Creative Crossroads: Celebrating the Arts
This event is offered in-person and livestream
Tuesdays, May 6 – June 10, 1:30 – 3:30
Registration Opens April 8, 2025 9:00am
Join us to celebrate this creative crossroads of music and art! Seven accomplished, innovative artists and musicians, each passionate about what they bring to the world, share their lives and creativity with us. What a joyful way to celebrate Spring!
Street Art, Murals and Empowerment!
May 6: Bruno Smoky and Shalak Attack
The duo, Clandestinos Art, also known individually as Bruno Smoky and Shalak Attack, will be presenting about the culture of graffiti/street art that united their paths and led them to painting large scale public murals around the world! They will touch on the importance of Street art and community murals being part of our visual urban landscapes as well as empowerment through creativity!
Behind the Curtain: Exploring the World of Opera
May 13: Lillian Brooks
Discover the rich world of opera, operatic performance, and timeless stories brought to life by music in this session designed for lifelong learners. Explore how opera weaves together music, drama, and storytelling to create emotional experiences. Delve into the “larger than life” history of opera and performance, learn about iconic composers and famous operas, and uncover how these stories reflect universal human themes. With plenty of time for discussion and musical highlights, this session offers a journey into an art form that continues to captivate audiences across generations. Perfect for both seasoned opera lovers and curious newcomers!
Jewellery that Celebrates
May 20: Don Stuart
The word “Jewellery” conjures up magical images! In prehistoric times, this body adornment was made from shells, animal teeth and other found items. Over the centuries, jewellery came to be a sign of social status or religious rank, and during the 16th century, jewellery making reached the status of a fine art. By the 19th century, industrialization brought jewellery within the reach of the middle class.
This engaging illustrated lecture will be about jewellery, its history and processes. Don Stuart will also share some of his celebrated career as a gold/silversmith, teacher and mentor, showing his unique artistry in jewellery, hollowware, liturgical works and architectural installations. He will give an insight into his acclaimed travelling exhibition; Homage- necklaces inspired by outstanding Canadian women.
Stories from a Genre-bending Musician
May 27: Danny Marks
Danny Marks started out in the Sixties as an iconic rocker in the R&B Band Edward Bear. Over his long and still active career in recording, and in Toronto clubs and venues, he has established a genre-bending cult in music and humour, with forays into jazz and the blues and a continued love of R&B. He is also a well-known radio host on CBC, Jazz FM and Bluz FM, where he has shared his love and knowledge of all kinds of music for many years. Danny brings lots of great stories about all genres of music – and his guitar, to this session.
My Journey in Becoming a Wizard
June 3: Phil Da Costa
Phil DaCosta takes you through his journey into becoming an award winning magician. Travel back to when he was a young boy, seeing magic for the first time, all the way to present day, where Phil not only has gained over 20 years of magic experience, but he also has created and marketed an original effect that has gotten worldwide praise. Phil will demonstrate and teach some of the basics of sleight of hand, as well as look at some of his influences in the magic community. Phil will also demonstrate some other influential pieces of magic and explain his take and handling on them. Not only will you learn something about magic, you will also learn a trick or two.
The Life of a Pianist
June 10: Daniel Vnukowski
In this session, classical pianist and much-loved classical music radio host, Daniel Vnukowski talks about his early life in music, his special connection to Chopin, Beethoven and Bach and why they are so important to study. Daniel will demonstrate different forms and cadences of music by playing musical excerpts on the piano, something his radio audiences enjoy frequently. Daniel will also share his passion for the recovery of music banned during the Holocaust, related to his own family’s haunted past.
Speakers
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Bruno Smoky & Shalak AttackTwo visual story tellers, individually known as Bruno Smoky and Shalak Attack, started their journey together as Clandestinos Art in 2010. Together they are dedicated to painting murals around the world by creating colourful narratives that unify both real and imaginary dimensions. Emerging as visual artists about a decade before they met, they had each developed their own unique artistic voice. Shalak was born in Edmonton, Alberta and grew up across Canada. Smoky was born in Itanhaem, on the coast surrounded by the Atlantic jungle and raised in the megacity Sao Paulo, Brazil. Shalak and Smoky met in Rio de Janeiro and have been painting together ever since.
This award-winning duo has gained international recognition with their unique artistic approach, techniques, and distinct subject matter. They have had the honour of participating in several art and cultural projects in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Senegal, Spain, Belgium, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Sweden, USA, Paraguay, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. -
Lillian Brooks
Praised for her “legato, lyric sound” (Ludwig van Toronto), mezzo-soprano Lillian Brooks has performed as a soloist with renowned Canadian opera and oratorio presenters, including Chorus Niagara, Calgary Philharmonic, Calgary Opera, and Toronto Operetta Theatre. Her 2024/2025 season has seen her perform repertoire including Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s B Minor Mass, and Mozart’s Requiem. Her past operatic roles include Cherubino in Nozze di Figaro, Flora in La Traviata, and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel.
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Don Stuart
Donald A. Stuart, CM, OOnt, RCA: A Simcoe County resident since 1972, Donald Stuart, is the First Professor Emeritus of Georgian College and the founder of their celebrated Jewellery and Metals program. He has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions and is represented in corporate, private and public collections including the Canadian Museum of History. Don was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, awarded the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.
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Danny Marks
This iconic rocker’s roots go back to the sixties as a founding member of Capitol Records’ group, Edward Bear. After a span as a journey man session musician throughout the seventies, Danny settled in to the club scene, establishing a cult following as a genre bender in music and humour.
A house band gig at Toronto’s famed Albert’s Hall led him to host his own nation-wide TV show, Stormy Monday. Through the eighties, Danny starred in CBC radio’s hit series the Hum Line. Most recently, Danny Marks recorded two original music albums, Guitarchaeology and True, before paying tribute to Toronto’s R&B roots with Big Town Boy in 2005. In 2013, Danny released A Friend in the Blues and subsequently signed with BBC First TV to create and host the series Cities in Blue. Most recently, Danny’s single Man on the Radio made a buzz world wide. His latest single, I’m Ready
is due for release March 1st / 2025. Danny is in his 23rd year as the radio host of JAZZ.FM91’s Saturday night blues show, bluz.fm and Tuesday Nights with Beyond the Fringe. He remains active, performing in the clubs and venues of Toronto. -
Phil DaCosta
Phil DaCosta has been performing magic to audience for over 20+ years. Early in his career he created DaCosta Magic Ent, which came to house the School of Magic in 2018. He has performed across North America, and has been teaching magic to all ages across the GTA and Simcoe County. He is passionate about magic, its history and teaching those who also have a passion for the magical arts. Phil is honoured to be speaking at Third Age Barrie.
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Daniel Vnukowski
Daniel Vnukowski is a classical pianist, radio host at New Classical FM, and artistic director of the Collingwood Music Festival. With a celebrated international career, he has performed at renowned venues across Europe, North America, and South America. Daniel combines his love of music, nature, travel, and cooking with a passion for connecting audiences through engaging performances and storytelling. His vibrant personality and deep musical insights bring classical music to life on stage and on air.
