Alberta’s Arts Days were buzzing in Rosebud

Times Contributor

 

Rosebud was selected as one of 2011 Alberta Arts Days main Host Celebration site and received support from the Government of Alberta for its planned events on the weekend of Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

Rosebud kicked off their weekend on Friday at 5 p.m. in style with an Art and Gallery Walk, highlighting five venues that showcased painting, quilting, weaving, homemade jewelry, photography, and costume design by various artists in the community and area. The afternoon also held the official opening of internationally renowned photographer Harry Palmer’s display of “A Portrait of Rosebud” featuring Rosebud people and places shot in the early 1980’s and in 2010-2011. The evening ended with a well-attended fantastic Family Dance where all ages were encouraged to “learn it and do it” learning some new folk steps throughout the evening. 

Guests for the weekend were encouraged to take in the most recent performance from the Rosebud Dinner Theatre, “Queen Milli of Galt”, a hilariously touching love story, which will soon be coming to a close as they prepare and set up for their Christmas production “The Gifts of the Magi” set to open on Nov. 4.

There were many opportunities for children to participate in the weekend where workshops were provided for everyone’s tastes. One of the popular workshops was Saber Making, led by young Rosebud artists Donovan Snider and Hadden Eliuk. Kids used old magazines, pvc dowels and pipe insulators and crafted custom toy sabers that could be used for the Stage Combat workshop. The Combat Workshop introduced kids (and some adults) with professional theatre fighting directed by local stage artists Karl Sine and Nathan Schmidt in an active training session. 

Official “Rosebud Alberta Arts Days” Assembly kicked off with a performance by Rosebud’s new all-male choir, The Men of the Bud. There were guest greetings from local dignitaries including Kevin Sorensen, representatives from Rosebud Centre of the Arts, Rosebud Historical Society and the Rosebud Church. Sorensen found himself included in all the fun by participating in a Drum Circle as well as the all-male choir.

Music and Spoken Word Night happened on Saturday evening with an eclectic range of music and writing in Rosebud’s two newest fantastic eateries, the Thorny Rose Cafe and Wild Horse Jack’s Bistro and Grill. The following were those who participated in the evening at the Thorny Rose Café : Natalie Gauthier (poetry), Aaron Krogman (singer/songwriter), Kyrsten Erickson (poetry), special guest Ben Folkman (poetry and song), and headliner blues singer and keyboardist Jennie Thai. At Wildhorse Jack’s : the hometown kings, the ever popular Rosebud River Valley Boys.

It seems like there is always something happening in Rosebud. For more information of all the action and particularly the newest stage shows check it all out at www.rosebud.ca.