Robert Danielis sits nestled in his Blue Rocks studio, carefully carving Star Trek’s own Captain Kirk out of wood.
“I’ve been starving at this for 34 years now,” he says, laughing. “I’ve always made stuff all my life.”
And in the world of Danielis’ woodworking studio, the interstellar captain will forever sit in an outhouse; the carving has playfully been named Captain’s Log.
The piece, like the work of the 18 other artists who will be participating in the third edition of Art-in-Action, highlights the wit and skill that will be on display.
Peter and Linda Roe, the event’s organizers and owners of The Art Barn, said Art-in-Action is tailored for the South Shore.
“Lunenburg and Nova Scotia is not just beautiful scenery. It’s just absolutely delightful to live here,” said Linda, who practises art in a variety of forms.
Seven studios throughout the Lunenburg area are expected to participate in the event, which runs Oct. 13 and 14.
Peter added that the festival is aiming to concentrate the local arts community, in all its forms.
“The intent of it is so people can visit all of the studios during the day. Geographically, we keep all the studios in a small area,” he said.
And this year has seen two new studios join the fray, allowing for even more artists to participate.
Throughout the weekend, artists will congregate and work at the selected studios so that visitors won’t have to pick and choose where they stop.
This allows, explained Peter, for visitors to maximize their stops and allows for a dialogue as the artists’ work.
“What it does is that when people come around, they ask questions,” said Peter.
For artists like Danielis, who moved to Nova Scotia three years ago, the ability to showcase his work close to home is welcome.
“This is a well-greased machine,” he said of Art-in-Action. “I’m anticipating a lot of people.”
And Lunenburg’s reputation for art, said Peter, is well deserved.
For more information on Art-in-Action, artists and participating studios, visit www.art-in-action.ca.
