| The RED Letter, Oct 2007 |
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Table of Contents
1. Words from Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
TOP 10 Favourite things from me right now! 10. Walking through the crisp air at night, stopping at the Presse Internationale and picking up a copy of Martha Stewart Living, The Sun, and Bitch ... yes, I am a complex woman! 9. Chocolate orange anythings. So far the best was the pig truffles that I found at the gourmet grocery store on College right next to Calandar 8. Listening to podcasts. Right now, it’s Ira Glass and This American Lifeand Jian Ghomeshi and Q Radio. 7. Taking photos of everything. Check out my Flickr site!, and this one, and this one and this one… it’s endless. 6. Meeting bi weekly at Canadian Stage Company to meet with some inspiring artists to learn and support and challenge. 5. Hatching grand puppet ideas with this guy 4. Doing aquafit with all of the old people at the West End YMCA. It’s time to get into shape. 3. Making lists of all of the films, books, and music I have taken in. Also making lists of blogs that I read..and lists of things that I want to do..i love lists. 2. Dreaming of Mexico in December where I will be teaching Creative Writing, Dance and Collage and where Dave will be teach photography. 1. Getting in the car and going for long road trip to unknown spaces with the love of my life! Or sitting home and knitting scarves, sipping tea listening to Debussy on our record player... yes, that is correct, my record player!
2. An Interview with Johan Hultqvist from Free Speech Reading Series
Could you tell us a bit about Free Speech? Free Speech is a monthly reading series that proudly presents writers and songwriters from the Parkdale/High Park area. We get together in a very intimate setting at Tinto Coffee House on Roncesvalles, where the lovely owners Ricardo Rosenthal and Elvia Saenz are trying to create a community hub for arts and activism. Food and drink is largely local and organic so it was the perfect venue for a reading series that only showcases West End wordsmiths. How do you curate the evenings? Each installment features three writers and one songwriters, two men and two women, who each get about 20 minutes. Each "reading" is followed by a song. I say "reading" because, more than anything, the series is about storytelling. So aside from great readings of poetry and prose by prize-winning authors we've had actors workshop a screenplay in progress, we've had a suitcase puppet theatre, we've had brilliant stand-up comedians, and so on. I simply invite neighbourhood artists that I like, and sometimes I invite people based on the recommendations of fellow artists whose taste I trust. I like to introduce the performers by sharing little personal anecdotes that hopefully emphasize the community feel so it's nice to have people I know on the show. Much of the fall season is already booked but if someone is interested in reading they can always contact me at itsjohan@gmail.com Why did you start the night? Well, the whole thing started thanks to my friend Eden Arabella. Last year, she contacted me and asked if i wanted to put on a reading with her to give ourselves an incentive to finish some of those half-written stories that were collecting dust in our deskdrawers. So we organized an evening in January and invited Eden's partner Brian MacMillan to come and play a few songs. We had enough of a crowd to make it exciting and thought "we should do this again". So we decided to start a series and I suggested that we keep it in the hood seeing as the West End is teeming with talent. I think the average parkdalian knows that there are a lot of artists in the hood but i don't think that most people know that many of Canada's most promising writers and musicians live just around the corner from them. Your favourite moment so far of the series? Whenever the lights come on again after the last appaluse of the evening and I get to see the joy on people's faces. We look at each other, we nod and we smile, acknowledging that for an hour and a half we traveled together in silence and laughter, propelled forward by nothing more than words and music. What do you imagine from Free Speech within the next 5 years? Hehe....well we've had standing-room only at the last few readings so if we're too successful we will outgrow our beautiful little venue but that would be a pleasant dilemma, I suppose. Part of the magic, however, is the intimacy of the event. Some of the songwriters don't even bother to use the PA system. So in order to grow we would have to find a bigger listening room in the West End. But quite frankly, I haven't thought much about the future of Free Speech. As the series gained momentum it kind of took on a life of its own, and Eden and I felt that the only right thing to do was to help it along. Five years from now the gentrification may have forced many artists to find a cheaper neighbourhood to live in but if the series is still going strong then I hope that I'll be able to say things like: "Yeah well, so and so was part of Free Speech long before she won the Giller Prize." Favourite Toronto Artists? Some of my favourite Toronto artists, including Bob Wiseman and Levi MacDougall, have already been part of Free Speech. Other personal favourites, like for example Darren O'Donnell and Justin Rutledge may show up later on this year or next season if I have my way. More info at www.tinto.ca or at www.myspace.com/freespeechtoronto.com
3. Feature Music – Claire Jenkins(One of the best things about RED was watching people grow and change and reinvent and become more brilliant than when I first met them. Claire Jenkins is one of those people. Trained as an actor, Claire has performed with some of the Toronto’s finest theatre artists. When Claire first performed at RED, I remember her in her red dress and her cowboy boots. She was a fierce and determined songstress, and I couldn’t help but notice her unique theatrical style. On top of it all, her songs are beautiful. Her new CD Crow’s Nest/Nid de Pie is a strong mix of French and English tunes, with great musicians and unique roster of songs. Claire is traveling for the next three months and this is her last gig in Toronto! Be sure to check her out! I listen to this CD about 3 times a day, and would highly recommend it as a great CD to create to..Enjoy!)
Their home base is in Kensington Market Toronto at the pretty and magical back room of Supermarket. They have played there every month for over a year. October will be their last monthly as it is time for them to remove their training wheels and traipse around. The paper hats, gold dust, and fire are just the beginning.
Doors Open at 9:00 p.m. There's info on the myspace site if you need it:
4. Feature Festival – Weesageechak Begins to Dance XX
Weesageechak Dances for the 20th time Let the music begin. We have a lot of excitement to pack into four days. Expect to see electrifying new works by emerging Native artists and surprising creations by trailblazing favourites. Expect to be amazed by our Young Voices and Rhymekeepers. Expect the unexpected. Care to dance? Weesageechak Begins to Dance XX is a festival of new works by multidisciplinary Aboriginal artists across the nation and beyond. Out of the 111 pieces workshopped over the festival’s twenty years, 47 have gone onto full production. Here are the history makers this year: Evening in Paris Young Voices Presentation Chasing Honey Woman in White God and the Indian
For times and dates, go to www.nativeearth.ca $10/night, $30/festival pass, $10/passes for groups of 10 or more To buy tickets/passes, call 416-531-1402
5. Harbourfront Happenings
28th annual International Festival of Authors With 11 days and nights of programming at IFOA, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Choose from more than 50 fun, thought-provoking and idea-forming events and get up-close and personal with the cream of the world's literary crop. Here are just some of the events on offer during the first weekend of IFOA. For complete author and event listings and to purchase tickets, visit readings.org Thursday October 18 Saturday October 20 Saturday October 20 Saturday October 20 Sunday October 21
For complete author and event listings and to purchase tickets, visit readings.org
6. Workshops and Classes
Introducing the Story Where do stories come from? How do we get our ideas? More importantly, what do we do with the bits in our notebooks, once we have written them down? This workshop teaches beginning writers to use freewriting, clustering, and other writing prompt tools to generate rich, complex, satisfying stories. It introduces the elements of fiction - character, plot, dialogue, setting, theme - and provides the structure that is necessary for a sprouting story to take root and flourish. A variety of exercises stimulate and train the writing mind. The goal is to encourage a personal writing practice that students will continue after the workshop is finished. The environment is non-intimidating and supportive, perfect for writers who would like to jumpstart their practice, explore technique, and create a useful foundation for their fiction writing. This course is open to all writers, even those who have not written fiction before. Classes held in Parkdale Introducing the Workshop You know you can write a story, but you seem to need a deadline to get it out of your head and onto the page. Or you'd simply appreciate a community of writers who will read your work critically to help you begin your editing process. In this workshop series, we'll focus on finding the balance between inspiration and revision. You will do some in-class writing but will work on your stories from home, with a deadline set for the completed draft. The workshop sessions will be guided and facilitated, the critique respectful of each writer's unique voice. You'll gain the valuable insight of fellow writers who understand the challenges of the writing life, and through the process of reading critically, you'll deepen your relationship to your own writing. Classes held in Parkdale Register for either one of these courses by contacting Sarah Selecky has been facilitating non-competitive, inspiring workshops for writers since 2001. She has studied writing with Natalie Goldberg and is currently completing her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. Her writing has been published in The Sun, Geist Magazine, Prairie Fire, The New Quarterly, and The Journey Prize Anthology
Terrible Noises for Beautiful People Terrible Noises for Beautiful People is a series of vocal sound improvisation classes and events geared primarily to non-musicians (though musicians are also welcome). My central interest in these classes is in getting people together to interact in ways that are unfamiliar, pleasurable, and interesting. You don’t have to know about music, or be able to sing. An ability to enjoy unfamiliar sounds is a plus. The series will look at some fundamentals of improvisation (how to give and take control, how to be surprised, how to make interesting decisions in groups, how to enjoy being put off-balance, etc…) and collective sound-making (how to listen, how to make new sounds, how to be not too loud, how to be not to quiet). About Misha Glouberman I host and run the Trampoline Hall Lectures. I have taught many classes, largely on unuseful subjects, to many people. I claim to be Canada’s foremost Charades instructor, a claim which goes unchallenged. I have recently taught classes in John Zorn's game piece Cobra, and presesented an all-night series of participatory vocal improvisations at Nuit Blanche. Info on my past projects: www.howtoimprovise.com/past Getting in touch I’m still working out the details of this series. It will likely be eight weely sessions starting in late October. If you might be interested in participating, or have any questions, please email me at: improvise@mglouberman.com
Contemplative Dance Workshop Fujiwara’s ever popular workshop in deep, simple, creative dance. Good training for your body and mind. Using Japanese Butoh and creative post-modern dance principles we’ll work towards becoming more present and therefore more creative while expanding movement vocabulary and conditioning the body for strength and agility. The work can be done at many levels and challenges both the beginner and professional dancer. If you can walk, you can do this dance work. Sunday October 21, Sunday October 28, Sunday November 4 11:00 am to 1:30 pm 509 Parliament Street Cost: $45 or $20/class For more information and to register,
A Short Master Class with Peter Balkwill of the Not to be missed by anyone seriously interested in puppetry performance, this three day workshop will include a component of identifying the parameters of a puppet and a simple construction approach in pairs. This series of sessions will address what we expect from puppets, working in collaboration and consensus and then team puppeteering. Peter will of course include his amazingly useful Suzuki exercises and dip into impulse articulation geared for the silent narrative, leading into the arena of group creation. DATES: Wednesday October 24 through Friday October 26, 2007. FEES: $250 for the three days. TO REGISTER for this class please contact David at 416-469-3555 or email school@puppetmongers.com to confirm that there is still room in the course, as registration is limited to an intimate class size. Or by cheque made out to Toronto School of Puppetry and mailed to Location: Puppetmongers' Studio. 1110 Dundas Street East (at Logan). For more info see: http://www.puppetmongers.com/schoolcourses_master.html
Contact Improv Dance Classes with Suzanne Liska Location: Dovercourt House, 3rd Floor 7 Saturdays Starts November 3, 2007 Class Series Price: Drop-in Price: Contact: 7. Support the RED LetterThanks to those who have contributed to the RED Letter, your prints are on the way! Do you love the RED Letter? Would you like to contribute to the continuation and growth of this great resource of art and creativity in Toronto. We are currently looking for donations to help with the production of the RED Letter. Written and created by Lisa Pijuan-Nomura with photography by Dave Pijuan-Nomura with special reviews from the brilliant Sarah Selecky, we are looking to expand the letter to include more great reviews and articles from guest writers. The RED Letter will be distribute on the 10th of the month with more of what you love, reviews, photos, interviews and soon there will audio clips as well! Although an act of love, creating the letter takes a lot of time and research! And so, dig into your pockets and show your support! Even a few dollars helps us out! Please mail cheques to GirlCanCreate at 88 Hallam St., Toronto, ON, M6H 1W8 Please include Name, Email Address, Mailing Address and Phone Number. Paypal payments also accepted. Please contact lisa@girlcancreate.com for more information. Any donations over $15 will receive
8. Read this Book! With Book Lady Sarah Selecky
Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2003 - and a slew of other awards - Vernon God Little is DBC Pierre's debut novel, and it truly kicks ass. DBC Pierre is a 40-year-old British citizen, and his novel is about a fifteen-year-old American boy living in small-town Texas. Okay, so the narrator is a little self-indulgent and the bad guys are lacking serious depth or complexity, but it's a pleasure to overlook these small flaws, because really: this book has some serious satiric style. A blurb on the back of my paperback copy reads, "Reading his book made me think of how the English language was in Shakespeare's day, enormously free and inventive and very idiomatic and full of poetry as well." That was the Chair of the Booker Prize Judges. I can't remember the last time a book prize jury compared a contemporary novel to Shakespeare. Eyebrow cocked, I opened the book. After reading a few sentences, I understood the Judge's comment. With an orchestra of idioms, curses and irreverent reflections that are his and his alone, fifteen-year-old Vernon Little slams through his small-town Texas days and nights with a vicious and sparkling commentary that rarely lets you take a breath. He's been accused of murder - a dramatic, Columbine-style shootout in his school - but he's innocent. It's a long story, and he's going to tell you all the details. Vernon Little has been compared to Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield, and Jonathan Lethem described DBC Pierre's voice as "Flannery O'Connor on an overdose of amphetamines and cable television." Don' t you want to get this book because of that alone?
9. Calls for Entries
rock.paper.sistahz festival 7 The rock.paper.sistahz festival turns 7 this season, with much to celebrate! Our annual festival has been empowering and celebrating emerging and established artists, by providing opportunities to develop and present new works. The festival has presented creators, works, and ideas from across Canada,the Caribbean, England, and the United States . In addition to attracting submissions from a broad cross section of artists, we’ve engaged a plethora of actors, designers, directors, musicians, visual artists, and apprentices who are enthusiastic about participating in this hand-picked and fully curated teaming of quality, diversity, and raw energy. Participation in rock.paper.sistahz festival is open to both emerging and established artists, and works beyond the theatre stage – literary readings, dance, music, film/video screenings, art installations, storytelling, standup – are included; so artists in any and all disciplines are encouraged to submit proposals. As artists/creators, you come with the words, ideas, and material; and a readiness to engage new and familiar audiences. b current will provide development/production or presentation resources as fully as can be afforded to works selected for inclusion in the festival. As well as scaled fees or participation honoraria, resources include: * presentation venue for all selected work Out-of-town participants will also have travel expenses and per diems covered. Please include a cover letter indicating who you are, how and why you want to participate in the festival, and following items: * a bio and any press or published material on yourself and your work Mail submission packages to: rock.paper.sistahz festival For inclusion in this season’s festival, your submission must be mailed by
10. Websites of Interest
Our Faves Toronto – www.toronto.ourfaves.com – This is a great new site that lets us read about other people’s faves in town. Who new that Monday nights at the Dakota were Mariachi Mondays? Not I. Anyone interested in some Mexican music next week? Epicurious – www.epicurious.com – Now those of you who know me might just laugh, cause well, I just don’t really know how to cook. But occasionally when I am inspired, I check out this website and find some great yummy food. Check it out! Quoteland – www.quoteland.com – Sometimes on the dark and dreary days of fall, you need a few words of wisdom. Have a look here!
11. Upcoming Performances of Interest
October 4 to October 14 October 12 to November 4 October 13 October 13 to October 20 October 18 to October 20 October 20 October 24 to November 25 October 25 to November 3 October 28 October 31 November 1 to November 3
12. Photography by Dave Pijuan-Nomura
Check out Dave's new Etsy site at nomuraphoto.etsy.com
13. Last Thought
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Vernon God Little: A 21st Century Comedy in the Presence of Death