The Cookshire Fair is putting on its big Beef and Pork Mechoui this Saturday, May 27, at 5 to 7 p.m. It’s a fundraiser for the benefit of (ta-da!) the Cookshire Fair, coming this August. We’re all invited.
The Mechoui is at the McAulay Centre, the big hall on the Fairgrounds where dances are held. Newcomers are welcome, and for you, the address is 580 Route 108, between Birchton and Cookshire. It is organized by the SACC/CCAS, and for all of us, that means the Société Agricole du Compté de Compton/ Compton County Agricultural Society.
“That’s why we use the acronym,” quipped Myrna MacDonald, a hardworking part of the SACC/CCAS. (Is that pronounced the “saccas”?)
But listen up. Reserve or buy your Mechoui tickets in advance (right now): Adults, $25. Children 6 to 12, $10. Children younger than 6, Free. To get yours, call 819-875-3771 and leave your name and phone number, and how many people you will bring with you. You can also buy yours from saccas committee members or at Clarke and Sons.
PAUL GRÉGOIRE
Before the Mechoui, stop by the Galerie d’Art Cookshire-Eaton at 125 Principale West, Cookshire. Ok, this is weird, in an intriguing way. Imagination unleashed. A boa constrictor putting the squeeze on a leopard. No wait, the leopard has a raccoon tail. Paul Grégoire is the artist, a multidisciplinary artist. He does performance art, sculpture, drawing, music, and more. On his website, paulgregoire.com, you’ll see a fascinating deployment of animal bones in the form of a mask. For example, jawbones mimicking antlers.
These and other spirited images play roles in three – yes, three at once! – exhibitions, all by Grégoire, at the Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery.
First is Gordian Knots. You’ve heard of those complex or unsolvable problems, like the world we inhabit? For the story of Alexander the Great’s encounter with the very first Gordian knot, visit history.com/news/what-was-the-gordian-knot. To explore Grégoire’s versions, visit his exhibition.
The second exhibit is La Chrysalide. You know, the chrysalis that protects a caterpillar as it morphs into a butterfly. Immense canvases. Photos documenting all the steps of a sculptural creation.
And third, Cauchemar d’enfant, as in a child’s nightmare.
Grégoire has been called a nomadic artist. His is a travelling exhibition “between Montreal and the Magdalen Islands.” How lucky we are to lie between those points. His exhibits will occupy the entire space, upstairs and downstairs, at the Cookshire-Eaton Gallery, and improvises a space specially named for the occasion, the “Hangar Gallery.”
The vernissage is on Saturday, May 27, from noon to 4 p.m., and the exhibitions continue into the summer. The Gallery is open May 27 to June 25 on Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., and from June 26 to July 2, from noon to 5 p.m.
FIRST CONCERT
Belly full of beef? Right after the Mechoui, go on over to the Trinity United Church for Cookshire-Eaton Cultural Space’s first concert of the season. It’s Saturday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m., and it features two musicians, violinist Uliana Drugova and pianist Michel-Alexandre Broekaert. The concert explores the world of French composer Lili Boulanger, the first woman to win the Grand Prix de Rome. Her promising career was cut short when she died of tuberculosis in 1918, at age 24.
The musical pieces will alternate with commentary about the links between Boulanger and composers such as Debussy and other composers of her day, letting the audience “reimagine a French salon of the 20th century,” said the concert description. The concert is at the Trinity United Church, 190 Principale West, Cookshire. Admission is by voluntary contribution. Info: galeriecookshireeaton@gmail.com.
CONCERTS GALORE
And there’s more to come. Plan your summer around them, three concerts free of charge, open to all, outdoors in the Parc des Braves at 85 avenue du Parc in the heart of Cookshire on Sundays at 5 p.m.
July 2: A duet by flutists Marilène Provencher-Leduc and Alexis Dubois will offer a repertoire that roams from baroque to contemporary music.
July 23: Now the musicians are five: The DeVito Brass Quintet (Robin Doyon and Frédéric Gagnon on trumpets, Gabriel Gauthier-Beaudoin on horn, Martin Ringuette on trombone, and Jean-Philippe Dutil on tuba). Expect an eclectic and entertaining journey from baroque to jazz, including film music.
August 27: Swimming in saxaphones (Wait a minute! Is this somehow related to “saccas”? See above.): The SaxoLogie Ensemble is a quartet of saxaphones, soprano (Louis-Philippe Bonin), alto (Stéphane Jackson), tenor (Clio Theodoridis), and baritone (Jean-Philippe Godard). Their repertoire of chamber music promises to amaze, from baroque to modern, including works by Glass, Piazzola, and Browning.
CANTERBURY POTLUCK
The Canterbury Center hosts a Community Potluck Supper on Saturday, August 5, starting at 4:30 p.m. Ed Pederson says, “Everyone is welcome. Candy Coleman is organizing the menu, so she will call you if you participated in 2019. If you are new to Canterbury Cuisine, you can call her at 819-657-4661.” The Canterbury Center is located at 1095 Route 214, Canterbury.
CHURCHES
United. In-person Sunday services on May 28 are at 9:30 a.m. at the Trinity United Church in Cookshire, and at 11 a.m. at the Sawyerville United Church. On June 4, at 10:30 a.m., the Penticost Sunday service is a joint service at the Sawyerville United Church, with communion. Info: 819-889-2838. For pastoral care, call Rev. Spires at 819-452-3685.
Baptist. In-person Sunday services are in French at 9 a.m. and in English at 11 a.m. All services are at the Sawyerville Baptist Church, 33 rue de Cookshire. For information, please contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-889-2819.
Anglican. The next in-person Sunday service is on May 28, 10 a.m., at St. John’s Anglican Church, 170 Route 255 North, Brookbury, and on June 4 at 11 a.m. at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 45 Principale West, Cookshire. For details, visit deaneryofstfrancis.com and click on the “Calendar” link. Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by May 29 for publication June 7.