These are commonly known as the pre-pre dawn hours. Or the ‘pre-wee’ hours.  On weekend nights our city’s most active artists are typically the musicians, who fill most of the downtown bars and play ’til last call. Earlier, The Burning Hell induced a frenzy here at the EE Gallery with an upbeat (and tight!) set. Mark Bragg and The Butchers are playing to a packed, sweaty room right now, but when the music ends and some call it a night a slew of the city’s most ambitious visual artists are likely to embrace the subdued atmosphere as they enter the final stretch of the 2011 Marathon.

You can do it Noah!

Noah Bender, using dyes and paper plates as his medium, says he’s going to stick it out as long as possible, but may have to engage in some power nappage at some point. Writer Iain McCurdy and painter Jon Howse, equipped with a healthy supply of energy (the carb kind) in their bag of pastries, are here ’til noon, they say. McCurdy is assembling six years of ideas for his work ‘Book: An Unstarted Novel’ in these 24 hours. By noon the book will be written.

It’s getting late, but dozens of artists are still at it. As we move from the pre-wee hours into the wee hours of the night/morning, the 2011 Arts Marathon Festival is entering its final day. At 1 p.m. Sunday all the artists’ work will be exhibited down here at EE, and sold at the silent auction. And believe me, there’s some seriously incredible work down here, so mosey on down and support our most ambitious artists and the Eastern Edge Gallery!

Look at ‘em in there, in the garage. Some lovely, them folk. We will soon see the fruit of their creativity and love!

Erin Power and Erin Callahan St. John spinnin' fire outside Eastern Edge shortly after 10 p.m.

They’ve been at it for a half day now. Many of the artists who began creating marathon-style at noon today are still going. The music marathon part of the event has been under way for a few hours now, and animated synth-punk trio ‘Cafeteria’ (Craig Francis Power, John McDonald, Benjamin Thwaites) just wrapped up a killer set. ‘The Pathological Lovers’ are flirting with a gallery-full of eardrums right now. Yet, over in the artists’ space painters like Jessica Cutler and Dominique Hurley maintain their meditative states as they create. Others are moving around and chatting with visitors as the marathon’s half-way point looms.

Outside, the beer tent (new this year) is full, Hillary Winter’s marathon project of photographing peoples smiles and projecting them on the outside wall of the gallery is drawing onlookers (and creating more smiles!), and Mohamad El Bakri and Ali Al Haijaa have a steady flow of festival attendees looking for a taste of Middle Eastern cuisine.

The Burning Hell, fresh off their extensive European tour, are about to hit the stage! They’ll be followed by Mark Bragg. Things are about to get sweaty!

More soon…

I just wanted to thank everyone who has helped to make this years Art Marathon Festival run so smoothly, it’s really been a wonderful experience so far. The visiting artists have been so so lovely, the volunteers are invaluable, and everyone who has come out to attend the events has been so wonderful and energetic.

The Launch Party was AWESOME, special thanks to Ballistic, Natasha Kudashkina, Neighbourhood Dance Works, James Kirkpatrick of Thesis Sahib,Roxanne, Skye and Michelle of Donzelle, and Amy and Shawn of Remix86, all the wonderful volunteers, Janet, Rachel, Andrew, Marianne, Christine, Nicole, David, Anna and Alexanne, Tony and all the staff at the Rock House. And finally, thanks everybody who came out and danced their asses off. It was thoroughly enjoyable  and it makes such a difference when we have such an interactive audience. Thank you.

Also thank you to everyone who has been attending the workshops and community BBQs. The lantern sculpture looks amazing, thanks to you, the Harbourside crew and Lisa and Caroline!

I could go on and on about how every event has been so wonderful thanks to you. I truly hope you’ve enjoyed this week so far as much as I have.

Hope to see you all at the 24 Hour Art Marathon tomorrow the 20th starting at noon!

Jane Walker

Festival Coordinator

KAREN ZALAMEA WORK WORK WORK Rocket Bakery, 272 Water St.
ANDREA CARVALHO PLACE DE GALO Harbourside Park

TUESDAY AUGUST 16
Offsite Works

KAREN ZALAMEA WORK WORK WORK Rocket Bakery, 272 Water St.
ANDREA CARVALHO PLACE DE GALO Bannerman Park

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17
11am-2pm

LANTERN SCULPTURE AND MOVABLE ART GARDEN WORKSHOPS Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr. (Free)
-Open to all ages, lantern and art garden making for collaborative movable sculptures

12-2pm

COMMUNITY BBQ Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr.
-Hosted by VANL-CARFAC

2-5pm

ART SCHOOL 101 Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr. (Free)
-Guest artists Andrea Carvalho and Karen Zalamea will talk to participants about their art just like an art school critique

8pm

FESTIVAL LAUNCH The Rock House, George St. ($10)
-Donzelle (QC) ,Thesis Sahib (ON), Natasha Kudashkina (ON) and Remix86 (NL)

Offsite Works

KAREN ZALAMEA WORK WORK WORK Rocket Bakery, 272 Water St.
ANDREA CARVALHO PLACE DE GALO
Corner of Military and Kings Road

THURSDAY AUGUST 18
11am-2pm

LANTERN SCULPTURE AND MOVABLE ART GARDEN WORKSHOPS Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr. (Free)
-Open to all ages, lantern and art garden making for collaborative movable sculptures

12-2pm

COMMUNITY BBQ Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr.
-Hosted by OXFAM Canada

7-11pm

FANCY ARTIST TALKS Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr. (Free)
-Short artist talks by festival and local artists while fancy drinks individually designed for each artist are served

9pm-2am

ROCK-A-ROLLA Rose & Thistle , 208 Water St. ($10 admission)
-With live performances by the Novaks and the Mudflowers!

Offsite Works

KAREN ZALAMEA WORK WORK WORK Rocket Bakery, 272 Water St.
ANDREA CARVALHO PLACE DE GALO Scotia Centre Square, Water Street + McBrides Hill

FRIDAY AUGUST 19
11am-1pm

KIDS VIDEO DANCE PARTY Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr. (Free)
-Hosted by Kevin Hehir

12-2pm

COMMUNITY BBQ Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr.
-Hosted by Canada World Youth

2-6pm

PERFORMANCE: COLETTE URBAN “THIRST” The Claw Space, 183A Duckworth St. (Free)
-An interactive performance that involves the exchange of a story for water

8pm

SONGWRITERS’ CIRCLE The Rocket Room, 272 Water St. ($15 admission)
-With Tim Baker, Sherman Downey, Katie Baggs and Sherry Ryan

Offsite Works

KAREN ZALAMEA WORK WORK WORK Rocket Bakery, 272 Water St.

SATURDAY AUGUST 20
12pm Sat-12pm Sun

24 HOUR ART MARATHON
Eastern Edge, 72 Harbour Dr. ($5 admission/kids under 10 free)
-The 24 hour event that started it all; come by and see artists creating works onsite through the night  from noon Saturday until noon Sunday!

12-2pm

COMMUNITY BBQ Parking Lot, 72 Harbour Dr.
Hosted by the Community Youth Arts Program

1-8pm

SOAPBOX PERFORMANCES
Throughout the festival spaces, 72 Harbour Dr.
-Hosted by RN Wagner

8pm-late

MUSIC MARATHON Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr. ($10 admission)
-Megan Morrison, East of Empire, Cafeteria, The Pathological Lovers, Mark Bragg and The Butchers, Burning Hell and Djs Elling Lien and PhysicalPATRICK

Ongoing from 12pm

MINI MOVIE THEATRE Eastern Edge Gallery parking lot, 72 Harbour Dr.
-Featuring a selection of shorts films in partnership with the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival
EVOLVING WALL Parking Lot
-Eastern Edge’s outside wall continues to transform through the Marathon
NATASHA KUDASHKINA BODY PAINTING Parking Lot
-Onsite body painting – what could be better?
PICK-ME-UP-ARTISTS’ COLLECTIVE Parking Lot
-“We Love Smiling!” participatory installation/performance work
GERRI-LYNN MACKEY Parking Lot
-“A Clown Painting Signal Hill” performance (until 6pm)
LANTERN SCULPTURE & PARADE Parking Lot
-A special pirate ship lantern sculpture will be on display all day, culminating in a night lantern parade

Offsite Works

KAREN ZALAMEA WORK WORK WORK Rocket Bakery, 272 Water St.

SUNDAY AUGUST 21
1-2pm

ART MARATHON EXHIBITION+ SILENT AUCTION
Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr.
-You’ve seen the artists create their works onsite, now you can bid on your favourites and take home a piece of the Marathon!
MOVABLE ART GARDEN Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr.
Part of FEASt’s Third Annual Open Garden Day

Tickets for the Festival Launch at The Rock House, sponsored by our friends at Ballistic, are available now at Fred’s, O’Brien’s and Eastern Edge, tickets are $10 and only $5 if you volunteer for the festival! Get yours today! The launch will be featuring Donzelle, Thesis Sahib (James Kirkpatrick), Remix86 and bodypainter, Natasha Kudashkina! Check em out!

www.dddonzelle.com

www.jameskirkpatrick.org

www.remix86.com

www.natashadesign.com

We hope you enjoyed the launch and we hope to see you again throughout the week!

Gerri Lynn Mackey

Click here to check out this years Festival Guide!