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arts editorial Note From The Editor There's something strange about working on a Chistmas issue when the summer's heat has barely subsided and Halloween displays are only beginning to appear in store windows. It's difficult to imagine the bustle of the Yuletide season in the hazy stillness ol early October, particularly under the balmy conditions of El Nino. Still, we have been very busy here at the North Shore Arts Commission. The FANS Awards have just wrapped up and, for those of you who have been asking, we are just in the process of hiring a new editor. Gloria Loree has moved on to a new position as the director of marketing and publicity for Granville Island. Everyone here at Arts Alive wishes her the best of luck. This year's November/December issue begins with a profile of artist Charles van Sandwyk. Van Sandwyk's whimsical drawings have garnered a lot of attention in recent years. His latest collection of work is featured at the Seymour Art Gallery this November. For fans of the visual arts. Arts Alive also presents a profile of one of Canada's most renowned artists, Toni Onley. Onley has just completed a show at West Vancouver's Silk Purse Gallery and is currently looking forward to exhibitions in Hong Kong and at Victoria's Winchester Gallery. Presentation House Gallery presents a collection of artwork that explores the symbolism of trains in modern society. In this issue, gallery director Bill Jeffries ponders the concept of trains as a metaphor for Western culture. Several actors are profiled this winter. Arts Alive TV producer Fif Fernandes talks to three local actor/filmmakers about their latest movie, Banwne, a look at the lives of a group of bartenders. The film was shown at the Vancouver International Film Festival this year. In theatre, local actress Veena Sood plays one of the main characters in the New Play Festival's production of Java Life. Sood has maintained a high profile over the years with award winning live performances and with frequent roles in film and television. The November/December issue also contains several local stories. Two North Shore potters describe their trip to Nanaiamo for a special firing of the Tozan kiln. Cathy Matheson and Janet Wallace, of the North Vancouver RecCommission, have also written a piece on the goals and services planned for North Vancouver's recreation centres. The annual F A N S Awards were held on October 10. F A N S Awards Committee Chairman, Linda Feil looks back on the performances, art exhibition, and social gala that made the evening such a success. On a literary note. Arts Alive has reviews of three new books: The Projectionist, by Michael Helm; Dead Right, the latest Inspector Banks mystery from Peter Robinson: and Penguin's long awaited Anthology of Stories by Canadian Women. Of course this is aho Arts Alive's Christmas issue. In keeping with the holiday season, this issue features a gift guide of local craft shows and a special Showing Around Town section, titled Holiday Happenings, which highlights some of the events taking place throughout November and December. As you can see, there is a little bit of everything in this issue. I hope there will be something of interest for everyone. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the Arts Alive magazine. Many thanks are extended, once again, to the staff at the North Shore Arts Commission, to the people who have worked on this issue, and to all the readers of Arts Alive. Merry Christmas! Escape the winter alive on bluesy^ and watch the arts come ARTS 2