Tag Archives: Things to do

Arts

A Second Look at Cortes Island Root Drawings, by John Mottishaw at the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery

These are my favorite first impressions when looking at art.

Ah…hum…huh…mmm…..ah……what? … Hum…ah!

Art that makes me question the very definition of art deserves first impressions from my senses rather than from verbal explanations. And yet questions also rush forward. Who decides what is art: the artist, the setting, the viewer? If I trip over roots on a forest path, are they just part of a tree? If I find roots in a gallery, do they become an art material?

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Arts

Jemma Hicken and Robbie Banks tour: Coming Back To Cortes

Originally published Jun 26, 2024

The audio version of this opens with a short clip of Jemma Hicken singiing ‘Skim Milk.’ I was hoping it would be a new version, with her and Robbie Bankes singing together, but it looks like the only place to hear that will be in Mansons Hall at 7:00 on Tuesday July 2, 2024. Jemma and Robbie are just finishing a month long tour of Alberta and BC. They were about to play at Campbell River’s Spirit Square when Cortes Currents reached them yesterday. They will be on Read Island today.

 Cortes Currents: How long have you been playing together? 

Jemma Hicken: “We had one show together last November. Then we’ve just had our tour, so mostly since May 30th.”

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Arts

Michael Keith (Part 2): on Cortes Island 

Originally Published on July 13, 2023

Michael Keith was ‘blown away’ when he visited Hornby Island twenty years ago.

“I was like, ‘Wow, imagine living in a place like that.’ I remember going back to Toronto and telling my friends, ‘they don’t even lock their doors there. It’s incredible!’”

He was enamoured by the spectacular seascapes at Tofino, when he played there a few years later. 

Keith went through a divorce, sold his house, and then hooked up with a professor at the University of Toronto.  

“My new partner who I’ve been with for 10 years,  introduced me to Cortes because she would come here for getaways from Toronto. I was gigging two or three times a week, and teaching in Toronto. She wanted to move here. I came, checked it out and just fell in love with the land. We were fortunate enough to get a tiny little place.”

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Arts

Michael Keith (Part 1): Inspirations then and now

Originally Published July 12, 2023

Nur Michael Keith has been living on Cortes Island for the past 6 years, but has been a professional musician for most of his 56 years. 

In the beginning of a two part series, he talks a little about his earlier life, inspirations and we listen to three of his songs. 

At one point during our interview I asked about his first name, ‘Nur.’ 

Michael explained, “It was something I gave myself. ‘Michael’ is from my birth parents, ‘Keith’ is from my adoptive parents and ‘Nur’ I gave myself. I sometimes go by Nur Michael Keith.”

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Arts

Willow: New Beginnings

Originally Published June 30 2023

It has been more than three years since I interviewed Willow about the release of their EP ‘The Southend.’

Maureen Fox explained, “it was right before COVID when we spoke.  We’ve had a bit of an adventure and then about a year later, Noel had to move to Gold River to be with  her family. So we asked the beautiful Kelly Beamish to join us. Kelly brings this fabulous voice into the mix that has been really fun because her voice blends so well with ours.” 

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