10 - PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR Wednesday April...
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Arts & Entertainment Georgian Bay Kayak & Canoe Festival May 2nd (evening), May 3rd & 4th Reel Paddling Film Festival Friday Night 2 DAYS OF WORKSHOPS, PADDLING FUN AND ACTIVITIES AT WHITE SQUALL Arrogant Worms in Concert Saturday Night More info at whitesquall.com/festival.php 342-5324 332509 10 - PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR ◆ Wednesday April 23, 2008 E-MAIL US AT THE ‘STAR’ OFFICE ALL DISPLAY ADS [email protected] JACK TYNAN (Editor) [email protected] VERYL TODD (Administration) [email protected] SHARYN KINGSHOTT (Sales Manager) [email protected] CHARLENE PECK (Special Publications) cpeck@parrysound.com Visit our website at www.parrysound.com Pulitzer Prize winner weaves a good tale BY CHARLOTTE STEIN People of the Book By Geraldine Brooks The "book" in question is a Passover Haggadah and the "people" are those whose hands it has passed through over the five centuries of this novel. A Haggadah is a book read each year at the Passover Seder by Jewish families around the world. Each family may have their own favourite version of this book, but all tell the same story - the exodus of the Hebrew slaves who followed Moses, as he parted the Red Sea and led his people to freedom. Passover also refers to the "passing over" of the angel of death as he killed the first born sons of the Egyptians and spared the Hebrews. Whether we believe it or not, this story is read aloud around the table, as families and friends gather for the very long and involved evening meal each year on the eve of Passover. People of the Book begins for the reader in 1996 as Hanna Heath comes to Sarajevo to look at an ancient Haggadah and to plan its restoration for exhibit in the Sarajevo Museum. What she finds is "The Sarajevo Haggadah, created in medieval Spain, a famous rarity, a lavishly illuminated Hebrew manuscript made at a time when Jewish belief was firmly against illustrations of any kind. It was thought that the commandment in Exodus 'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or likeness of any thing' had suppressed figurative art by medieval Jews. When the book came to light in Sarajevo in 1894, its pages of painted miniatures had turned this idea on its head and caused art history texts to be rewritten." The book then alternates chapters between the present day story of Hanna's quest to discover the history of the book, and the book's own history as we are taken back in time, over five centuries, from Sarajevo in 1940, Vienna in 1894, Venice in 1609, Tarragona in 1492, and finally to Seville in 1480 where the Haggadah originated. We learn the history of the Jews in these cities as we follow the book through the hands of the various people who care for it, and protect it from destruction. The survival of the Haggadah is, perhaps, as miraculous at some times as the survival of the Jewish people. I found myself learning much about the history of this part of Europe. I knew about the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 which sent them wandering across Europe. But not that, in 1565 when Sarajevo was part of the Ottoman Empire, the Sultan offered Jews refuge from Christian prosecution - until the Nazis marched in and cleansed the city of Serbs and Jews. The reader knows in advance of the character Hanna where the book has been. For Hanna the restoration of this book is the job of a lifetime and - and perhaps an opportunity to prove to her mother that book conservation is an important career. The relationship between Hanna and her mother is a thread that runs through the present day story in the novel - and one that I found somewhat tedious. The fascinating story of the past saved this novel from being one I'd otherwise have pitched across the room as I found myself impatient with some of Hanna's personal angst. I can see the film-makers reading this - it would make a perfect thriller, a sort of Jewish DaVinci Code. It is certainly a novel that will appeal to readers of The DaVinci Code and The Historian. Geraldine Brooks is a skilful writer - not exactly subtle - but she can put a good story together. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2006 for her novel March. She found the inspiration for this novel while working as a correspondent in Bosnia for the Wall Street Journal . It was not until the end that I realized that the Sarajevo Haggadah itself is a real book and that the history, as well as many of the people who held the book, were historically accurate. It is a good yarn, and a very interesting historical novel. Charlotte Stein Small towns seek summer tourists in different ways BY LYNN MCGUIGAN Special to the North Star I had the pleasure of visiting Vancouver Island for two weeks earlier this month to see my sister’s new home in the town of Ladysmith. Most of the towns on the Island are dependent upon summer tourism for a large part of their economic well- being. This is one of many similarities between Ladysmith and Parry Sound, but how this town and others in the region go about attracting tourists is very different. Originally built by the industries of coal mining, lumber and fishing, Ladysmith is a picturesque town with houses of all sizes marching up and down the foothills which sweep up from the ocean. Bright, vividly painted houses stand out against the simple white palette of homes whose owners are a little less adventurous, creating huge blossoms of colour on the hillside. Ladysmith has made its history the focus of its efforts to attract tourists. The downtown is an outdoor museum with heritage artifacts from the mining, lumber and fishing industries placed prominently on street corners. Plaques explain the purpose of each artifact and how it fits into the town’s history. The artifacts are well-maintained (think of the buoy on the front lawn of the Museum on Tower Hill being freshly painted and then transplanted to a corner on James Street and you’ll understand the impact.) This, coupled with wide sidewalks, inviting benches, lovely flowers and trees and an historic feel to the storefronts creates a pleasant, welcoming main street to stroll along. A beautiful amphitheatre on the beach adds to the sense of history while providing the venue for a series of outdoor concerts presented throughout the summer. A sign on the highway invites passersby to enter Ladysmith’s historic downtown. Nearby Chemainus turned to the visual arts to make itself a haven for tourists. The Chemainus Festival of Murals selects and commissions acclaimed artists to paint murals about the town's history in various locations around the town. The result is a wonderful collection of artwork by noted artists that can be discovered on major thoroughfares and in all kinds of nooks and crannies, creating an outdoor art gallery. There are currently 36 murals in Chemainus. The first murals were created in 1982 and more are added every few years. Some of the murals have been based on historical photographs, some on local characters and some have been developed from themes such as WWI. All are rooted in research that goes back to the early First Nations settlements. The muralists use a variety of styles and the locations vary from brick walls to wood siding, from the sides of restaurants to the local medical clinic. Parry Sound has dabbled with murals, but turning them into a major tourist attraction takes a huge effort. Chemainus has a competition and selection process to choose the artist(s) and ensure quality. The town makes a substantial investment in marketing the murals. There are marked pathways that help tourists find all of the murals once they arrive in town, plus a book that has been published about the murals. These efforts have paid off: the murals of Chemainus have been so successful in putting the town on the tourist map that it now has a 500 seat theatre, a number of artists and artisan studios and a variety of shops geared towards people interested in art. This is a real success story of how the arts can make an urban centre a fascinating place to visit. You can take a virtual tour of the murals at www.chemainus.com. The mural which most fascinated me was the latest addition -- a depiction of a local hermit disappearing into the forest along a path he planted with flowers over a period of years creating a fabulous mix of natural and transplanted foliage. The piece shimmers with mystery and invitation. While on the Island, I also visited the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria which offers several wonderful exhibits about both the people and the flora and fauna of B.C. The First People's Gallery is a treasury of artifacts from the many different tribes which make B.C. their home while the Spirit Exhibit looks at life in the 20th Century. At the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria I had the pleasure of seeing the paintings of Emily Carr in the flesh for the first time in my life. I was surprised by the depth she created in her work. The paths into the trees and forests she depicted pull the eye right into the scene. The exhibit was well curated, illustrating how her painting developed and changed over the course of her career. It made me think of the exhibit of Doris McCarthy’s work at the Station Gallery last year. How wonderful it would be if Parry Sound had a permanent exhibit of such work! Visiting places like these, where art and heritage plays a major role in the vibrancy of a community, uplifts my spirits. It reminds me of what greatness people are truly capable of creating. It also reminds me of why I have chosen to make the arts my life’s work. We need to hear and see the creations of other people. Looking at a stone bowl from 10,000 years ago which was carved into an animal shape proves beyond a doubt that we have a deeply ingrained instinct to create and appreciate great art. (Lynn McGuigan, the former executive director of the Stockey Centre, is spending two months traveling and studying. You can read more about her travels at her blog, www.travellingwoman.blog.com) ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 117 Events Rest of Winter Bar Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 2-6:30 pm; Fri.-Sat., noon-9 pm “CHEERS TIME” Mon. thru Sat. from 2-6 pm Meal Deal: Friday, April 25, Beef, veggies, dessert, tea & coffee, 5 pm, $8.00 SENIORS’ TOONIE LUNCH: Wednesday, May 7, 11:30 am to 1 pm Soup, sandwich, dessert, coffee and tea. Ages 55+ Everyone is welcome to these events! Please call 746-8832 for info. 308722 Workshops for parents, entertainment for families and much more… Saturday, April 26, 2008 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Huntsville Centennial Centre Over 70 fun and informative hands-on displays for families with children 0 - 18 years! WORKSHOPS: “It’s not the Simpsons or the Cleavers” Parenting in 2008. Workshop time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. “It’s all about Assets!” Why do some kids struggle through adolescence and others soar? Workshop time: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. See the characters Curious George, Lunar Jim, Bo on the Go, Canada and Huckle Cat! FREE CHILDCARE DURING WORKSHOPS! Aubrey Davis author & storyteller Funded by... The Muskoka and Parry Sound Best Start Networks The Muskoka Parry Sound Insurance Brokers Association, ScotiaBank Branches of Parry Sound & Muskoka For more information contact Sandy Inkster 1-800-267-5062 x 231 FREE ADMISSION! FREE LUNCH! 11:15 a.m. - Stroller Hike/Pond dipping with Robin Tapley 2 to 4 p.m. - Free Family Swim 3:30 to 4 p.m. - Hand Drumming with Terry Cowan Door Prizes drawn every 5 minutes! 333685 PARRY SOUND MINOR BASEBALL [email protected] JOIN IN THE FUN....BE A COACH T-BALL $ 40 00 ROOKIE $ 40 00 PEE WEE $ 50 00 BANTAM $ 50 00 Contact: Steve Kidd 773- 2733 APRIL 26, 2008 Parry Sound Town Docks 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. REGISTRATION DATE For Boys ages 5 to 14 and Girls ages 5 to 16 Season starts June 1 to August 31, 2008 324542 Lynn McGuigan Submitted photo The Ladysmith amphitheater in British Columbia.
Transcript of 10 - PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR Wednesday April...
Arts & Entertainment
Georgian Bay Kayak & Canoe FestivalMay 2nd (evening), May 3rd & 4th
Reel Paddling Film Festival Friday Night
2 Days of workshops, paDDling fun anD activities
at white squall
Arrogant Worms in ConcertSaturday Night
More info at
whitesquall.com/festival.php342-5324 332509
10 - PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR ◆ Wednesday April 23, 2008
E-Mail usat thE
‘star’ OfficE
all Display [email protected]
Jack tynan(Editor)
VEryl tODD(Administration)[email protected]
sharyn kingshOtt(Sales Manager)
charlEnE pEck (Special Publications)
Visit our website atwww.parrysound.com
Pulitzer Prize winner weaves a good taleBY CHARLOTTE STEIN
People of the Book By Geraldine Brooks
The "book" in question is a Passover Haggadah and the "people" are those whose hands it has passed through over the five centuries of this novel.
A Haggadah is a book read each year at the Passover Seder by Jewish families around the world. Each family may have their own favourite version of this book, but all tell the same story - the exodus of the Hebrew slaves who followed Moses, as he parted the Red Sea and led his people to freedom. Passover also refers to the "passing over" of the angel of death as he killed the first born sons of the Egyptians and spared the Hebrews. Whether we believe it or not, this story is read aloud around the table, as families and friends gather for the very long and involved evening meal each year on the
eve of Passover.People of the Book begins for
the reader in 1996 as Hanna Heath comes to Sarajevo to look at an ancient Haggadah and to plan its restoration for exhibit in the Sarajevo Museum. What she finds is "The Sarajevo Haggadah, created in medieval Spain, a famous
rarity, a lavishly illuminated Hebrew manuscript made at a time when Jewish belief was firmly against illustrations of any kind. It was thought that the commandment in Exodus 'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or likeness of any thing' had suppressed figurative art by medieval Jews. When the book came to light in Sarajevo in 1894, its pages of painted miniatures had turned this idea on its head and caused art history texts to be rewritten."
The book then alternates chapters between the present day story of Hanna's quest to discover the history of the book, and the book's own history as we are taken back in time, over five centuries, from Sarajevo in 1940, Vienna in 1894, Venice in 1609, Tarragona in 1492, and finally to Seville in 1480 where the Haggadah originated. We learn the history of the Jews in these cities as we follow the
book through the hands of the various people who care for it, and protect it from destruction. The survival of the Haggadah is, perhaps, as miraculous at some times as the survival of the Jewish people.
I found myself learning much about the history of this part
of Europe. I knew about the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 which sent them wandering across Europe. But not that, in 1565 when Sarajevo was part of the Ottoman Empire, the Sultan offered Jews refuge from Christian prosecution - until the Nazis marched in and cleansed the city of Serbs and Jews.
The reader knows in advance of the character Hanna where the book has been. For Hanna the restoration of this book is the job of a lifetime and - and perhaps an opportunity to prove to her mother that book conservation is an important career.
The relationship between Hanna and her mother is a thread that runs through the present day story in the novel - and one that I found somewhat tedious.
The fascinating story of the past saved this novel from being one I'd otherwise have pitched
across the room as I found myself impatient with some of Hanna's personal angst. I can see the film-makers reading this - it would make a perfect thriller, a sort of Jewish DaVinci Code. It is certainly a novel that will appeal to readers of The DaVinci Code and The Historian.
Geraldine Brooks is a skilful writer - not exactly subtle - but she can put a good story together. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2006 for her novel March.
She found the inspiration for this novel while working as a correspondent in Bosnia for the Wall Street Journal . It was not until the end that I realized that the Sarajevo Haggadah itself is a real book and that the history, as well as many of the people who held the book, were historically accurate. It is a good yarn, and a very interesting historical novel.
Charlotte Stein
Small towns seek summer tourists in different waysBY LYNN MCGUIGANSpecial to the North Star
I had the pleasure of vis it ing Vancouver Island for two weeks earlier this month to see my sister’s new home in the town of Ladysmith. Most of the towns on the Island are dependent upon summer tourism for a large part of their economic well-being. This is one of many similarities between Ladysmith and Parry Sound, but how this town and others in the region go about attracting tourists is very different.
Originally built by the industries of coal mining, lumber and fishing, Ladysmith is a picturesque town with houses of all sizes marching up and down the foothills which sweep up from the ocean. Bright, vividly painted houses stand out against the simple white palette of homes whose owners are a little less adventurous, creating huge blossoms of colour on the hillside. Ladysmith has made its history the focus of its efforts to attract tourists.
The downtown is an outdoor museum with heritage artifacts from the mining, lumber and fishing industries placed prominently on street corners. Plaques explain the purpose of each artifact and how it fits into the town’s history. The artifacts are well-maintained (think of the buoy on the front lawn of the Museum on Tower Hill being freshly painted and then transplanted to a corner on James Street and you’ll understand the impact.)
This, coupled with wide sidewalks, inviting benches, lovely flowers and trees and an historic feel to the storefronts creates a pleasant, welcoming main street to stroll along. A beautiful amphitheatre on the beach adds to the sense of history while providing the venue for a series of outdoor concerts presented throughout the summer. A sign on the highway invites passersby to enter Ladysmith’s historic downtown.
Nearby Chemainus turned to the visual arts to make itself a haven for tourists. The Chemainus Festival of Murals selects and commissions acclaimed artists to paint murals
about the town's history in various locations around the town. The result is a wonderful collection of artwork by noted artists that can be discovered on major thoroughfares and in all kinds of nooks and crannies, creating an outdoor art gallery.
There are currently 36 murals in Chemainus. The first murals were created in 1982 and more are added every few years. Some of the murals have been based on historical photographs, some on local characters and some have been developed from themes such as WWI. All are rooted in research that goes back to the early First Nations settlements. The muralists use a variety of styles and the locations vary from brick walls to wood siding, from the sides of restaurants to the local medical clinic.
Parry Sound has dabbled with murals, but turning them into a major tourist attraction takes a huge effort. Chemainus has a competition and selection process to choose the artist(s) and ensure quality. The town makes a substantial investment in marketing the murals. There are marked pathways that help tourists find all of the murals once they arrive in town, plus a book that has been published about the murals.
These efforts have paid off: the murals of Chemainus have been so successful in putting the town on the tourist map that it now has a 500 seat theatre, a number of artists and artisan studios and a variety of shops geared towards people interested in art. This is a real success story of how
the arts can make an urban centre a fascinating place to visit. You can take a virtual tour of the murals at www.chemainus.com.
The mural which most fascinated me was the latest addition -- a depiction of a local hermit disappearing into the forest along a path he planted with flowers over a period of years creating a fabulous mix of natural a n d t r a n sp l a n t e d fo l i ag e . Th e piece shimmers with mystery and invitation.
While on the Island, I also visited the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria which offers several wonderful exhibits about both the people and the flora and fauna of B.C. The First People's Gallery is a treasury of artifacts from the many different tribes which make B.C. their home while the Spirit Exhibit looks at life in the 20th Century.
At the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria I had the pleasure of seeing the paintings of Emily Carr in the flesh for the first time in my life. I was surprised by the depth she created in her work. The paths into the trees and forests she depicted pull the eye right into the scene. The exhibit was well curated, illustrating how her painting developed and changed over
the course of her career. It made me think of the exhibit of Doris McCarthy’s work at the Station Gallery last year. How wonderful it would be if Parry Sound had a permanent exhibit of such work!
Visiting places like these, where art and heritage plays a major role in the vibrancy of a community, uplifts my spirits. It reminds me of what greatness people are truly capable of creating. It also reminds me of why I have chosen to make the arts my life’s work. We need to
hear and see the creations of other people. Looking at a stone bowl from 10,000 years ago which was carved into an animal shape proves beyond a doubt that we have a deeply ingrained instinct to create and appreciate great art.
(Lynn McGuigan, the former executive director of the Stockey Centre, is spending two months traveling and studying. You can read more about her travels at her blog, www.travellingwoman.blog.com)
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGIONBRANCH 117
E v e n t sRest of Winter Bar Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 2-6:30 pm; Fri.-Sat., noon-9 pm
“CHeeRS TiMe” Mon. thru Sat. from 2-6 pmMeal Deal: Friday, April 25, Beef, veggies, dessert, tea & coffee, 5 pm, $8.00SenioRS’ Toonie LunCH: Wednesday, May 7, 11:30 am to 1 pm Soup, sandwich, dessert, coffee and tea. Ages 55+Everyone is welcome to these events! Please call 746-8832 for info.
3087
22
Workshops for parents, entertainment for families and much more…
Saturday, April 26, 20089 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Huntsville Centennial Centre
Over 70 fun and informative hands-on displaysfor families with children 0 - 18 years!
WORKSHOPS:“It’s not the Simpsons or the Cleavers” Parentingin 2008.Workshop time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
“It’s all about Assets!” Why do some kidsstruggle through adolescence and others soar?Workshop time: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
See the characters Curious George, Lunar Jim,Bo on the Go, Canada and Huckle Cat!
FREECHILDCARE DURING
WORKSHOPS!
Aubrey Davisauthor & storyteller
Funded by... The Muskoka and Parry Sound Best Start NetworksThe Muskoka Parry Sound Insurance Brokers Association, ScotiaBank
Branches of Parry Sound & Muskoka
For more information contact Sandy Inkster 1-800-267-5062 x 231
FREE ADMISSION!
FREE LUNCH!
11:15 a.m. - Stroller Hike/Pond dipping with Robin Tapley
2 to 4 p.m. - Free Family Swim
3:30 to 4 p.m. - Hand Drumming with Terry Cowan
Door Prizes drawn every 5 minutes!
3336
85
Parry Sound Minor baSeball
Join in the fun....be a CoaCh
T-Ball $4000
ROOKIE $4000
PEE WEE $5000
BaNTaM $5000
Contact:Steve Kidd 773- 2733
aPril 26, 2008Parry Sound Town Docks
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
RegistRation Date
For boys ages 5 to 14and Girls ages 5 to 16
Season starts June 1 to august 31, 2008
3245
42
Lynn McGuigan
Submitted photo
The Ladysmith amphitheater in British Columbia.
