CAROL FEENEY: Art, ballet, music and more
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New at the John M. Parrott Gallery, from December 8 to 29, members of the Belleville Art Association are presenting works in traditional watercolour media, with their exhibition Awash of Watercolour. Although the medium is traditional, you can be sure that this innovative group of painters have taken it to new imaginings through content, usage and foundation.
During the same period, fibre artist Marta Mouka presents a retrospective titled My Silk Route. A resurgence and innovation of traditional fibre works has been prevalent for the past several decades, and has produced some of the most amazing design work and mastery of the medium by artists who have taken this form to a whole new stratosphere. One of these artists is Marta, whose fibre work is predominantly done in silk and includes embroidery, hand dying and eco printing.
You can meet the artists at an opening reception on Thursday, December 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Trenton Citizens Band will be presenting its annual Christmas Concert at Trenton High School Auditorium on Sunday, December 11, at 2 p.m., featuring band vocalist Wendy Shaer and special guests, The Wannamaker Family.
The Trenton Citizens Band has a rich tradition of ushering the Christmas spirit into the Quinte area. The band was a familiar sight for decades marching in their distinctive red uniforms in all the regional Santa Claus Parades, plus, on occasion, in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade.
With this being the 52nd annual Christmas concert, there have been several generations of families who have made it their annual tradition to kick-off the Christmas season. This year’s concert will be conducted by the band’s regular conductor, Don Embree and guest conductor Dan Shaer, best known in the Quinte area for his bands, The Power Connection, Variety the Dance & Show Band, The Dan Shaer Big Band, and as the producer of the BelleVgas concerts. Dan started playing in the band when he was only 10 years old. “I have fond memories of both marching in the Christmas parades and playing to packed houses at the annual Christmas Concerts. This year, in honour of the band’s founder and long term conductor Ted Snider, we are going back to our roots by featuring both a Christmas carol sing-a-long with the band and inviting the young children to come up and conduct the band. They will even receive their own conductor’s baton as a souvenir of the event.”
So create a new family Christmas tradition and bring your children or grandchildren out to experience a live concert band, some wonderful vocalists and who knows - you might even catch the Christmas Spirit!
Mark Saturday, December 17, in your calendar for Quinte Ballet School of Canada’s much anticipated annual celebration of the Christmas season with Holiday Dance Presents, featuring highlights from Tchaikovsky’s beloved masterpiece, The Nutcracker. Through the beauty of classical dance and the colourful spectacle of elaborate costumes, Holiday Dance Presents will showcase the tremendous talent of QBSC’s Professional Training Program students in two convenient afternoon matinée performances at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
After each show, audience members will have the opportunity to meet the dancers, have their photo taken on the Sugar Plum Fairy’s throne and enjoy some festive treats in the Candy Cane Café. “Once again our students, faculty, staff and volunteers have pulled out all the stops to put on a great holiday show!” says Catherine Taylor, Artistic Director.
Tickets are reserved seating and prices are: adults $22, seniors and students $18, and children 12 years and under, $12. Ask about group discounts. For information, and to purchase tickets, you can visit Quinte Ballet School of Canada at 196 Palmer Road, Belleville, call 613-962-9274 or email info@quinteballetschool.com.
This is an excellent annual event. One that you don’t want to miss. It is a great way to support the QBSC while getting into the holiday spirit.