Halifax, Nova Scotia | THE COAST: Art Attack

Venue Jumping on Day 6

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:01:35 -0300

After two jam-packed days of theatre, it was a lovely break to have a day with only two shows to see. I chose wisely, too.…

Day 5 at DANspace

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:28:02 -0300

Oh, how I suffer for my art. I spent a most gloriously sunny and temperate Labour Day in the sauna-like confines of DANspace, reviewing not one or two, but FIVE Fringe offerings, Fortunately, the fact that there wasn’t a dog in the lot coupled with the opportunity to sit outside on Argyle Street and enjoy some wine between shows, made my sacrifice worthwhile.…

SaintOnge for charity

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:19:00 -0300

If you’ve been coveting one of Michelle SaintOnge’s colourful animal prints, including the “Exotica” collection (perhaps you’ve seen the menagerie at Morris East) or the Martha Stewart-loving “Private Lives of Cats and Dogs,” or her fun bags, pillows and jewellery, now’s your chance. SaintOnge is holding an auction and fundraiser on Wednesday, September 8, 6-9pm at The Hart and Thistle.…

A full Day of Fringe on Day 4

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:14:51 -0300

I’ve experienced a “Fringe” benefit from having so many plays to see: I’m feeling pretty good about my job as a reviewer, and about the theatre scene in Halifax. I’ve not only survived 12 plays in four days, but the quality of this year’s Fringe offerings means I feel privileged to have seen the majority of them.…

Two Plays, Two Winners on Day 3 of the Fringe

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:00:55 -0300

Good old Hurricane Earl forced the closure of all but two plays yesterday, but as luck would have, it they were both winners!

Back in 1916, a New York newspaper columnist named Don Marquis introduced Archy the cockroach and Mehitabel the free-spirited cat to the world. Archy, who claimed to be a reincarnated poet and thus was qualified to comment upon both the human and insect worlds, supposedly left free verse social commentary on Marquis’ typewriter at night.…

Keeping Cool on Day 2 of the Fringe

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:57:57 -0300

With temperatures soaring as Hurricane Earl (Hot Juan??) lumbered towards the city, the air conditioned splendor of Plutonium Playhouse offered sweet relief as well as a mixed bag of Fringey entertainment…

The first show, Black Jack Justice, proved to be the best of the evening.…

Day 1 of the Fringe Odyssey

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:24:43 -0300

Okay, the marathon has begun. Last night marked the beginning of an 11-day Fringe odyssey where this intrepid reviewer will attempt to view —-and coherently review—-all 30 theatre offerings.…

Ali Nickerson's art starts at home

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:20:00 -0300

Frustrated by gallery bureaucracy, Ali Nickerson decided to take matters into her own home: Her exhibition Everyone Knew What Had to Happen is opening at 2387 Gallery (2387 Agricola), which just happens to be her new apartment, and an ideal place to show work that explores “my experience as a bartender and the relationships I developed with the regulars,” Nickerson writes.

The installation is made up of eight chairs that, using textiles and sculptural elements—-”hand-printed and dyed fabrics that are infected with a variety of materials (ceramic insects, fur, resin, hair)”—-represent personality traits Nickerson encountered while bartending.…

Reigning Spamalot

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:49:00 -0300

Nerd alert: if “it’s only a flesh wound” makes you giddy, this news is for you. Monty Python’s Spamalot is coming to the Metro Centre for three performances, Saturday, October 16 at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday, October 17 at 2pm.…

Busking 101

editor@thecoast.ca (Sean Flinn) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:03:00 -0300

Along with cash for its performers, the enjoyment and expectations of audiences, the Halifax International Busker Festival raises a perennial question: Who is a busker?

For Kim Hendrickson, president of ESP Productions, the company that puts on the festival, a busker performs a “circle show. Then they pass a hat,” she says on the phone, away from the hustle and bustle.…

Khyber building plan goes to council tonight

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:43:00 -0300

At tonight's city council meeting, HRM staff will present the staff report "1588 Barrington Street as an Arts & Culture Incubator." This, of course, is the recommendation from staff to council to continue using, and to expand the cultural services offered in the Khyber building, which is seen as a big part of the Barrington revitalization plan. Historic stuff, kiddies.…

Stolen painting still missing from King's

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:00:40 -0300

I think it's terrible that in the media, art heists are usually treated like light news, like it's a Matt Damon caper movie. But this case is especially awful.…

Roll up your sleeping bag, it's time for Brain Camp

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:47:00 -0300

Get your body down to Strange Adventures on Friday, August 6, from 4-6pm, for the launch of Brain Camp, the new graphic novel, written by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, and illustrated by Coast comic artist Faith Erin Hicks.

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Blackbird sings at the Living Room

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:38:00 -0300

British playwright David Harrower's Blackbird was on Richie Wilcox's wishlist, so he jumped at the chance to return to Halifax to direct the play for Angels & Heroes Theatre Company, opening August 9 at the The Living Room (2353 Agricola Street).

"I'm a fan of darker, grittier scripts that push the boundaries," says Wilcox, a founding member of A&H, who now lives in Toronto while working on his PhD—he has his masters in theatre directing from Texas State University.…

Muppet magic at the Shoe Shop

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:23:00 -0300

Why are there so many songs about rainbows and so little art with Muppets? Well, it’s time to light the lights because The Muppet Art Show opens Tuesday night, 8pm at the Economy Shoe Shop.…

Queer Acts, good theatre

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:49:00 -0300

It was so hot at the Bus Stop last night that I propose that next year be a clothing-optional Queer Acts Festival and that rainbow coloured Japanese fans be sold in the lobby. However, the heat didn’t stop crowds of enthusiastic theatre-goers from enjoying three great performances.…

Logan and I: sexual dealings at Queer Acts

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:47:00 -0300

Think back to your first introduction to the theoretical mechanics of sex. Whether the revelations came from your uncomfortable parents, your gleefully �well-informed� friend, or from some dog-eared magazine or well-placed pop-up, chances are you reacted with a mixture of pure disgust and nascent excitement.…

Lee-Anne Poole Splinters off

editor@thecoast.ca (Michael Fraiman) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:08:00 -0300

Don’t let the plot fool you: Splinters is not based on a true story. It’s just a story that happens to be true.…

For the Common good

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:32:00 -0300

Warning: You may feel totally self-conscious as a spray of water tickles your face, which is pressed against the metal fence surrounding the fountain in the Common. But the voice telling you to stand there is kind but firm in its instructions.…

Capture the Flag: tonight at 7pm

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:17:46 -0300

Meet at the waterfront wave at 7pm for some good, clean fun. You still know how to play, right?

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Word on the Street moves back to the street

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:37:54 -0300

This is great news, considering the fate of the free festival was uncertain, but Word on the Street will be back outside this year, September 26 at Victoria Park, 11am-5pm. The event, which was indoors for the past 10 years, will be under a tent, with plans to move inside (location unknown) if weather doesn't cooperate.…

Kat Frick Miller's royal paintings

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:17:00 -0300

Although most Haligonians will be lucky to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II’s hat when she visits next week, artist Kat Frick Miller has been up close to her royal majesty in a more creative way.

The inspiration for Miller’s portraits of Queen Elizabeth came from all directions.…

Contemporary Visual Art Award show opens tonight

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:03:00 -0300

Peter Kelly doesn't pick the artists for HRM's second annual Contemporary Visual Art Award (he may be more of a dogs 'n' poker or big boat dude, we're not sure), but he will be in attendance tonight at the opening of the exhibition. But whoever does pick these artists, knows what they're doing.…

Trudeau: Long March/Shining Path

editor@thecoast.ca (Kate Watson) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:12:00 -0300

Much like the man himself, Trudeau: Long March/Shining Path seemed to polarize the audience on opening night. Several people left after the first act, yet the performance earned a sustained standing ovation from others.…

CTV reports NSCAD's financial difficulties

editor@thecoast.ca (Sue Carter Flinn) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:05:06 -0300

Last night, as I groggily analyzed Bruce Frisko's tie on the ATV 11pm news (note to news writers: referring to "starving artists" is as cliche as saying that TV hosts are shallow), he surprised me with a piece about NSCAD University and their current financial situation. The school isn't saying anything, but provincial (operating costs) and municipal (heritage capital costs) governments confirmed that the school is looking for a major financial injection.…