The Hay Days Festival saw a special emphasis on music from budding youth artists at the Sound Stage and a seasoned veteran in basket making at the FishermanSA国际影视传媒檚 Wharf Aug. 7.
The Smith Sisters, made up of Rochelle, 16, and Corrine Smith, 14, both of Hay River played to festival goers Saturday morning.
The sibling duo, who tend to play covers and a combinat6ion of country, pop and folk music, had also played an Aug. 6 gig at the Doghouse Pub.
Mother Lisa Smith said the weekend was the first time they had played since the pandemic.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 played all through COVID-19 and so it was a really big deal for them,SA国际影视传媒� Lisa said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was the first time since restrictions lifted and they were very, very excited about it.SA国际影视传媒�
Smith said that she owes much of her daughtersSA国际影视传媒� music development under teacher Lisa DufordSA国际影视传媒檚 Purple Pick Music Studio programming.
Duford, also a past festival performer this summer, has taught both of them since they were about seven years old.
SA国际影视传媒淟inda really gets those kids going and performing every chance she can and it was their first time at Hay Days two years ago, which was a big deal,SA国际影视传媒� Smith explained.
The duo are expected to play over the next month at the museum and at a private function at the Purple Pick, however dates are to be confirmed.
Smith as mother had been the Meet the Maker Artist on July 17 as founder of Pink Poppy Designs, where she makes contemporary beaded jewelry. Although she wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 selling items on the same weekend,
she likes participating in the art world with her daughters.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think the Hay Days is a fun and great community event that the whole family can be involved with and with different aspects,SA国际影视传媒� she said, noting the music, food, art and general camaraderie offered for residents.
Yellowknife-based basket artist Cathie Harper, was the Meet the Maker featured artist this year and it was her third time at the Hay Days festival, although she has taught in Hay River before.
As a basket artist of 25 years in the capital, she said she enjoys engaging with people who take her workshops.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is a neat opportunity to get out and teach, which is what I do a lot of,SA国际影视传媒� she said of the festival this year.
SA国际影视传媒淚 love teaching because I always manage to learn something from students that I hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 learned before- even from kids.
SA国际影视传媒淚 bring my baskets either functional ones or art pieces and I think people really appreciate the amount of work that goes into creating them.SA国际影视传媒�
On Saturday, Harper had several functional baskets made of commercially grown English willows on display at the wharf. There was a woven bread bannoten, used to proof bread, on display as well as reed baskets of her own colouring and design, birch bark amulets to store little treasures, and other art pieces of different materials.
April Glaicar, festival coordinator, said she was impressed with the festivalSA国际影视传媒檚 contributors again this week.
SA国际影视传媒淭he crowd absolutely loved the mix of cover songs and variety of instruments that the (Smith Sisters) girls played,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淲orkshops through the week by Cathie Harper were well attended and people created functional art including pieces made with locally harvested willow branches.SA国际影视传媒�
The Hay Days 2021 festival lineup has four weekends left and residents are encouraged to rush down to the FishermanSA国际影视传媒檚 Wharf on Saturday morning if you havenSA国际影视传媒檛 already.
Next week will feature 5/3 Mad of Hay River on the Sound Stage with Fort Smith-based artist Chris Dewolf of Dewolf Artworks as the Meet the Maker featured artist. Dewolf will also put on workshops Aug. 11 to 13.
