Poetry Reading and Torch Relay Thursday July 30, 2009

If you are interested in the Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camps, or if you are looking forward to Sweetwater 905, or if you have ever entered a lottery to carry an Olympic torch and were not selected, we have the event for you.

On July 30th, a welcome reception for this year's participants of the Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camp will be held in conjunction with a torch lighting ceremony to mark the countdown to Sweewater 905, a multi-disciplinary festival being held this fall at the Mattson ranch.

The July 30th event will begin at 6:30 pm at the Rolla Pub.

Organizers of the Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camp and Sweetwater 905 will be on hand to award Sweetwater 905 decals to the first 27 people who present them with their t-shirt and $5. Decals will be applied to the t-shirts on-site and will give the owners of the t-shirts the opportunity to take part in the torch relay which will begin at 7:30 pm and will follow Sweetwater Road from the Rolla Pub to Albert's Loft (approximately one mile or 27 telephone poles in distance). Once the torch has reached Albert's Loft, the main flame will be lit and the countdown to Sweetwater 905 will begin. The flame lighting will be followed by a poetry reading in Albert's Loft featuring poets attending this year's Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camp. The poetry reading will be followed by the music of Cockshutt and other guests, including orginal music by Bernie Steward.

Admission to all of the events on July 30th are free and everyone is encouraged to come out and support Dawson Creek's diverse and dynamic arts scene!

For a full listing of the poets reading on July 30th, visit the News link on this website.

This event is sponsored by Writing on the Ridge and Sweetwater 905.

A good crowd turned out to view the artwork at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery at its opening May 12th. Audience members enjoyed the artwork as well as a welcome address from Ellen Corea, curator of the Dawson Creek Art Gallery and Marilyn Belak, Dawson Creek city councillor, poetry readings by Sherry Coffey, Jacqueline Hoekstra, and Laura Edna Lacey, and a lively account of life on the trail by Paddy Stewart.

The show was made possible through the support of the BC Arts Council, the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, and Writing on the Ridge. The show runs until June 7, 2009.

For more news on the event, check out the News link on this site.

Donna Kane acknowledging supporters and introducing the artists in attendance.

The Muskwa-Kechika Art Show, taking place at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery May 12th - June 7, 2009 will feature artwork by the 2007 and 2008 M-K Artists as well as by artists who participated in the M-K Expeditions in 2007 and 2008. From poetry by Sheila Peters to visual art and music by Garry Oker to a sculpture by Brian Jungen, this is one show you won't want to miss!

Shown here, a detail of one of the paintings that will be on display - "The Darkness is Lifted in the Muskwa-Kechika" (oil on wood by 2007 M-K Expedition artist Deryk Houston).

In 2008, Writing on the Ridge established a partnership with Athabasca University to develop an online repository of each year's artwork. A big thank you to Sherry Coffey, Repository Network & Content Specialist and 2008 Artist Camp Alumni, for spearheading this project. You can now view the artwork by clicking here .

Shown here, a detail of a painting by 2007 M-K Artist Camp participant, Anne Jones.

The third M-K Artist Camp held August 7-14, 2008 brought another year of inspired ideas, wilderness trekking, chopping wood, campfire chats and great companionship.

To see some of Kit Fast's photography, click here.

To see Jacqueline Hoekstra's photos on youtube and her tribute to Paint, click here

Shown here is the group in the alpine, keeping warm by the fire!

Bios of the 2008 M-K Artist Camp participants are now being added to the M-K Artist Camp page. To see who will be expressing themselves in the wilderness this year, click here!

Thanks to Jenny and the Friends of the LIbrary for having me facilitate a weekend writing workshop. What a fun and talented group of writers!

Shown here is the bunch of us. (l-r) Back Row: Tom Benoit, Peg Benoit, Florence Anderson, Julie Milliken, Barbara Glasier, Barbara Swail, Tracy McKenzie Front Row: Jane Parsons, Theresa Gladue, Lisa Irvine, me

This year, in addition to our M-K Artist Camp, a Naturalist Camp was also held. The Camp took place from August 4-11th amd brought together an impressive group of naturalists led by acclaimed naturalist Ben Gadd whose book Handbook of the Canadian Rockies is the one book you should never be without while in (or out of, for that matter) the Canadian Rockies!

Some notable events of the naturalist camp (and there too many to mention!) were a trip into the alpine, a mountain hike to an erratic containing archaeocyath fossils, Ben's seasonal ecology sessions, and plotting a burn site to monitor vegetation.

Photo of Naturalist Group: Back Row (l-r) Ben Gadd, Bev Ramey, Sandra Hepburn, Cathy Koot, Michael Boronowski. Front Row (l-r) Bill Ramey, Kathy Iselmoe, Donna Kane, Meredith Thornton, Wayne Sawchuk, and Chancey the dog. (Photo courtesy of Michael Boronowski)

Imagine waking to a drum song, riding horses into the alpine, hiking up mountains, and enjoying great conversations about art, wilderness and life while sitting around an open campfire. These are just a few examples of what took place July 28th - August 4th when 12 artists from across the country came to the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.

To see more pictures from the 2007 M-K Artist Camp, visit the News link of this website.

To see bios of the artists who participated, visit our Muskwa-Kechika Camps link.

Photo: The 2007 M-K Artist Camp participants in the Muskwa-Kechika (photo by Wayne Sawchuk).

Over 30 poets and well over 100 audience members participated in Poetry Day in Dawson Creek on Wednesday May 16th. Readers from near and far, from first-time readers to seasoned performers took to the stage at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery and gave community members a taste of poetry like never before!

Support for Poetry Day in Dawson Creek was provided by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Al Mottishaw of Re-Max Dawson Creek Realty, and Writing on the Ridge.

Some of the poets and audience members at the post-readings reception at - you guessed it! - the Rolla Pub.

Openings of the Muskwa-Kechika Artist Exploration Camp will take place at the following venues and on the following dates:

May 11th, 7-9 pm - Northern Lights College Campus, Fort Nelson
April 13th, 7-9 pm - North Peace Art Gallery, Fort St. John
February 9th, 7-9 pm - Dawson Creek Art Gallery

Paintings, sculptures, photography, video art, and poetry will be on display, all inspired from the Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camp which took place in August 2006.

Support for the art shows has been provided by the Spirit of BC Opportunities Program.

Photo: "The Sentinels" - oil and tar on canvas by Karl Mattson.

This year, Writing on the Ridge is proud to assist in two exciting camps to be held in the beautiful Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.

Click here for more information.

Photo by Wayne Sawchuk.

Photo: Elizabeth Bachinsky (Dawson Creek Art Gallery, November 2006)