After more than two months of creative collaboration, local youth and seniors are ready to showcase their results at a public gala celebration at Century House on April 17.
The Heart 2 Art program brought together teens between the ages of 13 and 18, as well as seniors over age 50, to create intergenerational art in five categories: theatre/performance, mosaic, spoken word, variety - a collection of music and dance - and digital photography.
The theme of the project was "Making the world a better place through art," which each group interpreted through individual art projects.
Having the younger and older generations working together is one of the wider goals of the municipally-run seniors centre, said Shelly Schnee, recreation programmer for Century House.
"We believe that it transfers to the wider community as well, so if there's a senior walking down the street and a youth walking down the street, and they've worked together on a project, they're going to engage in a conversation and be respectful of each other," she told The Record earlier this year.
Funding for the Heart 2 Art program came from a New Horizons For Seniors grant from the federal government.
The Heart 2 Art gala will be held on Wednesday, April 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. - with refreshments at 6: 30 p.m. - at Century House, 620 Eighth St. in New Westminster. For more information, or to register to attend, call 604-519-1061.
'BUDDY HOLLY' AT THE COLUMBIA
Johnny Vallis is Buddy Holly. Rock.It Boy Entertainment presents the tribute performer on stage at The Columbia Theatre next month, portraying both the look and the sound of Buddy Holly and rocking his greatest hits, including That'll Be The Day, Words of Love, Not Fade Away, Oh Boy, Peggy Sue, Maybe Baby, Rave On!, Heartbeat and more.
Vallis will perform May 17 at 8 p.m. at The Columbia Theatre, 530 Columbia St. in New Westminster.
Tickets are $42.50 (plus charges) available at the box office, by phone at 604-522-4500 or online at www.thecolumbia.ca. Doors open at 7 p.m.
THEATRE AWARD GOES TO DC STUDENT
The spotlight is on Shadoe Reisler this year.
A student in the Stagecraft and Event Technology Program at Douglas College, Reisler was recently awarded the Raymond Burr Performing Arts Society second-year entrance award of distinction.
Reisler helped with the props crew to decorate the set of the play Blue Window at the college. He is the third person to receive this award, which fulfills the society's objective to "provide access to community theatre and resources to foster and develop theatre arts in New Westminster," according to a press release.
The award was presented jointly by the Raymond Burr Performing Arts Society and the Douglas College Foundation.
