Willingdon Beach will soon come alive once again for the 12th annual Arts Alive in the Park. Held Saturday and Sunday, August 18 and 19, the event showcases local artists and promotes art in general within the community.
“It’s an opportunity for artists in every discipline to come out and share what they do, promote participation in what they do, and hopefully create an audience,” explained Ann Nelson, who founded and organizes the event with Roberta Pearson.
This year’s event boasts everything from weaving to woodcarving, all locally produced, as well as workshops for both adults and children. While selling their wares, many artists will give live demonstrations.
A wide range of musicians will also be performing throughout the day. Topping off the event are plenty of local food vendors to satisfy everything from a hearty appetite to a subtle sweet tooth.
“This event is celebrating local artists and their take on life as filtered through the experience of living in Powell River,” explained Nelson. The weekend also works to connect art consumers with the process of creation, she added, showing that art doesn’t just come from factories.
Nelson said she’s particularly excited about the re-establishment of a proper poetry slam this year. “We’ve tried for the last couple of years and it has limped,” she said. This time around, a poetry slam demonstration and competition will be held, including a category for people who have memorized poems.
The event will retain the same format it has used in past years. “Familiarity is part of its charm,” explained Nelson. “People know that they’re going to find good food, good music, good art and good conversation.” Since admission is free and there are no set events, people can come and go throughout the day.
Booths are arranged in groups, not strict rows, allowing “all the booths and tents to flow and create little alleys of surprise,” explained Nelson. The lenient structure allows artists to register right up until the morning of the event.
Nelson said events such as these are important for both the arts community and Powell River as a whole. “It’s an opportunity for informal interaction between people who are actually producing art...[and those] wanting to acquire art or learn how to do it themselves,” she said.
Arts Alive in the Park will be held rain or shine Saturday, August 18 from 11 am to 7 pm and Sunday, August 19 from 11 am to 6 pm. Artists wishing to exhibit their work can sign up online on the Powell River Arts Council website www.powellriverartscouncil.com or fill out a registration form at Patricia Theatre, Artique Artists’ Cooperative or Tourism Powell River.
More information is available by contacting Nelson at 604.483.9345 or Pearson at 604.485.0446.
