Aug
31
By Karin Scarth
September is Luminara month!
This year the Luminara Lantern Festival is changing from a one-night event to a series of small-scale neighbourhood celebrations during the week of September 18th to 25th. Community centres and groups in Fairfield, James Bay, Fernwood and North Park are joining together to host a constellation of local events to keep the Luminara tradition sparkling. Starting in the second week of September, come to a community lantern-making workshop and learn how to build your own lantern to carry through your neighbourhood, or an installation to light up your front yard, balcony or window.
During the actual week of illuminated celebrations, from September 18 to 25, take a walk around your neighbourhood with family and friends to see the local lantern art and meet your neighbours. An interactive community map will be posted at the James Bay Community School Centre for local residents to mark their lantern installations. Local celebrations with Luminara costumes and music will be announced in September. For safety guidelines and up to date information, please check at your community centre and the Luminara website:
Lantern-Making Workshops at James Bay Community School Centre
Artist Paula Jardine will be the Luminara Artist in Residence in James Bay this September. Paula has many years of experience with community engaged art. She was the founding artistic director of the Public Dreams Society and the Illuminares Lantern Festival in Vancouver, and recently has been artist in residence at the Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
Paula and her daughter Lucy will be offering two types of workshops:
Lantern Village: following the popular success of last year's lantern village, learn how to build an illuminated version of your house, childhood home or fantasy home. This workshop includes basic instruction in building lanterns with bamboo.
Creatures of the Sea: learn to use chicken wire to easily sculpt organic shapes, anything from the strange luminous forms on the ocean's floor to schools of salmon swimming through the neighbourhood! These lanterns can be made to be carried in procession (you could even organize a "school" of friends and family) or as installations in yards and on boulevards.
Safety First! Come to the Open Studios at the James Bay Community School Centre where you can work with Paula and Lucy to create a safe and unique lantern to carry or display in your yard. Learn how to install candles and keep our neighbourhood safe, or use LED lights for kids. Supplies for one piece cost $10, and you can come back any time during Open Studios to keep working on your piece.
On the other side of the open studio, drop in to build simple folding lanterns to carry, $10 each.
Open Studio times at the James Bay Community School Centre
140 Oswego Street (between Simcoe and Niagara) programs@jamesbaycentre.ca 250-389-1470
Tuesday, Sept 7, 6 - 9pm Return of the Lantern Village & drop in folding lanterns
Thursday, Sept 9, 6 - 9pm Creatures of the Sea & drop in folding lanterns
Tuesday, Sept 14, 6 - 9pm Open Studio space & drop in folding lanterns
Thursday, Sept 16, 6 - 9pm Open Studio space & drop in folding lanterns
Friday, Sept 17, 6 - 9pm (at James Bay New Horizons) Open Studio space & drop in folding lanterns
For more information on getting involved with Luminara in James Bay, please contact us!
The Luminara website http://www.icavictoria.org/luminara will have up to date information on times and locations for workshops, events and how to make safe and creative lanterns to light up your neighbourhood.
Contact:
Karin Scarth
Luminara Festival Director
250-388-4728 ext 129 cell: 250-208-3821
kscarth@icavictoria.org
http://www.icavictoria.org