+19 Concert - 9pm

Rad Rat the Beast Coast Tour (Halifax), a three piece of spoken word, rock and new wave fusion consisting of Selwyn Sharples, Craig Leonard and Mitchell Wiebe, with John Murchie on piano!

The Living is Easy
Kerri George (Sackville)
Mysterious Island

closing reception: Saturday, May 24, 5:00pm (following the opening of the BFA Graduate Exhibition at the Owens Art Gallery at 4:00pm, and in conjunction with the BA Fine Arts Majors closing in START Gallery.

All Ages Concert
8:00 pm - $5

Ghosts of the Highway
http://www.myspace.com/ghostsofthehighway

From Dawson City to the Baja Peninsula, from Haida Gwaii to the Cape Breton Highlands, Jeff Andrew and shayne avec i grec have trekked tens of thousands of miles by thumb, rail, bus & foot, chasing minstrels, miscreants and mysteries along the way. Now these ragged wanderers have joined forces as Ghosts of the Highway and are hitchhiking from Victoria, BC to St. John's, NFLD, bringing instruments, voices and epic stories of adventure on the open road.

Both Jeff and shayne are dynamic performers who've played seperately and together in bars, cafes, streetcorners and festival stages from one end of Canada to the other. With a voice like rusted steel creaking in the wind, Jeff performs on a pawnshop's worth of instruments (though limited to guitar, fiddle and harmonica for this tour) and sings road-worn fantasies like a hard-traveling vagabond caught somewhere between a logging camp and the faerie underworld. His songs echo the drama and dust of the old folksingers, filled with characters and stories like the women who've disappeared hitchhiking from the Highway of Tears in northern BC and the life-or-death labour battles fought by the I.W.W. in the early 20th century.

Taking the term rambler to heart, shayne is often seen traveling thru the physical realms of highways and truck stops while rambling his way thru myriad stories of past, present and future. He is prone to outbursts of glee and his poems range from visionary tales to hyperkinetic bursts of abstract wordplay, mixing politics, metaphysics and love. As a performer his booming voice and energetic delivery owes a debt of gratitude to the beats, slam poetry and the open road. Whether speaking softly over the strains of mellow musical accompaniment or bellowing off-mic from the edge of the stage, shayne's voice holds a commanding presence that draws any within earshot into the worlds of his words.

As Ghosts of the Highway, Jeff and shayne bring a show like an old-style revue: a mix of music, storytelling and audience participation. They frequently perform straight from the floor, stomping their boots and belting like born-again carnival barkers. Whenever possible the stage is opened to anyone in the room with a story or song of their own, creating an inclusive, inspiring atmosphere that breaks down the walls between audience and performer.

Board Meeting
5pm

The Living is Easy
Lianne Zannier (Sackville)
Full of Intent and Eagerness

closing reception: Friday, May 30, 8pm

The Sewing Bee
7:00 pm

Struts Gallery and local artist Amanda Fauteux will be hosting a Sewing Bee on
Wednesday May 28th, at seven p.m, 7 Lorne street in Sackville, NB. Digging
it's roots as a pattern-drafting and sewing workshop in August 2007, the Sewing
Bee has now become a monthly staple at the gallery. Everyone is invited, so
bring your sewing machines, materials and ideas down for an evening of crafting
in a supportive and social environment. This event is ideal for those who are
interested in sewing but may not always find the time, who may not know where
to get started, or who just want to have fun while working on a project. All
skill levels are more than welcome and help is available for anyone that needs
it. The Sewing Bee is free for Struts members, memberships can be purchased at
the gallery for as low as 15.00 for community members and 10.00 for students.
If you have any questions or need help getting your sewing machine and
materials to the
gallery, please contact Amanda Fauteux at ajftx@mta.ca, or call Struts Gallery
at 536-1211.

Liz MacDougall (Halifax)
Open Studio artist in residence

'Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre is please to welcome back Liz MacDougall, who will be completing her residency she began in October, when she worked on her project "The Bathroom Tapes".

Liz spent a month in residence at the Centre for Art Tapes this fall where she began an interactive video and audio piece entitled "Anatomy of a Memory". She has spent the past months continuing this work and will be editing material for this project during her residency at Struts.

The Living is Easy
Cathy Linfield (Berry Mills)
BLING!

The series is called BLING! and represents some of my thoughts on body adornment.
We all have a certain level of body adornment that we are comfortable with....lipstick, earrings, hair size and colour, placement of jewels, clothes, etc.... The ladies in my paintings have gone farther than what might seem acceptable but the gloss and glitter is to take our eye from the disfigurements each has or perceives she has. We are supposed to see the facade and not the underlying person with human problems.
The little girl in Africa will undergo scarification and genitail mutation so later in life she will "fit in". She will be able to walk around naked but for a modesty cord at her hips......now...place her in Sackville in July...does she fit in?????
Put Beyonce in full regalia in Sackville at noon....does she fit in?????

KATE MAKI & NATHAN LAWR
Live at Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre
Friday June 13 ~ 8 PM
$8 All Ages

Struts Gallery is pleased to kick off its summer concert series with one of Canada's most revered up and coming songwriters. Kate Maki is getting fabulous reviews around the globe for her new album On High. An endearing performer with heart warming voice, Kate will be performing alongside one of the nation's hardest working musicians, Nathan Lawr, who has played in Sackville with the likes of the Constantines, Royal City and the Fembots.

This show is not to be missed, a better way to spend a summer night we could not find.

" Maki possesses a conversational singing style — much like that of Kathleen Edwards or Lucinda Williams — that feels plaintive, welcome, and warm. It's possible to soak in the space between notes and the sighs between chord changes, and she touches emotions with honest sentiments that recall the likes of Iris DeMent and even Neil Young." - Bruce Warren ~ NPR
“An unencumbered singer-songwriter with an easy country-parlour delivery.” - Globe and Mail

http://katemaki.com/
http://www.myspace.com/katemaki

http://www.nathanlawr.com/
http://www.myspace.com/nathanlawr

The Living is Easy
Kim Vose Jones
(dis)embody
curated by Mireille Eagan (Montréal)

"It is difficult to properly talk about being sick. Disease is spoken about quietly, if at all. Those who are ill may feel ashamed of their illness – they fear that they will be treated differently, even as they must reconsider who they are. The sick and those around them must now position themselves in relation to the disease. The work of Kim Vose Jones is her interpretation of the effects of severe illness on those close to her. She has translated their personal descriptions into a variety of media, constructing a visual vocabulary based in metaphor. Kim Vose Jones has created a collection of symbols around which disease and its effects may be openly discussed and considered."
- Mireille Eagan

Creative Approaches to Dreamweaver
Facilitated by Open Studio Artist in Residence Liz MacDougall
6 - 10 PM
Faucet Media Arts Centre

$10/Members
$15/ Non Members

New Media Artist/Curator Liz MacDougall will lead participants through a two evening workshop exploring Adobe Dreamweaver, a user-friendly application for building websites and interactive web-based artworks. The workshop will be student driven and collaborative, taking into account specific interests and needs.

Liz's approach is open, experimental and rooted in ideas as opposed to a technical how-to seminar.

Experience with Photoshop would be an asset but not essential.

Please RSVP as soon as possible.

Please email: liz@chebucto.ca
with any questions regarding the workshop or areas of interest you would like to explore.

Friday Noon BBQ + Concert

Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre are pleased to welcome veteran Halifax folk musician Dusty Keeler to the Gallery on Friday June 20 for a intimate, family friendly concert. Taking place in conjunction with our weekly FRIDAY BBQ's from 12- 2 PM, this concert is Pay What You Can with a recommended donation of $5. So come on down for a lovely lunch and some great songs from one the Maritime's seasoned souls.
http://www.myspace.com/dustykeeler

"His Songs are like a favorite old blanket you wrap around yourself at a campfire. His personal brand of folk is a welcome listen anytime." ~ Lezlie Lowe

Artist-in-Residence Presentation: Liz MacDougall
7:00 PM

Artist-in-residence Liz MacDougall will present her work in progress on an installation entitled "Anatomy of a Memory". For the month of June Liz has been working on an interactive environment composed of fragmented and projected photos and sounds within which one can consider trauma and its lingering effects in the mind and in the body. She and fellow artists W.L. Altman and Nick Rudnicki, who provide technical support on this project, will present the piece and describe the construction process. Liz will also present previous video work and recent work for the web.

Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre are seeking proposals for a Regional Media Artist in Residence to participate in the 2008 Ok.Quoi?! Contemporary Arts Festival, July 28 - Aug 2, 2008. The Artist must be based in Southeast NB or North - Central NS.

OK.Quoi?! is an interdisciplinary festival of contemporary art, focusing on video, audio, new and independent music. The festival is produced by Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre in partnership with, Sappy Records and CHMA 106.9 FM. The works of over 40 artists will be presented over 6 days in a variety of screeings, concerts, broadcasts and on the world wide web. Alongside exciting international and national work, OK.Quoi?! features new and innovative projects from local and regional artists.

- The Festival will support the creation of an offsite, radio or web based media artwork, accessible to the public. The work can incorporate video, film, projection, performance, installation etc. Ephemeral or time based projects are welcome. The selected artist is expected to be in working in Sackville for the duration for the festival, interacting with the public and participating in events and workshops as their schedule allows.

- Facilitating a half day workshop for students and professional artists is the secondary component to the residency.

The selected artist will be awarded a fee of $1000.00.
Accommodations will be arranged if needed.

This project is made possible with the support of Canadian Heritage: Building Communities through Arts & Heritage, Locals Arts Festivals Program.

To apply please submit the following:

- detailed project proposal outlining any technical needs or site specifications.

- worksample, up to 15 images on disc or emailed (please keep file sizes small) or weblinks.
- current C.V. or resume

DEADLINE: APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY JUNE 27, 5 PM

Please send, drop off or email applications to:

Ok.Quoi?! Contemporary Arts Festival
Faucet Media Arts Centre
7 Lorne Street, Sackville, New Brunswick
E4L 3Z6

http://strutsgallery.ca/okquoi/

Contact Paul Henderson for further information:faucet@strutsgallery.ca

Faucet Fridays
Weekly workshops following the noon BBQ
2pm - 5pm
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Electrical Basics for Artists
This workshop will provide a useful introduction to electrical principles for anyone interested in working with sound systems, video projection, computer cabling, and high wattage lighting for film and video. The workshop will cover the following topics:

• How electricity works (from the power plant to your house)
• Electrical safety and grounding (how does it really work?)
• How not to blow a fuse with your art installation (W = AV)
• Basic wattages for common art equipment (PAs, projectors, monitors, etc)
• AC and DC power; battery care and battery chargers
• Cables, Connectors and Signals (understanding the common cables)
• Setting up a P.A. system for a musical performance
• Setting up a sound system for a film or video screening

The workshop will be instructed by Amanda Dawn Christie, the Faucet Media Arts Centre Production Supervisor, who has an MFA in interdisciplinary fine arts, and often works with various electrical components in her gallery based installations.

For more information or registration, please contact Struts Art Gallery / Faucet Media Arts Centre by phone at 536-1211, or on location at 7 Lorne Street.

The Living is Easy
Melanie Colosimo (Halifax)
Why Trip When You Can Flip?

An installation of 4 Zoetrope Animations of Unconventional Dance moves, 2 Flip books of dance moves, and a series of drawings she has been working on while doing the dance moves project.

closing reception: Friday, July 11, 7pm

The Living is Easy
Mary MacDonald (Sackville)
To Do:

This project began on a typical weekday morning. I was sitting in front of my computer and I looked down at my desk to find that I had written make art on my list of things to do, and even more apparent… it wasn’t crossed off. What a strange sensation this little phrase evoked, a structured sense of dread, a looming deadline and yet it would be done. Confidently the list said so. I am interested in the way we structure our day to day lives. The little moments between realization of our goals – the small steps and small victories. These lists were collected over a period of three weeks from individuals all across Canada. Those who participated range in age, profession and level of self-productivity.

The Living is Easy
Linda Rae Dornan (Sackville)
Voix exquise

closing reception: Friday, July 11, 7pm

The Sewing Bee
7:00 pm

Struts Gallery and local artist Amanda Fauteux will be hosting a Sewing Bee on
Wednesday July 2nd, at seven p.m, 7 Lorne street in Sackville, NB. Digging
it's roots as a pattern-drafting and sewing workshop in August 2007, the Sewing
Bee has now become a monthly staple at the gallery. Everyone is invited, so
bring your sewing machines, materials and ideas down for an evening of crafting
in a supportive and social environment. This event is ideal for those who are
interested in sewing but may not always find the time, who may not know where
to get started, or who just want to have fun while working on a project. All
skill levels are more than welcome and help is available for anyone that needs
it. The Sewing Bee is free for Struts members, memberships can be purchased at
the gallery for as low as 15.00 for community members and 10.00 for students.
If you have any questions or need help getting your sewing machine and
materials to the
gallery, please contact Amanda Fauteux at ajftx@mta.ca, or call Struts Gallery
at 536-1211.

Friday Noon BBQ + Concert

Kyra and Tully
http://www.kyraandtully.com/

Weekly workshops following the noon BBQ
3pm - 5pm
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Lighting

Ken Gregory (Winnipeg)
Open Studio artist-in-residence

Winnipeg artist Ken Gregory has been working with DIY interface design, hardware hacking, audio, video, and computer programming for over 10 years. His creative performance and installation work has shown publicly in Winnipeg, other parts of Canada and many international media and sound arts festivals. Anything is part of Gregory's palette, and by using cut-and-paste techniques, random juxtapositions, and careful manipulations, he crafts unique art works. These works are presented in the form of gallery installations, live performances, live radio broadcasts, and audio compact discs. Recent career highlights amongst others are the acquisition of 12 motor bells, a large sound installation by the National Gallery of Canada, Cheap Meat Dreams and Acorns, a solo survey exhibition at the Art Gallery of Windsor and soon to be at the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown PEI, at the The Hamilton Art Centre in Hamilton Ontario and participation in the Solar Circuit Aotearoa New Zealand (SCANZ) media arts residency at New Plymouth New Zealand.

Vistit Ken's website at www.cheapmeat.net

Weekly workshops following the noon BBQ
3pm - 5pm
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Super 8 Cameras and Hand-processing (intro to experimental film animation DIY Guerrilla style!)

Weekly workshops following the noon BBQ
3pm - 5pm
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Film Bee (experimental film animation - hands-on manipulation with household chemicals!)

All Ages Concert
8 PM
$5

Ideal Lovers (Montreal)
http://www.myspace.com/ideallovers

Soft Disaster (Ottawa)
http://www.myspace.com/softdisaster

The Soiree (Ottawa)
http://www.myspace.com/thesoiree

Call for Cabaret submissions

Struts Gallery + Faucet Media Arts Centre would like to invite their members, Sackville citizens, and anyone else who is interested to submit a time-based artwork for the 2008 Ok.Quoi?! opening night Cabaret. The pieces should reflect Ok.Quoi?!’s media arts and new music focus, but the invitation is very open-ended; the only restrictions are that pieces cannot exceed 10 minutes in length. In the past, submissions have ranged from short films, to audio art, to puppet shows.

If you would like to participate please send an email to amelia@strutsgallery.ca describing your project and any equipment/technical needs you may have. Works can be musical, video/film, performance, or interdisciplinary in nature.

Please respond ASAP if you are interested. Confirmation is needed by Friday, July 18 at 5 pm.

Unfortunately not all submissions will be part of the program. Artists who are successful will be contacted and a small artist’s fee will be rewarded.

Weekly workshops following the noon BBQ
3pm - 5pm
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Intro to Audio Recording

Weekly workshops following the noon BBQ
3pm - 5pm
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Intro to Audio Output

Friday Noon BBQ + Concert

Fresia & The Offsprings
http://www.fresiaandtheoffsprings.com/
PWYC

Weekly workshops following the noon BBQ
3pm - 5pm
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Digital Imaging Jam

Roberto Santaguida (Montréal)