Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 25, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba , gone frincin JULY 17-28.2024 ROYAL MTC PRESENTS Plays from around the world Free outdoor entertainment Fantastic family fun BJnge ESTIVAL WINNIPEGFRINGE.COM RepressART THURSDAY JULY 25, 2024 • ARTS && LIFE EDITOR: JILL WILSON 204-697-7018 • ARTS@FREEPRESS.MB.CA • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM ► CONNECT WITH THE BEST ARTS AND LIFE COVERAGE IN MANITOBA SECTION C INSPIRED BY THE LAND V Exhibition a colourful showcase ' of Filipino textiles, basketry, wood carvings and more PHOTOS BY MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Ana llagan, communications and engagement assistant at the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library, curated Lupa ay Buhay | Land is Life, an exhibition showcasing Filipino culture. From left: Ifugao hunter and huntress carvings; Salakots (native hats); and a Tabungaw (gourd hat), aLakub, Tongali, a Kubing and a Diwas. ART PREVIEW LUPA AY BUHAY | LAND IS LIFE • Shirley Richardson Craft Gallery, 329 Cumberland Ave. • To Aug. 28 THANDI VERA Asea of vibrant colours and intricate designs greeted the more than 120 guests who attended the opening of Lupa ay Buhay | Land Is Life on July 5. Curated by 25-year-old Ana Ilagan with the assistance of Andrea Reichert from the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library, the exhibition offers a mesmerizing journey through the rich craft traditions of the Philippines. “The opening was a huge success,” says Ilagan.“This is my very first exhibition that I’ve curated, and I’m really excited. It’s a celebration of Filipino culture and ingenuity of our people.” Lupa ay Buhay is on display at the Shirley Richardson Craft Gallery, 329 Cumberland Ave., until Aug. 28. The exhibit showcases Filipino culture through diverse craft traditions, featuring everything from textile weaving to intricately embroidered garments. As visitors enter, they are greeted by a pair of Ifugao hunter and huntress carvings from the mid-20th century, made from hardwood native to the Philippines and depicting an indigenous group from the Cordillera region of northern Luzon. “Transporting these carvings was hard because of their weight,” Ilagan says. Moving through the exhibition, visitors encounter a wide range of traditional Filipino crafts. The basketry section features pieces like the Salakot, a traditional headgear made from bamboo, palm and rattan leaves, worn by the Tagalog and Kapampan-gan peoples. These items, loaned by community members Allan Pineda and Ruby Maestro Manalang, feature vivid hues and natural materials. “The central theme of this exhibition is how our material culture in the Philippines comes from the land,” Ilagan says. “Farmers and indigenous people have tended and cultivated the land for centuries, making them the creators of our modern culture.” • CONTINUED ON C2 Summer spotlights Alanna McAdie and Peter Lancksweerdt in a pas de deux. Ballet for all seasons, from Nutcracker to Summer NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS DANCE REVIEW BALLET IN THE PARK Royal Winnipeg Ballet • Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park • Friday, 7:30 p.m. ★★★★ out of five HOLLY HARRIS THE Royal Winnipeg Ballet kicked off its 85th season with a grab bag of eclectic offerings as one of its most cherished annual traditions, Ballet in the Park, opened Wednesday at Assiniboine Park’s leafy Lyric Theatre. First conceived in 1972, BITP showcases dancers from both the company and RWB School professional and rec reational divisions. It has weathered the storms — literally — throughout its 52 years, as well as a global pandemic that completely shuttered the al fresco production between 2019 and 2022. Though it’s still free to all, audience members who register for complimentary tickets online at rwb.org will receive weather updates, as well as other goodies, including a chance to win a full season subscription. The nearly 90-minute program of seven works, ranging from funky jazz to ethereal classical ballet, is hosted by the RWB’s newly minted principal dancer, Stephan Azulay, who helmed Tuesday’s dress rehearsal following welcoming remarks by longtime artis- tic director André Lewis. The London, U.K.-born dancer, 31, who joined the company in 2017, has also been carving out a rising career as a choreographer, with the mixed repertoire program premiering two of his latest works. The first of those, his aptly titled Summer — inspired by Vivaldi’s set of four violin concerti The Four Seasons — spotlights principal dancer Alanna McAdie and soloist Peter Lanck-sweerdt in a pas de deux dedicated to revered Winnipeg philanthropist Kathleen Richardson, who served as backbone for the troupe before her death in 2019. The dancers take turns stretching their limbs out towards each other throughout the 11-minute, classically based duet, with McAdie also showing off her rock-steady pointe work, not to mention nerves of steel, as Lanck-sweerdt lifts her sky-high before twisting her around his body like a cobra. However, the piece overall lacked sizzle, with the couple mostly positioned centre stage, creating sense of stasis. More dynamic movement, including propulsive leaps and dramatic contrasts, would have matched the exuberance of Vivaldi’s iconic score. • CONTINUED ON C2 DON'T MISS THE SUMMER 2024 ISSUE Available at Manitoba Liquor Marts - while supplies last! ;