On the Go – Art, Crafts, Cakes and Awards

Spring programs at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design are scheduled to begin the week of April 12. Registration for members is taking place now and general registration takes place March 29 to April 9 from 9am to 4pm at the Centre. Registration for classes and workshops is on a first come, first served, prepaid basis. To register, you can call (902) 539-7491 or email info@capebretoncraft.com.

This spring’s courses include pottery, watercolour and oil painting, stained and fusion glass making, jewelry making and expressive drawing. In many instances beginner, intermediate and advanced classes are available in each subject. For those looking to continue studies full time in an arts school, a portfolio preparation course is being offered which will focus on improving the overall quality of portfolios required for application to first-year credit visual arts study. Topics are based on NSCAD and other national art school requirements and include critiquing and selecting work, producing images of work, and writing an essay.

For more information visit capebretoncraft.com

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Port Hawkesbury’s J. Franklin Wright Art Gallery is pleased to announce its spring line-up for 2010. Two local artists will exhibit at the gallery from March 29 to April 19. Lesley Burt is a freelance illustrator from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia who has drawn since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She studied art at NSCAD in Halifax where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2009. Burt creates digital images, but also uses more traditional media such as acrylics, oils and ink pens. She attributes her love of illustration to her love of reading. Aside from illustration, Burt also does photo restoration. Gary Pace is a resident of Port Hawkesbury who is noted for his painting and drawings of animals and pastoral scenes. Pace is a self-taught artist and specializes in pencil drawings. His work has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Recently, Pace has completed a series of pencil drawing for the Port Hawkesbury Sports Wall of Fame. He is presently working with Ducks Unlimited to further market his art.

There will be an opening reception for the Lesley Burt/Gary Pace exhibition on Wednesday, March 31 at 7:00 at the J. Franklin Wright Art Gallery. Everyone is invited!

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April 1st is the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book Physiology of Taste.

As part of the International Edible Books Festival, Books2Eat will celebrate reading, eating and April Fool’s Day at the McConnell Library in Sydney on Thursday, April 1, 4-7pm. Local food artists will display their artistic talents by creating edible art with a book theme. The edible art works will be on display at the Library after 4pm on Wednesday, March 31 until the event on April 1. A selection of the items will be auctioned off in a silent auction to raise funds for the Library’s Adopt-A-Book campaign. There will be comedy improv, funny readings and fun with crafts for kids, face painting and lots more to celebrate April Fool’s Day. Everyone is welcome to enter an edible work of art or just to come for the fun. For more information visit cbrl.ca

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During the tenth year of the Cape Breton International Drum Festival, founder Bruce Aitken will receive the Music Nova Scotia Award of Excellence. Aitken is the first recipient of the Music Nova Scotia Award of Excellence, an honour aimed at recognizing members who have contributed generously and in extraordinary fashion to Nova Scotia’s music industry. Aitken was born in New Zealand, where he honed his love of drumming. Since 1998, he has made his home in Cape Breton, running the world-class drum festival. It has attracted incredible names like Alan White (John Lennon, George Harrison, Yes), Michael Shrieve (Santana, The Rolling Stones) and Todd Sucherman (Styx). “Music is my life and I breathe it,” says Aitken. He says highlights in his career include working with Uriel Jones (Motown Funk Brothers), touring Afghanistan military bases, and being the first Canadian to play at the Australian Ultimate Drummers Weekend. Aitken also toured with John Campbelljohn, the Irish Rovers, and Fred Eaglesmith. In 2008, he was inducted into the Southland Musicians Club Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Aitken focuses much of his attention on youth, working as a drum teacher and attracting many students and even children to the festival each year. He offers the motto, “Education through performance.”

The 2010 Cape Breton International Drum Festival takes place at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, May 22 and May 23. Top performers this year include Virgil Donati (Steve Vai), Denny Seiwell (Paul McCartney and Wings) and Bill Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra).