiere Entertainment Group and travels to Festival Theatre, Wolfville on Feb. 22 and King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal on Feb. 23.
For full tour dates, locations, and tickets visit www.trentscomedy. com.