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Vol. 10, Issue 19, January 21, 2006
Nature Festival Committee gears up for this year's party T
By Shelley Martel he Chapleau N a t u r e Festival's steering committee have been spending these long winter days looking towards summer and planning this year's events. The committee consists of Don McEachren, Chair, Diane Jean, Lucette Mainville, Rachel Presse, Sylvie Sylvestre and new member, Barry M c C a r t n e y . Representatives from council include Councillor, Andre Byham, and Deputy
Mayor, Bud Swanson. R e c r e a t i o n representative is Kevin M o r r i s a n d G o v e r n m e n t representative is Denis Rochon The Festival has applied to Job Creation Partnership for two festival employees and one s u p e r v i s o r. The committee expects a response from this program within the week. This year's festival will take place during the weekend of July 12th to 15th, 2006 which is one week
earlier than usual. This change was made to accommodate Blind River's Centennial Celebration on the last week of July. As a result of this change in date, we will not be competing with Bobcageon for the Fiddling and S t e p d a n c i n g competitors since their competitions usually have taken place the same weekend as ours in the past. We may have more out of town visitors and a larger turn-out for the competitions. The steering
committee has reviewed the Nature Festival's four years of events and has agreed that it is important that they maintain the formula of their original vision. The proven successes of the past Nature Festivals reinforces this point. With this in mind, the committee is now negotiating to bring in 3 concerts for t h i s y e a r ' s entertainment. Having one concert representing each of the 3 different cultures (English, French, and
Native) that our unique community embodies reflects the initial idea of what the Chapleau Nature Festival was meant to be about. Following this idea, the Art Exhibit theme will focus on and strengthen the nature component. It will be held at the Civic Centre this year to make it more accessible to more people and to take advantage of optimum lighting. The activities being planned for the Chapleau Nature Festival will be similar
to those in the past in which the whole family can participate. The Nature Festival Steering Committee is very enthusiastic and excited about this year's festival and urges all community businesses and organizations to plan to take advantage of the increase in visitors to the community and the festive atmosphere during the weekend of July 12th to 15th, 2006.
Art exhibit brings quiet landscapes to life
Bonnie Ivey with her winter scene depicting predatory behaviour. By Shelley Martel octurne, the theme of this month's art exhibit in the Collins Art Gallery at the Centre Culturel Louis Hemon, is the creation of, artist and Chapleau resident, Bonnie Ivey.
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The artist, who has captured the essence of what goes on in the forest while, seemingly, no one is watching, gives us a glance at the beauty and also the peril between twilight and dawn on our
s u r r o u n d i n g landscape. Bonnie uses several different types of media in order to convey her message to us. She uses pastels, coloured pencils, watercolour, as well as acrylic paint. She uses
several different shades of blues, aqua, and turquoise, as well as rose, in her winter scenes. She admits to having first used blue to paint a picture of a house when she discovered painting in kindergarten. She
continues to use these same hues to translate different aspects of the northern landscape. Although some of these colours are not typically what we are used to seeing in nature scenes, Bonnie is content to let the dark forest trees take a backseat while she carefully directs our attention to the winter night sky, the snow, reflections, and living beings. Some of the works of art in the exhibit portray the sleepy northern winter with slumbering animals, heartwarming scenes and familiarity. Other pieces remind you not to assume that the night in the forest means the same to all. Bonnie shares her insight into how
predators use the wee hours to their advantage. Bonnie's artwork depicts how even humans find the mystery enjoyable during dusk and dawn in the forest with bonfires and outdoor activities. The use of flames, moonlight, reflection, colour cause you to be able to relate to the landscapes, like you have been to that exact spot before or you'd really like to go there sometime. The best way to experience this unique portrayal is to view it through the eyes of the artist, it may encourage you to look at the rest of the long, dark winter in a whole new light!