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June - First Nations Heritage |
FAST FAIRWARD – A Fall Fair Almanac
by Gillian Shearwater
[Grow your creative skills all year long! This monthly column invites you to explore the treasure-trove of year-round ideas in the Alberni District Fall Fair prize catalogue.]
From National Aboriginal Day on June 21 to Canada Day on July 1, Celebrate Canada! is an eleven-day celebration of Canadian culture and heritage (google “Celebrate Canada”). But learning, sharing and taking pride in heritage are important all year round.
First Nations heritage is featured in several Fall Fair categories. The newest section is First Nations Foods. “Where People Feast: an Indigenous People’s Cookbook,” by Dolly (Watts) McRae, BA, and Annie Watts, is a wonderful guide to the unique Native culinary traditions of the Pacific Northwest coast -- now in its fourth printing.
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May – Art in Everyday Life |
FAST FAIRWARD – A Fall Fair Almanac
by Gillian Shearwater
[Grow your creative skills all year long! This monthly column invites you to explore the treasure-trove of year-round ideas in the Alberni District Fall Fair prize catalogue.]
In this magic month of May, warm sunny weather makes you want to seize the day and hang onto it.
From the pre-historic cave paintings of Lascaux to the doodles of children gazing out of classroom windows today, humans have created art that captures time, thought and mood. The art impulse shows up early. Leonard Matte has been an artist as long as he can remember, and says nobody is too young or too old to make art. Having art materials on hand for children is important, and giving them freedom to express themselves is vital. Len advises always responding positively as the child explores the medium, staying away from colouring books. Crayon makes a good introduction to colour. Charcoal and soft pastels (not oil) can come later.
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April - Graduation with Flair |
FAST FAIRWARD – A Fall Fair Almanac
by Gillian Shearwater
[Grow your creative skills all year long! This monthly column invites you to explore the treasure-trove of year-round ideas in the Alberni District Fall Fair prize catalogue.]
As spring sunshine warms the Valley, graduates get ready to bloom. For the grads, families and friends, there will be ceremonies, events and special times to remember.
I remember making my own graduation dress, back when sewing saved money. That has changed says Elizabeth Boda, who has years of experience making quality garments. Sewing from scratch is no longer practical. Clothing is churned out by overseas factories and sold on the internet, where people find it cheaper to buy and then pay a local seamstress for alterations.
Elizabeth says sewing really shines when you make things you cannot buy. A body that is shorter, taller, leaner, larger or differently proportioned than factory standards, needs custom sewn clothing to look and feel great. This can include a gown, suit or ethnic ensemble. For a unique touch, she suggests coordinating accessories for the grad couple – a tie or cummerbund for him made from remnants of her dress fabric.
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