It is almost always exhilarating to see new exhibits at the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre – when they are of paintings, the walls are, for the first-time visitor, suddenly filled with works which engage through brushstroke and colour. Seeking response, David Morris’s exhibit of metal sculptures is similarly striking, exciting in this case, through dimension, form, texture, and detail.

Morris notes, “To produce these objects, my hand eye coordination is evident in the bending of the metal to my will.  Steps in the fabrication of these works are evident in the final pieces. The accumulation of decisions and processes remain, imparting a narrative, to be followed by the observer.”

In many cases, one can imagine the excitement of the back and forth between the artist and his materials – in the case of Morris’s heads, it is even easier for the on-looker to imagine the artistic conversations taking place during their creation.

David Morris came originally to St. Thomas as the art gallery’s first director 43 years ago. He started as a post Group of Seven landscape artist but now works mostly as a sculptor. Interviewed for Relish Elgin in 2009, he commented “I would like people to think of me as a sculptor, as a person who does new things – a curious person. I like change, learning, the visual and tactile qualities of sculpting. It is a way of learning about society. It goes places where I didn’t expect to go – there’s humour in it.”

The exhibit at the art centre is a nice way for visitors to share in Morris’ on-going quest for creative surprises. It continues until October 27th, 2012.

The first Algoma University at St. Thomas class is currently busy at the main campus in Sault Ste. Marie getting their introductory taste of a four year Bachelor of Arts program. Meanwhile, finishing touches are being completed on the former Wellington Street Public School in preparation for the return to their home location later in September. 

Things are falling into place nicely on a project that was fast-tracked in order to bring a university option to students in St. Thomas. The $1.1 million dollar building renovation was made possible largely through a $900,000 donation from the estate of Dorothy Palmer. Crediting city hall staff, contractors and Palmer Estate executor Andrew Gunn, St. Thomas CAO Wendell Graves noted on a recent tour of the school, “We have pulled out all the stops to get the building up to shape in time.”

Interior work involved removing gym and office space, adding an elevator, updating heating, electrical, fire safety and IT elements and ramping up Algoma’s second floor space with classrooms, student lounge and administrative office. Exterior work was completed to provide future courthouse parking.

Andrew Gunn noted his pleasure at being involved with bringing another post-secondary education option to St. Thomas, “You wonder after high school what to do…this is manageable in terms of finances…and it’s a great way to bring young people into the community and to retain young people.”

Other cities have successfully introduced post-secondary education through off main-campus locations. However, the Algoma University at St. Thomas’s Block Format programming will be a first in Ontario. Students will spend approximately three weeks learning intensively and completing work on one course, then move onto the next of five for the year. Although most of the nineteen students enrolled this year are from St. Thomas a few have come from other centres like Sarnia and Waterloo – the Block Format programming feature was a big factor in their choice.

Site Program Coordinator, Donna Rankin, was also attracted to apply for the position, largely because of the Block Format model. She worked for fourteen years at Fanshawe College in St. Thomas as a student advisor and as an employment services counsellor and believes it is “an optimum way to learn” for many students and results in decreased mid-term anxiety. She noted that that enrolment in this year’s class includes students from ages seventeen to thirty-three.

Bringing Algoma U to St. Thomas has also been a win for a heritage building. It was important to both Algoma and Andrew Gunn to maintain the heritage attributes of the building and its ambience as a teaching place. Renovations were completed with the goal of retaining the former public school’s character, keeping many features such as woodwork, tin ceilings, and the old cloak room intact.

The third floor will be available for possible expansion of Algoma’s programming in the future and there are now three spaces on the main floor, leasable through the City of St. Thomas’s economic development office.

With so many win-wins for students and the community, there’s a definite positive vibe connected to the Algoma U project, one that can’t help but benefit the learning process for the nineteen people who will enter the second phase of their school year back in St. Thomas next week.

Find out more about the Algoma University program at http://www.algomau.ca/algoma-u-at-st-thomas/overview.

Fred Eaglesmith launched his 18th Annual Springwater Charity Picnic weekend at the CASO Railway Station Thursday evening (August 16th). This is the second year that Fred and his Travelling Steam Show have kicked off the picnic at the historic venue.   

As Eaglesmith’s band and the Fabulous Ginn Sisters warmed up the audience a wonderful breeze wafted through the open station windows, bringing pleasant air circulation and Fred to join in the first set of music.

The station is particularly suiting venue for Eaglesmith’s music as he has spent considerable time working on, singing about, and writing award-winning train-themed songs. He was honoured earlier this summer with induction into the North America Railway Hall of Fame at the CASO station.

The packed house responded enthusiastically to the Travelling Steam Show’s performance of a sampling of songs from Eaglesmith’s nineteen albums, and to the Fred-commentary on life, being on the road, his present audience, etc.  He railed (a few times) about the 4 ½ hour ceremony at which he was inducted into the Railway Hall of Fame. He demanded that hand-drying in the washrooms be stopped immediately after wondering aloud what the noise was. And he asked if "that great St. Thomas music store" was still around. Audience members assured him that Maestro Music was still open although “you have to go to the back door”, giving Fred reason to pause.

Eaglesmith is known for bringing memorable music to the masses. “In the final analysis, it’s a simple equation. ‘We just play rock’n’roll,’ Eaglesmith asserts. And in the process deliver music based on passion and truth, with an emotional union and a shared sense of fun. “The root of it all is my little bit of creativity, that little ball of fire inside me. I just do what feels like the truth to me. And when it feels like the truth it’s really not that hard to do or hard to listen to.” (From the Fred Eaglesmith Press Kit)

Although he travels relentlessly, Fred Eaglesmith also makes it very clear through both music and commentary that he loves southern Ontario. It’s nice, when he returns home to this area, to be part of an audience whose members obviously love listening to his take on music and “the truth”.  

Proceeds from Thurday evening’s refreshment sales were in support of the CASO Railway Station. Find out more at www.narhf.org. Support from Fred’s Annual Picnic at Springwater has helped the Long Point Basin Land Trust to protect series at risk, restore important natural habitats, and purchase new nature reserves along the Lake Erie shore. Find out more at www.longpointlandtrust.ca.  

Entertaining Elgin
By Dave Ferguson

The threat of a storm popping up can be a common occurrence, especially during a warm summer. But “Storm Warning”, presently announced on signs parading around the lakeside community of Port Stanley is also a reality that comes to life till September 8th on stage at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre.

 “Storm Warning”, written by Norm Foster and directed by Simon Joynes, delivers a blockbuster performance - a powerfully poignant, yet humorous, love story, marvellously acted on a great set. There's a lot to like here.

Set in 1953, tossed aside war veteran Jack Forrester (played by Phi Bulani) spends his time in a lonely and tranquil setting, Pigeon Lake Hidden Cabins during the off season. Sitting by the lake writing a letter, Jack’s peace is broken by a brash and liberated Emma Currey (played by Karen Parker), a talented big-city girl who writes charts for a popular band.   

Emma has sought the refuge of these quiet surroundings at the advice of a drummer friend, in order to get some work done away from the distractions of the city. However escaping one area of diversions leads her into the laid back life of Jack.

Caught off guard by the intrigue and mystery of Jack, Emma attempts to peel back the layers to get to the very core of his being in an effort to satisfy her own curiosity. What unfolds in the process is Emma discovering her own deepest dark secrets as well.

Canadian playwright Norm Foster is master of the romantic comedy, and “Storm Warning” may be one of his finest. Foster plays to the baby boomer audience with subtlety dropped '50s pop culture references to Marilyn Munroe, Miles Davis, and there's even "the pill" foreshadowed. Captured, too, are the social mores of the day with the strong, liberated front that Emma puts up and Jack’s expression of newfound, awakening emotions.

And even though some serious subjects are bandied back and forth between the two characters, Foster's quick-witted, often sarcastic humour is always hugely present in the fast-paced dialogue. Profound and yet funny - this is exactly what Foster does best, and he has accomplished it superbly in Storm Warning.

Aside from the meticulously written script, this performance is fuelled by the on stage chemistry between not only the two characters of Emma and Jack but the actors Karen Parker and Phi Bulani. The timing and delivery of their lines is spot on and believable.

The acting is the best I’ve seen on this stage and is supported by well thought out set design by Eric Bunnell and flawless direction by Simon Joynes.

Once again Simon Joynes has chosen another hit with “Storm Warning”, to close off another superb season, worthy of every penny and then some.

Check out the website www.portstanleytheatre.ca for showtimes.

Photos by Relish Elgin.

The Aylmer Agricultural Fair celebrated 166 years August 10th to 12th with entertainment, demo derbies, agricultural exhibits, arts and craft competitions, food vendors and midway rides. Though rain put a damper on some of the outdoor activity, crowds took advantage of sunny breaks to enjoy the midway and all the fair had to offer.  

Check out photographer Mark Girdauskas’s day at the Aylmer Fair in the slideshow below. As always, his photos capture the sights of events in Elgin County in a manner that will also bring to mind the sounds, smells…. and fun. 

At 166 years, the Aylmer Fair is the oldest in District 13. They also have several other annual events – Home & Garden Show (April 2013) and Haunted House (every week-end in October 2012). Find out more at www.aylmerfair.ca. 

The Kettle Valley Pioneers presented their 34th annual Elgin Historical Show August 10th to 12th. Dan Patterson Conservation Area was filled with antiques related to farming (tractors, machinery and implements) plus food vendors, displays and music.

Though rainy skies put a damper on some days of the event, Sunday brought sunny skies. See the slide show below for some scenes from the final afternoon of the show.

Above: The Patterson cabin was open for a peak inside, and as a place for handcrafters to demonstrate their skills. Amongst them, Madeleine Jenkins worked at caning a chair.

Above: Rebecca Buis, who has worked at the Forge and Anvil Museum over the summer answered questions about the display from the Sparta and District Historical Society. There is a buzz of activity and initiatives happening there, including the opening of a second museum and cultural centre at the former Sparta United Church and planning of celebrations for Sparta’s 200th anniversary in 2013.  

The hum, clank and roar of working machinery is always an attraction for attendees of all ages at the show. At left, Hayden tours the show with Grandpa, Tom. The Gay Lea Dairy Heritage Museum will offer more family fun on the pioneer theme,  Saturday August 25th.  The museum will present their First Annual Pioneer Fun Day from 10am-4pm, with interactive displays and games, prizes, museum tour, demonstations, homemade ice cream demo, bouncy cow, and more. Visit www.dairyheritagemuseum.ca for more information.  

Julie Berry, in conjunction with the Society of Friends (Quakers) from Sparta, has been organizing the Lantern-Floating Ceremony in Pinafore Park for more than twenty years. This past Monday (August 6th), she welcomed the people gathered to remember those who lost their lives due to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, August 6-9, 1945. She noted her dedication to the yearly ceremony, the importance of preventing another nuclear bombing from ever happening again, and also the joy to be found in the peaceful and beautiful display made by the lanterns on the water.

This year, Three-Penny Piece entertained with music and visitors from Japan joined in the ceremony.  Barb Burgess who works with the LABO (Language Laboratory) exchange program spoke about the organization which teaches English to Japanese children through song, skits and games. Each year twelve to fourteen kids come to live with a Canadian family. This year, there are seven children in Ontario with two adult chaperones. Three of the children and the adults were able to come to attend the Pinafore Park ceremony. She also shared some information about Hiroshima City and the devastation caused by the nuclear bombing.

Mika Iechika, one of the LABO chaperones thanked the group gathered for praying for peace, noting that friendships between people around the world is what will bring peace. She also explained the meaning of the crane and paper cranes in Japan.

Families were invited to drop by Saturday (August 4) and discover St. Thomas’s oldest church. Constructed between 1822 and 1824, the Old St. Thomas Church was the centre of the pioneer community. During the Fun Day, activities inside and out enabled visitors to delve into pioneer activities as well as the history of the church and the surrounding graveyard. 

The St. Thomas Church was an active part of the community until its close in 1877. The most recent restoration effort began in 1986 and continues today. Inside the church are the old cubicle style pews and many historical plaques. (Photo at left: From right, Grace, friend Rachelle and Mom Heather checked out the Stained Glass craft inside the old church.)

Above: Katelyn & Kyrsten took part in the seed planting activity (top left); the Kings Company of Re-enactors were on hand with demonstrations.

Jeff Booth as "The Old Storyteller" shared some of his collection of local stories from days gone by. Jadyn and Rachel contrated on one of the stories kids could select from the storyboard.

Some of the people interred in the graveyard include Captain Daniel Rapelje, who fought in the war of 1812 and gave the land for the church and graveyard; Judge Hugh Richardson who sentenced Louis Riel to hang for treason and Samuel Eccles, senior partner to John Labatt.   

Guided tours are offered Tuesday to Saturday till Labour Day. Find more information at www.oldstthomaschurch.com.

The Periscope Playhouse players have the first performances of their premiere production, "Smart Ass", under their belts. During a Saturday evening viewing, all of the actors appeared to be putting heart and soul into their parts in Patrick Harding’s play which touches on (and sometimes trounces on) politics, romance, community and comedy in a small Port town. All of the actors, Director Jeff Rogers (who also plays one of the roles), Producer Marion Rogers, and everyone else who has supported getting the fledging group off the ground is to be congratulated.

Shows took place Friday July 27 and Saturday July 28 – final performances will run Friday August 10 and Saturday August 11. 

"Smart Ass" was worth the price of admission just for the series of vignettes of the characters on the campaign trail. As they knocked on doors, the encounters, quips and naughtiness depicted were hilarious.

Though everyone rose to meet them, this play did offer particular challenges related to staging intricacy and length. With the task of putting together a premiere show, the group may have had an easier time of it with a play requiring simpler staging and, perhaps, with one which was tightened up a bit in length.

Bob Smolders gave a lovably oblivious performance as Ray the street/beach guy. Tim Wells played “despicable” very well, winning heartfelt boos from the audience. (He did point out in the show program that “in real life he is nothing like Lance”.)

The audience seemed appreciative of the considerable efforts poured into Periscope Theatre's first play. Community members will no doubt be looking forward to future performances, whether that be in an active role or in the audience.
 
Remaining performances are Friday August 10th at 8pm, Saturday August 11th at 2pm & 8pm.
Tickets: Adults $15; Children $10; Group rates $12
Venue: Vienna Community Centre
Address: 26 Fulton St, Vienna
Contact Phone: 519-874-4286
Website: www.periscopeplayhouse.ca

Entertaining Elgin
By Dave Ferguson

As the lights come up, revealing the inside of a country home in various states of disrepair, a hand grasps the top of the couch from behind. The audience doesn’t know what to expect as the groans of agony increase while the person continues to pull themself up. Carolyn Bingham, played convincingly by Molly Kidder, now completely facing the audience, reveals her very pregnant body and is in the throes of labour.

We know from the meticulously set table in the rustic kitchen that a meal might be taking place while we may become witness to a birth.

The current play “Having Hope at Home” at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre is a fantastic show that delivers humorous, heartfelt and insightful moments portrayed by three generations of characters that represent the Bingham family.

Carolyn, played by Molly Kidder, has moved back into the family farm joined by her Quebecois boyfriend Michel (Matt Gorman) and her Grandpa Russell (John Turner). As the curtain rises we find Carolyn nearing the end of her pregnancy and awaiting the arrival of her parents for dinner.

This olive branch of a meal has to be just perfect in order to appease her well to do parents in an effort to mend broken bridges with her Mother Jane (Janet Monid) and Father (Terry Barna). The calamity comes when Carolyn’s father, the head of obstetrics at an area hospital, and her mother, who has raised over $2 million for that same hospital and can throw one hell of a dinner party, discover that their daughter wishes to give birth at home.

Caroline’s best efforts appear to be crashing around her as her water breaks and a frantic Michel has contacted their professional midwife, Dawn (Martha Zimmerman), to deliver the baby. Upon her arrival, Dawn is originally introduced as Russell’s girlfriend and then as a veterinarian - her presence as a midwife starts the fireworks going and a family feud erupts.

“Having Hope at Hope” provides dual meaning, as there is hope that a once disjointed family can come together over dinner and resolve all the past that has been hiding under the carpet for years. "Hope" also turns out to be the name of the newly delivered baby.

The one liners delivered by Russell (John Turner), a seemingly grumpy Grandpa who is ready to join his belated wife Lorna with her rhubarb pie, add a lot of levity during the play and quite honestly steal the show.

The cast has done a stupendous job carving themselves into believable characters, drawing the audience into a mirror image of the family fabric as they huddle in the kitchen serving up laughs, tears, loud discussions and memorable moments.

Simon Joynes has done yet another great job as the Director making sure all the pieces of this play written by playwright David S. Craig remain glued together.

Dariusz Korbeil's set design is a flawless rendition of a farmhouse at various states of repair, with the weathered wall paper and exposed insulation, and even right down to the coloured fabric thrown over the lamp as Carolyn is about to give birth.

I’m sure most will relate to some of the messages this play delivers. About patching up family relationships before it is too late. About having the members of your family take part in their children’s lives as they begin their own family. Or simply about escaping your own world to have a lot of laughs during an excellent play.

“Having Hope at Home” runs from July 25th to August 11th and is, yet again, another must see play put on by the Port Stanley Festival Theatre.

Check out the website www.portstanleytheatre.ca for showtimes. "Having Hope at Home" was written by David S. Craig. Stay tuned for more of Dave's reviews of upcoming shows at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre.  

Photos by Relish Elgin.