Archive for April 2011
Vote. Everything Matters
Film by Mille Clarkes
This video is made by one Canadian citizen to implore all Canadians to participate in their democracy.
voteeverythingmatters.wordpress.com
May 2nd is a big day for Canada; our federal election day. We can beat our poor voter turn out from the last election. We can build a country that reflects our values. Values of strong social services, multiculturalism, healthcare, environmental stewardship, cultural and artistic legacy. We can care about all these issues while maintaining a robust economy.
On April 16th the citizens of the province of PEI held a “Vote. Everything Matters Rally” in the capital, Charlottetown. Over 200 people showed up to share their passion for democratic involvement.
There were a host of musicians out to join in for a ‘sing for democracy’ including Todd MacLean, John Connolly, Teresa Doyle, Meghan Blanchard, and Carmel Mikol.
Poet Tanya Davis spoke words to move a nation.
Other poignant speakers included Conor Leggott; a UPEI student and one of Canada’s concerned youth; Teresa Doyle, acclaimed musician and advocate for the Arts; as well as Jack McAndrew on behalf of the Friends of the CBC; Irene Novaczek Director of Island Studies Department of UPEI; and Mary Boyle of the PEI Health Coalition.
We’re going to be OK. This country is full of rational, caring, passionate people.
Warming Up
video by Rachael Hicken
Warming Up is an Exhibition at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery – on display until June 2.2011
Artists: Becka Viau, Kelly Caseley, Eleanor King, Anna Karpinski, Mille Clarkes
Curator: Pan Wendt
2am.
Two Hours Traffic -Becka Viau and Joey Seamen
Written by Becka Viau
We are rarely proud when we are alone. –Voltaire
2am. Thursday night and the winds are changing, cold, crisp, straight off the water. My cheeks are red, my feet are aching, but the music keeps pulling me from one venue to the next.
I catch my reflection in the dirty spring windows of downtown and wonder. What am I doing? I should be resting. I could hear Hunters rocking, hoodies and hats bobbing in the windows. Ten bucks, a stamp on the wrist and two hours traffic was a recipe for love.
And that was it. I was feeling love, what an energy! I had actually been feeling this way for a couple of days. There are moments when communities come together, and I am convinced that the sharing of culture is a catalyst for that sort of unity. Welcome, this is who we are.
I am currently sitting at an Atlantic Showcase at Baba’s Lounge, the bar is buzzing and music is being played. There is so much happening this weekend. Shows all day on Saturday, all over town. Admission cost vary from free – thirty-five. Go and feel that love.
Culture Matters – VOTE
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VOTE. EVERYTHING MATTERS! can be found online www.voteeverythingmatters.wordpress.com **** VIDEO CHALLENGE***** ***** A CALL TO ALL MUSICIANS***** This rally is an opportunity for Canadian citizens, young and old, to come out to engage in our democracy through speeches, songs, and activities. It will be a chance to meet others concerned for our democracy as well as to hear about issues & values that are critical to the happiness, prosperity, sustainability, and equity of people across Canada from rural communities, urban areas, and greater cities. This rally will feature a number of guest speakers and musicians talking and singing about issues ranging from Arts and Culture to Environment to how individuals can make a difference in our national policies. We will get to hear from citizens like Conor Leggott, a UPEI student and one of Canada’s concerned youth, Teresa Doyle, acclaimed musician and advocate for the Arts, as well as others speakers. Todd Maclean, PEI musician of the year, will be assembling musicians from all over the eastern coast of Canada to perform and to help lead the rally in a sing-a-long. The rally will also feature a new spoken word piece from Island performer Tanya Davis, a video challenge for all citizens to make their voices heard, as well as a chance to get out and meet local community groups, politicians, and other enthusiastic citizens! VOTE. EVERYTHING MATTERS! started with a meeting over some home-made bread, a great discussion, and an enthusiasm for our future. We hope to create a national campaign to show our parliament and our Prime Minister that these issues do matter to Canadians and that we need all of our voices and involvement to make Canadian democracy function for all Canadians. We hope to see everyone out to show their support for our communities, our provinces, our country, and most of all our power and role in our democratic process. |
The Passionate Artist
apples - monica lacey - http://www.monicalacey.com
written by Jill MacCormack
Restless energy
can become reckless
if allowed full reign,
but Eros
informed by Sophia
can become
a most beautiful thing.
I’ve seen Eros
walk into a room
and become a creation,
Become created
in the energy of a cast glance
between two persons.
Tangible, obvious.
But have you considered the Eros of the artist informed by Sophia, or not?
Have you heard it as Logos?
In the spoken word; poetry, storytelling,
the use and sound of language that is alive.
And in the playing of music,
Have you heard it there? An energy, electrified.
What about in the shaping of a sculptor, firm and knowing,
or in the painting of a painter, brushstrokes enlivened,
or in the beauty of the natural world all around you, warm and energizing, light and life.
There is Eros guided and guiding.
Eros, that beautiful urge of the universe to become,
becoming manifest through you.
Spoken into existence.
You are Eros,
molded and shaped and woven
by sound
by colour
by texture
by form.
Eros informed by Sophia is sustainable.
Creativity is beauty electrified.
Use your beautiful energy wisely.
the Future of the Guild 2
update! update! update! update! update! update !update!
Written by Becka Viau
Dear concerned members of the PEI Arts Community,
there has been some interesting things happening since the public meeting held in February that discussed the future of the Guild (ARSLONGA) and its relationship with the PEI Council of the Arts…
to read the letter from the PEICA Board of Directors Chair, Greg Doran please go HERE
to see my last post about the situation go HERE
Culture Days 2011 – early bird registration April 22.11
13 studies2 2010 - becka viau - http://www.beckaviau.com
The deadline for “early-bird” pre-registration of Culture Days activities is April 22nd. Culture Days will take place September 30th-October 2nd across Canada. It’s a volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. Last year, examples of Culture Days activities on PEI included Culture PEI’s cultural forum in Charlottetown, a wood-turning workshop at Gaudreau’s Fine Woodworking in South Rustico, a “how-to” on paper collage making at the Eptek Art & Culture Centre in Summerside, and an invitation to participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of a Hairspray rehearsal at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Culture Days activities must be free for Islanders to attend, and offer a “hands-on” experience. This is an opportunity for artists, artisans, arts educators, venues, galleries, studios and museums to invite the public in for a tour, a demonstration, or a workshop. Jacques Gaudreau says the Culture Days experience at his woodworking studio last year was well worth it: “it’s a way to create an informal and fun event, invite people in to see how a lathe worked, build good rapport with visitors and turn them into repeat visitors”. More information on Culture Days 2011 will be announced on May 9th at a news conference in Charlottetown. Those who register their activities before April 22nd will be listed on the Culture Days website, be included in Culture Days newsletters and marketing campaigns, and be named during the May 9th Culture Days media launch. More information at www.culturedays.ca or contact Culture PEI at henk@culturepei.ca or 367.4460.
Cadenza
film by milles clarkes
this is a mini doc produced by the confederation centre art gallery about Jinny Yu and Don Andrus: Cadenza.
….
Two well-known Canadian artists from different parts of the country have begun a dialogue on painting by creating two large murals for a new exhibit at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery.
Jinny Yu and Don Andrus: Cadenza is a collaborative project by artists Don Andrus (a former professor in Art History at Concordia University Montréal, now based in PEI) and Jinny Yu (born in Korea, now teaching at the University of Ottawa).
The pair picked a starting point, an 18th century Venetian mural by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770). Cadenza is not an homage to Tiepolo or the history of painting. It is an inquiry into the nature of painting today and their respective studio practices.
They agreed on the scale of their works: both murals are the same size as the Tiepolo: 5 feet by 44 feet, and that their works will be installed facing each other. Yu did preparatory work during a Charlottetown residency, and completed her work while in residence in New York. Andrus visited Yu in New York and adjusted the colour of his work to resonate with hers.
