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Annual festival set for Fort Simpson Three days of performances and workshops planned
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 27, 2013
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
An annual festival in Fort Simpson is about to unveil this year's offerings.
D'Arcy J. Moses, left, demonstrates how to create a fur bracelet as Stevie-May Gargan-LaCasse waits her turn during last year's Open Sky Festival. Moses will be doing another leather-working workshop at this year's festival this weekend. - NNSL file photo
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The Open Sky Festival is celebrating its 13th year with the theme belief. The theme was inspired by the number 13 and superstitions that arise from it, said Lynn Canney, the executive director of the Open Sky Creative Society, which organizes the event.
Festival goers between June 28 and 30 can expect lots of the activities and performances they have come to know over the past 12 years. The festival will kick off with a barbecue on Friday night at 6 p.m. outside of the OSC Gallery.
Inside the gallery, there will be an exhibit reception and artist talk by Yellowknife artist Terry Pamplin on his show, titled One Door Closes and Another Opens: Searching for God, followed by a performance by musician Mary Caroline Cox.
The festival will move into high gear on Saturday with demonstrations and workshops on both contemporary and traditional arts and crafts at the arbour and performances by a lineup of musicians. One of the highlights of this year's festival is the strong lineup of female performers, said Canney, including Cox, Jasmine Natsena, Leanne Goose and Leela Gilday. Gilday was scheduled to perform on behalf of the festival at the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly in Fort Providence on June 26.
On the artist front, new to the festival is Marcus Jackson of Yellowknife. Jackson will be leading a workshop on professional development for artists from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the OSC Gallery and will be doing a mono print demonstration later at the arbour.
Familiar faces will include D'Arcy J. Moses of Wrigley who will be doing a leather-working workshop creating cellphone and tablet cases.
"D'Arcy's workshops are incredibly popular. They are very youth friendly," said Canney.
Other returning artists include John Sabourin, originally of Fort Simpson, who will be doing a soapstone carving workshop and Laura Boileau of Yellowknife who will offer a spinning workshop.
"She's very popular," said Canney.
The live dance at the recreation centre on Saturday night will feature Goose and the Dana Cross Band.
On Sunday, performances, workshops and demonstrations will continue in the recreation centre.
"I'm excited about this festival," said Canney.
"I find all of the artists just inspiring."
The coming together of artists, residents and visitors and the rich conversations they have about art over the course of the weekend, is what Canney enjoys most about the festival.
"A lot happens in a short amount of time on that weekend," she said.
"A lot of amazing connections are made."
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