At 52 I’m an old root. Some of the shoots that have come from my root are the shoots of childhood, adulthood, motherhood and grandparenthood (the shoots of my shoots). I’ve transplanted this old root from the prairies to the coast and from the coast to the mountains, weaving the shoots of life and love and friendship on the way creating my life’s tapestry. My newest shoots are the artistic endeavors I’ve immersed myself in over the last two years and I’m excited to see what will bloom from them over time.
“Old Roots – New Shoots” is the theme of this year’s Arts and Culture Week, sponsored by the Community Arts Council of Creston. Since spring is a time of renewal and growth it is a wonderful and fitting theme for this event.
Arts and Culture Week is from April 22-28 and I know that like me you’ll want to shake off the doldrums of winter and get out to some of the events going on.
There will be a weeklong exhibit and sale of new works and new artists at the Art Garage on Canyon Street and 15th Avenue, which is the future home of the Ingham Arts and Culture Centre. Gallery hours will be 10:00 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
You will definitely want to come out to the opening reception for Arts and Culture Week at the Art Garage on April 22, from 7-10 p.m. Along with refreshments, Monte Anderson will be tickling the ivories and we hope that if you are musically inclined you’ll bring your axe or whatever you play with you and have a good old jam session to bring the house down.
There will be an ongoing fundraiser during the week for the Friends of the Ingham Arts and Culture Centre Society so you will be able to be a part of helping them grow Creston’s newest shoot.
On April 23 at the garage from 1-3 p.m. there will be a jewelry making demonstration from Jan Potyok.
From 7-9 p.m. April 24 at Kingfisher Used Books there will be for your listening enjoyment the production of a radio play from the 1940s. You’ll be transported back in time as you listen and enjoy this blast from the past.
Come out to the Snoring Sasquatch on April 26 for artists night from 7-10 p.m. This is an interactive evening where you’ll be able to meet and talk to various local artists about their works and their passions. Great music, art and artists await you there.
On April 27 for the kids, from 4:30-6 p.m. in the meeting room of the Creston and District Public Library, there will be readings from children’s books. Our special guest will be Ute Bachinski reading from her book, The Foot Story. In the evening for the grownups, Elena Yeung and Peter Bodley will be performing at A Break In Time Caffé.
On April 28 from 10:30 a.m.-noon, Peter Bodley will be performing music from his children’s CD in the library meeting room. Then for the teens, from 6-9 p.m. at the Art Garage there will be a youth dance with music being provided by the House of Rock Studio.
If you are an artist interested in exhibiting your work during the week, the deadline for registering is April 18 and you can contact me at loriwikdahl@gmail.com.
I have filled my calendar for the week with all these terrific events and hope to see you at one or all of the venues during the week.
There is a Chinese proverb that goes, “A beautiful flower is incomplete without its leaves.” The artistic community is the flower and you are our leaves. Come help us grow, make us complete.
Lori Wikdahl is a Creston Valley artist and a director on the Community Arts Council of Creston board.