Starting in 1979, this year marks the 31st year for the event. From July 1st (Canada Day) to July 8th, this fantastic show will be run daily.

The excitement is palpable, especially for those of us who have had the pleasure of attending in years past. The energy and emotion is difficult to explain. Not only is the event a tribute to those in past or present military service, it is a moving remembrance, a celebration, and a positive look forward. One cannot help but feel emotionally charged, as performers come from around the world, their acts brought together masterfully into an amazing and emersive experience. Performances include pipes and drums, military and civilian bands, historic re-enactments, dancers, acrobats, choirs, military displays and competitions, drama, comedy and more (a full listing of performers can be found below).

I strongly encourage anybody to attend this show. With tickets still available, and starting around $25-40 CDN, it is guaranteed to be more memorable, entertaining and moving than any “movie night” could ever offer. For those that cannot attend a showing, on July 1st (Canada’s birthday) there is a parade featuring the entire cast, which travels right through downtown Halifax. The parade offers a sneak peek into what is in store, and is only augmented by the Canada Day celebrations, all set in the heart of this beautiful and historic city.

This is, quite literally, the world’s largest annual indoor show, featuring over 2,000 world-class Canadian and international military and civilian performers. I have provided a bit of the history in this post, highlighting the 2009 show. You can also see a selection of my photographs of the performances and parade in my photography gallery.

Be sure to check back, as I hope to have some great images following the various events.

Performers in the 2010 show include:

Canada
Stadacona Band of Maritime Forces Atlantic
National Band of the Naval Reserve
Land Force Atlantic Area Band
Band of The Ceremonial Guard
Massed Pipes & Drums
Kimberley, BC Pipes and Drums
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo/Black Watch Association Pipes and Drums
Tri-Service Cadet Pipes and Drums
Army Pipes & Drums
Air Force Pipes & Drums
Navy Display Teams
Obstacle Race Teams
Kootenay Race Teams
Tri-Service Guard
RCMP National Ceremonial Troop
Ashelin
Tattoo Choirs
Tattoo Dancers
La Baie En Joie
Titans Gymnastics Club
Tattoo Extras
Brenna Conrad
Jason Davis
Derrick Paul Miller
Liz Rigney

Belgium
The Royal Band of the Belgian Navy

Estonia
Club Piruett

France
Paris Fire Brigade

Germany
Marinemusikkorps Ostsee
The Drill Team of the 6th Company from the Honorguard of the Department of Defence
The Flying Grandpas

The Netherlands
The Juliana Bicycle Team

United Kingdom
The Queen’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force ceremonial drill unit
UK Fanfares

United States
Band of America’s Few

I feel the dark design really brings out some of my work, especially the photography from the Nova Scotia Tattoo.

Also be sure to check out the new project I am participating in called Enchanted Visions, started by Amy Brown and Jessica Galbreth.

Big thanks to you-know-who for the hard work on the new site!

Check out my contributions here.

The original is still available.. for the time being.

Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine - October 2009

Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine - October 2009, page 88

Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine - October 2009, page 88, cropped

The Penguins

Started in 1979, The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo kicks off July 1 (Canada Day) every year in Halifax at the city’s main indoor venue, the Halifax Metro Centre.  This event features various types of performers from Canada and around the globe, and is the largest indoor show in the world.

The performance is rooted strongly in the rich military histories of the City of Halifax, the Province of Nova Scotia, the rest of Canada, and those of the many countries participating in the show.

The word Tattoo comes out of the seventeenth century, and originates from the Dutch phrase doe den tap toe, which translates to “turn off the tap”.  The British Army was fighting in Belgium and The Netherlands, and this term marked a nightly drum roll, performed by British drum soldiers.  The drummers would play every evening to instruct the soldiers in town to return to their barracks for the night.  Innkeepers and bartenders would then know to stop serving alcohol to the soldiers.

Today this term has come to mean an all out performance, in cases such as this, at least.  This show lasts about three hours with an intermission, and makes use of music, special effects, acrobatics, gymnastics, military performances, explosions, vehicles and other props, and oh yeah – over 2,000 performers!!

Below is a list of performers from this year, 2009:

Canada
Stadacona Band of Maritime Forces Atlantic
Central Band of the Canadian Forces
Air Command Band
National Band of the Naval Reserve
Land Force Atlantic Area Band
Band of The Ceremonial Guard
Ceremonial Guard Drill Team
Massed Pipes & Drums
Obstacle Race Teams
Jeep Competition Teams
Tri-Service Guard
RCMP National Ceremonial Troop
Tattoo Choirs
Tattoo Dancers
La Baie En Joie
Titans Gymnastics Club
Tattoo Extras
Brenna Conrad
Jason Davis
Derrick Paul Miller

Belgium
The Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force

Denmark
Copenhagen Police Band

Estonia
Club Piruett
Trick Factory

France
Paris Police Gymnastics Team

Germany
Hamburg Police Motorcycle Team
Wehrbereichsmusikkorps 1

Sweden
Royal Fire Brigade Band Malmo Sweden

United Kingdom
Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Welsh
The Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh

United States
Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums (MCV)
(MCV: On the Road to Halifax – Blog)
(Halifax Tattoo 2009 – One of the MCV drummers set up a blog here – interesting perspective here!)

That’s nice, you say – and what does that have to do with anything?  It means a chance to whip out my newly repaired camera for a few fresh pictures!  So go over to my photography gallery and check out the festivities!  There was quite a variety of entertainers this year in the annual parade.

Speaking of the annual July 1st Parade here in Halifax, this event doubles as the opening ceremonies to The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.  I have some pictures of this too!

Check out my post >here< for more information, and a list of the performers in both the parade and the Tattoo.

http://data.fineartstudioonline.com/dataviewer.asp?keyvalue=1584&page=Blog

This months artists include:
Maia Waye, Staci Rose, Kathy Lumsden, Sharon K. Shubert, Diane Clancy, Kauai artist, Marionette, Cheryl McDonald, Sherry Goshon, Sharon Hart, Nancy Davenport, Debra James Percival, Amy Burns, Ruth Palmer, Jean Levert Hood, and Nora Blansett

Some of us VAST team members have decided to continue the sale through the holidays! My sale will continue through January 5th, 2009! I have my original work at some of the lowest prices I have ever offered just for the Holiday season!

You can still just search for the following to find all of the participating artists: “VAST Team Holiday Sale”

Check it out and remember: Buy Handmade!

I Took The Handmade Pledge at http://www.buyhandmade.org!

Check it out and remember: Buy Handmade!

I Took The Handmade Pledge at http://www.buyhandmade.org!

Infinitely Puzzled: A Tribute to Autism

Autism Artism 2008 Poster on display

This is the ONLY SOURCE for purchasing prints of my special work “Infinitely Puzzled” and for my fantasy piece “My Striped Sleeves”. Please contact KindTree.org for more information on poster prints, cards, etc.!

Check out the photos of the event here:
http://www.kindtree.org/AA08album/index.html

Thank you so much to Tim Mueller, GreyWolf Projects, The George P Mueller Memorial Fund, Elizabeth King & Four Leaf Press, Eugene Oregon Downtown Lions Club, and the REX FOUNDATION.