Cathy Dobson
If you take in First Friday Aug. 4, a fairly rare event is happening at the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery (JNAAG) that incorporates live performers, painting and Canadian authors.
Kind of a cultural hat trick.
Gallery volunteers plan to host singing docent tours of the John Hartman exhibition titled “Many Lives Mark This Place.”
The gallery has had docents for years who provide insight into the exhibits with their tours. On occasion, they are inspired to present the tour in song.
Starting at 7 p.m., JNAAG visitors are welcome to sing along with the docents as they view Hartman’s portraits of Canadian authors and the places that inform their writing. Or they can just listen, learn and enjoy.
“The singing docent tour highlights the ways that different artistic mediums can complement each other, while also providing a dynamic way to access and interact with the exhibition,” says JNAAG’s curator Sonya Blazek.
Among Hartman’s subjects are Esi Edugyan, Ruth Ozeki, M.G. Vassanji, Thomas King, Lisa Moore, Neil Bissoondath, Susan Swan and David Macfarlane.
On First Friday, the gallery is open from 11 a.m – 9 p.m. and is located at the corner of Lochiel and Christian streets.
JNAAG is one of numerous downtown locations participating in the August cultural walkabout known as First Friday. They are offering a wide array of live music, art, food, drink and crafts.
Here is a listing of what's happening:
Live Music and Dancing with Cornerstone, 7 – 11 PM Sarnia Legion Branch 62 286 Front Street North
Beer Store Money performs live, 8 – 11 PM Bad Dog Sarnia 229 Christina St. N. Live Music, 8 – 11 PM Ups N' Downs 226 Front Street North Latin Dance Night by Latin Fire, 7 – 11 PM Café Mexico 216 Front Street North Live Music by Isabelle Elise, 6:30 PM Art by Ishamdeep Greens 196 Christina Street NorthHumans of Lambton Exhibition Opening till 9 PM Nico Williams Biskaabiiyang / Returning to Ourselves Many Lives Mark This Place, John Hartman Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery 147 Lochiel Street
Summer T-shirts & Tunes at the ReFound Store The ReFound Store 161 Lochiel Street Crafty Crossman – Custom Drinkware till 9 PM The Local Pick 176 Christina Street North Latte Art Throw Down 6 – 8 PM Blackwater Coffee Company Proudly serving our fresh roasted coffee to Sarnia’s Downtown for over 25 years! 177 Christina St N Bedard’s Beeworks Pop Up 4 - 8 PM Products by Sparta Lavender Farm will be available! New Mixed Media Paintings by Jenn Bain on view and for sale! River Bank & Co. 172 Front Street North Live Music with Brett & Brean at Collide Lounge 7 – 10:30 PM followed by DJ After Party / $5 cover after 9 PM Collide by Revelree 148 Front Street NorthNew menu online at www.refinedfool.com/davis Refined Fool Brewing Co. 137 Davis Street
Live Music on the Patio with Emily and Jules 6 – 8 PM Backhome Coffee 112 Christina St S Make of the Month Home Sweet Home Keyholder, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Sarnia Library 124 Christina St. S. Breaking Free Exhibition Opening of Members' Art Open Stage Hosted by Cynthia Fay 6 – 9 PM The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts 127 Christina Street South Also, open later than usual for First Friday: Harbour Bay Clothing 186 Front Street North Open until 7 PM