Denman Island invites you to a mid-winter festival Feb. 17 to 20.
With appreciation for funding from a provincial Spirit Festival grant and additional funding from TD Waterhouse and RBC Dominion, Arts Denman has planned a festival that takes a look at how the arts play a vital role in expressing, critiquing and defining the world we live in.
The Secret Tree Festival of Art and Sustainability kicks off on Thursday evening with the convivial Open Stage — where musicians and poets are invited to perform.
During the next three days, there will be workshops, talks, food, film, an art exhibition and a Saturday evening concert by the eclectic duo of Robert Minden and Carla Hallett.
A full schedule of events can be found at www.artsdenman.com.
A few highlights include a talk by author and gardener Des Kennedy entitled Tree Wisdom: The Art of Staying Put, as well as a presentation by cultural leader and artist Wedlidi Speck entitled Art as Language: The artist as storyteller, healer and agent of change.
An evening of documentary films on Friday will feature the award-winning film Back To The Garden, with filmmaker Kevin Tomlinson and co-producer Judy Kaplan from Seattle in attendance.
Admission to most events is by donation with the exception of two hands-on workshops, each requiring pre-registration but costing just $20. Art For Change with instructor Karen Wallace takes place on Saturday morning and Tattooing, Skin Art and Design with instructor Andria Matta is on Sunday afternoon.
Tickets to the Saturday evening concert are available online from the website or at Music Maxx and Bop City Records in Courtenay and The Earth Club Factory in Cumberland, as well as on Denman Island.
Further information is available at www.artsdenman.com or by calling the festival’s artistic director at 250-335-1262.
— Arts Denman