| The RED Letter, Feb 2008 |
Table of Contents
1. Words from Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
If you don’t have anything happening on Tuesdays, join me with a group of great women in the She Can Create: Creativity Classes for Women starting on February 5. Another creative event is the Artist Trading Card Live Trading Session on February 24 where you can come and make original art cards and then trade them with other artists and creative souls! I am especially proud to announce The Bread Cabaret. After a few months and many inquiries about the return of the RED cabaret, I have decided to curate a much smaller event while still bringing together some of the quality performances that you have come to love at RED! On February 13, GirlCanCreate will host the first Bread Cabaret at Bread and Circus in Kensington Market. The space is small and intimate, and it will feature five artists and there will be three spaces for Tiny one-minute performances by audience members! I am so excited to present work by some of Toronto’s finest performers! So, it’s an exciting month with a lot of new things happening here. It also happens to be my birthday on the 25th, so needless to say, I look forward to an exciting year! Have a wonderful February and I will see you at one of the new events! 2. An Interview with The Octopus Project!
The OCTOPUS PROJECT seeks to provide an outlet for artists to continue making art by offering a challenge to create. The challenge is issued as a "spark", an idea or image, sent out every eight weeks for interpretation by the artists. The interdisciplinary community of Octopus Project artists creates a shared visual representation of diversity through one theme with many voices. The Octopus Project was founded by Toronto textile artist Catherine Mellinger and Toronto photographer Melanie Gordon. In order to see some of the images from the first Octopus Project go to The Octopus Project website. What is the Octopus Project and how did the idea originate? Who are the participants and what can we expect to see at the shows. What do you hope to achieve with this project? What are your muses and inspirations? Octopus Project II:
3. Feature Music: Aviva Chernick CD release for In The Sea
Aviva’s “spectacular” debut album IN THE SEA was released in London, Ontario in the fall to great acclaim. IN THE SEA is an eclectic mix of World Cabaret repertoire that crosses genres, weaving together Judeo-Spanish love songs, Blues, Traditional Spirituals, Yiddish Folk, German Cabaret, American Musical Theatre as well as the music of contemporary favourites Leonard Cohen and Randy Newman. Aviva’s voice and body dance as she sings transporting her listener on a musical ride through time and space. This theatrical evening will enchant with its artful marriage of the sacred and the secular, the traditional and the contemporary. A true Renaissance artist, London native Aviva Chernick trained as a theatre director, actor, contemporary dancer before singing Baroque music for a dance performance. Aviva has been a student of David Dunbar and Fides Krucker ever since. She has also trained with Jazz diva Rita di Ghent and Arabic music master George Sawa. Aviva works as a Cantorial Soloist where she lends her voice to Jewish spiritual practice throughout Toronto. She is also the lead singer in the World Fusion ensemble Shakshuka set to release its first album this summer produced by Chris Gartner (www.lightstonemusic.com). Aviva also sings with World Music band Shakshuka and The Huppah Project: Music of the Jewish Wedding Celebration. Upcoming projects include a collaboration with Arabic Music Master, George Sawa inspired by the Song of Songs, and Aviva’s World Cabaret concert series Wine, Woman and Song, performed with Andrew Downing and Tania Gill in concert halls and intimate club settings. IN THE SEA – CD Release Concert features Aviva’s soaring sounds accompanied by the expert stylings, both scored and improvisational, of Tania Gill on piano and Andrew Downing on bass. Tania is well known in the Toronto music scene for her piano and/or keyboard playing with such groups as Saint Dirt Elementary School (improvisational jazz ensemble), Runcible Spoon (jazz quintet), The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and avant rock group Deep Dark United as well as for composing, arranging and improvising. London-born double bass player, Juno Award Winner, composer and band leader Andrew Downing is currently a permanent fixture in a few of the country’s most interesting cross-genre groups. Andrew’s musical adventures include performance and/or recordings with Moe Koffman, Kelly Joe Phelps, The Great Uncles of the Revolution, Melodeon, Patricia O’Callaghan, Jane Bunnett and The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band. The trio has played to packed houses at The Red Guitar, The Lab Cab Festival at the Factory Theatre in Toronto, and the Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario. IN THE SEA CD Release Concert Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Avenue
4. Feature Theatre – The Burning Bush and Sisters of Sheynville
"A total crowd pleaser! Theatergoers (and deep-pocketed commercial Award winning solo performer Tracey Erin Smith has teamed up with the all-female Klezmer sensation The Sisters of Sheynville for ONE NIGHT ONLY at Lula Lounge. It's an interactive old time revival. You ain't never been saved like this! The hit one-woman show; The Burning Bush! is back and this time she's got a full BAND; The Sisters of Sheynville. Tracey Erin Smith: 'The Burning Bush!', is the story of Barbara Baumawitz, a female Rabbinical student who teams up with exotic dancers to save souls, one lap dance at a time. Smith won 'Best of the Toronto Fringe Festival' 2006 & 2007 and an Audience Choice Award Frigid Festival New York City. The Sisters of Sheynville: A high energy, all-women sextet who bring to life Yiddish swing, Klezmer and roots music inspired by the Barry Sisters of the1930s and '40s. February 3 www.theburningbush.ca
5. Feature Dance: Spoken Word/Body at Dancemakers
Martin Bélanger has been exploring dance since 1992. His experience as an actor for theatre and film forms the basis of his awareness of stage production and performance. Martin Bélanger’s work may be described as a hybrid form of dance where a cross-section of divergent elements is woven into the same fabric. Neither pure dance, nor theatre or “happening”, it is all of these things at once. “Bélanger’s poetic, philosophical text on science fiction’s post-human body or the influence of fear was itself an artistic triumph” –Paula Citron This years Dancemakers Presents welcomes three, emerging and seasoned voices that push the boundaries of new work and interdisciplinary dialogues from Quebec in our special Volet Montreal Live edition featuring Martin Bélanger, Catherine Tardif and Mélanie Demers. February 14, 15, 16, 2008 Dancemakers Centre for Creation Contact: 416-367-1800 info@dancemakers.org Directed by Martin Bélanger Tickets $20|18 6. Feature Festival – The Rhubarb FestivalBuddies in Bad Times Theatre presents The 29th Rhubarb Festival
The Rhubarb Festival returns following a one-year hiatus. At this year's Rhubarb, we're offering close to one hundred participating artists a critic-free environment in which to play and experiment -- and, after suffering through a "Rhubarb-Free" 2007, we are dying to sample this year's bounty! Rhubarb is a great chance to catch one-of-a-kind performances, cruise installations, meet the artists, socialize and dance the night away in Tallulah's Cabaret. Rhubarb is Canada's oldest new works fest and is notorious for showcasing the most outrageous acts you'll catch all year-round. The 29th Rhubarb Festival line-up features radical new hybrids of dance, theatre, video, stand-up, musical theatre, opera, animation, storytelling and rock'n'roll - all under one roof. Evening Passes are available for a lean $15, and that gets you in to your choice of shows and events scheduled for that evening. Rhubarb officially returns on Wed, Feb 20, which includes a post-show Rhubarb Festival Kick Off Bash (beginning at 10:30pm), featuring a screening of Vegetable or Fruit? Weed, Stalk or Root?, Keith Cole's Rhubarb Video Project. The screening will be followed by social revelry in Tallulah's with our favourite DJ Shane MacKinnon. Once you're in the door, you're in for a wild ride. February 20 – March 2, 2008 Festival Director: Erika Hennebury EVENING PASSES $15 - WEEK PASSES $20 DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING EACH WEEK Week One Shows: Feb 20 – Feb 24 At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St, Toronto, Canada
7. Feature Event – The Bread Cabaret – February 13And so, after much anticipation, I present to you RED’s little sister, The Bread Cabaret! A few months ago, I received a notice about a new performance space in Kensington Market. It was a lovely little spot run by artists, and it had a wonderful vibe. Since I had been missing RED already, I decided it was time to do a much smaller event, and I felt that this was the place, and so with much pride, I would like to announce the Bread Cabaret! Performers include Hosted by Lisa Pijuan-Nomura Plus 3 TINY one minute spots for the 2x2 stages placed throughout Bread and Circus! There are 3 spots available for 3 audience members on a first come, first serve basis! Join us on February 13, 2008 for a night of live performance! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $9 Adults Bread and Circus Theatre and Bar in Kensington Market
8. A Little Bit of Lovin - Valentine’s Events(Now, I am not a lover of Valentines’ Day, in fact, I do believe that the day is a contrived can of cheesy peas. However I do know that a few lovely people are putting together some great events for this day. I guarantee that none of these event are sponsored by Hallmark. Enjoy!) Valentines Season Sale for Jacob’s Beaded Creations Want to do something different this year? Buy some hand crafted jewellery that will last eternities longer than chocolate. Jacob Zavitz, a sixteen-year-old artisan in the St. Clair Avenue West neighbourhood, invites you to a Valentines sale for Jacob’s Beaded Creations. Please come to ask questions, share a cup of tea, and purchase a hand-made gift for yourself or that special someone. Whether you’re looking for seedbead pieces or semi-precious pieces, Jacob makes them all. Semi-precious pieces include the following types of gemstones: natural turquoise (from Afghanistan), amethyst, garnet, tiger eye, agates, amber, onyx, sun stone, fire agate, hematite, rutilated quartz, sesame jasper, aquamarine, green tourmaline quartz, seaweed quartz. Come and learn the story behind each piece of hand-made jewellery. Sunday, February 10, 2008, 2 - 5 pm 19 Kenwood Avenue, just north of St. Clair (Kenwood is 3 blocks west of Bathurst) parking in lot on Kenwood north of St. Clair Prices range from $8 - $125. Refreshments will be served Fado Performance presents: The 2nd Annual Valentine-Oh-Grams!! February 14, 2008 Some lovers give chocolates and some splurge on roses. This Valentine's Day give the gift that will charm your sweetie for the entire year – performance art! Say “I love you" with a Fado Performance Valentine-Oh-Gram! Choose one of these sweet and unique live performance-oh-grams created and performed by local performance art luminaries: Careless Whisper: A Singing Vagina Valentine-Oh-Gram The Say Anything Valentine-Oh-Gram The Spelling Bee Valentine-Oh-Gram The Display of Affection Valentine-Oh-Gram NEW this year! Order your Valentine-Oh-Gram from Fado Performance today! Prices All other live performance Valentine-Oh-Grams: Order before February 7 and pay $50. Order after February 7 and pay $60. The Valentine-Oh-Phone: Order anytime before February 13, 2008 and pay $25 per call or get 3 calls for $50! Here’s how it works: To order or for more information: City of Craft & the workroom present
The Valentine’s Trunk Show Sunday February 10, 2008 the workroom The Valentine’s Trunk Show will feature 15 local vendors, confined to setting up their displays in suitcases! Jewellery! Crochet Woolies! Stitched medallions! Reimagined romance novels! Hair ties! Plush Anatomy! Handmade Pipes! Handbags! Craft Supplies! And, of course, heaps of cards and paper goods by local stuff-makers. Free snacks!
9. Local Etsy Shop – Banjo Puppets(Many of you know about my love for all things handmade, and so you can imagine my joy when I came upon etsy.com, the home of many little shops creating and selling all things handmade! Upon further investigation, I found that there were a great wealth of Toronto sellers, and so I would like to feature some of my local favourites from this huge (and sometimes overwhelming) site of all things crafty!)
Banjo Puppets is the home of Joel Brubacher and all of his fuzzy puppet friends! His online shop features some of his famous Popcorn puppets – amazing for pockets and purses, along with his Gumball puppets, which have entertained rowdy 5 year olds as well as many of my grown up friends! His handwork is brilliant and each puppet has a personality of it’s own. If you are interested in the larger puppets, he creates both monster and real kid look-alikes. If you ever are interested in getting a unique gift for children and adults alike, I would highly suggest Banjo Puppets! Check out the work of Banjo Puppets at banjopuppets.etsy.com!
10. Crafty Happenings – ThanksCardsOften we focus on what went wrong during a day, or a week, or a month, instead of focusing on what we received from others. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create your own anonymous 4x6 inch postcard out of any mailable material that: 1) thanks someone for something they did for you, that Please put your image and your thanks on the same side of the postcard. Other Tips: Samples? (I'm just making these up as springboards): Thanks for treating me to lunch. I love chocolate cake! Please send a postcard to: And please feel free to share this with friends or people you think would be interested in doing it too.
11. Make and Trade: Artist Trading Card Live Trading SessionsWhat is an ATC? Well, think of a baseball card. Or a playing card. Only, it doesn't have your favourite ball player, it has a one of a kind work of art. Originally these cards were created so that artists who couldn't afford art would swap with their friends. It has grown to become a movement that let's many people create and exchange original art! The only rules are that it must be 2.5' by 3.5' and it must be traded. ATC Toronto wants to spread the good word of Artist Trading Cards and is hosting monthly swaps and card making sessions! These cards are for everyone, not only artists! Well, join us once a month to make and trade some cards. Or come with your own cards to trade at our monthly session. This is a great way to meet new people, find some creative time and play with crayons, paper, glue, paint and just have time to make art! Beginners welcome! Please know that this is for everyone! Even if you have never done any sort of art, you are welcome! It’s fun, and addictive, and you can have a great afternoon! Sunday February 24 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Where: Somewhere There Studios Check out our Facebook Group
12. Creativity Classes with GirlCanCreate“As a workshop leader, Lisa brings a sense of excitement and passion few can match. Her enthusiasm rubs off on the participants, now co-creators, in a world of movement and creativity carefully explored and unleashed in a safe, fun-filled experience. Lisa is both a masterful facilitator and a catalyst for stepping into the unknown. With such warmth and humour, she truly creates a joyous atmosphere in her classes and workshops.” - Beth Mairs, Director of Wild Woman Expedition
Join us for an experiential woman's creative group that meets once a week to play and create using a variety of different inspirations. Focusing on self-expression and the desire to bring more art to our lives we will use Collage, Storytelling, Movement, Doll making, Beadwork and Journaling to jumpstart our creativity and help create unique pieces of art and find ways how to continue creating after the classes are finished. Lisa will also talk about the overcoming creative blocks, taking steps to complete projects and letting the world know about your work. A sure fire inspiring workshop, register early to avoid disappointment as there is a limited amount of participants. When: Tuesdays Nights from 6:15 to 9:00February 5, 12, 19, 26 Price: $150 To register please email Lisa at lisa@girlcancreate.com or call 416-516-4925 Plus special deal for RED Letter readers, register and mention RED Letter and you will receive a complimentary creativity coaching session with Lisa Pijuan-Nomura. About Lisa: For many years Lisa has helped other artists when times were tough. It seemed to be a natural extensions of her work as an artist and curator. Lisa has studied with many great creative minds including author and creativity expert Eric Maisel, Art Therapist Jacqueline Gautier, dancer Lisa Nelson, singer Ysaye Barnwell, musician Babatunde Olatunji, storyteller Judith Black and many others! With over 15 years of working as a performance artist, writer and educator, Lisa is especially passionate about bring art, humour and creativity to lives of women, youth and children.
13. Classes, Workshops and ConferencesThe MovingBody: Led by: Danièle Massie Two-Day Weekend: Feb. 22-23, 2008 Times: Fri. 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm; Sat. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Location: The Gestalt Institute of Toronto, 194 Carlton St. (four blocks east of Yonge St.) Fee: $120 More info / download the brochure To register: Call 416-964-9464 This gestalt series will give you an opportunity to gain more awareness of how you carry your beliefs in your body and how these beliefs may interfere with your expression. Enjoy greater freedom and spontaneity by being present and awake in each moment. Explore how movement mirrors emotion and language. Begin from where you are. Some of the themes addressed will include: About Danièle, Graduate of the Gestalt Institute of Toronto Danièle's motivation to overcome a physical challenge early in life led her to practices in which she could allow her body to reveal and express its wisdom through movement. Her extensive study of perception and presence in dance performance for dancers and non-dancers (Deborah Hay, USA), along with her interest in everyday movement as living art (Linda Montano, USA), informed her work as choreographer and performer. Later, Gestalt Therapy became another way for her to experience the inherent intelligence of her body, the re-integration of hidden parts of herself through an increase in consciousness, and the healing nature of living fully in the present. Her somatic approach to Gestalt Therapy integrates over 20 years of movement and body awareness work including the practice of Authentic Movement based on Jung's Active Imagination as well as the rediscovery of experiencing through Sensory Awareness work (Leslie French, Toronto). Danièle has a private practice in downtown Toronto. "Kathleen Style" Dance Lessons Four Classes in March Dovercourt Penthouse Studio, 805 Dovercourt Road, In this workshop participants will "Kathleen style" modern dance and dance improvisation. Release techniques, the abilty to move betweeen contrasting movement dynamics, dancing in relationship, story telling through dance and just plain having fun and enjoying the expressive nature of our movements. What level is the workshop? Kathleen Rea has danced with Ballet Jörgen Canada (BJC), National Ballet of Canada Tiroler Landestheater (Austria). In 2000 she formed REAson d'etre productions, an organization that houses her artistic endeavours as a choreographer, producer teacher. Kathleen has choreographed over 20 original works for various organizations including Bravo Television, Ballet Jörgen Canada, Gender Play, Ryerson University, Theatre Passe Muraille and Toronto Dance Theatre. Kathleen's full-length ballet, the Velveteen Rabbit, was performed by BJC across North America and her award winning film Lapinthrope premiered at numerous international film festivals. Kathleen is also a member of the Contact Dance community, founding the Wednesday Dance Jam; is a faculty member of George Brown College Dance and has a Master's degree in Expressive Arts (EGS ISIS-Canada). Contact Improvisation Dance Classes: 8 Saturdays 4:30-6pm, Starts January 26, 2008 Contact Improv is a movement form that wakes up your ability to listen and respond to what is happening in the moment. Movement is inspired by the spontaneous interaction between two people playing with weight, momentum and gravity. Contact Improv has been described as “dancing, Aikido, surfing, wrestling, and playing all at the same time” (Touchdown Dance 2002) Classes will Explore: Sharing Weight Previous movement experience an asset (ex. dance, martial arts, yoga, and/or physical theatre). Contact the facilitator for more info. Wear comfortable clothes. We will dance in bare feet. Dovercourt 3rd Floor Class Series Price: $100 regular Drop-in Price: $15/drop-in class Facilitator: Suzanne Liska
14. Read this Book! With Book Lady Sarah Selecky
There are many problems associated with watching a movie before you've read the book that inspired it. The first, and arguably the most obvious, is that you never get around to reading the book at all. And why should you? You know the story already; the narrative tension that would otherwise push you through the pages has already been defused by the film. You'll never experience the story in a fresh way, the way the author intended it. And then there's the problem of the actors. Once they've insidiously worked their way into your mind, there's no going back. If you were to read the book, those actors would merely play out the story in your head, reading their lines exactly as they are written in the book. And yet. I recommend Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys this month, even if you have already seen this film (starring Michael Douglas and Robert Downey, Jr). Even if, like me, you've seen this film more than five times. In a row. I won't lie - the actors will likely appear in your mind, reading their lines. And of course you know the story already - an aging writer, Grady Tripp, can't finish his novel. He smokes too much pot and writes and rambles and cheats on his wife and can't edit - he writes compulsively, helplessly, never reaching the end. He and Crabtree, his buoyant and flirtatious editor, and James Leer, a troubled and talented writing student, take to the streets of Pittsburgh in a bizarre comedy of errors, ostensibly looking for the meaning of life. But this is why you should read this book anyway: Michael Chabon is an intensely good writer, and because of his skill, the vibrancy of his prose is so thrilling that it neutralizes all of the aforementioned film-to-book problems. They won't matter. The book is written in Grady's point of view, so you get to read his hilarious and detailed interior narrative - the kind of narrative a film cannot show without using (shudder) voice over - and it is proof of the strength of this novel that the story is built so soundly that the plot can be transferred to film without also creating a vague sense of loss. Of course, the novel is rich - there are surprising scenes here that never make it to the screen. But what really shines? The sentences! Chabon's details! His verbs! Here is Grady Tripp's description of the writing process: "The midnight disease is a kind of emotional insomnia; at every conscious moment its victim - even if he or she writes at dawn, or in the middle of the afternoon - feels like a person lying in a sweltering bedroom, with the window thrown open looking up at a sky filled with stars and airplanes, listening to the narrative of a rattling blind, an ambulance, a fly trapped in a coke bottle, while all around him the neighbors soundly sleep." You won't be sorry. Read this book. 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 first collection of stories, This Cake is for the Party, was published by Greenboathouse Books in 2003. Standing Up For Janey, a second chapbook, was published by Delirium Press in 2006. Her stories have been published in Geist, Boulevard, and The New Quarterly, and she won first prize in the Prairie Fire Fiction Contest in 2004. One of her stories was recently included in The Journey Prize Anthology. Sarah lives in Toronto.
15. Calls for EntriesThe Coalition for Daring Behaviour (CFDB) The CFDB is an artist project that aims to facilitate a network of creative collaborations. For more information about the project or to submit a dare, please visitwww.darecoalition.com The deadline for the first round of submissions is February 29th, 2008.
16. Upcoming Performances of InterestJanuary 31 - February 10 Director/Writer Tristan R. Whiston Wednesday to Saturday 8pm with 2:30 pm Sunday matinees February 5 February 7 February 8 February 8 February 8 February 9 to February 11 February 9 to February 10 February 11 February 11 February 13 to February 15 February 15 to February 16 February 15 to March 2 February 16 to February 17 February 18 February 20 February 21 February 21 to February 23 February 22 February 29
17. Photography by Dave Pijuan-Nomura
18. Last Thought The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart. |
Can you believe that it is already February? How is it possible that time is passing us so quickly this year? And already we are in the month known for blues. Well, my friends, do not despair! In an honest attempt to inspire and entertain, I have a number of new events happening this February to get you feeling better about this month. 
