A quick run through some of the events happening this week in the world of art, music and film.
Monday
Monday Night Film Series: The Farewell
The Farewell | Lulu Wang USA, 2019 English, Mandarin w/ English subtitles 98 minutes Principal Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin
Lulu Wang’s Sundance hit he Farewell is an intergenerational family drama that is at once celebratory, heart-wrenching, and life-affirming. Based on true events, the film follows a young Chinese American woman named Billi (Awkwafina, Crazy Rich Asians) as she travels back to China to visit her dying grandmother. Billi’s family has decided to spare their beloved matriarch the news of her terminal diagnosis so as not to darken what time she has left. In order for everyone to have a chance to say goodbye without tipping her off that the end is near, they orchestrate an elaborate excuse to reunite in the form of a fake wedding.
Though cultures clash and family conflict ensues, the story is told with universally relatable warmth and charm. Awkwafina is dazzling as the quick-witted and empathetic Billi, supported by a remarkable cast that includes the charming Tzi Ma (Meditation Park) as her father and Diana Lin (Australia Day) as her mother.
Little by little, we realize that this story is not only about Billi saying goodbye to her grandmother, but also about her reconnecting with a country and extended family that she left behind at a young age. The Farewell is truly remarkable. It will make you laugh out loud, cry both sad and happy tears, and contemplate the meaning of home.
The Farewell | Monday Night Film Series | Tilley Hall, Room 102, UNB Campus | Sept. 16, 2019 – 7:30 p.m.
Film Screening: In The Making at The Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Catch a special screening of CBC’s In the Making at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Join host Sean O’Neill and artist Beverly Glenn-Copeland for the premiere screening of the episode featuring Glenn-Copeland and artist Jeremy Dutcher. Screening will be followed by a Q&A with Beverly Glenn-Copeland. Admission is by donation. 7 p.m.
Directing our Gaze: Residency with Gillian Dykeman at Connexion ARC & Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Directing Our Gaze responds to the landscapes in the Beaverbrook Gallery’s collection, starting with New Brunswick based renderings. The artist will visit some of the sites explored by these landscapes through use of maps, GPS, and information provided with the pieces. She will document these sites in the present, and create artistic interventions such as plein air paintings and performances on these sites. Dykeman will capture the present state of the original locations along with her interventions via video to share during open studio hours. Dykeman will also develop a new Guided Tour performance, posing as a wilderness interpreter/docent and tying in the landscape artwork within the Beaverbrook to the landscape around the Gallery. This performance will invite participants to consider what perspectives are represented by historic landscapes, and the links between the genre of landscape art with ongoing expressions of colonization in present-day New Brunswick. Sept. 16 – Oct. 5.
Tuesday
Word Feast – Fredericton’s Literary Festival (Sept. 17-22). The third annual Word Fest launch takes place at Gallery 78 Tuesday, September 17 at 7pm with the presentation of The Community Impact Award and several readings. A first for a poetry event in Fredericton will be the triple language reading of a Word Feast commissioned poem by Poet Laureate Jenna Lyn Albert. The English poem has been translated and will be read in French and Wolastoqiyik. Our marquee event is on Saturday, September 21 at 7:30pm at the Playhouse with music by Adyn Townes and words by Amy Spurway and Carrianne Leung. Get your ticket, for $20, at playhouse.ca or call 458-8345.
A complete program of all events, including Noon Hour Talks, is available at wordfeast.ca
Open Mic Night at The Capital. Dylan Ward hosts this weekly event at The Capital. If you are a duo, or a band, stop by and try out a new tune in front of a very encouraging crowd. 9 p.m. No cover.
UNB Art Centre presents an artist talk with Natalie Sappier. The UNB Art Centre, with the assistance of artsn ’s artist-in-residence program, welcomes Wolastoqiyik indigenous artist Samaqani CocahqNatalie Sappier to the Centre for a four-month residency in 2019. This residency will be the first since the 1960s and will provide an aboriginal artist with the opportunity to complete a major new work. Following the success of her first production Finding Wolastoq Voice, Samaqani Cocahq-Natalie Sappier will continue to explore the themes of identity, language, memory, and voice. This latest production will be premiered on November 7 in the Memorial Hall auditorium.
Located in the East Gallery at Memorial Hall, Samaqani Cocahq-Natalie Sappier will transform the gallery into Acomuwikuwam, a “sacred place of stories and songs” where she can interact with a team of elders, dancers and musicians to tell the stories of her people and to realize her latest project. The residency will also provide access to the general public to meet and talk with the artist as a means to learn about Wolastoq culture and history. 6 p.m.
Finding Wolastoq Voice at Chief Harold Sappier Memorial Elementary School. Theatre New Brunswick’s production of visual-artist-turned-playwright Natalie Sappier’s play Finding Wolastoq Voice will be performed at Chief Harold Sappier Memorial Elementary School at 7:30 p.m. This one-time performance of the play’s original production precedes the show’s three performance run at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa this weekend. By donation.
Cold Reads at The Tipsy Muse Café. Super talented writers from various backgrounds submit their scripts to be read aloud. Actors show up to read the script LIVE for the first time. Audiences get to enjoy new pieces of work from community writers of various backgrounds (theatre, film, poetry, sketch comedy, music and so much more). 6 p.m. $5 or Pay-what-you-can.
Wednesday
Heart Attack Kids + Diner Drugs + Frig Dancer at The Capital. Heart Attack Kids are a high-voltage rock and roll duo from London, ON. The band’s powerful, high energy sound will make audiences believe there are five people playing instead of two. Diner Drugs is a four piece punk crew, born out of a desire to defeat the boredom of east coast living. Frig Dancer are two skids from the suburbs. 9 p.m. $10.
Tertulias at Milda’s Pizzas in the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. A tertulia can be described as a literary and artistic social gathering or philosophy cafe where participants talk about ideas. Tertulias combine words, music, poetry, art and whatever else speakers want to share. Our first tertulia this fall is a presentation by John Muise on 20th century writer and rebel, Katherine Mansfield on September 18. Called New Zealand’s most famous writer, Katherine Mansfield was a writer of short stories in the modernist tradition. John Muise has taught English and creative writing, including at the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University, for three decades. 7 p.m.
This Maybee Funny – Stand-up Comedy at Maybee Brewing. A midweek option to go out and laugh for free. There will be pizza. 559 Wilsey Rd. 7:30 p.m. Free.
The Late Show – Stand-up Comedy at Speedbumps. Nine comics from around the region gather to make you laugh your midweek away. 102 Main St. 9:30 p.m. Free.
Thursday
NB Media Co-Op’s 10th AGM & Keynote by Chantal Richard at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. Every year, the NB Media Co-op chooses a newsmaker that has provided insight to a hot topic to deliver its annual keynote address. his year’s keynote will be delivered by Dr. Chantal Richard, a professor in the Department of French at the University of New Brunswick. Chantal will speak about the erasure and revival of Acadian identity, language, and culture in the context of settler colonialism. Chantal’s talk will address how divergent narratives in French and English-language media have divided communities and undermined efforts to promote equality. This event is co-hosted y the Societé de L’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB), the Department of French at the University of New Brunswick, and the Journal of New Brunswick Studies. This event takes place at 7pm after the NB Media Co-Op’s AGM.
All are welcome to attend the NB Media Co-op’s Annual General Meeting at 5pm at the same venue. You must be a member to vote. To become a member, visit nbmediacoop.org or email info@nbmediacoop.org. 5 p.m.
City of Fredericton’s Odell Park Artist Residency Exhibition at CreatedHere/NBCCD Studio. The Odell Park Artist Residency Program hosted 11 artists of a variety of disciplines at the Odell Park Lodge and the Fredericton Botanic Garden during the months of July and August 2019. To celebrate their accomplishments, join us for the opening reception of their exhibit; with artist remarks at 5pm. Works featured are from the Fibre Arts Network, Allison Green, Timothy Jones, Melissa Kennedy, Marla Lesage, Justin Sappier, and Matt Watkins. Enjoy their pieces until October 25 from 10am until 5pm daily. CreatedHere/NBCCD Studio, is located at 408 Queen Street. 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Rend Collective at The Playhouse. Rend Collective is a Northern Irish Christian folk rock worship band originating from Bangor, Northern Ireland. 7 p.m. $30-$73.50.
Speed Dating at Grimross Brewing Co. Speed Dating is a good way to bring single people together in a casual, fun environment. In one night, you will have ten mini dates (five minutes each).5:30 – 7:30 p.m. $30.
Petunia and The Minimalist Jug band at Grimross Brewing Co. Petunia is more than just an entertainer, he’s a modern musical enigma. Imagine that David Lynch and Nick Cave had a hillbilly baby, that yodeled. The Minimalist Jug Band is beat poetry at its most melancholic. 7:30 p.m. $15-$20.
Friday
Rick Sparkes + Danny Drouin at Grimross Brewing Co. PEI writer and musician Rick Sparkes and CBC 2018 Searchlight finalist Danny Drouin have teamed up for an intimate, acoustic performance of story and song that will surely delight audiences both young and old. 8 p.m. $5-$10.
Colourful Language + Wangled Teb + The Trick at The Capital. Colourful Language is the dark pop rock project of Dave Warne and Zoe Fitch. They met in university in New Brunswick, fell in love with each other’s songs and then with each other’s bodies.Their debut self-titled release is a collection of dark, ethereal pop songs, built on beats and tones from a robot band in the seventies. After 6 years in Vancouver, they have returned to New Brunswick and In 2019 the band played Folly Fest, Paddlefest and Bonfire Festival. Colourful Language will be joined by Wangled Teb and The Trick. 10 p.m. $6.
Saturday
Word Feast presents Words & Music at The Playhouse. Amy Spurway will read from her debut novel Crow. Adyn Townes will perform two sets of his beautiful and honest song writing. Festival headliner Carrianne Leung will read from That Time I Loved You, her award-winning collection of short fiction. Please be advised this performance may contain occasional use of strong language and mature themes or subject matter. 7:30 p.m.
The Funky Baked Potatoes + Monteith at Grimross Brewing Co. The Funky Baked Potatoes are returning to their homeland to seed the earth with rockin grooves and tunes to soothe Fellow brethren MONTEITH will be joining in to make it official and make dreams come true! 8 p.m. $10.
I, The Mountain at The Tipsy Muse Café. I, the Mountain is set to bring their trademark indie-folk sound to the Muse this week. Fresh off their recent studio collaborations with Canadian music icons Simon Ward (The Strumbellas) and Jonas Bonetta (Evening Hymns) I, the Mountain is set to bring their trademark indie-folk sound to mainstages across Canada. 7 p.m. $10.
Sunday
UNB Art Centre presents A Celebration of Art & Music. The UNB Art Centre cele rates the University of New Brunswick’s acquisition of Tropos by Saint John artist Deanna Musgrave with a special afternoon reception. This event will take place in the 3rd floor link between the Currie Center and the new Kinesiogy building on the UNB campus, and will feature an artist talk by Deanna Musgrave and the presentation of Tropos (2009/19), a musical piece composed by Andrew Reed Miller with musicians Nadia Francavilla (violin), Robin Streb (viola), Andrew Reed Miller (contrabass), and Joël Cormier (percussion). Opening remarks will e given y UNB’s President Emeritus John McLaughlin. 2 p.m.
Word Feast and Odd Sundays at The Tipsy Muse Café. Word Feast and Odd Sundays are happy to welcome Danny Jacobs to The Tipsy Muse to read from his work. An opening set will feature the winner and runners-up of Word Feast’s second Postcard Story Contest! Look for an announcement in September. And of course there will be the Odd Sundays standards: open mic and free book draw. This event is free and open to the public. 2 p.m.
Doors Open at The Playhouse. What’s that big white box on top of the Playhouse? How do we make people fly on stage? Where do famous artists like Buffy Ste. Marie, and Alan Doyle hang out? Join us for Doors Open 2019 to find out! Drop in for your insider, behind-the-scenes tour of The Playhouse. Find out where the magic really happens, tour backstage and see live technical demonstrations by our theatre staff. Photography is allowed. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent/chaperone. 1-4 p.m.
This Week in Fredericton was created with notes from the Fredericton Arts Alliance‘s weekly newsletter as well as Music Runs Through It‘s weekly Fredericton music update. We encourage you to visit both these valuable community resources for more detailed information on these and other events happening This Week in Fredericton.
