Just because school is back in session, doesn’t mean there is no more fun to be had in O-Town this fall.
I want to lead off with a fantastic event that is coming up fast, Sept. 28 at Fern Resort. That’s right, it’s the annual Roots North Revisited concert, a fundraising event in aid of the Orillia Youth Centre (OYC).
This is a big event for the OYC and will be a phenomenal evening of music with Canadian icon Danny Michel, ably supported by fellow musicians Billy Pettinger and Meredith Moon!
Fern Resort is a new venue for this event, and the resort’s theatre room will be just the ticket for a great concert as well as cash bar, and silent auction. Tickets are a very reasonable $35 and can be found here. Don’t forget, doors open at 6 p.m. Don’t miss this incredible event; 100% of the proceeds go to support the Orillia Youth Centre.
Now, on to this weekend. On Sept. 7, there are three art openings that I have been made aware of, all happening in the Orillia Arts District, and all running from 1 to 3 p.m.
Peter Street Fine Arts at 23 Peter St. S. is proud to present Transference, an exhibition of new work by local artist Robyn Rennie that explores powerful memories of her relationship to the rural and Muskoka landscapes of her youth.
Lee Contemporary Art, upstairs at 5 Peter St. S., presents work by Toronto artist Dan Nuttall. His show is entitled Ruralia, and this is Nuttall’s second solo show at Lee Contemporary.
And finally, Hibernation Arts at 7 Peter St. S. has the opening for local guest artist, Mary Jo Pollack’s solo show. All these art shows will be on display throughout the month of September, so don’t despair if you can’t make the openings Saturday.
The grand old lady and southern anchor of the arts district, the Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH), is off to a flying start to its fall season. OMAH has announced several new exhibitions opening over the next few weeks as well as lots of new fall programming for all ages.
New this October is the Steelies Art Club for youth ages 7 to 12, opportunities to learn and try out different art media each week, for an eight-week session.
OMAH’s first new fall exhibition is coming up Sept. 7 with Tina Poplawski’s show, When the Green Dark Forest Was Too Silent to Be Real. This large-scale work was inspired by Tina’s grandmother’s crocheted doilies from the war, and will be a unique look at Eastern European folk art, and botany and animals of Ontario.
The opening reception will be Sept. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. and Poplawski will do an artist’s talk that same day from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The talk will be $5 for members and $10 for non-members.
For news and information on all that is coming up at OMAH this fall, click here.
Speaking of arts and culture programming, the Orillia Parks Recreation and Culture Department has a number of great cultural activities in the fall program guide, including many kinds of dance in addition to adult and kids’ art programming. Take a look at the guide, online here. You can also pick one up in person at City Hall.
Lots more about other September events, including ones at St. Paul’s Centre, coming up next week!
Music in the bars? But of course. At the Brownstone Café, Friday, Lindy Vopnfjord. At the Hog ‘n’ Penny, Friday, Paul Brooks. At Casino Rama, Friday, Herman’s Hermits.
Enjoy your week and weekend, and don’t forget to send me your arts news, to [email protected], by Tuesday at noon.
