Art! Canvas! Action!

 

A great event, merging some of the best ingredients ever for an evening out, was held at the Allan and Jean Millar Centre, and hosted by the Whitecourt and Woodlands Performing Arts Society. Live music and live art, combined with wine and some fabulous nibblies, made for an exciting opportunity to really get a look at the great amount of talent that there is in Whitecourt

 

Events like the Art Canvas Action event on November 4 can really promote arts and culture within the community and raise funds for the society as well as showcase all sorts of local talents. “The long-term goal is to raise money for a facility in town to hold dance festivals and fringe events,” said Barb Maddigan, the representative for the Whitecourt Rotary Music Festival.

 

Live music by Mercy Funk from Edmonton, and a live DJ, local disk jockey Funky Monkey entertained the people, but it was the competitive painting event that had people talking. It was a new kind of event for Whitecourt, and something many have never seen before. The painting was done in three rounds, on various sizes of canvas and it was amazing. Varying time limits were also given. Judging by the audience was done at the end of each round, and the paintings were auctioned at the end of the evening.

 

Not all art was painted permanently on canvas, though. Diana Wedel, owner of Stardust Designs, paints on people. She does face painting for many of the events in town. This evening she did body painting on her model, Carlyng Moran. “It’s so much fun,” Wedel said. “I would love to find out how far we can take it.”

 

The evening was an opportunity to sample other things, like new wines. CJ’s Liquor Store had a table set up for wine tasting and owner Julie Hemmerling brought in several new and different styles of wine for sampling. “It made a terrific addition to the event,” she said. Those wines that were chosen as favourites will be available in her store.