There will be light, and art, in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows this weekend as part of Culture Days.
The national movement raises awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in arts and culture in their own communities.
This year, Fern Crescent artist-in-residence Robi Smith will be holding a lantern installation event the evenings of Sept. 30, and Oct. 1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Crosses Cabins Park, adjacent to Davidson’s Pool.
Over the summer, 50 lanterns were created for the installation called A River of Light: Community Lantern Installation.
A final lantern making session will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the artist’s studio at 23740 Fern Crescent.
The Maple Ridge Lapidary Club will be holding a build-your-own miniature rock house with stones and natural minerals at a free workshop at the club, 23750 Fern Crescent, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the same day.
On Friday, from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. the Maple Ridge library, 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, will host an interactive craft and storytime with music and dance.
On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the library will also host a number of local artists, who will be do demonstrations in all corners of the library. You can also participate in CreAtrium, a public art installation in the lobby.
The ACT will celebrate Japanese culture on Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. with Taiko drumming by Vancouver’s youth ensemble Chibi Taiko. The Yoyoi Theatre Movement will feature dance by Yayoi Hirano and Fumiko Horan. There will also be tea sampling and banner making.
You can also check out the ongoing art exhibition of Setsuko Piroche.
From 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the Maple Ridge Museum and Dewdney Alouette Railway Society, 22520 – 116th Avenue, will have new exhibits and new miniature passenger trains added to their model railway diorama of the Port Haney area.
In Pitt Meadows on Saturday, you can learn about the culture and history of the Katzie First Nation, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Katzie Community and Health Centre, 19700 Salish Road.
Between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre will be a hive of activities.
Former Pitt Meadows artist-in-residence Rebecca Fisher, a textile and fabric artist, will be unveiling the completed Community Yurt, made of felted material, which will be for school and library use. The public is invited to try spinning with a rock and a pencil.
There will be the unveiling of a Community Crane origami art display in the atrium of the Pitt Meadows centre, an art project spearheaded by Brad Dinwoodie. Try origami there.
And BollyX Fitness will be having a free class at 2 p.m., when participants can dance to Bollywood music.
And students from Edith McDermott elementary will have a model of a First Nations site that will be on display.
On Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m., the Pitt Meadows museum will host games from yesteryear, including tiddlywinks and Jenga.
Finally, all weekend, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., there will be painting demonstrations by member artists at the Blue Heron Gallery, 105 – 10996 Barnston View Road, where you will also be able to make your own bookmarks.