The Citizen, 2013-08-22, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013. PAGE 19.
Art show deadline coming up
Festival Board falls in love with Gary Kirkham
Rocking the track
Tim Hicks and his band were the main attraction on Friday night as dirtbikes were quieted and
the track lay dormant and the racers took in some great music. Walton TransCan organizer
Chris Lee says the Friday night concert experiment was such a hit last year that he had no
choice but to bring it back again this year. By all reports the concert was a hit this year once
again. (Jim Brown photo)
Huron County artists are invited to
submit work to the Huron County
Art Show, a judged competition to
collect local art for the Huron
County Art Bank. All submitted
pieces should be the artist’s original
work and the subject matter
must have some relevance to
Huron County. New for this year’s
show, works that are two- or
three-dimensional mixed media,
photography, or digital imagery,
will be accepted along with
traditional watercolours, oils and
acrylics.
Winning entries become the
property of the Corporation of
the County of Huron and join the
Huron County Art Bank. First
and second place winning
entries will receive a purchase
award of $1000 and $800
respectively.
Submissions will be accepted at
the Huron County Museum at 110
North Street, Goderich until 4:30
p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. Please see
www.huroncounty.ca/museum/part-
artshow.php or phone the museum at
519-524-2686 for full information
and regulations. Please note there is
a $10 submission fee for this year’s
show.
All submitted work will be on
public display at the Huron County
Museum from Sept. 15 to Dec. 22.
Regular admission rates apply.
Artists other than the first and
second place winners may offer their
work for sale to the public during
this time.
The previous 12 shows
have collected 36 works of art for
the Huron County Art
Bank, preserving the legacy of
Huron County artists for future
generations.
The Huron County Museum looks
forward to additional artworks
joining the Huron County Art
Bank as a result of this year’s
competition.
When Playwright Gary Kirkham
tells a story, he will likely steal your
heart in the process. It’s not
intentional. He’s not a thief by trade
but he certainly has mastered the art
of heart-capture and you will
certainly lose yours after you see
Falling: A Wake, opening Friday,
Aug. 30 at the Phillips Studio
Theatre in Blyth.
In the spring, Interim Artistic
Director Peter Smith brought in
various artists from each of the
upcoming productions to talk about
the upcoming shows to the Board of
Directors. For the production
Falling: A Wake, Smith brought in
the ‘big guns’ and had Kirkham
himself come to Blyth to talk about
the show.
The room was completely
speechless as Kirkham took the floor
and told the story of his best friend
growing up. Like most boys, they
were thick as thieves and as the
years passed they learned to value
the trust and honest friendship the
years had developed.
When it came time to seek out
their futures as young men, distance
became their mutual enemy. They
maintained a strong friendship,
meeting whenever fate would bring
them close, but phone calls and
letters were the main mode of
communication. One of the last
times Kirkham had the opportunity
to see his friend, was at a surprise
visit to a house party when his friend
found himself in the city on a red-
eye layover and in complete secrecy,
arranged a ride and showed up
unexpectedly.
The warm smile that was
emanating from the corners of
Kirkham’s mouth had spread
throughout the room and each
person felt as though they too knew
the kindness and gentle nature of
Kirkham’s old friend.
When Kirkham described the
moment when he found out that his
dear friend was on Pan Am Flight
103, when a terrorist bomb exploded
over Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988,
not a breath could be heard. The
heartache and pain Kirkham felt in
that moment was echoed around the
room in an instant.
It took 18 years for Kirkham to
find the words and the page on
which his best friend’s story would
come to life. However, when he
started writing the play, the story
coming to life was strangely, a
comedy.
Kirkham was confused and
wondered if this could indeed be the
correct story to tell, he arranged to
meet with this friend’s mother and
get her blessing. When he told her
that he was writing this play, he
asked if there was anything that she
would wish to see or hear. The only
words that she had were, “Gary,
make sure it’s a comedy.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room
and a smile on each person’s face.
The board fell in love with Gary
Kirkham, again that night and we
invite you to do the same.
Falling: A Wake opens in the
Phillips Studio Theatre, located on
209 Dinsley Street, Blyth on
Friday Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. Following
the 75-minute performance,
the Festival will host a book
launch of Falling: A Wake in the
Lower Hall with Gary Kirkham in
attendance.
To book your tickets for this
limited, two-week run, call the box
office at 1-877-862-5984 or visit us
online at blythfestival.com
Call 1-877-862-5984 or www.blythfestival.com
SATURDAY, OCT. 19, 2013 – 7 PM - BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL
Call 519-672-1967 or www.centennialhall.london.ca
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9, 2013 – 7 PM - CENTENNIAL HALL - LONDON
www.rocklandsentertainment.com www.redgreen.com
85th Birthday
Len Archambault
Come and help celebrate
Len’s 85th birthday
on Saturday, August 24
in the
Auburn Community Centre
from 2 to 4 pm
No gifts or cards please.
Donations to the Londesborough
or Auburn United Churches would
be appreciated.
Love Betty & family
From the studio of Carol-Lynn Reifel...
The Graduating Voice Recital of
Brittany Lyon
with collaborative Pianist Kim Duca.
Saturday, August 31st
at 2 pm
at the
Blyth Christian Reformed Church.
Featuring works by Strauss,
Puccini, Mozart, Purcell and
many more.
Admission: Non-perishable food
item to be donated.
BENEFIT DANCE
for
CRAIG “SHOLTZY”
SOMERVILLE
Sat. Sept. 7, 2013
Seaforth Agriplex 5:30 pm-1am
• BBQ 5:30- 8 pm
Donation at the door after
8 pm for dance.
Tickets $20
available at
Archies
UPI Seaforth
or Call Jared
519-854-9755
Those who wish
to donate items
please contact
Brent Pryce
519-525-6295
SILENT
AUCTION
The family of
Ruby Leishman
invites you to a
drop-in at
77836 London Rd., Clinton
August 25 ~ 2-5 pm
in honour of her
90th Birthday
Please no gifts
Best Wishes Only
Entertainment Londesborough ON.............................................www.seedforwildbirds.comnaturesnest@tcc.on.ca 430 Queen Street, Blyth, Ontario226-523-9720Specialty Coffees &Espresso BarLunches, fresh pies, buttermilkbiscuits, cakes, etc.