Category Archives: Arts & Entertainment

A Note from Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper

If you have been a regular visitor to our Niagara At Large news and commentary site, you know that we have shown an ongoing interest in the welfare of all creatures great and small.

Nature of Things host David Suzuki

Someone from the CBC knew about NAL’s passion for animals and sent us the following note on a program we’re sure many of you who share our panel will want to check out.

The program, featured on CBC’s long-running and ever-popular ‘The Nature of Things’ hosted by the one and only David Suzuki, is called  ‘Mysteries of the Animal Mind’ and is being broadcast this Thursday, January 26 at 8 p.m. EST on CBC Newsworld Cable channel 6. Niagara At Large is pleased to share the following write-up from CBC on this program. Continue reading →

NAL garden walk, December

One of North America’s largest and most celebrated annual gardening events – Garden Walk Buffalo – has received prestigious award for its success in promoting community pride and the beautification of urban neighbhourhoods.

One of the many homes and institutions opening their lawns and gardens to visitors each year for Garden Walk Buffalo. File photo by Doug Draper

If you missed Garden Walk Buffalo this past summer or have never been to one, stay tune to its return next July. You can count on Niagara At Large to share the details when the dates and times for the event are approaching.

In the meantime, NAL is posting a media release from the volunteers of Garden Walk Buffalo, commenting on the award received for their efforts.

Media Release

The American Institute of Architects Buffalo/WNY Chapter (AIA) awards this honor annually to a group that has performed outstanding volunteer service on behalf of, or relating to, the built environment. The award was presented at the AIA Design Award Gala, held November 18, 2010 at The Mansion on Delaware Avenue. Continue reading →

Come explore an exhibition and demonstrations of seldom-seen Chinese Folk Art compiled by Buffalo State College professors Richard Ross and Lin Xia Jiang during their research in Xinjiang, Tibet, Sichuan, and Henan.

One of many rare art pieces features at exhibition

 The collection includes Chinese New Year’s poster prints (some made from woodblocks dating back to the late Qing dynasty in Henan, Mianzhu, and Tianjin), Tibetan Thangka paintings and woodcarvings, and tapestries from the Tajik people in Xinjiang.
 
In addition to these unique cultural artifacts, the exhibition features photos, music, and videos of indigenous people and landscapes that provide context for understanding and appreciating these vanishing artistic traditions. Continue reading →

By Doug Draper

Lest you have any doubt our binational Niagara region is home to a treasure trove of fine heritage and architectural sites, mark this October 16th and 17th on your calendar for the 9th annual Doors Open Niagara.

The century-old 'Electric Tower' in downtown Buffalo is one of the many sites free for the viewing during this year's Doors Open Niagara. Photo by Doug Draper

This annual weekend event, organized by a group of dedicated volunteers from both sides of Canada/U.S. border in concert with the not-for-profit Binational Economic and Tourism Alliance, swings the doors open, free of charge, to more than 60 conservations areas, museums, wineries, heritage buildings, including churches, mansions, inns and wineries and other sites, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Continue reading →

The Niagara-on-the-Lake community of Queenston, Ontario  is happy to announce that the annual Queenston Art Show is once again being held in the village.
 
Over 75 artists are participating in the show at the Queenston Library on 32 Queenston Street, selling original works only.

There are both framed and unframed pieces featured at this show, which has been held now for more than 30 years.

The show and sale opens on Thursday, Oct. 14 and runs to Sunday, Oct 17 between the hours of  10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

A Foreward by Doug Draper

Niagara At Large doesn’t mind getting a little gushy here.

Historians and others on both sides of our binational border, involved in planning upcoming War of 1812 commemorations, have created a wonderful, rich-in-history Niagara 1812 bicentennial map that is already becoming a big hit in our schools and among others who care about our shared heritage on both sides of the border.

This map, which is far more than any average map and includes great historic drawings of some of the key figures from that war, and written nuggets on battles, received a “first prize” award from an international mapping organization at an annual conference it held this July In San Diego, California.

Following is a media release from the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council for Niagara, Ontario and the Niagara Frontier in New York celebrating the award they received for this map. The release also offers information on how you can get a copy of this great map. Continue reading →

By Doug Draper

Plans by a coalition of interests, including the Niagara Arts Council, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and others working under the name ‘Project Niagara’, to launch a summer music festival on lakeshore lands in Niagara-on-the-Lake are dead.

This Niagara Project vision of a summer evening music festival along a scenic stretch of Lake Ontario shoreline has faded to black.

Project Niagara has pulled the plug on its plans for a 17-week festival on 270 acres of Parks Canada lands along Lake Ontario, reportedly due to a realization that it is not likely to get the tens-of-millions of dollars in funding it would need from Ontario’s provincial government and the federal government to turn it into a reality.

The demise of this $76-million vision for a ‘Tanglewood-like’ venue for music under the stars will sadden some. But there are no doubt others – especially people living in the vicinity of the lands where the festival would go – who are relieved by the news. Continue reading →

(For all you lovers of classic old cars out there on both sides of our binational border, Niagara At Large is posting the following media release from the City of Port Colborne, Ontario.)

The Horseless Carriage Club of America will embark on a Niagara Vintage Tour Sunday, July 18 to Friday, July 23, and will cruise into Port Colborne July 20 with about 60 cars and make its way to the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum at 2 pm.

This 1910 Cadillac is one of about 60 antique cars that will be touring Niagara, Ontario later this July.

The club – which defines the Horseless Carriage as any pioneer gas, steam, or electric motor vehicle built or manufactured before January 1, 1916 – is one of few clubs to represent the dawning of the age of the automobile. Continue reading →

By Doug Draper

The Port Colborne Public Library is featuring a special exhibit of photographs by Welland photo artist Terry Nicholls beginning this Thursday, July 15 and running through October 15.

A piece titled 'Riverside', one of many works by Terry Nicholls on exhibit at the Port Colborne Public Library.

The exhibit opens at the library this July 15th at 6 p.m. through 8 p.m.; with the artist of 30 years on hand to greet all from the public who wish to meet him and experience his work.

“When I was asked by a member of the library’s board if I would like to exhibit my work this summer, I was both delighted and somewhat stunned,” said Nicholls. “I had a few pieces entered in the Roseland (Port Colborne’s premier arts venue) Juried Show a couple of years ago. But I never had a solo gig before. … Nor have I had to work so long and hard matting and framing, with twenty-seven pieces in a show. …

” I photograph whatever happens to catch my attention as I’m walking around – whatever forces its way into the “frame” I carry with me in my mind’s eye,” continued Nicholls. “I’m very selective about how I shoot. Usually I’ll take only one or two exposures, perhaps using different lenses or viewpoints. …

“I try not to ask myself whether it will ultimately make a strong enough image to print. I just try to figure out exactly what it is about the subject matter that interests me – the colour, the light, the context, the shape, line, or texture – and then I see how I can work with the file later to bring those factors to the fore in a composition which I hope will arrest the viewer’s eye as the initial sight caught mine.” Continue reading →

If William Shakespeare were able to come back today and visit St. Catharines, Ontario’s Montebello Park, it is hard to believe he would not be pleased to have one of his most popular plays performed there.

Shakespeare coming to St. Catharines' scenic Montebello Park. Photo by Doug Draper

This coming July 24, and for one night only, the Toronto-based Driftwood Theatre Group will be bringing its production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night to this classic Olmsted-designed park in north Niagara.

For more on this event, Niagara At Large is posting the following media release from the touring theatre troupe. And for more information on other matters of interest and concern to residents in our greater binational Niagara region, visit www.niagaraatlarge.com. Continue reading →

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy – a not-for-profit group working to preserve that city’s beautiful system of Olmsted parks – is hosting tours of the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park this July 9.

 The garden tours will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., complete with a “traditional tea ceremony” and refreshments. The event is open to all members of the public and is free of charge.

The Japanese Garden, established in 1974 as a symbol of friendship between Buffalo and its sister city Kanazawa, Japan,  is located  off Elmwood Avenue and Nottingham Terrace, behind the Buffalo Historical Society building and along Mirror Lake in Delaware Park.

The Conservancy is also hosting a free concert this Wednesday, July 7 of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in the Delaware Park Meadow at 7 p.m.

The 350-acre Delaware Park is one of more than 1,500 acres of parklands, boulevards and circles enhancing the urban landscape of Buffalo, New York. They are the work of 19^th century landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who got his start designing Central Park in New York City in the middle years of that century.

In the greater Niagara region, Olmsted also designed parklands in and around Goat Island, at the brink of the falls in Niagara Falls, New York and Montebello Park in nearby St. Catharines, Ontario. Continue reading →

By Dr. William Hogg

Why Is It, Doctor?

Dr. William Hogg, speaking at hearing earlier this year on cuts to hospitals in Niagara Health System.

I recently got into a conversation with the alien resident inside my head. It was more like a question and answer session. The first question was not unexpected.

Why is it, doctor, that so few of your colleagues are speaking out about what is happening to our badly deteriorating health care system?

Well, it’s not that they are apathetic or indifferent. Many doctors feel sorry for the people who are being cheated by their government which is wrecking its own health care delivery system. Some of the old time doctors knew from the very outset that Medicare was being set up wrongly, incorrectly – and are amazed it has lasted so long as it has. And the fact is that most of the younger doctors figure they’ll have work whichever way it goes.

Each of those answers needs elaboration. As an old-timer yourself, what went wrong at the beginning?

We tried to warn government that a medical delivery system cannot work on a strict balanced budget in a typical business supply and demand bottom line format. Continue reading →

(Niagara At Large is posting this April 26 announcement for federal funding to keep Brock’s Centre for the Arts in St. Catharines, Ontario alive. Over the many years, the Centre has drawn a range of some of the most talented and famous artists around the world to audiences in Niagara, from legendary standup comedian Phyllis Diller to top-drawer jazz and rock musicians, and many, many others. It is a great regional venue for the arts that deserves public support.)

Brock University's Centre for the Arts director Debbie Slate at a funding announcement this April 27 supporting the centre's future.

Brock’s Centre for the Arts will be able to present its 2010-11 and 2011-12 Professional Entertainment Series, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.

Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament (St. Catharines), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today (April 26) announced funding for the University’s Centre for the Arts.

The $120,000 in funding will support the 41st and 42nd editions of the Centre’s Professional Entertainment Series, which runs from September 2010 to March 2012. The series presents more than 70 music, dance, and theatre performances a year. Continue reading →

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

 One of the Greater Niagara Region’s most active preservation groups, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, and the Dent Neurologic Institute are hosting a series of music events for the public this winter in a picturesque Delaware Park setting.

The not-for profit Olmsted Parks Conservancy has continued to play a major role for years in maintaining and preserving the boulevard and park system  (named after the late landscape architect, Federick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame) that has enriched the urban landscape in so many of Buffalo’s older neighbourhoods for more than a century.

The music events will take place in the Marcy Casino, a classic heritage building overlooking one of the ponds in Delaware Park and they are highlighted below in the following media release the Conservancy has shared with Niagara At Large. Continue reading →

 By Doug Draper

If you have a flare for art and are looking for ways to chase away the winter blues, the organizers of the largest garden tour on the continent have an answer for you.
The folks that put together Garden Walk Buffalo are once again looking for submissions of original artwork for possible use on posters, t-shirts and maps for the two-day event, which will be celebrating its 16th year this July.
Garden Walk Buffalo draws tens of thousands of people each year to tour, free of charge, the lawns and gardens of more than 340 residences and businesses in historic old neighbourhoods of the city, rich with some of the finest architecture in North America.
The artwork for Garden Walk Buffalo – scheduled to take place this year on Saturday and Sunday, July 24 & 25 – must be garden-related and preferably related to the type of gardens, flowers and neighbourhoods found in the west side of the city in late July.
Some samples of the poster artwork used at previous Garden Walks accompanies this post and Niagara At Large includes information for submitting works of art to the event organizers below.

Continue reading →