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Arts galore rolled out for First Friday

Cathy Dobson Yet again, Sarnia’s downtown is offering a unique First Friday experience Aug. 5 with various artists and musicians exhibiting their talents.
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Stewart Fanning’s ‘Pleb Show’ works will be on display at DNA Studio for the August First Friday cultural walkabout. Submitted Photo

Cathy Dobson

Yet again, Sarnia’s downtown is offering a unique First Friday experience Aug. 5 with various artists and musicians exhibiting their talents.

The monthly walkabout is a summer time favourite with galleries, restaurants, coffee shops and stores participating within a six-block radius.

This First Friday, The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts is launching “Kaleidoscope,” a show of colourful works by artist members.

One of them, Peg Kivi, has created paintings specifically for the exhibit, including a 5 X 6-foot acrylic on canvas entitled “Kaleidoscope Series #2.”

Kivi has been painting for many years, first in watercolour, then acrylic. She is the recipient of two Ontario Arts Council awards and is having her own show at Artopia Gallery in October.

Also at the Lawrence House from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., pianist Doug Hacking is performing. At 7 p.m. the Suncor Energy Foundation Walter F. Petryschuk Arts Award will be presented to a Lambton-Kent high school student entering post-secondary studies in the arts.

Thanks to the efforts of Suncor and Walter Petryschuk, The Lawrence Centre is a restored mansion on the northwest corner of Wellington and Christina streets.

Down a few blocks at DNA Studios, 141 Christina St. North, Sarnia’s Stewart Fanning is having an unusual art show.

He’s been working on a collection of intricate cartoonish paintings he calls “The Pleb Show.”  Six of his original digital works will be framed and mounted, and colouring books will also be available.

Fanning, 32, is a part-time graphic designer and part-time pizza delivery guy who studied art at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax. He loves to create.

“I’ve painted in different styles and right now I’m focused on digital art where I do hand drawing and colour a lot of it by computer,” he said. Posters of his “Pleb” series will be on sale for $15 - $25 each.

“Pleb is a silly word for someone who is ordinary,” Fanning said. “It’s all weird and a bit odd.”

Across the street at The Cheeky Monkey record store, owners Mary Anne and Roland Peloza are hosting “Lost in Translation,” a local band that covers rock songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

Colin Mariuz (vocals), Peter McKeown (guitar), Josh Valenti (bass) and Tyler Edwards (drums) formed Lost in Translation in the last year and this is one of their first gigs.

They play at 130 Christina St. North from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

A little farther along Christina Street at Liquid Johnny’s, the Robbie Antone Bluesmen are booked to perform on First Friday.

Antone is from the Thames First Nation near London and is a whiz on the harmonica.  Expect some soulful blues and R & B.

There are undoubtedly more special events planned for First Friday Aug. 5 but they had yet to be announced by press time.

The Arts Journal appears every week and features cultural activities in our community. Send your ideas to Cathy Dobson at [email protected] or call 226-932-0985.


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