The Anglican parish situated beside the north entrance to Burquitlam’s iconic shopping stop, Lougheed Mall continues to present excellent events in celebration of their centennial.
On Saturday, September 14th, the near capacity audience for the Gentlemen of Fortune choral concert was treated to a Wine and Cheese reception in the Parish Hall featuring an art sale prior to the show. Parishioner Andy Holisky sings in the 50 member Barber Shop style ensemble and he helped arrange the group’s performance.
There were forty pieces of art from a variety of media featured in a silent auction format: colour prints, lithographs, original black and white and colour photographs, original pastels, water-colours and a very interesting piece of digital art.
There was also a display of Fascinators (a headpiece which is a style of millinery) for sale and a variety of craft items from South Africa, the sale of which goes to funding the “Go-Go’s”, the South African grandmothers supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Colleen Butterley is one of the organizers of St. Stephen’s Centennial events and she was delighted to have a variety of items on display created by her son, Concordia University Photography student, Ryan Funk.
Also present at the sale was Nicholas Leong a young artist currently studying Animation at North Vancouver’s Capilano University. Nicholas created a piece called Swing Trio using digital art techniques. He initially created the piece because he needed to assemble a portfolio and what started as a simple sketch developed into the piece that was on display at St. Stephen’s. He has been listening to a lot of “electro-swing” music which is a musical hybrid fusing swing styles from before the Big Band Era with the addition of current production techniques found in “hip-hop” and “house” music.
The art items for sale were complimented by a display of Facinators from Over the Top Fascinators – One of a Kind Designs by Ilona Marshall and hand-crafted bags, leather & beaded jewelry and hand-cut cards for sale to aid the South African Grandmothers.
The wrap-up event for St. Stephen’s centennial year will take place Sunday, September 29th with a Celebration of the Eucharist at 10am, with Archbishop Douglas Hambidge, celebrating and preaching. Worship will be followed by an al fresco lunch.
Images: Top, the reception gets going, in the centre of the photograph we see St. Stephen’s, Priest-in-Charge, the Reverend Gary Hamblin in a South African style clergy shirt. Upper right and homepage, Fascinators. Left, Co-organizer and ticket taker for the evening Elaine Renforth. Below, "Swing Trio" by Nicholas Leong. Below 2,“Bus Stop” by Ryan Funk.