Sunshine Coast artists selected for the 2015 curated Sechelt Arts Festival Exhibition were asked, “What does cedar mean to you?” That began their “art as process” journey as they thoughtfully considered the impact of the cedar tree on our communities and in their individual lives. The results will be presented at the Art and the Six Senses of Cedar exhibition, October 16–25 at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt. Influenced by different cultural backgrounds and the senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and spirit, this experiential exhibition will fascinate and engage all ages and senses. The artists: Gordon Halloran, Marlene Lowden, Giorgio Magnanensi, Kirk Michael, Vern Bahti Minard, Linda Nardelli, Kez Sherwood, Jessica Silvey, Robert Studer, Dean van’t Schip, and Marleen Vermeulen.
The ten-day festival will also highlight a traditional view of cedar through a contemporary lens with the performance event SacRED, presented in the shíshálh Nation longhouse October 16 and 17. Produced by international artists Shain Jackson and Mardi, SacRED features art, music, dance, innovative storytelling, and epic special effects in the sacred cedar longhouse environment.
The historical side of cedar will be presented at the tems swiya museum with téxémay—the Tree of Life, exploring the myriad uses of cedar in shíshálh and Coast Salish everyday life since time immemorial. The festival is also honoured to present legendary Canadian dance artist Margie Gillis in her first performance on the Sunshine Coast, Saturday October 24, at the Raven’s Cry Theatre.
Additional events include a fun-filled Family Day, a Guitar Day concert, workshop series, the Scream Dream III Dance featuring emerging Coast musicians, a collaborative heritage exhibit, and Art in the Street. For more information and ticket registration, check out the website at www.secheltartsfestival.com.
