You need not travel to the far east to experience a grand bazaar of local arts and culture. You need only travel to 2880 15th Avenue on June 7.
The annual Great Northern Chili Cookoff and Arts Bazaar carpets the grounds of Studio 2880, the headquarters of the Community Arts Council. The resident arts groups and guilds will set their wares out for sale, entertainers will inflate the atmosphere with instruments and voices, and clouds of delicious vapors will call the public to the chili pots.
"There is so much going on, it is such a great family attraction, and a celebration of the city's arts community, but there is no doubt that the big feature is the chili cookoff," said CAC project co-ordinator Lisa Redpath. "We have 12 teams this year, that is more than last year, and they all are making claims that their chili is the best. But for the last four years in a row our MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike Morris, and Pat Bell before Mike, have won the chili vote. They seem to have a recipe people like, but that's motivating the other teams to do their best chili. It's going to be a real battle."
Of all the arts groups involved in the Great Northern Chili Cookoff and Arts Bazaar, none are more prominent than the Potters Guild.
"They do the bowls for the chili cookoff," said Redpath.
In order to obtain the stewy concoctions in the competition, you have to purchase a ticket. That ticket is a handmade clay bowl. In many cases people buy entire sets of the locally-crafted dishes. Plus, that gives you more votes for your favourite chili stations in case you want to lay on the love for one particular brand or spread out the affirmation among a number of contestants.
The potters also have a room full of discount pottery for sale, for those who want to stock their homes with more than just chili bowls.
"We have a passionate mandate to support those local artists, so it is a partnership with the potters but we have Cold Snap providing musicians, and many of our member groups involved in selling art and promoting their work and organizing the events. We have an amazing team," Redpath said. "And for me, it's the real kickoff to summer. It is the signal to the community that winter is behind us, summer is here. It's like what our Studio Fair event is to the Christmas season."
Sometimes there is inclement weather, but the arts always endure. Rain and wind are never enough to wash out this event, and frequently the sun is shining its approval on all these local creations. This is the 39th edition. It runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
