Masterworks trimming party

The Masterworks Gallery is hosting an action-filled day at its Front Street gallery on Saturday. Author Tracy Carswell will be on hand sign copies of her book, ‘Tea with Tracy'; children from Somersfield Academy will have a gallery trimming party; Bermudian and Mikmak native Laurie Hayward will be making dream catchers; and original art and gift items by a host of artists and crafters will be available for sale. Milton Hill, Sr. will be showing his Bermuda cedar jewellery, and Deidre Furtado her banana doll angels. In addition, there will be unusual posters, prints and cards, as well as a gift wrapping service. The Gallery events will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. For further information see today's Bermuda Calendar.

The gallery will remain open until 7 p.m. on Friday, December 12 and 19 for late night shopping.

Jewellery “first” at Masterworks

Original sterling silver, gold and gold plated jewellery designed and made by Bermudian Carmel Furtado has arrived at Masterworks' Front Street Gallery just in time for Christmas shopping. The collection includes cuff links, bangles, earrings and a necklace, and prices range from $50 to $200. This is Miss Furtado's first Bermuda showing of her work. Educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, she divides her time between here and Manchester, Vermont.

Ensemble Singers celebrate Advent of Christmas

The Ensemble Singers, directed by Lloyd Matthew, will present a programme of choral music celebrating the Advent of Christmas at St. Theresa's Cathedral this Sunday, beginning at 8 p.m. Guest artists will include the Handbell Choir of Whitney Institute Middle School, oboist Robert Burgess and American organist John Oss.

The ecumenical Ensemble Singers are dedicated to delivering the highest standard of professional performances of secular and sacred music, and have given many performances this year, including appearing in this year's Bermuda Festival in ‘Walk Together Children'. They have also been invited to perform in Tokyo, Japan in April next year.

With the support of friends and patrons, the group has established a Music Education Award, whose recipients this year were piano students, Jonathan Marion (age eight), Natasia Symonds (age ten), and William Tucker (age 18), a music major at Berklee School of Music.

For further information on Sunday's concert see today's Bermuda Calendar.

Brassworks concert this weekend

The trio known as Brassworks (Mike McDonough, trombone; Conrad Roach, trumpet; and Kent Hayward, French horn) will be ringing in the Christmas spirit this Sunday at St. John's Church, Pembroke with a programme that includes music by Poulenc, Bach and Mozart, and ragtime Christmas favourites. The trio will also play Mr. McDonough's arrangement of ‘Bermuda is Another World' for brass trio. Tickets: $20, seniors/children $10 are available from the church office at Pembroke Sunday School and at the door. The concert begins at 7.30 p.m. and is a fundraiser for St. John's church.

St. John's Youth Choir to give Christmas concert

Reserve Sunday, December 14 for a special Christmas concert by the St. John's Youth Choir at the Anglican Pembroke parish church, beginning at 7 p.m. The event, entitled ‘Joy to the World', will be directed by Marjorie Pettit, with William Duncan (organ), Andrea Hodson (piano), and Kate Ross (orchestra leader). Tickets (adults $15, students $10) will be sold at the door.

Last week for Sharon Wilson exhibition

If you haven't yet caught this outstanding exhibition at the New Heritage House Gallery on Church Street (opposite the bus terminal), you have until Saturday to do so. The body of work represents new directions being explored by this much-admired professional artist in terms of colour and media.

Christmas show set for New Heritage House Gallery

Art lovers will have plenty to choose from when the New Heritage House Gallery launches its ‘Small Picture Show 2003' next weekend. Under the adage, ‘Beautiful things come in small packages', a galaxy of Bermuda's best artists have created a collection small paintings with the Christmas shopper in mind. They include: Diana and Eric Amos, Sheilagh Head, Christopher Marson, Ann Proctor, Emma Ingham-Dounouk, Jackie Stevenson, John Terralak, Robin Trimingham, Christine and Marion Watlington and Katherine Zuill.

The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, December 12. Further information in today's Bermuda Calendar.

New York museum honours producer Arthur Rankin, Jr.

Bermuda resident and pioneering producer Arthur Rankin, Jr. and fellow producer Jules Bass are being honoured in New York this week by the Museum of Television and Radio in Manhattan for their ground-breaking 1964 stop-motion animation television special, ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer', and for “entertaining every generation since with over 30 animated television specials”. Three of the duo's Christmas specials, ‘Rudolph', ‘Santa Claus is Comin' To Town', and ‘Frosty the Snowman', were included in TV Guide's ‘Ten Best Classic Family Holiday Specials'.

During the event, Mr. Rankin is discussing his early work with stop-motion animation, his relationship with partner Jules Bass, and how the duo created such enduring programmes.