Guide to Culture Days 2013

Next week Canada will celebrate our 4th annual Culture Days – a weekend-long celebration of culture that takes place from coast-to-coast.  Culture Days is a collection of events created by artists and organizers who have volunteered their time and talent to share their craft through free public activities.  Thousands of events from art shows, readings, dance lessons and music circles to film-making and radio production will take place all over Canada and Kingston is no exception.  Artists and organizations are offering a diverse selection of activities throughout the city from Friday, September 27th-Sunday, September 29th.  Below is a list of events so you can start planning what you would like to participate in.  Be sure to also keep an eye on the Culture Days website as more events may get added in the next few days.

Friday, September 27th

Monumental Sculpture at The MWM (9am-5pm): Come to The MacLachlan Woodworking Museum and participate in the creation of a large sculpture using wood and found natural materials which will be on display through 2014.

Family Activity Packs at The Museum of Health Care (10am-4pm): Bring your whole family to The Museum of Health Care to participate in interactive activities.  Pick up a free Family Pack to learn more about the history of nursing or electricity and health care.  Packs are free and offer a fun way for families to explore each gallery.  Two packs are offered, one for ages 8-12 and one for ages 3-8.

35 Years of Modern Fuel History (12pm-5pm): Visit Modern Fuel Contemporary Art Gallery and enjoy a special screening of footage that has been compiled over their 35 year history.

Limestone City Cell Phone Video Challenge Screening (5pm-6pm): The Kingston Canadian Film Festival and Awesome Kingston have called upon Kingstonians to create videos of 3 minutes or less that capture what they love about Kingston.  All films must be shot on cell phones.  A free public screening of all of the films will take place at The Screening Room.

Free Art Movie Night (7pm-9pm): This is the kick-off to The Kingston School of Art’s free Movie Nights.  This first screening will be the first installment of the Great Courses Series on Impressionists.  Doors open at 6:30pm.  Use the Window Art Gallery entrance and enjoy viewing the art show in the gallery before the film.

Art After Dark (7pm-10pm): Tour 14 galleries in downtown Kingston and enjoy great conversation, light refreshments and compelling art.  Participating galleries include: Minotaur, Frameworks, Gallery Raymond, Zealmetal, Sydenham Street Studios, Jac’s One of a Kind, Cornerstone, Heather Haynes Gallery, Kingston Glass Studio and Gallery, Earth to Spirit, Studio 22 Open Gallery, Metalworks, Taylor Studios and Modern Fuel.

Salsa Night (8:30pm-9:30pm): Meet and mingle while learning to salsa dance at The Kingston School of Dance.  No experience required.

Saturday, September 28th

Open House and Sketching (9am-2pm): The Kingston School of Dance will host an open house.  Artwork from St. Lawrence College will be on display and there will be artists sketching in the front window as their students dance throughout the day.

Monumental Sculpture at The MWM (9am-5pm): Come to The MacLachlan Woodworking Museum and participate in the creation of a large sculpture using wood and found natural materials which will be on display through 2014.

Caring for your Treasures (10am-12pm):  Join Museum of Health Care Collections Manager, Kathy Karkut, City of Kingston Civic Collections Technician, Sarah Forsyth and Agnes Etherington Art Centre Collections Manager and Exhibition Coordinator, Jennifer Nicoll at The Museum of Health Care for a behind-the-scenes presentation aimed at helping you better care for many types of family treasures, including papers, photographs, textiles and other fragile objects. Pre-registration required: [email protected]

Storytelling Hands (10am-12pm): Fluent Deaf signers will offer a unique take on storytelling through the use of American Sign Language. Stories will come to life in a visual and dynamic way never seen before! Young children and their families will have an opportunity to learn some signs in a fun-paced educational environment.  This event will take place in the Children’s Area at Chapters.

Cultural Hub Open House (10am-2pm): Sydenham Street United Church has become a hub for culture in Kingston.  Come to an open house to get a behind-the-scenes look into Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, the Kingston Canadian Film Festival headquarters, the Reelout Arts Project lending library, and the Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites.  Enjoy film screenings, live performances and more!

Art for Heritage Show and Sale (10am-3pm): This show, in its 14th year, will feature over 60 emerging local and regional artists at St. George’s Cathedral.  New this year will be a display of historic costumes created by local designers and artisans.

Passport to Play – Design your own Board Game (10am-4pm): Join in on a workshop in front of Centre-Court at Frontenac Mall and learn the art of designing co-operative board games.  Inspired by the works of local designers, participants choose A) how the game works (its mechanics) and B) how a fun theme is incorporated with art and colour.

Passport to Play – Games from Around the World (10am-4pm): Passport to Play brings a large exhibit of board games to Frontenac Mall.  This display for all ages will feature interactive game pieces and demonstrations by Family for the Win of games from all over the world.

Kingston Potters’ Guild Open House (11am-5pm): The Kingston Potters’ Guild will open its doors to the public for an open house.  Come observe demos on the potter’s wheel and try it yourself.

In Studio Visit with Artists (11:30am-12:30pm): Toronto based visual artist collective In Situ with Z’otz* will work on site at The Union Gallery, installing a multi-media large scale gallery mural installation.  Visit and speak with the artists as they work.

Irish Solo Dancing (12pm-1pm): Come to the Newlands Pavilion at MacDonald Park (at the foot of Barrie St.) and learn some solo Irish Dancing steps to lively Irish music.  Jessica McGrath of the Harp of Tara branch of Comhaltas will show you how.  Open to all ages and no partner is required.  Wear comfortable shoes.

35 Years of Modern Fuel History (12pm-5pm): Visit Modern Fuel Contemporary Art Gallery and enjoy a special screening of footage that has been compiled over their 35 year history.

Instrument Petting Zoo (12:30pm-1:45pm): If you’ve ever wanted a chance to try an orchestral instrument, this is your opportunity!  The Kingston Symphony will host an Instrument Petting Zoo in the lobby of The Grand Theatre.  Music lovers of all ages are welcome to come to see and try a variety of instruments.

Irish Social Dancing (1pm-3pm): After learning some solo steps, stay at the Newlands Pavilion at MacDonald Park (foot of Barrie St.) for some Irish Social Dancing led by members of the Harp of Tara branch of Comhaltas.  Instruction will be offered in Ceili dancing, which is group dancing done in groups of 8 (4 couples).  No partner or experience necessary.  Wear comfortable shoes – preferably not runners.

Domino Theatre Open House (1pm-3pm): Domino Theatre is a community theatre that pools the skills of people of all walks of life.  Visit the theatre (52 Church St.) and enjoy a tour, some light refreshments and to check out the upcoming season.

Kingston Symphony Open Rehearsal (2pm-3:15pm):  Come to The Grand Theatre to see and hear the Kingston Symphony as they rehearse for their season opener.  Find out what it takes for the musicians, conductor and production team to prepare for a concert in this rare opportunity to enjoy an open rehearsal.  The orchestra will be rehearsing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto featuring soloist Scott St. John for the concert the following afternoon.

Pilgrimages Redux – A Mouthy Event (2pm-3:30pm): Michael Davidge and Vincent Perez present an illustrated tour of their respective pilgrimages to Mount Rushmore and Santiago de Compostela.  Through dialogue, they will recount the themes that drove them: curiosity, community, communication and context.  Afterwards, Laura Kelly will facilitate a Mouthy Event which will feature invited speakers and audience members speaking briefly on the theme of journey.  This event will take place at The Agnes Etherington Art Centre.

Sunday, September 29th

Kids on Sunday (9:30am-12pm): Kingston WritersFest offers a full morning of literary fun for kids. Bring your children or grandchildren to The Holiday Inn (bottom of Princess St.) for book-related activities including readings and activities with authors Barbara Reid and Kenneth Oppel.

Storytelling Hands (10am-12pm): Fluent Deaf signers will offer a unique take on storytelling through the use of American Sign Language. Stories will come to life in a visual and dynamic way never seen before! Young children and their families will have an opportunity to learn some signs in a fun-paced educational environment.  This event will take place in the Children’s Area at Chapters.

Creative Process (10am-3pm): After a weekend of salsa dancing and live sketching, The Kingston School of Dance will present animators and puppeteers who will encourage audience members to participate.

Radio Production Intensive (1pm-4pm): CFRC Radio’s Production Intensive will orient you to Kingston’s only campus-community radio station, while guiding you through techniques for scripting, recording, editing and mixing your own short audio production piece: a station ID, promo, or public service announcement that can air on CFRC’s airwaves! Space is limited, so please register in advance by emailing [email protected].

Drum Circle (8pm-10pm): Experience the exhilaration and beauty of spontaneous music-making at Ben’s Pub.  No experience is necessary. Bring hand drums of any kind as well as flutes, shakers and other instruments.  Some instruments will be provided.  Come participate or sit back and enjoy.