In the Spotlight

Find out all about local artists in the news!

Masha Levene is a Coquitlam artist who specializes in digital paintings and enjoys drawing, but not limited to, portraits and still life. She will be participating in Arts in the Vines 2010 on Sunday, August 29 from 11am-5pm. The event takes place at Township 7 Vineyards & Winery at  21152 16 Avenue (at 212 Street) in Langley. In addition to the local artists, artisans and crafters, you can hear live music by Dennis Enns Trio and "We Play for Wine". There is also a children's fun area, produce and flower vendors, a charity BBQ and of course ... wine tasting.

Tracy Stefanucci is a Port Moody native who launched an arts and culture magazine "one cool world" in 2004. Fast forward four years and the name has changed, albeit slightly, to OCW Magazine. Four years after OCW's first edition, Stefanucci re-launched on Friday, July 23 at Vancouver's Rickshaw Theatre. Having developed an interest in publishing and the creative arts while a student at Gleneagle Secondary, Stefanucci followed those instincts and skills into the publishing realm at the ripe age of 20. The magazine that she helped create bears the mantra, "Don't just receive culture -- participate in creating it." That's something that ArtsConnect can stand behind. Read more about Tracy and OCW Magazine on the Coquitlam NOW.

Jon-Paul Walden has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Evergreen Cultural Centre. Jon-Paul comes to Evergreen from Keyano Theatre/Arts Centre in Alberta, where he was responsible for a 594-seat mainstage theatre, a 194-seat black box theatre, a dance studio, visual art studios and art gallery. Prior to Keyano, Jon-Paul was General Manager of the Vogue Theatre in downtown Vancouver. He also has been involved in large event productions in Vancouver and New York, where he lived for 5 1/2 years as a stage and film performer and assistant producer for the independent film company Merchant Ivory Productions. to read more about the appointment read the complete release.

Bobbi Style, from the Vancouver Adaptive Music Society, won the Accessibility Award from the City of Coquitlam in the Arts and Culture category.

Stage 43's production of Ravenscroft by Don Nigro participated in this year’s Fraser Valley Zone Festival, which ran from May 22 to 28 at the Surrey Little Theatre. In addition to being awarded Best Production and earning the chance to compete with community theatre troupes from all over BC at "Mainstage", an annual theatre festival held in July in Kamloops, Stage 43 took awards for Best Director (Dale Kelly) and Best Lead Actress (Cindy Peterson Good) Best Costumes (Pat McLean) and received Certificates of Merit for Outstanding Hair and Makeup (Gail Ruginis).

Heritage Woods Secondary students did especially well in winnning awards at
the recent Reel Stars Student Film Awards. Dasha Boichenko, took the prize
for top film and was also involved in the film that won Film of High
Distinction. The full list of winners is:

1. Top Film: Mosaic - Dasha Boichenko (HWS)
2. Film of High Distinction: Texture for Violencello Forte No. 2 - Dasha Boichenko, Savannah Howard (HWS)
3. Film of High Distinction: Demon Quest - Ryan McLaughlin, Jesse Kouwenhoven, Artur Grimenes, Kyle Parrish (HWS)
4. Top Female Filmmaker: Chelsea Forster for Out of My Mind (Gleneagle)
5. Star PSA: Think About It - Kelsey Davidson, Chloe Morris, Kaitlyn Edmonds (Centennial) NO Picture, as they were not there.
6. Star Animation: The Garden - Carli Kidd (Gleneagle)
7. Star Documentary: Drumming - Ben Harris, Eric Bruchmann, Marco Autelitan (Riverside)
8. Star Narrative Comedy: Gamer's Spot - Aric Sumona, Amanda Haluk (Centennial)
9. Star Narrative Drama: The Hitlist - Shawn Yip, Jennica Wragg, Sarah Arsenault (PMSS)
10. Star Experimental: Mogadonia - Eric Magnusson, Andrea Hernandez (HWS)
11. Star Music Video: Break Beat - Ken Luong, Brad Ishii, Jack Chun (Centennial)
12. Committee Recognition Award: Don't Let Emotions Ruin Your Day - Paige Smith, Brietta Stewart, Bronwyn Henderson (Dr. Charles Best)
13. Committee Recognition Award: Bond - Daniel O'Meara (Arch Bishop Carney)
14. Committee Recognition Award: Gnome Liberation - Jessica Hurd (Terry Fox)

Gabriella Solti is the Gallery and Fundraising Coordinator for the Port Moody Arts Centre. She also recently won third prize in the Limited Editions category of the prestigious Alcuin Society's Book Design Awards. Gabriella's work is among the 30 best designed books in all of Canada. Her book, The Sensory Delights of Text by Gabriella Solti, was chosen from 252 Canadian entries published in 2009, from 9 provinces and 108 publishers. Along with the other award-winning books, Gabriella's work will be exhibited internationally, and in 19 venues across Canada. They will also compete in the international book design competition in Leipzig, Germany in February 2011. For a complete list of winners, and more details, visit the Alcuin Society blog.

Do you know a local artist in the news? Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and tell us all about it! Or consider nominating them for a Spirit of Community Award through the Society for Community Development.