Fibre Flare

Peninsula fans of colourful woven goods will be in their element as Fibre Flare, the annual showcase and sale of work by members of the Peace Arch Weavers and Spinners Guild, returns to South Surrey this week.

The show will be at Ocean Park Community Hall (1577 128 St.) Friday (Nov. 6) from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday (Nov. 7) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., bringing back a wide selection of natural fibre works from woven linens, contemporary fashion scarves and silks to heirloom pieces, blankets and rugs.

“We’re hoping to see a lot of our old customers back now that we’re ‘home’ again,” said guild past-president Ann Rabas, who noted the organization was well-known to Peninsula residents from its long tenure at the Stewart Farmhouse before moving operations to the Honey Hooser room at the Surrey Museum in Cloverdale in 2005.

“We did try a couple of shows there, but we know a lot of our support is on the Peninsula,” Rabas added.

Under the presidency of Inge Langmann, the guild is flourishing with around 85 members, although male weavers – once a strong element of the organization – seem to have vanished in recent seasons, Rabas said.

“We have a very talented bunch of ladies,” she said, adding that many members create woven jewelry by card weaving, as well as a wide variety of other items from handspun wool and yarn, as well as felted pieces.

There will be a silent auction of donated fibre items, Rabas said, which will help raise money for the organization’s scholarships – including the Honey Hooser Bursary – which help members and other interested weavers and spinners in the community attend workshops and classes to upgrade their skills.

The guild also provides an educational service to the community with demonstrations at the Surrey Museum, including tapestry weaving, and also explaining the facsimile of an original 17th century Jacquard loom on display there.

“We also do a ‘Sheep To Shawl’ event every year at which we get together with other guilds and go from a wool fleece to a finished product in four hours,” Rabas said.

Donations to the guild will be accepted in lieu of an entrance fee to the show, which organizers hope will also attract new members to the guild.

For more information, call Rabas at 604-541-8634.

Get Reel

The next in the Community Arts Council of White Rock & District’s Get Reel film series, Atom Egoyan’s Adoration, will play tonight (Nov. 4) at 7 p.m. at the Caprice Showcase Four Theatre, 2381 King George Hwy.

Winner of the best Canadian feature film award at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, Adoration tells the story of a high school student who takes an unusual approach to his French class assignment: he weaves his family history into a news story involving terrorism, and goes on to invite people to become involved – via the internet – in the ensuing controversy.

Tickets ($11) are available at the door or at the CAC box office, 604-536-8333.

Century Blues Tour

Blues masters Big Dave McLean and Doc MacLean’s National Steel Century Blues Tour rolls into the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240, 2643 128 St., tonight (Nov. 4, 9 p.m., doors at 8 p.m.) presented by the White Rock Blues Society.

McLean and MacLean’s Big Road Blues Tour sold out halls from Halifax to Vancouver Island, and the current tour promises a highly interactive, up close and personal epic of all-acoustic songs and stories.

Tickets ($15, $10 for society members) are available at the door and from the legion (604-535-1080).

For more information, call 604-542-6515.

Maggi art

The Community Arts Council of White Rock & District’s next show opens Thursday (Nov. 5) at the CAC Gallery at Windsor Square, 1959 152 St., featuring the work of Peninsula artist Maggi.

The artist’s drawings and paintings reflect years as a fashion illustrator and commercial artist, working for Eaton’s, The Bay, London Drugs, Toyota and major advertising agencies in both Montreal and Vancouver. Maggi, who attended the Vancouver School of Art while still in high school in the early 1960s, and won a full scholarship to the San Francisco Academy of Art from 1965 to 1968, has also taught at the Vancouver School of Art (now known as the Emily Carr College of Art and Design) as well as Douglas College, the Blanche McDonald School of Merchandising and the Patricia Stevens School of Advertising Design.

As an artist, she has also exhibited in Calgary, San Bernadino, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Opening reception is Nov. 5, 7-9 p.m., with artist in attendance; the show runs to Nov. 28.

For more information, call 604-536-8333.

Art rental

A fall sale and rental exhibition of paintings by local artists will be on display Nov. 7 to Dec. 6 at Surrey Arts Centre, 13750 88 Ave.

There will be around 40 extra paintings beyond the usual gift shop and hallway display of rental and sale pieces

Works in oil, pastel, acrylic, watercolour and other media are available and as much as 80 per cent of the first year’s rent can go toward purchase of the piece, if desired.

Pieces may be chosen during gift shop hours at the gallery, or on rental day, Thursday, Nov. 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information, 604-501-5564.

Neil Harnett

Singer-songwriter Neil Harnett’s CD release show Saturday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m. at the Rhumba Room of the Pacific Inn (1160 King George Hwy.) is about more than the music of his new album, Somewhere.

Since he started writing and recording the tracks, his family was struck with a tragedy – his adult daughter Amy was the victim of a workplace accident that left her with a severe brain injury.

That’s why partial proceeds from the concert will be going to Semiahmoo House Society, which among other services, provides support for those with brain injuries and the families who care for them.

But there is an inspiring message to Harnett’s music. Many of the songs he wrote before the accident refer to never giving up hope and looking for the positive in all experience.

One of Amy’s colourful butterfly drawings is not only featured on the CD, in dedication to her journey back, but is also on a T-shirt which will be sold from a new website, journeyback.com, in which people can share their experiences, strength and hope in dealing with such challenges as brain injury.

Joining Harnett in the concert will be Rick Clark (drums), Bill Fulton (bass), Darryl Havers (keys). Longtime friend Dennis Pook and duo partner Joni Anderson will open the concert, and will also join Harnett onstage with background vocals. Tickets ($20) are available from The Pelican Rouge, The Pacific Inn, Tapestry Music and North Bluff Music. For more information, visit www.musicwithsoul.com

Remembrance recital

Local operatic tenor Christopher Simmons and pianist Dr. Greg Caisley will join forces to present War’s Embers, a recital “in honour of all who fought to keep us free,” Saturday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. at White Rock Community Church, 15280 Pacific Ave.

A selection of ‘art song’ pieces by Butterworth, Finzi, Somervell, Vaughn-Williams, Barber and other 20th century contemporaries – all of whom were touched by the experience of war – the intimate recital will provide pause for reflection on the sacrifices and sorrows of the past but also a celebration of the enduring beauty of music and poetry and its power to elevate our spirits.

There will be a pre-show discussion at 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($15) are available at the door, or can be ordered by calling 778-998-4337.

Choral salute

The Langley Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s First Capital Chorus presents A Show To Remember – A Tribute To Our Veterans and the Canadian Forces Show Tour, Saturday Nov. 7 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 12953 20 Ave.

The show, the annual salute to Remembrance Day by the 40-member group, which draws many members from the Peninsula, includes special guests ‘King of the Ukelele’ Ralph Shaw, and ace impersonator Jeff Bodner in his tribute to Elvis Presley’s army service and G.I. Blues days.

Also appearing are guest vocal groups Pacific Showtime, Synchromesh Quartet and the New Tricks Quartet.

Tickets ($15, seniors, students $12; and veterans and spouses free) are available from Keith Ridge Men’s Apparel in Semiahmoo Centre, Village Pub and Ocean Park Pizza.

Trad jazz

White Rock Traditional Jazz Society’s regular schedule of 3-6 p.m. Sunday sessions are held at the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240 (2643 128 St.), featuring house band Red Beans & Rice in rotation with other notable Dixieland bands from the Lower Mainland.

Upcoming attractions are the Stompin’ Hot Jazz Band (Nov. 8), Maple Leaf Jazz Band (Nov. 15) and Three Generations of Jazz (Nov. 22). Admission with membership is $8, $10 without. For details, visit www.whiterocktradjazz.com or call 604-591-7275.

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