Arts Hudson

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Art's Hudson

            Last spring we featured the landscapes of John Vazalinskas and in the summer the featured artist was Heather Dubreuil with her quilted and embroidered cityscapes. The two artists are collaborating on an exhibition contrasting their approach to art showing cities. The focal point is a Montreal scene that both have portrayed using their respective techniques. Two of their cityscape works are below.

            The exhibition is in Montreal at Galerie Valmi on Van Horne in mid-November and is called urbanite x 2. The vernissage is on November 15th at 5:00 pm. The poster for the event says, "Two artists, two mediums, two unique takes on the urban landscape. Fibre artist Heather Dubreuil and painter John Vazalinskas offer their distinct interpretations of our man-made environment and the beauty within its spaces." You can find more information from the menu on the left.

            Other hudson artistic groups will also be active this fall. The Hudson Chamber Music Series has two concerts scheduled before Christmas and the Hudson Players Club is set to announce their season shortly. The Hudson Artists have their fall exhibition the weekend of October 17th, 18th and 19th and Greenwood usually has several Christmas events later in the year. Look through our calendar to find the events that interest you.

            Just as marvelous as the upcoming events were some of this past summer’s activities. Village Theatre had a big hit on their hands with “Wife Begins at Forty.” Hudson director Glen Bowser brought out the humour of this slightly dated British comedy and local actor Peter Williamson was suitably doddery as the old father of the couple who is not quite with it as he gets most things wrong and steps on a rake, knocking himself out. Montreal actor and Village Theatre regular Matt Holland was perfect as the nice, bewildered and clueless husband for whom everything works out eventually, despite his many misguided efforts. Tickets went fast when word got around after the first week and Village Theatre could do worse than to schedule the occasinal British comedy for upcoming seasons.

            The Studio Tour was just before press time and took place on an ideal, summery weekend. Madeleine Langlois’ photographs at the Village Theatre were a big hit as were some of Jen Baumeister’s pottery pieces. She had small egg cups which you could put in the microwave and have a poached egg in 30 seconds. You only need one because the second one can cook while you’re eating the first one. Susan Potter wasn’t on the official tour but took part in the Journees de la Culture which take place at the same time. She received tour visitors as well and showed off huge flowers and decorative smaller works.

            One of the big summer events was the annual Hudson Music Festival and the Hudson Street Fair. The Music Festival kicked off with the Street Fair weekend and then ran for the whole of the following week, with one or more events ebery day. The opening show at St. Thomas Church with the DiLauro Sextet was excellent and played to an enthusiastic crowd. The Street fair itself had less music but more other activities, including teepees being built by First Nations representatives and lots of stalls offering a wide variety of goods. The Music Festival sold lots of tickets to the various events and had the tent in Jack Layton Park hopping with “World” music and Rolling Stones songs.

            nother note-worthy initiative was the Hudson Players Club production of Shakespeare’s”As You Like It” in Jack Layton Park. The audience sat in front of the small amphitheatre where the actors performed on the several levels. The play takes place outside and in a forest and so was ideally suited for the venue. The actors and the occasional sheep (played by actors) entered over the hill surrounding the amphitheatre and used the central part as the main stage.

            The atmosphere was magical as the sun set over the lake and gulls circled the action. A mechoui kicked off the opening and an appreciative audience enjoyed a captivating presentation in a unique setting.

            NDP MP for Vaudreuil Soulanges, Jamie Nichols played a part in the production and actor Amanda MacDonald, now based in Hudson and his fiancee, had the lead role. Later in the summer they were married in the same amphitheatre. You may see the couple again in the Village Theatre Panto this Christmas. “The play’s the thing.”

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