What’s up: Prairie Comics Festival, Princess Dasha, art talk, Rumor’s 40th

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/10/2024 (727 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Graphic novels book launch/Prairie Comics Festival

Millennium Library (251 Donald St.) and McNally Robinson Booksellers (1120 Grant Ave.)
Friday through Saturday
Free

Prairie writers, illustrators and publishers are hoping to draw big crowds over the weekend at the Prairie Comics Festival.

Things kick off at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location on Friday at 7 p.m., where a whole pile of creators will help local imprint HighWater Press launch a half-dozen new graphic novels with an emphasis on Indigenous themes.

Hosted by Irene Velentzas of HighWater Press, the event features contributors to the graphic novels including David A. Robertson, Jen Storm, Alice R.L., Sonya Ballantyne, Scott B. Henderson, Albert McLeod and Gitz Crazyboy.

The festival proper kicks off for exhibitors on Saturday at the Millennium Library, with 80-plus artists, publishers, authors and creators including Scott A. Ford, GMB Chomichuk, At Bay Press, Anita Fowl, Joanna Cacao and Robert Pasternak on hand from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Saturday at 7 p.m., McNally Robinson hosts festival headliners Emily Carroll of Stratford, Ont., and Vancouver’s Faith Erin Hicks as they talk about their work and the creative process. Then it’s back to the Millennium Library on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., where exhibitors will pick up where they left off the previous day.

All events are free; for a complete list of exhibitors, writers and artists participating, see prairiecomics.com.

— Ben Sigurdson

 

Princess Dasha at Into the Music

B-245 McDermot Ave.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Free

Princess Dasha is the regal alter-ego of Winnipeg sound designer Dasha Plett, a co-founder of the radical theatre collective We Quit Theatre. With We Quit, Plett and Gislina Patterson deconstruct and rebuild their ideas of what theatre should look, sound and feel like, and as Princess Dasha, Plett does the same with electronic music. Inspired by decades she never lived in and by eras that haven’t yet arrived, Princess Dasha says she “re-DJs the radio” to bring “high-femme glossolalias conjured from the dying light of daytime FM itself.”

The latest free, all-ages show at the Exchange District record shop Into the Music, Princess Dasha kicks off the venue’s October schedule. On Oct. 11, Birdapres — a West Coast hip-hop artist connected to the influential Manitoba label Peanuts & Corn — makes a visit, followed by an Oct. 18 performance by Tired Cossack.

— Ben Waldman

 

First Fridays Art Talk: Art in Set Design

2nd floor-100 Arthur St. at Art Space
Friday, Oct. 6 p.m.
Free

Exploring the connection between art and set design, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s set and costume designer Brian Perchaluk and artistic director Kelly Thornton, with moderator Susan Freig at the helm, will discuss the relationship between set designs, director’s vision and production.

Part of the First Fridays Art Talk, the conversation will delve into how elements of art such as colour, line shape and space and are fundamental to creating impactful set design as they are to art.

Winnipeg-based Perchaluk’s work has been featured on stages across North America and Europe. The award-winning designer has worked with dance and opera companies to create believable worlds which audiences can engage fully with.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar, music and snacks on offer. An accessible entrance is located off King Street.

There will be a raffle to win Perchaluk’s set design sketch for My Fair Lady followed by an Art Walk at 7.15 p.m. to a mix of Exchange District galleries and artists’ studios.

— AV Kitching

 

Rumor’s anniversary celebration

Rumor’s Comedy Club, 2025 Corydon Ave.
Tonight through Saturday
Tickets $40 at rumorscomedyclub.com

Winnipeg’s long-running below-grade laugh factory is celebrating 40 years in business this week with a stacked lineup of club alums.

Rumor’s Comedy Club kicked off the milestone festivities last night with Manitoba-born entertainer Jon Ljungberg. Winnipeg’s Dean Jenkinson takes the stage at 7:45 p.m. tonight.

The fun continues Friday and Saturday with multi-headlining sets featuring celebrated comedians Kelly Taylor, Dave Hemstad, Kevin Bozeman, Rob Pue and Mark Forward — as well as some surprise guests.

This weekend’s early shows are sold out, but tickets are still available for the 9:45 p.m. time slot both nights.

Visit rumorscomedyclub.com for tickets and more info.

— Eva Wasney