Cool Jazz, Streetfest, book readings and fine art displays are just some of the highlights that are on tap as the Arts Without Borders Week festival is back in full gear.
Board member Gwen Mottram says they’re excited to be back as she shares about the fine arts show that’s running all week at the Lloydminster Museum and Archives.
“It has over 150 pieces in it; paintings, sculpture and photography. It’s significantly bigger than previous years.”
The fine arts show features pieces from Alberta and Saskatchewan and comprises a juried art show, youth art and photography. It wraps on Saturday. Mottram says they are asking people to go to the museum and vote for the People’s Choice Award as well as participate in the scavenger hunt. The artists awards will be handed down on Sunday.
Art activities will spill across the week with Tuesday’s author meet and greet with Onion Lake’s Frederick John Turner at the Lloydminster Public Library in the LloydMall.
Turner will be launching his book, “My Family, My Relations, My Friends,” coinciding with Indigenous People’s Day. He will be discussing his book and sharing stories with a book signing to follow. That event is at 2 p.m.
Wednesday will be the jazz night themed, “Who Let the Cool Out,” featuring local musicianship from Ross Ulmer on trombone, Barrie Redford on trumpet, Trent Block Hanson on keyboards, John Brace on guitar, Connor Sturge on drums and Evan Davis on bass. That music treat starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Centennial Civic Centre Auditorium Mottram says the accompanying supper which starts earlier is already sold out.
Thursday night is Lloydminster Reads with five authors delivering book readings. Commonwealth Writers’ Prize recipient Marina Endicott returns for readings from her novel “The Difference.” Local authors Pat Hankey, Mike Champagne, Helen Row Toews and Cindy Mckerchar writing as Cynthia Keyes are also being featured. Lloydminster Reads is at the Centennial Civic Centre Auditorium from 7 p.m.
Friday night will see the stage lights going on at the Black Box Theatre, Lakeland College as 19 thespians will give the midwest region to “Almost Maine.” This play “is a series of nine amiably absurdist vignettes about love, with a touch of good-natured magic realism. A beautifully structured play, with nifty surprise endings; most but not all of them happy.” writes the New York Times. Almost maine runs until Sunday starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
The outdoor celebrations will hit a high note on Saturday for the return of Downtown Streetfest at the Olive Tree car park. The festivities will encompass an art market and a community art project.
“It’s a play on the word Lloyd. Everybody in the community will be able to come and decorate the letter and it will be installed in the community and it will be a photo-op or Instagram photo opportunity for people. There will be a missing “L”, and that’s where people will be encouraged to stand and it will spell “Lloyd.””
Details on the Downtown Streetfest which begins with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. can be found on the city’s webpage. It includes live entertainment, food vendors as well as a farmers market and numerous kids and family activities.
More details and updates on the Arts Without Borders Week can be found on their social media.