Artist employs ‘guerilla tactics’ to slip past security, crash soirée

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2011 (5536 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CELLO PARTY CRASHERS: Yours truly spotted Wanda Luna’s giant red cello painting called Carmen being hustled across Main Street by a gang dressed in formal black tie this weekend. The artist was zipping along at the front of the pack trying to get it back to Estudio Luna.

“We’d just crashed the wrap-up party at the Centennial Concert Hall for Cello Fest, and they all saw us with Carmen!” said an excited Luna. To get into the party, they breezed by the front doors, saying they were there for a quick photo with the cello painting on the steps of the Piano Nobile. The crashers got their shot “and we left before being asked to leave!”… Earlier, they showed up unannounced in painter’s clothes with Carmen at the Kirk Starkey and Leanne Zacharias cello concert under The Forks canopy. “At first the cello players seemed nervous —- not sure what might happen, and then they relaxed,” says Luna.

Starkey, who’s known for his radical electric cello playing, got in touch with the Chilean-Canadian artist by email. “Wanda, bless your heart. Your painting is beautiful, your guerrilla tactics were a plus for the show, so thanks!”

 

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STRANGE LINEUP: Fireman at the 5 Alarm Firefighters Cook-off Saturday announced rides in the cherry-picker that rescues people from tall burning buildings. Presto! An instant lineup of 25 people. And yours truly noted the first group was mostly big boys dragging their little boys as a coverup. Plus, there was one tiny perfect lady in a short puffed skirt and four-inch heels at the back of the line all by herself. Jackie Silla, owner of Sweet Pea Beauty Bar, wanted to go up badly, and was willing to grip the edges of that bucket with her fancy nails.

Hot Tip: The cherry-picker goes 30 metres in the air on an angle, which means they can pick you up, on average, from a seventh-floor balcony, according to a fireman standing beside me. Just sayin’, you highrisers…

CJOB morning man Hal Anderson hosted this Burn Fund event and announced Keith Dixon as winner of the cook-off with his Thai Firehouse Cashew Chicken. Runner-up dishes were Robbie Mac’s Ribs (Rob McDonald’s secret ingredient —- Coca-Cola) and Derek Balcaen’s Man Sauce “developed several years ago in the darkened dungeon kitchen of Winnipeg’s Firehall No. 8 (Kimberly & Raleigh).” Hal’s Kitchen blog printed three of the top recipes, http://www.cjob.com/Blog/HalsKitchen/home.aspx so you can impress your friends at barbecues, now that summer has arrived.

 

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WILSON PHILLIPS: You don’t get much more relaxed and homey than Wendy and Carnie Wilson (daughters of Beach Boy founder Brian) and their singing pal Chynna Phillips (daughter of Michelle and John Phillips, who were in The Mamas & the Papas.) The trio appeared Thursday night at McPhillips Street Station, where they performed cover tunes most of the night. Wilson Phillips is famous for only a few songs such as Hold On, re-popularized in the recent chick-flick Bridesmaids where they had a cameo.

After a few songs, these three real-life mamas (nine kids between them) were taking off their high heels, putting on glasses and pulling out the sheet music so they wouldn’t forget the words. Carnie Wilson was complaining about PMS and her pantyhose rolling down and the fact she has thin hair. Known for her expletives, she still shocked the audience when she said “I have more hair on my (butt) than I have on my head.”

 

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VINTAGE VICTORY: The costume crew for the new Don Cherry movie, being filmed in Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, hit the motherlode when looking for vintage costuming at Ruby Slipper. This sequel tracks Cherry through the many decades of his colourful life. Luckily, owner Tracy Martin and her assistants had just shipped back from Regina thousands of pieces from an 88-year-old costume collector.

“We got everything from the ’20s to the ’80s — from flapper outfits to ’50s Mad Men cocktail dresses, tuxedos, wild plaid sports jackets, sequined vests, go-go boots,.”

 

Got tips, events, sightings? Call Maureen’s tip line at 474-1116, email her at Maureen.Scurfield@Winnipegfreepress.com or send mail to The Insider c/o The Winnipeg Free Press at 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg R2X 3B6.