GirlCanCreate presents
The RED Letter
September, 2009
Table of Contents
- Words from Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
- Feature Theatre: The Refugee Hotel – Ticket Giveaway!
- Feature Visual Arts Festival – Queen West Arts Crawl
- Feature Festival – Allende Arts Festival
- NEW! Artist Trading Card Trading Sessions at Wise Daughters
- Creativity Classes and Coaching with GirlCanCreate
- Classes, Workshops and Conferences
- Support Local Business! – Wise Daughters Craft Market
- Calls for Entries
- Upcoming Performances of Interest
- Photography by Dave Pijuan-Nomura
- Last Thought
1. Words from Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
A little known fact about me: Since I was very young I collected magazines, and after I read those magazines I would go through them, and cute out all the photos that I liked and arrange them in pleasing patterns on the wall with either really sticky scotch tape or with staples. Needless to say, my mother was not happy, but I was over the moon.
Fast forward about twenty years and I am over the moon once again. A few years ago after curating the second RED Festival, I felt tired and burnt out and I needed to find a simple and inexpensive way to rejuvenate myself. So I started making stuff, it started with knitting, then beads, I did some watercolour painting and finally I found collage. For such a long time, I didn’t really know why I was making all of this stuff, and then about a year ago I started doing craft shows, and people started to buy my work. I dreamt about my work being displayed in a gallery, and finally, this week, my dream came true!
Forty-four of my original collages are on display from now until December at Wise Daughters Craft Gallery. We opened on Wednesday as part of the Junction Arts Festival. The work is being seen and people like it, I have sold some pieces, and I feel like I have found something that's really meaningful to me. When I create these pieces, I am creating a visual story using old photos, handwritten letters and magazine cut outs. It feels brilliant, and scary and I think I am going to do it a lot more in the next while. So please come and check it out at Wise Daughters. And for those of you who might be interested, I am also selling limited edition prints from my show, Sleeping Cats and Other Stories at girlcancreate.etsy.com!
It’s an exciting fall full of new things here at GirlCanCreate, hope you had a brilliant summer, and are ready to check out some brilliant events in the city.
Be well and let me know your thoughts about the RED letter, as always, would love to hear it!
Best,
Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
2. Feature Theatre : The Refugee Hotel – Free Ticket Giveaway!
We have a pair of tickets for the September 16th show to give away to the first RED Letter Reader who replies with “Refugee Ticket Giveaway” in their email! Please include your name and phone number!
"A humorous and heartbreaking look at life in exile."
- Mark Taper Forum's New Work Festival, Los Angeles
Alameda Theatre Company in association with Theatre Passe Muraille proudly presents the World Premiere of Carmen Aguirre’s powerful play The Refugee Hotel. Based on the poignant story of the playwright’s own family, The Refugee Hotel will be presented at Theatre Passe Muraille from September 16 to October 4, 2009.
Originally staged as a reading in March 2007 at Harbourfront to great critical acclaim, The Refugee Hotel is a humorous and moving portrayal of a group of Chilean political refugees who arrive at a Vancouver residential hotel in 1974, months after Chile’s bloody military coup. Passionate and insightful, the play brilliantly captures the immigrant and exile experience in Canada. It is a story about love and the poetic ability of the human spirit to survive adversity.
Written and directed by Carmen Aguirre, The Refugee Hotel will feature a cast of 12 actors including Leanna Brodie, Terrence Bryant, Carlos Gonzalez-Vio, Cheri Maracle, Paloma Nuñez, Beatrice Pizano, Paula Rivera, Michael Scholar Jr., Osvaldo Sepulveda, Todd Thomson and Juan Carlos Velis.
The Canadian premiere of The Refugee Hotel coincides with the 36th anniversary of the September 11, 1973 Chilean military coup.
Founded in 2006 by Marilo Nunez, Alameda Theatre Company is Canada's premiere professional Latin Canadian theatre company, providing opportunities for Latin Canadian theatre artists and playwrights and building audiences for their work. Alameda Theatre Company is challenging stereotypes and empowering its artists by creating mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for established and emerging artists.
The Refugee Hotel
September 16 to October 4, 2009
Theatre Passe Muraille
16 Ryerson Avenue, Toronto
Opening: Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 PM
Preview: Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30 PM
Performances: Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30
Saturday/Sunday Matinee: 2:30pm
Ticket Prices: $15 to $32
Box Office: 416-504-7529 Arts Box-Office
www.alamedatheatre.com
3. Feature Visual Art Festival – Queen West Arts Crawl
I'm proud to Announce that this year I will be participating in the Crafters Market! Come and say hello at booth 46!
Outdoor Art Show and Sale
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Our now infamous Outdoor Art Show and Sale will return to transform Trinity Bellwoods Park into a bustling marketplace of ideas, inspirations, happenings and some exciting surprises that you won't want to miss!
Parkdale Crafters Market - NEW!
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Green P Parking Lot at Queen/Cowan (map)
A new addition to the QWAC landscape is the Parkdale Crafters Market. Bringing together some of the most unique local artisans, crafters and artists, the Crafters Market is sure to inspire. Forget about the recession and shop to your heart's content as all pieces are priced at under $50!
Independent Press - NEW!
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Green P Parking Lot at Queen/Cowan (map)
The Independent Press is dedicated to casting the spotlight on Toronto's left-of-centre independent publications. This includes but certainly is not limited to: zines, comics, silkscreened posters, show posters, t-shirts, and print-based art in general. Be sure to stop by, you'll be surprised at what you might discover!
Art Fuzion
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Trinity Bellwoods Park
The Fuzionists are not just any art collective. Drawing from a rich artistic background as well as a diverse range of specialties, the group collaborate and create right before your eyes. The Fuzionists always create in response to their environment, and during the Crawl they will be inspired by a wide variety of musical acts from singer/songwriters to gypsy jazz combos.
Kids Zone
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00. p.m. Trinity Bellwoods Park
Bring out the Picasso in your little one at the Kids Zone. Here, children are encouraged to uncover their creative side and learn a variety of techniques from professional artists. In a nurturing, fun and interactive environment, children are given the opportunity to create their own unique works of art.
QWAC-fiti
Sunday, September 20, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Parkdale Town Square (Queen/Cowan) (map)
Join Queen West Art Crawl in Parkdale Town Square for the premiere edition of QWAC-FITI. Queen and Cowan will be taken over by some of Toronto's finest visual and musical artists. Curated by Funktion Gallery, exciting artists such as ROCK, GETSO, GWYN, ANSER, SMUG, SWIFT, HERBS, REVEAL, NORMAN YEUNG and more will be showcasing their skills. Toronto's GRIPSKI (Albino Zebra), NEWNO GREEN (Track Meet Records) and EMCEE RAE (Funktion Gallery) will be providing a slamming soundtrack to round out the party vibe.
For more info see www.queenwestartcrawl.com
4. Feature Festival – Allende Arts Festival
Allende Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary event which will include: visual art exhibits; workshops; panel discussions, lectures and artist talks; music concerts; dance performances; film screenings; a night of poetry and performance; and many community activities for both children and youth.
Home Sweet Hogar
Curated by Tamara Toledo
Friday September 11 to 26, 2009
Artscape Wychwood Barns
Barn 2, 601 Christie Street
This year, following on the theme of ‘homeland’, the festival presents work that speaks to social and political global issues and continues to push the boundaries and limitations of conventional labeling. The Allende Arts Festival contributes to the evolution and celebration of Latin American culture in Canada and is proud to present artists who now call this land home.
Through video, installation, sculpture and performance, the Artscape Wychwood Barns becomes the home of those who are inspired by themes of survival, settlement and navigation marking territory in this new artistic hub in Toronto. Unable to escape the patriotic undertone ‘homeland’ carries, the artist in-turn pronounces their innate dispossession and interprets an ambiguous sense of belonging. Home Sweet Hogar showcases the work of artists Cesar Forero (Colombia/Kirkland Lake), Erase Collective (Colombia/Chile/Toronto), Arlan Londoño (Colombia/Toronto), Ivan Navarro (Chile/New York), and Marcos Ramirez ERRE (Mexico).
For further information please see
www.allendefestival.com
5. NEW! Artist Trading Card Trading Sessions at Wise Daughters
Art Cards to Make and Trade
Sun, Sept 27, 1:00 - 3:30
Lisa Pijuan-Nomura leads the fun. Like baseball or playing cards... only they're one-of-a-kind works of art. No art experience necessary - the only rules are that cards need to be 2.5 x 3.5 and you have to trade at least a few of the cards you make, and leave one with Wise Daughters to display!
Pay-what-you-can, but please reserve.
Supplies provided.
Wise Daughters Craft Market
3079B Dundas St West at Quebec.
To register call 416-761-1555
6. Creativity Classes with GirlCanCreate
She Can Create: Creativity Classes for Women
with Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
Starting November 2 to November 23
Monday Nights from 6:30 to 9:30
An experiential women's creative group focusing on self-expression through collage, storytelling, movement, doll-making, beadwork and journaling.
Jumpstart your creativity, overcome creative blocks, be inspired to complete projects and share your work with the world.
Class Fee : $200.
Wise Daughters Craft Market
3079B Dundas St West at Quebec.
To register call 416-761-1555
www.wisedaughters.com
7. Classes, Workshops and Conferences
Contact Improvisation Dance Classes
with Suzanne Liska
All Levels Welcome!
10 Tuesdays 8 - 9:30 pm
Oct 13 - Dec 15, 2009
Classes Will Explore:
Centering - Falling
Resistance - Release
Leading - Following
Ensemble and duet scores
Suzanne will teach the technical partnering skills to enable efficient and effortless weight-sharing and lifts, along with exercises designed to access your emotions as inspiration for dancing. Classes will begin with a warm-up using skeletal movements, breath and partner work and will progress to weight-sharing and lifts while moving through space. Previous movement experience is an asset (ex. dance, martial arts, yoga, and/or physical theatre). Wear comfortable clothes. We will dance in bare feet.
Suzanne Liska is a dance artist, teacher, and co-founder of Flight Works with Diana Groenendijk.
Location:
Trinity St. Paul's - Gym
427 Bloor St. (W. Spadina)
Class Series Price (before Sep 29):
$95/series
$85/series groups of two or more
$60/5 classes
Regular:
$120/series
$70/5 classes
Drop-in Price:
$15/class
Registration:
416 704-8096
suzliska@yahoo.com
www.contactimprov.ca/on/toronto
Mornings and Evenings of Deep Restoration
Autumn Workshop Dates
One-time 3-hour workshops ~ Attend one date or more
Tuesday September 29
Sunday October 11
Friday November 6
Give yourself the gift of deep relaxation with this three hour workshop that will leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and restored. You will learn that deep relaxation is within your reach, and with continued practice, many of the techniques can be applied in everyday life to counterpoise the detrimental effects of stress and the often intense pace we keep.
We will gently move through guided relaxations, simple and supported reclining yoga positions, and easy breathing exercises that together become a long guided meditation. The intent of this workshop is to be relaxing and enjoyable, and the class size is small allowing for personal attention. This workshop is suitable for absolute beginners, yet is beneficial to advanced practitioners alike. No previous experience with yoga or meditation is necessary.
Because continued practice is optimal, you will receive a free CD with three guided relaxations ranging from 5 to 20 minutes to help you have a home practice should you wish to continue. Consider coming to the workshop with a friend, family member or partner, as it is a lovely way to spend quiet time together, and as with many things, continued practice is easier with a 'buddy.'
Fall Dates:
Tuesday, September 29 ~ 6:30pm-9:30pm
Sunday, October 11 ~ 11:00am-2:00pm
Friday, November 6 ~ 6:30pm-9:30pm
$55 per workshop
$50 each for two, $45 each for three or more if you register them at the same time
FYI these are the last Deep Restoration workshops at this rate;
single workshop fee will be $65 as of Dec-09
Small class size
Includes guided relaxation CD
Register Required
Halcyon Health
(contact info below)
Yoga for Round Bodies
An Introductory Exploration in a Bi-weekly 4-session series
Saturdays | 10:00am to 11:45am
October 3, 17, 31, November 14
This introductory yoga series is offered specifically with the round body in mind. In this class, not only will you have the opportunity to explore yoga in a way that suits your constitution/anatomy best, you will also be able to practice and explore in a comfortable, non-competitive environment in a small group, at a cozy private studio. Classes will include restoration (deep relaxation) practices, gentle yoga and mindful movement.
Absolute beginners welcome along with any other "level." Any size is welcome. This exploration is not about how big or not big, nor how advanced or not advanced, how flexible, nor how strong. Nor is it about weight loss. It is an opportunity to come and begin from where you are, to move your body and quiet your mind in a comfortable, supportive environment.
These classes are intended for beginners and do not include vigorous practices. However, if you have done yoga, this class includes a significant amount of restorative practice--of benefit to anyone--and foundational principles that can be applied to any level of practice. Class size is small enough to accommodate modifications and individual attention. The 1hr-45 minute class length allows extra time to be spent in relaxation/restoration practice, as stress is a challenge faced by most, so you will also learn simple tools in this series that can be practiced in day-to-day life to counterpoise stress and its effects.
Details:
Series of 4 bi-weekly classes
Saturdays 10:00am - 11:45am
October 3, 17, 31 and November 14
at Halcyon Health (Dupont & Christie)
$120
Registration required
Questions?
Contact Tiina
halcyonhealth@gmail.com
For registration and more info see
www.halcyonhealth.ca
(416) 530-9613
Instructor: Tiina Veer BA RMT
RMT | YOGA INSTRUCTOR | SELF-CARE EDUCATOR
Tiina is passionate about making yoga and related practices accessible "to the rest of us" in a non-competitive and supportive environment. Inspired by her own journey with yoga and other self-care practices — including her own challenges and obstacles to regular practice — and informed by 12 years practicing massage therapy, Tiina brings a gentle, non-dogmatic approach to all of her offerings, understanding that we need to begin from where we are right now, wherever that is, and that it is often necessary to begin by un-doing rather than "doing."
8. Support Local Business! - Wise Daughters Craft Market
If you haven’t been to Wise Daughters, you must go there right away. It’s run by the lovely Mary Breen and the work of local artists and designers. The stuff that she has is unique and fun and I think there’s something for everyone. The other thing that I appreciate about this new space is that Mary has a ton of classes coming up that look awesome. Here is a partial list! Check it out!
For the grown-ups
Sun, Sept 27, 1:00 – 3:30
Art Cards to Make and Trade
with Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
Pay-what-you-can
(look for more dates in Nov)
Sun, Oct 4, 1:00 – 4:00
Cartooning
with Cathy Thorne
$50
Sun, Oct 18, 1:00 – 4:00
Handmade Holiday Gifts
with Anna Redish
$65
Mon, Oct 19, 7:00 – 9:30
Bookbinding
with Amy Borkwood
$35
Sun, Oct 25, 11:30 – 3:30
Encaustic Cards
with Supria Karmakar
$85
Tues, Oct 27, 7:30 – 9:30
Quilled Cards
with Jen Pinsent
$50
Mondays, Nov 2 – 23, 6:30 – 9:30
She Can Create: Creativity Classes for Women
with Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
$200 for 4 weeks
Sat, Nov 28, 1:00 – 4:00
Handmade Holiday Decorations
with Anna Redish
$65
For the kids
Tuesdays starting Sept 22
Drawing, Painting, Felting
with Kathie Young
Ages 6 – 8, 4:00 – 5:00
Ages 9 – 12, 5:15 – 6:15
$100 for 4 week series
Saturdays starting Oct 3, 10:00 – 12:00
Parent/Child Crafty Saturdays
with Anna Redish
Ages 4+
$150 1st child, $100 2nd + for 5 weeks
Saturdays starting Oct 3, 1:00 – 3:00
Boys’ Craft Club
with Anna Redish
Ages 6+
$150 for 5 weeks
Please call 416-761-1555 to pre-register.
Wise Daughters Craft Market
3079B Dundas St. W.
(at Quebec Ave.)
www.wisedaughters.com
9. Calls for Entries
Interrarium
January 24, 2010 to February 7, 2010
At the Banff Centre for the Arts
Interrarium is a multi-disciplinary platform for contemporary performance that explores and reveals creative process related to dance, theatre, new media, music and hybrid forms of performance.
Interarrium provides essential tools for everyone in arts and culture who creates, collaborates and produces across creative borders. Participants are challenged to actively engage with creative risk-taking through moments of questioning, tension and exploration.
Facilitators for 2010 are William Yang and Linda Gaudreau with our third facilitator to be confirmed.
For more info and application please see www.springboardperformance.ca
Call for Submissions from Artists and Curators
Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography
Deadline: September 30, 2009
Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography is a non-profit artist-run centre committed to the advancement of photographic art. We encourage the submission of exhibition proposals from emerging, mid-career and established artists who are innovative in their use of materials and approach to subject matter.
Gallery 44 welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with other arts and community organizations. Please contact us to discuss your project.
For more info contact
www.gallery44.org
the CHOREOGRAPHIC MARATHON©
Take an idea and Run with it …for 26 hours 385 seconds
For Established and Emerging Dance Artists
Question 1: How long is a marathon? 26.2 miles • Question 2: How long is the choreographic marathon? 26.2 hours • Question 3: Why? To learn the Art of the Possible in a shared community pulling each other along not because it’s easy, but because it is hard, going deep inside yourself and drawing on inner creativity and strength that you might have never known even existed.
2009 EDITION : December 12, 13, 2009 Toronto Canada
A weekend of development, feedback, mentoring and a production of the work at the end of it all.
More information, Proposal criteria and applications at
acrossoceansinfo@gmail.com
www.acrossoceans.org
Work within your own creative process. Break blocks. Move work forward. Build creative stamina. Hit the wall and find out what is at the other side.
Come with material to test, twist, develop, cut, reflect, refashion, reason, rescue and refine. Share feedback and take it immediately back into the studio. Wrestle with angels. Play with demons.
End with a work unlike anything else you’ve created or performed before.
Across Oceans Maxine Heppner will mentor 4 groups of choreographers and their dancers over 26.2 hours of creative flow, discovery, creation and performance.
Jessica Runge and Takako Segawa will assist as coaches.
Submission Deadline October 15, 2009
10. Upcoming Performances of Interest
September 13
Carnival de Reverie
Amsterdam Brewery
21 Bathurst St
7:00 p.m.
$15 at the door
You are invited to enjoy an evening on the "streets of turn-of-the-century Paris", where the Carnival de Reverie is rolling into town for one night only!!
September 15
Slamaoke: Slam Poetry and Hip Hop Karaoke
The Boat
158 Augusta Avenue
7:30 p.m.
Toronto Poetry Slam will be collabing with Hip-Hop Karaoke for a two-round poetry slam (spoken word competition) featuring some of the top poets in the city... Including you! Space available for four poets to compete from the audience. Poems must be 3 minutes 10 seconds max. No props, costumes, music or covers. This ain't your grandma's poetry.
Featured poets include Tomy Bewick, Krystle Mullin and Made Wade
www.torontopoetryproject.to
September 16
Carnegie Hall featuring Matt Baram, Naomi Snieckus, Chris Gibbs and Ron Pederson
Bread and Circus, 299 Augusta Ave.
9:00 pm
Every Wednesday, four of Toronto’s finest comic minds come together with evening dress and mindless optimism to celebrate the ordinary and glamorize the mundane in the Carnegie Hall Show!
For more info seewww.nationaltheatreoftheworld.com
September 17
Tabla-CO-lab featurying Gurpreet Chana, Amir Amiri, Omar Martinez, HatHead and Version Xcursion
Gladstone Hotel, Melody Bar 1214 Queen St W.
Free!
For more info seewww.tablahype.com
September 23 to September 25
Namesake: three
Part of Harbourfront Centre's NextSteps Series
Enwave Theatre,231 Queen's Quay West
Prices - Wed-Fri 8pm: $28 ($18 Students, seniors, CADA, SCDS; $15
groups); Thurs matinee 12:30 pm: $18
Box Office: 416-973-4000 or online atwww.danceworks.ca
September 23
Inside the Art
The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, 80 Winchester Street
Free
Join acclaimed Canadian dance artist, Peggy Baker, as she takes you behind the performance and process of a collection of short works: her own pieces Strand and a true story, and Home by Doug Varone.
12:30pm
September 26 to November 1
True Love Lies – Canadian Premiere
Factory Theatre
For more info see\
September 27
Parkdale Food, Earth and Culture Festival
Masaryk Park, 220 Cowan Ave
12:00 to 4:00
Come celebrate Parkdale, healthy food and the environment with Greenest City. Featuring a variety of musical performances: Baro Dununba (African drummers), Mario "the Voyce" Murray (hiphop), Tibetan youth cultural performance, among others. We will serve food prepared by local restaurants using local produce from farmers' market. We'll even have a farmers' market for you to buy local produce from!
For more info seewww.greenestcity.ca
September 30
Soraya Peerbaye and Moez Surani reading at Ben McNally Books
Ben McNally Books, 366 Bay Street
6:30 p.m
A joint book launch for the debut poetry collections by Soraya Peerbaye “Poems for the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names” published by Goose Lane Editions and Moez Surani “Reticent Bodies” published by Wolsak and Wynn Publishers. Soraya and Moez will both read selections from their works and a book signing will follow. Refreshments, all are welcome.
11. Photography by Dave Pijuan-Nomura
Photograph by Dave Pijuan-Nomura .
Dave specializes in macro and live event photography.
Contact dave@nomuraphotography for more info.
12. Last Thought
He who goes with wolves learns to howl.
– Spanish Proverb
