Your guide to Yukon arts and culture this weekend
The dance of Greek goddesses, and the call of Jack London
Here's a look at what's happening in Yukon this weekend:
Jack London Festival
What: The Jack London Festival celebrates the life and adventures of the author of The Call of the Wild and White Fang. It marks the 100th anniversary of Jack London's passing.
"He remains a classic for a number of different reasons," says London's great granddaughter Tarnel Abbott, who is in Dawson City for the festival. "He frequently wrote double meanings in his stories and that is partly why they're relevant today."
Abbott will be talking at the festival about their family and London's political bent. There will be film screenings of White Fang, The Call of the Wild and To Build a Fire. There will be talks and discussions about his work, as well as a Stampeder Dinner, where period costumes are recommended. It wraps Sunday afternoon with a reading relay of The Call of the Wild. Volunteers and guests will take turns reading the entire Jack London classic.
When: Friday to Saturday
Where: various locations in Dawson City, including the Jack London and Dawson City museums
Kill Shakespeare
What: The Yukon Comic Culture Society presents a dramatic reading of Kill Shakespeare: Live Graphic Novel, by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery. It's the amalgamation of many of Shakespeare's characters, from Hamlet and Othello, to Romeo and Juliet, as they battle evil forces. Seven local actors, one musician and one live sound guy bring the novel to life in this performance. It's described as part radio play, part live comic book with images from the graphic novel as well as live sound effects. This is a fundraiser for Yukomicon 2017.
When: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: Guild Hall, Whitehorse
Original dance
What: Extremely Moving Youth Society presents The Wise, The Winsome, and The Warrior. It's an original dance theatre piece created by Yukoners. The production features three dancers — Tori Beemer, Grace Simpson-Fowler and Karyin Qui — who are graduating this year. They play Greek goddesses Athena, Aphrodite and Artemis, who are entrusted with protecting Pandora's Box. Alumni of Breakdancing Yukon Society, Extremely Moving Youth Society and Leaping Feats Creative Danceworks created the piece. It features a soundtrack produced by local composer Kelvin Smoler.
As well, Featers Repertory Dancers present Free To Be You And Me during this weekend's dance shows. There's also Breakdown from the Borealis Soul Training Company, plus the recreational dances too. All in all, 47 dancers, between the ages of 11 and 18 are involved, plus three vocalists.
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday, 1 p.m., Sunday, 5 p.m.
Where: Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse
Visual art
What: Two new art exhibitions open in the Arts Underground. Heather Von Steinhagen presents a series of oil paintings in a show called The Things You Know, in the Focus Gallery. The artist encourages the viewer to challenge their assumptions and decode the image for themselves.
In the Edge Gallery, there's Leaps and Bounds by Ferryn Nowatzki. It features bright acrylic paintings of northern animals and landscapes. This is also the last month to see the MacBride Museum of Yukon History's exhibition Fire and Flood: Disaster and Perseverance in Yukon History.
When: Opening reception, Friday, 5 to 7 p.m., exhibits on display until June 25
Where: Arts Underground, Whitehorse
Other events
- Soul Migration plays the Jarvis Street Saloon in Whitehorse on Friday night, Blackberry Wood is there Saturday.
- Kate Weekes and Kieran Poile play the Village Bakery in Haines Junction Friday.
- "Cover Me Badd 8" at Dawson City's KIAC Ballroom on Friday night features local musicians performing cover songs of their choice, and one chosen by a cloaked jury.
- It's a classic rock extravaganza at The Westminster Hotel in Dawson (a.k.a The Pit) on Saturday, featuring A Bunch of B.S. — A Tribute to Black Sabbath, with special guests The Doorknobs — A Tribute to The Doors as the opening act
- Arts in the Park next week features visual artist Helen O'Connor. Musical acts are Two Piano Tornado on Monday, Calla Kinglit on Tuesday, The Big Band on Wednesday at noon, Roxx Hunter Wednesday at 7 p.m., Anacrouse on Thursday, and The River Bends on Friday. Concerts are held 12 to 1 p.m. at LePage Park in Whitehorse.
Know of an arts or cultural event coming up in the Yukon? Call (867) 668-8460, email anewday@cbc.ca or message CBC Yukon's Facebook page.