Concerts, recorder lessons, free musical improvisation for all, and making your own musical rainsticks are on the program in Val Marie and Grasslands National Park August 29 to September 8, when Prairie Wind & Silver Sage’s artist residency program continues with Saskatoon-based musicians Melissa Goodchild and Kevin Grady. Melissa Goodchild, clarinet, and Kevin Grady, percussion, individually both perform with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, and together they are Duo Carmine Jewel, named after a dwarf sour cherry developed by the University of Saskatchewan.
As part of their residency, these musicians offer two concerts over the September long weekend.
The first, on Friday September 2 at 7:00 p.m., is at the Coulee Centre, Frenchman Valley Campground, Grasslands National Park.The second, on Saturday September 3 at 7:30 p.m., is a house concert at Don’s Place on Highway 4 just north of Val Marie. Don’s Place is a courtyard of blue-roofed buildings offering vacation rentals for visitors to the area, and on this occasion it is also a concert venue. Audience members are invited to bring lawn chairs if possible as some seating may be deck-side. The concert programs will vary and may include abstract explorations of nature, modern compositional techniques and the music of France.Both concerts are free and donations to the work of Prairie Wind & Silver Sage are welcomed during the Don’s Place concert.
Melissa Goodchild and Kevin Grady are also providing many opportunities for you to make your own music during their stay in the area.
On Tuesday, August 30 at 4:00 p.m., you can join a group recorder lesson at the Val Marie Village Square.
On Wednesday, August 31 at 4:00 p.m. at the Coulee Centre, Frenchman River Valley Campground, Grasslands National Park, or on Tuesday September 6 at 3:00 p.m. at Prairie Wind & Silver Sage in Val Marie, free musical improvisation sessions offer creative sound for everyone.
On Thursday September 1 at the Coulee Centre, or on Sunday September 4 at Prairie Wind & Silver Sage in Val Marie, you can make your own musical rainstick. Both these events are at 3:00 p.m.
All programs are suitable for all ages and instruments are provided.
Prairie Wind & Silver Sage is Val Marie’s award-winning ecomuseum. Its artist residency program, now in its third year, annually hosts four or five artists in all disciplines. While they are in residence, the artists spend 50{8966a670093f83c9464b8ae52b3ce656760b4fe5b607ea593a95702f606c23fa} of their time on their own work and 50{8966a670093f83c9464b8ae52b3ce656760b4fe5b607ea593a95702f606c23fa} on projects in the community. The PWSS artist residency program is cosponsored with Grasslands National Park and funded by the Saskatchewan Arts Board and SaskCulture/Saskatchewan Lotteries.
There is one more PWSS artist residency planned in 2016 with photographer Valerie Zink of Saskatoon, and registration is now being accepted for a photography workshop that she will lead. Valerie Zink will be in residence from September 19-26 and her workshop will take place Saturday September 24 from 1-5 p.m. The workshop will explore the streets, surfaces, and history of Val Marie while challenging participants to capture a sense of place. It is open to participants of all levels of experience and all different types of digital cameras including camera phones. The fee is $20 and all proceeds go to the work of Prairie Wind & Silver Sage.