The Week in Review: February 11
After a hectic January, with numerous arts festivals and recaps of 2012's offerings, February shifts focus toward year ahead, including numerous 2013/14 artistic seasons and contests. Here's our recap of the exciting and important development that took place this week:
ATWOOD QUITS GILLER CONTEST TO SIT ON JURY
Literary icon Margaret Atwood has withdrawn her book from the Scotiabank Giller Prize competition in order to sit on the jury panel during the 20th anniversary book contest. She has presided on the jury three times previously and won the award for Alias Grace in 1996. The shortlist of five finalists for this year’s Prize will be announced in October, with the winner announced on November 5.
VAG LAUNCHES ART SPIEGELMAN RETROSPECTIVE
Vancouver Art Gallery launches a highly anticipated exhibition this week, documenting the work of Art Spiegelman: one of the most famous, and celebrated, cartoonists in the world. CO-MIX: A Retrospective of Comics, Graphics and Scraps runs from February 16 to June 9 and includes more than 400 drawings from his work, including the Pulitzer-prize winning graphic novel Maus. Some of the LMPR team will be at the opening during FUSE and look forward to seeing this genre-defying, powerful display.
This iconic print is one of 400 at the Vancouver Art Gallery this February.
NATIONAL BALLET UNVEILS 2013-14 SEASON
Artistic Director Karen Kain presented the 2013-14 season at the National Ballet, including Swan Lake, Onegin, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Spectre de la Rose and Opus 19. Their “Innovation” series, which presents cutting edge world premieres by Canadian choreographers, includes James Kudelka – the first time the lauded choreographer has worked with the company since he left in 2005. You can see the full season here.
In local news, Vancouver Opera also announced their upcoming season this week, whose composers read like a list of operatic all-stars: Puccini, Britten, Mozart, and Verdi.
CANADA READS ANNOUNCES 2013 WINNER
The all-star jury of CBC’s Canada Reads, hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, crowned February by Lisa Moore as this year’s literary choice. The online- and broadcast contest pits moving, powerful writing from across the provinces against each other until a universal winner is chosen. Finalists included Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, The Age of Hope by David Bergen, Away by Jane Urquhart, and Two Solitudes by Hugh McLellan. Last year’s winner came from British Columbia: Something Fierce, the memoir of Chilean revolutionary, Carmen Aguirre.
BOILSHOI DIRECTOR REGAINS PARTIAL SIGHT
Sergei Filin, Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet, is regaining his sight after an acid attack in January. Supporters and well wishers from the dance community throughout the world were relieved when Russia’s chief ophthalmologist announced that an operation in Germany left Filin with sight in his left eye, and hope for his right. The AD is now making public appearances after his ordeal.
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