F.A.A. ARTS NEWS THE ARTS ALLIANCE Serving the Arts in the Fredericton Region March 4, 2004, Volume 4, Issue 9

In This Issue 1 . Local Artist To Open Installation In Saint John 2 . Photography Installation Opening At Gallery Connexion 3 . Breen To Debut At MacPhail’s Taproom 4 . New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative Presents Acting With Camera Workshop 5 . Celebrate International Women’s Day At The Beaverbrook Art Gallery 6 . Next NB / Avenir N-B Discussion Paper To Be Released 7 . Choral Evensong At Christ Church Cathedral 8 . Opera Extravaganza With Symphony New Brunswick And Wendy Nielsen 9 . Ensemble Caprice To Perform Foiles d’Europe With Jeunesses Musicales of Fredericton 1 0 . Empty Bowls Fundraising Project To Aid Fredericton Community Kitchen 1 1 . Antonine Maillet To Speak At Christina Sabat Memorial Lecture 1 2 . Gros Morne Park Series Opening At Gallery 78 1 3 . Annual Shubertiad Scheduled For March 1 4 . ArtZone and Audrey Feltham At UNB Art Centre 1 5 . Poets Sharon McCartney, Brent MacLaine To Read at UNBF 1 6 . Parks Canada Announces Artists Selected To Create Commemorative Monument For Saint Croix Island International Historic Site 1 7 . Coming Up At The Fredericton Playhouse 1 8 . Beaverbrook Art Gallery Ex Libris Reading Group 1 9 . Herménégilde Chiasson To Lauch St. Thomas Poetry Celebrations 2 0 . Art At Hooper Studio's.... Classes And Workshops.... Spring 2004

Preview Opera Extravaganza At The Cathedral

Galleries At A Glance

1. Local Artist To Open Installation In Saint John

Feminist installation to open at City of Saint John Gallery Opening Reception: Friday, March 5th, 5-7 pm.

To celebrate International Women's Day (March 8), the City of Saint John Gallery will feature from March 4 - 29, a feminist textile/mixed media installation by, WhiteFeather. The month-long show, entitled Femiliar, includes objects, constructed of human hair and blood, using traditional techniques known as 'womens' work'.

WhiteFeather is a Fredericton-based artist who has been making great strides since graduating from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD) in 2001. Since then, she has fulfilled a two-year internship at the UNB Art Centre, as well as continuing three years as an instructor and technician in the NBCCD Textiles Department. WhiteFeather also recently studied at the Danish Weaving Centre in Haderslev, Denmark and is currently teaching journal-making workshops to elementary school children through the Artists-in-Schools Residency Program, funded by the New Brunswick Arts Development Branch. In April 2004, WhiteFeather will be the featured artist on CBC TV's "ARTSPOTS". She can be further investigated on the ARTSPOTS website at www.cbc.ca/artspots, also beginning in April.

The opening reception for Femiliar will be held Friday, March 5, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Everyone is invited to attend and meet the artist. The City of Saint John Gallery is a program of the Cultural Affairs Office, City of Saint John, and is located in the Saint John Arts Centre, 20 Hazen Avenue, Saint John, NB. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 4 pm.

The City of Saint John Gallery is 's first municipal gallery.

For more information, please contact the Cultural Affairs Office, City of Saint John. (506) 649-6040. E-mail: [email protected]

2. Photography Installation Opening At Gallery Connexion

From March 5th – 26th Gallery Connexion will feature a photography and installation work by Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens entitled Stories and Other Stories. Opening Night - Friday March 5th from 7-9 pm.

3. Breen To Debut At MacPhail’s Taproom

MacPhail's Taproom is pleased to welcome for the first time ever - Breen. Featuring: Tania Breen on vocals, Mark Adam on drums, Tom Easely on bass, and Mike Doherty on piano. Saturday March 6th - 1st set starts at 10:00 pm.

4. New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative Presents Acting With Camera Workshop

Upcoming NB Film Co-op Workshops Winter/Spring/Summer, 2004 (Fall Workshops also occur during Tidal Wave Film Festival)

The full schedule is online! www.brunnet.net/nbfilm/training.htm

UPCOMING WORKSHOP! ACTING WITH CAMERA Intermediate Fee: $30 Film Co-op Members $40 for Non-Members

Fredericton Workshop March 6, Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm Instructor: Bruce McKenna from Halifax Location: NB Film Co-op (51 York Street)

This one-day workshop is designed to give actors valuable experience in front of the camera. More importantly it will give them a training framework they can continue to practice in small groups or even on their own.

Dancers, musicians, singers, athletes all practice. Actors need to as well.

Note: Participants will be asked to memorize three scenes that will be provided to them. (Please ask Co-op Membership Services about this)

Instructor's Biography Bruce McKenna is a screenwriter ("Salt Water Moose" "No Place Like Home") who was sent to acting class to learn how to write for actors. He fell in love with the process and experience of acting, and went on to train with a number of teachers.

Bruce is the founder and facilitator of MIG Drama Lab, an ongoing workshop for actors, writers and directors in Halifax. He also facilitates an ongoing drama lab for the African Nova Scotian community.

For more information call Cathie at 455-1632.

5. Celebrate International Women’s Day At The Beaverbrook Art Gallery

Sunday, March 7th, 2 pm

View the documentary Pioneer Women of New Brunswick (30 minutes). Produced and directed by Semra Yüksel. Enjoy a musical performance by Judy Kamminga (harp) and the dance performance Wind and Fire by Sarah Rowinski. Refreshments will be served. Free admission. Donations are appreciated and will benefit the young women of Chrysalis House.

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is located at 703 Queen Street, Fredericton. For more information call 458-8545 or www.beaverbrookartgallery.org

6. Next NB / Avenir N-B Discussion Paper To Be Released

Next NB/Avenir N-B will release its first discussion paper, titled The Face in the Mirror, Defining New Brunswick's People, on Saturday, March 6. It will be published in that day's edition of the Telegraph Journal, Next NB / Avenir N- B's official media partner, and will be available on the project's Web site.

To accompany the discussion paper, the first public forum will be held March 8th at 7 pm at the Wu Centre in Fredericton and all are invited to participate.

The forum, led by Lt.-Gov. Herménégilde Chiasson, will examine how we define ourselves as New Brunswickers and how well the cultural arts reflects who we are, will be.

For more information please e-mail Next NB/Avenir N-B director Lisa Hrabluk at [email protected].

To obtain additional copies of Next NB/Avenir N-B discussion papers or to offer your comments, please visit the Web site at www.nextnb.ca or www.avenirnb.ca.

7. Choral Evensong At Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral will hold a Choral Evensong on Sunday March 7th at 4 pm. The Cathedral Choir will sing music by Gibbons, Wesley, and Sanders. Visitors most welcome. For more information, call the Cathedral office at 450-8500 or visit www.christchurchcathedral.com. The Cathedral is at the corner of Church and Brunswick streets. 8. Opera Extravaganza With Symphony New Brunswick And Wendy Nielsen

Symphony New Brunswick brings its next concert in Fredericton to Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday, March 9th, at 8pm, when Metropolitan Opera soprano Wendy Nielsen and Stuart Howe join the orchestra for an Opera Extravaganza which includes famous solos, duets and overtures from Mozart to Irving Berlin, via Donizetti, Verdi, Wagner, Bizet, Dvorak, Puccini and Gershwin. From love songs to triumphal marches, every splendour of opera is explored under the baton of guest conductor Stephane Laforest. For more information, phone Neil MacGill (453-7762). Tickets are at The Playhouse box office (458-8344) or at the Cathedral on the night. (See Preview below for more details)

Contact: Neil MacGill (453-7762

9. Ensemble Caprice To Perform Foiles d’Europe With Jeunesses Musicales of Fredericton

Folies d’Europe A Walk on the Baroque Side With the Ensemble Caprice

The Centre JMC - Fredericton are proud to present Folies d’Europe with the Ensemble Caprice as part of the Desjardins Concerts 2003-2004. This tour will bring flautists Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivière, lutist Guy Ross and dancer and actress Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière in 25 cities throughout Ontario, Québec and Provinces. They will play pieces by Lully, Purcell, Campra, Telemann, and Sammartini, among others.

Tuesday, March 9th at 7:30 pm at the Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne. Adults: 15$, students: 10$

10. Empty Bowls Fundraising Project To Aid Fredericton Community Kitchen

An Empty Bowls fundraising project in support of the Fredericton Food Bank and the Fredericton Community Kitchen is taking place between March 10 – 14, 2004. By making a minimum donation of $50 to the Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton by March 8, you can reserve a bowl created and donated by a student or faculty member from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, and attend an event organized by community organizations. 455-0413.

Un projet de Bols vides, pour appuyer les organismes qui luttent contre la faim dans notre communauté, aura lieu du 10 au 14 mars 2004. En faisant un don de 50$ ou plus à l'église Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton avant le 8 mars, vous pourrez réserver un bol créé et donné par un étudiant.e ou un membre du corps professoral du Collège d'Artisinat et du Design du Nouveau-Brunswick, et participer à un événement organisé par plusieurs groupes communautaires. 455-0413.

11. Antonine Maillet To Speak At Christina Sabat Memorial Lecture

Join the Beaverbrook Art Gallery on Thursday, March 11th, 2004 at 7 pm as internationally renowned writer and playwright Antonine Maillet speaks on Acadian History and Culture: Yesterday and Today. The Christina Sabat Memorial Lecture will be presented in French with simultaneous translation in English. No charge for admission. For more information call The Beaverbrook Art Gallery at 458-2028.

12. Gros Morne Park Series Opening At Gallery 78

Thaddeus Holownia: Gros Morne Park Series March 5 - 28, 2004 Reception: Friday, March 12th, 5-7pm Introductory remarks by the artist and the Honourable Herménégilde Chiasson Gallery 78, 796 Queen Street, Fredericton

Over the past 23 years, Thaddeus Holownia has repeatedly ventured to Newfoundland and Labrador to make photographs. In 2001, Holownia was artist in residence in Gros Morne National Park. Holownia divided his residency into three, ten-day excursions between June and October, which allowed him to see the place in a variety of seasons. The residency program laid the way for a considered examination of the region surrounding Bonne Bay, a great two- pronged fjord that strikes into the heart of Gros Morne National Park.

The work on exhibit at Gallery 78 draws from Holownia's investigation of this landscape. The work spans over two decades of visits to the Park and northward along the west coast of the island, and into southern Labrador. Holownia's work in this province will culminate in The Newfoundland and Labrador Project, a large, touring exhibition currently being curated by the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador to be exhibited there in 2006.

For more information contact Penny Pacey at (506) 454 - 5192, 1-888-883-8322, [email protected], 13. Annual Shubertiad Scheduled For March

Shed the winter blues at the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival's annual Shubertiad, an evening of delightful classical music, food and other surprises.

The event will be held March 13th at 8 pm at Old Government House.

Invitation is by donation only. For price and more information please call the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival 453-4697 or by e-mail at [email protected].

14. ArtZone and Audrey Feltham At UNB Art Centre

The UNB Art Centre presents ArtZone: The Forest for the Trees and Audrey Feltham: Intimations, from March 12th through April 16th, 2004.

ArtZone: The Forest for the Trees is an exploration of self in a society bent on fitting everyone into the same mould. Using the forest as a representation for societal pressure, the artists created trees to illustrate their views on individualism, the environment and family. Though a tree is a common symbol, here no two are alike and some become less an object of nature and more an emotional thought in sculptural form.

The exhibition features work by 10 members from ArtZone, UNB’s student art club. The group boasts over 60 members from various faculties, affiliated schools and walks of life. Each year students participate in a series of workshops designed to take them through the experience of creating works for a gallery exhibition. The participants include: Caroline Humar-Barrett, Stephanie Owens, Katie Young, Ian Devlin, Lynn Billings, Megan Billings, Nikki Benjamin, Mark Cameron, Todd Bailey and Leah Campbell. The workshop was lead by Melanie Doerig.

Audrey Feltham: Intimations investigates gender and female roles in society. Feltham explores the female character as both creator and destroyer through collage in printmaking and textile production techniques. She draws on a personal photographic collection, passed on from family members, to tell each story. By mixing both visual and textual elements, Feltham’s words offer the viewer a doorway into understanding the layers upon layers of her printed imagery.

ArtZone: The Forest for the Trees and Audrey Feltham: Intimations opens on Friday March 12th, from 5:00- 7:00pm. The public is invited to attend.

The UNB Art Centre is located in Memorial Hall, 9 Bailey Drive on the UNB Fredericton campus. The galleries are open Monday to Friday from 9:00-4:30 pm. Admission is free.

For Information: 453-4623

15. Poets Sharon McCartney, Brent MacLaine To Read at UNBF

Poets Sharon McCartney and Brent MacLaine will read from their work at UNB Fredericton on Saturday, March 13th. The event celebrates the recent publication of their new works by Fredericton's Goose Lane Editions.

The free reading will be held at 8 pm in the lounge of the Alumni Memorial Building. The public is welcome to attend. Author of her new book Karenin Sings the Blues and Under the Abdominal Wall, Ms. McCartney is currently teaching at UNBF. She was nominated twice for the National Magazine Award in Poetry. In 2003, her poems were shortlisted for Arc's Poem of the Year Award and the CBC's Literary Award. She also won first prize in the 2001 Queen Street Quarterly's Poetry Competition. Her work has been anthologized in Vintage 1999 and the Year's Best of Fantasy and Horror: 16th Annual Edition.

A professor of English at the University of , Mr. MacLaine is the author of These Fields Were Rivers, his new book, and the highly acclaimed Wind and Root. He won the PEI Milton Acorn Poetry Prize and in 1999 third prize in the Annual League of Canadian Poets National Poetry Contest. Co-editor of the popular Landmarks: An Anthology of New Atlantic Canadian Poetry of the Land, Mr. MacLaine has published work in The Fiddlehead, the Antigonish Review, Blue Shift and Matrix.

The reading is sponsored by the UNBF department of English and Goose Lane Editions. For more information contact Ross Leckie at 458-7398.

Source: UNBF E-mail

16. Parks Canada Announces Artists Selected To Create Commemorative Monument For Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

On February 25th, 2004 Parks Canada announced the names of three visual artists selected to create a triptych to mark the 400th anniversary of Saint Croix Island, site of Pierre Dugua’s first attempt at settlement in North America, which led to the establishment of the permanent colonies of Acadie and New France. For this anniversary, Aboriginal, New Brunswick and French visual artists were invited to submit proposals for a commemorative triptych depicting “400 years of French Presence in North America” and the “Meeting of Two Worlds”.

Twenty-two visual artists answered the call and submitted proposals, which aesthetically and symbolically reflected the proposed themes. The jury, under the guidance of Francis Coutellier, Director of the Arts Department at the Université de Moncton, selected the projects from the following artists: Lance Bélanger (Aboriginal), Jean-Charles Pigeau (France) and Roméo Savoie (Nouveau-Brunswick).

During the winter, the selected artists will work in a spirit of collaboration, exchange and communication to individually prepare their work of art. At its unveiling, the triptych will be a focal point in the commemorative events that will take place on June 26, 2004, and will help present the commemorative integrity of the site for future generations.

This commemorative project is an initiative of Parks Canada Agency and the following financial partners: the Government of Canada, through the Programme Canada-France 2004, the New Brunswick Department of Intergovernmental and International Relations through the Initiative 2004 Program, and the Affaires étrangères de France, through the French Consulat in Moncton. The Université de Moncton provides artistic direction and administers the project for the partners.

For more information contact Nathalie Gagnon, Project Director – 2004, Parks Canada, (506) 389-7842

(Available on the Internet at: www.pc.gc.ca under What’s New)

Source: Parks Canada News Release, March 25, 2004

17. Coming Up At The Fredericton Playhouse

Don’t miss these exciting performances coming up at Fredericton’s premiere performing arts venue! For tickets or more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at (506) 458-8344 or visit www.theplayhouse.ca. Saturday, March 6, 8:00 pm CBC Radio presents… Madly Off In All Directions Hosted by Bette MacDonald Since its inception eight years ago, Madly Off in All Directions, has been playing to sold out venues across Canada. From storytelling to sketch comedy, from standup to music, Madly Off promises an evening of great entertainment for all ages. This unique traveling show allows us to reflect who and what we are as Canadians through humour. We invite you to join us as we go "madly off in all directions." Featuring Bette MacDonald, the comedy Queen of Maritime Canada.

March 12 – March 20 Theatre New Brunswick presents… Vinci Set in 15th century Italy, Vinci is the story of a priest's struggle between what his friends want him to do, what God tells him to do and what his heart knows he should do. Dealing with a town obsessed with the fate of Leonardo, a child born out of wedlock, the priest must choose "for the good of the child". With strong religious undertones some suggest Leonardo was a gift from God and others the product of witchcraft. Wittily poking fun at religious zealots, this masterful piece depicts a strong sense of sacrifice and unwavering hope.

Sunday, March 21 @theplayhouse World Stage Series presents… Danu At first glance, these Irish lads seem like ordinary young men. But the members of Danu are anything but ordinary. With music described as “blood-stirring and heart-lifting,” Danu has spellbound audiences since 1995 with their traditional, acoustic Celtic music. A septet of gifted musicians from “all around Ireland,” Danu derives its name from the mythological mother of all divine Celts--and their music is indeed divine. Bursting with excitement and energy on stage, Danu brings musical virtuosity to traditional Celtic sounds. A foot-stomping good time from one of the best Celtic groups in the world! Sponsored by: Fredericton Nissan

Friday, March 26, 8:00 pm @theplayhouse Somethin’ Else Series presents… The Blue Orphan Critics and patrons at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe festival agree that The Blue Orphan is the most daring and original show ever created by ’s Catalyst Theatre. Catalyst’s creative team has produced a beautiful character-driven experience that examines romance, adventure, hidden hopes and tragic loss. Set in the town of Crooked Creek, the oblivious residents are poised on the brink of devastation caused by a blue butterfly in a jungle far away. Through stunning imagery and a powerful musical score, The Blue Orphan explores the role of fate and the endurance of the human spirit. A truly moving and profound work. Somethin’ Else Series sponsored by: St. Thomas University

Sunday, March 28, 3:00 pm Kidstage presents… Cas Public: If You Go Down to the Woods Today This wonderful introduction to modern dance consists of a series of dance movements based on children's fears. The first young audience work by Cas Public’s famed choreographer Hélène Blackburn, If You Go Down To the Woods Today is an exploration of fear -- fear of night-time, fear of robbers, fear of growing up and the fear of what is different. With expressive physical language, the dancers portray creative ways to cope with fear and overcome conflict. It’s a beautiful modern dance performance designed to reach young audiences in a style that’s simple, powerful and understandable. Sponsored by: Council of the Arts Fredericton

18. Beaverbrook Art Gallery Ex Libris Reading Group

The Ex Libris Reading Group is currently in its third successful season. The group meets the third Thursday of the month from October and November and January through April. All sessions are held at the Gallery and commence at 7 pm. Everyone is invited to attend. While it is not mandatory to do the readings, it is encouraged and will certainly enhance the sessions.

Thursday, March 18th, 7 pm The Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. Moderated by storyteller, dramatist, teacher artist and Writer, Joan Meade.

Thursday, April 15th, 7 pm Still Life by A.S. Byatt. Moderated by Janet Feero, who currently works for the New Brunswick Public Library Services.

Contact the Gallery Shop at 458-2028 or [email protected] for information and book availability.

For further information or if you have a book idea, contact Laurie Glenn at 458-2024 or [email protected]

19. Herménégilde Chiasson To Lauch St. Thomas Poetry Celebrations

The Department of Romance Languages at St. Thomas University is hosting a conference and a series of poetry readings and as part of its francophone cultural festivities commemorating la semaine de la Fierté française au Nouveau-Brunswick and (W)rites of Spring/(E)crits du printemps.

On Thursday, March 18th at 11:30 am, Herménégilde Chiasson, the Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, will launch our celebrations by doing a public poetry reading. Following the same day at 7:00 pm, Raymond Guy LeBlanc, a renowned Acadian poet, will give a public lecture on the establishment of Acadia in the Maritimes. The lecture is entitled: "Le 400e anniversaire de la fondation de l'Acadie: 1604-2004" and will be followed by a reception. The St. Thomas University Guest Lecture Committee is sponsoring the lecture. Both events will take place in the Ted Daigle Theatre, Edmund Casey Hall.

On Friday, March 19th, 2004, Raymond Guy LeBlanc, Jo-Anne Elder, Roger Moore and Sarah Marylou Brideau will be engaged in bilingual poetry readings within the (W)rites of Spring/(E)crits du printemps series. The readings will take place at 2:30 pm in Edmund Casey Hall, Rm. 103. For further information, please contact Cecilia Francis at 460-0361.

20. Art At Hooper Studio's.... Classes And Workshops.... Spring 2004

Hooper Studios has been in operation for many years, as studios and workspace for John Hooper; sculptor and Kathy Hooper, painter and sculptor. Now with artist/designer Sue Hooper and a variety of other artists, we will be expanding to include teaching and the exploration of creativity through classes and workshops. We believe that the establishment of a center, which offers people of all ages the opportunity to expand and get in touch with their creativity, and at the same time become involved in new and interesting ways of making art of many kinds, is something which will fill a need in this community.

Our classes and workshops will have as their basis the philosophy of the power of creativity to heal and create joy and excitement in the person doing it.

We are convinced that art can, and does touch on all aspects of a persons life and begins an awareness process, which can open the student to the integration of such issues as, their health, the environment, their community and the world community.

Colour, form, motion and sound are all involved in the making of art in all its dimensions, whether it be painting, music, dance, sculpture, drama or writing. The opening of an individual’s creativity, so often overlooked and stunted in the growing years, can both physically and spiritually change a person¹s outlook on life.

We are lucky to have lived and worked in this area for so many years and have as friends so many artists in all media who believe in this philosophy and who promote it in their way of life. These are the people who will be teaching our classes and workshops.

The center is situated on forty acres of beautiful land with open fields and wild woodland. It is surrounded by lovely mature gardens and all of this overlooks the incredibly beautiful Kennebecasis river valley with its nationally acclaimed utropic marshlands and water system.

CLASSES: Classes run for 6 weeks unless otherwise noted. Taxes are included in price. Materials fee may apply.

March 22nd, Monday evening, 7:00 to 9:00, Life drawing (non instructional), running for 4 weeks $46.00

March 23rd, Tuesday, 10:30 to 11:45, Together with art for parents & preschoolers, with Sue Hooper, running for 4 weeks.

March 23rd, Tuesday, 2:00 to 3:00, Making art Together for children ages 5-7 (includes materials) with Sue Hooper $75.00

March 23rd, Tuesday, 7:00 to 9:00, An introduction to clay with Rob Ward, $140.00

March 24th, Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00, Introductory printmaking with John Murphy, $140.00

March 24th, Wednesday, 10:00 to 12:00, Bobbin and tenerife lace making with Sophia Bella, $140.00

March 24th, Wednesday, 4:00 to 5:30, Making art Together for children ages 10 -14 with Sue & Kathy Hooper $110.00 We will explore different ways to make art through painting, drawing, collage and clay in a fun and encouraging way.

March 25th, Thursday, 7:00 to 9:00, Exploring your Creativity with Sue Hooper, $140.00

WORKSHOPS All workshop fees $140.00 (taxes included), materials fee may apply.

March 20 & 21, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30 Tile and clay making with Kathy Hooper

April 3 & 4, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30 Creating with mixed media with John Murphy

April 17 & 18, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30 Painting together with Kathy Hooper

May 1 & 2, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30 From sheep to shawl with Alison Murphy & Alyson Scott

Enrollment is limited so call early to preregister.

Call Sue Hooper 832-7584 to preregister, deposit: adults, $50. Kids $30.

Deadline registration & final payment March 1 (extension available for Arts News readers!)

For complete class and workshop information: [email protected]

Preview

Opera Extravaganza At The Cathedral By Neil MacGill

Symphony New Brunswick's next concert in Fredericton will be given in the unusual venue of Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday, March 9th, at 8pm. The programme is an opera extravaganza starring Wendy Nielsen, soprano, and Stuart Howe, tenor.

New Brunswick's Wendy Nielsen pursues a successful career in both opera and concerts all around the world, from Prague to Hong Kong, Krakow to Lucerne. She has sung several roles at New York's Metropolitan Opera, and last month was Alice Ford in Verdi's last opera, 'Falstaff, in the Canadian Opera Company's sold-out performances at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre, with audiences totaling some 20,000 opera lovers.

On March 9th, Guest Conductor Stephane Laforest leads us through a wide selection of the best-loved solos, duets and overtures by the greatest composers in opera, from Mozart to Puccini, Verdi to Gershwin and Wagner to Dvorak. But our journey through the operas Cosi Fan Tutte and L'Elisir D'Amore to Rusalka and Tosca is also an exploration of the range of human emotion as it is expressed so powerfully through the multimedium of opera, combining the arts of drama and music into one.

In Dvorak's opera, Rusalka can only express her forbidden love in a song to the moon, while Donizetti shows how one furtive tear can rekindle Nemorino's love for Adina. Puccini's Tosca, on the other hand, is driven to anguished grief when Scarpia makes her the price for her lover's life, and later he, Cavaradossi, is moved by memories of his love for Tosca as he awaits execution.

The first stirrings of love also emerge in different ways. In Cosi Fan Tutte, Mozart uses the subtlety of his music to show a frivolous seduction turning unexpectedly towards genuine love, while Verdi, in La Traviata, has a drinking song bring Alfredo and Violetta together for the first time in a toast to beauty and love.Yet love can still remain ambiguous, as Irving Berlin shows when Annie Oakley and Frank Butler insist to each other that 'Anything you can do, I can do better'.

This evening of song is framed by the orchestra, which provides an appropriate introduction with Wagner's grand Arrival of the Guests at the Hall of Song in the Wartburg as they gather for the song contest in 'Tannhauser', and a fitting conclusion with the magnificent Triumphal March from Aida. Throughout the concert there are orchestral interludes of music from Cosi Fan Tutte, Carmen, La Forza del Destino' and Porgy & Bess, which explore still more fully the emotional range of the world of opera. So do not miss this glorious extravaganza: Get your tickets at The Playhouse box-office, or at the Cathedral on the night. Galleries At A Glance

ArtContact: Featuring New works by Alexandra Flood, Fran Ward Francis, Gerard Collins, Rick Burns, Carol Collicutt, Sarah Petite, Brigitte Brieu, Toby Graser, Suzanne Hill, Kathy Hooper and equisite pottery by Judy Blake and Darren Emenau can be viewed by appointment 453-1856.

Beaverbrook Art Gallery: The Marion McCain Atlantic Art Exhibition features vision. March 14 – April 25.

For a complete listing of on-going events please go to http://www.beaverbrookartgallery.org or call 506 458-8545

Fredericton Playhouse: In the West Gallery: oil and acrylic paintings by Linda Tiffin. The East Gallery features acrylic paintings by Trina Grant. On display until March 31, 2004

Gallery 78: 796 Queen Street, Fredericton, 454-5192. Thaddeus Holownia Gros Morne Park Series. See item # above opening??

Gallery Connexion: From March 5th – 26th Gallery Connexion will feature a Photogrpahy and Installation work by Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens entitled Stories and Other Stories. Opening Night - Friday March 5th from 7-9 pm.

New Brunswick Fine Crafts Council - TBA

Regency Rose Cafe & Craft House: Regency Rose Cafe & Craft House: 608 Queen Street. The Regency Rose hosts the works of over 40 NB artists, crafters, authors, and musicians. Call 455-CAFÉ for more info.

Old Government House: New Brunswick College of Craft and Design Faculty Show. More than 40 works are on display, highlighting the talents of several instructors of pottery, photography, architecture, jewellry, embroidery, sewing, mixed-media and more. January 13 – March 12.

UNB Art Centre: ArtZone: The Forest for the Trees and Audrey Feltham: Intimations, from March 12th through April 16th, 2004. See item # above

The Arts News is free service of the Fredericton Arts Alliance.

It is a weekly electronic calendar of events distributed each Thursday.

If you have a community arts announcement that you would like included in the Arts News,

please send it to: Amani Wassef, the FAA Coordinator at [email protected]

Please send entries for Thursday’s Arts News by the Tuesday prior to release.

Would you like more information about the FAA? Would you like to get involved? Contact the Coordinator or any of the board members of the Fredericton Arts Alliance by leaving a message at 443-9900. Executive Members: Board Members:

George Fry, President Russ Hunt Charlotte Glencross, Past President Lee LaPaix Renee Davis, Vice President Neil MacGill Steven Peacock, Secretary Roger Moore Karen LeBlanc, Treasurer

Amani Wassef, Coordinator

To reach the FAA: Fredericton Arts Alliance, P.O. Box 1303, Station A, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5C8 (506) 443-9900 (voice mailbox) or by e-mail at [email protected]