Contact: Catherine Jamieson
gallery@utata.org
40 Water Street, Windsor, Nova Scotia
Ph: 902-792-2710 (or) 902-790-2643
Utata Gallery Paints Street Punk Thursdays Into Existence
Windsor, Nova Scotia – November 14, 2008 – Guenter Burr and Ken Spearing, two Hants County artists, show their community spirit by kicking off Utata’s regular weekly event, Street Punk Thursday, with a live painting show. Burr, who has a show opening November 26th at the Utata Gallery and Spearing, well known for the many murals that dot the town’s landscape, will combine artistic and creative forces to create on-the-scene paintings at the Gallery’s location in downtown Windsor – an act of entertainment, creativity and art education, which is what Street Punk Thursdays is all about.
“We’re trying to provide an alternative activity and entertainment for local youth,” says Catherine Jamieson, Executive Director of Utata. “A place to go and things to do that are creative and engaging and allow the young people to express themselves in an environment that is supportive and safe. Street Punk Thursdays is a bit of a tongue in cheek title,” she says, “because we wanted people to ask the question, ‘what’s that all about?’. And they do. This is, in some ways, the real reason Utata was born … to make sure that there are things to do for the young people in community. Utata is all about using creativity to its most positive and powerful potential. As we say, ‘Creativity is the Power to Change Your World’.”
The inaugural Street Punk event promises to be exciting and entertaining. The band Alice Stops Time (AST) will be playing and the Street Punk Team – consisting of Ellen Cyr-McKee, Tony Wood of Moe’s Music in Windsor and Chloe Chaytor, have planned an series of events and activities sure to engage the mind, body or spirit of virtually any young person. There will be a Youth art show, which will hang in Utata’s main gallery until November 25, with artwork from Avon View High School, Horton District High School and Kings-Edgehill as well as the introduction of a youth-published art and literary magazine slated for publication in January 2009.
“We couldn’t do this sort of thing without the support of the business community,” Jamieson says. Windsor’s Home Hardware, recently voted the best Hardware store in Canada, proves why by sponsoring the live painting event while Lucky’s Pizza is sponsoring the pizza. Moe’s Music is providing the musical and sound equipment and Doug Edgar of Falmouth Kitchens and Cabinetry made the canvas frames and the staging. “This all works because so many local people are determined that its important enough to support – which is exactly what we need to make it all happen.”
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Utata Gallery and Art Centre - 40 Water St., Windsor, Nova Scotia (902) 792-2710 Art Gallery - Gathering Place - Learning Centre