Showcasing the arts in Sooke: new website

MapleLine Magazine: Aug.25, 2010

by Mary P. Brooke << Back to Fall 2010 issue

Camera or cello bow, spice rack or garden spade, the creative spark in any community ranges beyond the painter’s canvas. That was the inspiration behind the new online arts magazine at ArtsinSooke.com which presents seven main themes: visual, textural, music, dance, language, culinary and landscape.

For 24 years the Sooke Fine Arts Society (SFAS) has been the emergency flare in the night sky, pinpointing Sooke in the creative profile of Vancouver Island.

Lone voices here and there from artists in realms other than painting, drawing and pottery have been heard in recent years. Popping up in their own singular bright spots have been the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra (on the generous backs of Janette Chrysler and Norman Nelson), the Journey Middle School band (spawned last year by Lorna Bjorklund), and the All Arts & Literary Show (a valiant one-year flash in the pan spearheaded by Linda Gordon in 2009), to name a few. Some creative efforts run longer and deeper, such as the attraction of world class chefs to Sooke Harbour House and the spinoff of a culinary arts program at Edward Milne highschool.

Behind the artistic inspiration that is Sooke is a potent combination of experiential, emotional and socio-cultural desires fostered in this crucible of seaside rainforest in relative isolation on Canada’s western-most island coast. This spot at 48o23’N/123o44’W generates book-writing and song-writing, photographic and painted images, and original music and dance. We’re a hot spot.

Endeavouring to harness artistic talent into shows, events and other practical results are the Sooke Fine Arts Society, Sooke Community Arts Council, Sooke Harbour Players theatre group, Sooke Community Choir, Sooke Dance Studio, Sooke Scribblers, and many other groups and businesses. The massive ArtsWave survey conducted through the SFAS in spring 2010 examined the sources of Sooke’s creative work nearly to death, aiming to ultimately steer-brand the living essence of art with government grants, likely under the auspices of the District of Sooke’s Program of the Arts Committee (which it may yet do).

Artists in all genres may post a free text listing at artsinsooke.com and are invited to support the site with paid links, display ads, and page sponsorships. News, events, arts reviews and “artist of the month” will be posted on an ongoing basis on this website launched by MapleLine Magazine in June 2010. MM

This page sponsored by MapleLine Business Centre. See Fall 2010 Workshops.