| The RED Letter, Sep 2008 |
Table of Contents
1. Words from Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
Hello friends and welcome to the new readers of the RED Letter! There is so much to say. What wise words can I give you my wonderful readers. Hmmm. No pressure. Well, in moments like this, I find that lists help. So, dear readers here is a list of what is on my mind. 1. My parents taught me some great values in life. I try to live by them and now I think it’s a good time to share with you; Do what makes you happy. Be honest. Laugh a lot. There will always be someone who loves you even when you feel like there isn’t. Be kind. Fight for what you believe in. It’s a pretty big list, but my parents are both wise. It’s worked so far for me, perhaps it might help you. 2. Take a class. Right now I am taking a drawing class, a sculpture class and a printmaking class. Going to school gives us beginner’s mind. That I think is good. 3. I have noticed that the world is sad. It’s not just a little sad, but a big sad. So, next time you see someone who seems to be down, give them a hug. Really, it helps. 4. Start a new practice. Be it writing or creating art, or working out, whatever. Me, I have started up my blog again. You can check it out here at girlcancreate.blogspot.com 5. Do something about the upcoming elections. The arts cuts are frightening and action is needed. Don’t know what to do? Check out the brilliant work of The DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE. A group of dedicated activists and artists who are busy organizing people and events to let more people know about what is going on. Get involved and check out what is going on here. You can also sign the Canada Supports the Arts petition! 6. Come and visit me at my new work studio at 165 Augusta Avenue. It’s called Project 165 and it’s presented by Ryan Ringer of methinks. He’s pretty awesome. Oh, and if you do come, you might want to take me to Wanda’s Pie in the Sky for a piece of heaven and a cup of tea. Just a thought. Best,
2. An Interview with Ryan Ringer of methinks presentsIn July, I found a call for artists interested in sharing work studios at a new art space in Kensington. I was interested in working outside of my home studio and thought what could I possibly lose by applying. I went to the space and met Ryan. I was concerned that he might be a bit of a cuckoo banana kind of guy, but was so pleased to find that he was a kind, interesting, talented artist and thinker. I am proud to say that I am in the space and we are having a soft opening on Saturday September 13. For more info see his website! And now, I introduce, Ryan Ringer! - Lisa
Could you tell us about Methinks Presents and how it came to be? Kevin Mayo and I formed Methinks Presents in 2003 while studying sculpture/installation at OCAD. We were really into conceptual art at the time - hence the name Methinks - and produced a number of successful multimedia events together. Methinks has since become an arena for collaboration, experimental play, social-networking and the professional development of emergent and early-career cultural producers. We provide opportunities for individuals, groups and spaces to participate in exhibitions, immersive fictions, urban adventures, workshops and other social art projects. You talk about relational art, how would you describe that? Relation Art, according to Nicolas Bourriaud (who introduced the term in the '90s), comprises "a set of artistic practices which take as their theoretical and practical point of departure the whole of human relations and their social context, rather than an independent and private space." As I see it, in a nutshell, relational form is participatory space, a social environment, a magical place of intersubjectivity. Any exciting news for the fall of 2008? Oh yes! Lots of exciting stuff! We're opening PROJECT 165, a creative hub in Kensington Market - artist work studios, social space, a little library and a storefront "gallery" - and we're very excited by the many new possibilities it will bring! ... Also, there's our famed NYC Roadtrip - number nine in a series of Relational Art adventures for the greater Toronto arts community. It's always a grand time full of amazing situations and great people! ... And so much more! How can local artists contribute to a healthy art scene? By realizing that working together is better than competing against each other. Advice to emerging artists? Be true to yourself. As Jack Kerouac put it: "No fear of shame in the dignity of your experience, language or knowledge". Also, get involved in your community.
3. NYC 9I am stoked about this awesome trip to New York and I will be going with Dave and my sister in law Catherine. If any one else wants to join us, please do! How cool would it be to get a RED contingent on the bus!!! - Lisa
Methinks Presents is back with yet another exciting installation of our NYC Roadtrip - a super-funtastic relational art journey into the psychogeographical! And now with a whole new adventurous energy and revived direction! Oh what joyous urban fun we have planned for y'all! Price Includes: Departs from Downtown Toronto Returns to Toronto COST PAYMENT DEADLINE BOOK YOUR PASSAGE AT INFO 4. Feature Dance: TerpsicalliopeIt’s not a surprise that I love Susanna Hood. And it’s also not a surprise that I love improv dance and music. So when I was asked to be a part of this new series I was tickled. I hope to see some familiar faces at the show but please note that I unfortunately will not make the September show but will be there for both November and December. - Lisa Terpsicalliope A word from Susanna Hood; I am heartened to observe a growing interest in the Toronto community in a performance practice that has fed me for the last ten years: that of the meeting of dance and music through improvisation. I wanted to meet that interest by inviting some of this city's very skilled duos of dancers and musicians to perform in an almost-monthly performance series called, Terpsicalliope . In the interest of fostering a critical dialogue about how these forms interact, every show will offer a series of short improvised performances followed by an in-house discussion/debriefing which we encourage the public to either observe or join. We are: Susanna Hood/Nilan Perera Julie Lassonde/Joe Sorbara Lisa Pijuan-Nomura/Gurpreet Chana in a variety of configurations and with the occasional guest. This is a pilot project which we are trying out for the fall in residence at Sunday, September 21st - 1pm $6 at the door.
5. Feature Theatre: Late and Black Medea by Obsidian Theatre
Starring Mazin Elsadig, Edwige Jean-Pierre & Sabryn Rock Carol and Donna meet under awkward circumstances and discover a connection that leads them into a wonderfully funny discourse on life, love and imagination. Black Medea Starring Audrey Dwyer, Lindsay Owen Pierre, Mariah Inger, Tiffany Martin & Meleke Bell This classic Euripides tale is retold by Australian Indigenous playwright Wesley Enoch. In his version, Medea sacrifices land and culture of Central Australia for Jason and the city with disastrous results. Obsidian Theatre takes this story and re-imagines it for a Canadian audience. Late and Black Medea run as a twin bill. Playing from September 11 - October 5, 2008 At the Berkeley Street Theatre - Upstairs (26 Berkeley St.) Box office: 416-368-3110 or visit www.canstage.com
6. Feature Event: Queen West Arts CrawlNow, I know that I am biased. But I think my husband’s photography is brilliant. And, I am proud to say that his work will be on display at this weekend’s Queen West Arts Crawl. I will be there with him all weekend so come and say hello! We will be at booth L14
The art gallery crawling starts at Queen and Spadina and ends with various open artist studios in Roncesvalles. The Outdoor Art Show and Sale Kids’ Art Zones The Community Partner Crawl PLAY/GROUNDS Live Musical Entertainment Area For more information see www.queenwestartcrawl.com
7. Feature Visual Arts: Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche: October 4, 2008 For one sleepless night, Toronto will once again be transformed by artists as Scotiabank Nuit Blanche returns on October 4, 2008. This year's full program details are now available at the Nuit Blanche website. With only 12 hours to see 155 installations across the city, it will be impossible to do it all in one night! Visit the website today to get a head start on planning your adventure. The third edition of this award-winning event returns with the participation of close to 100 of Toronto's cultural and educational institutions, and more than 750 local and international artists. For more information see the official Nuit Blanche website
8. Read this Book! With Book Lady Sarah SeleckyMister Sandman Oh, Ms. Gowdy, you are such a delicious chameleon. From your bizarreland short story collection that stunned and inspired a generation of young writers (How Seldom We Look on Love) to your passionate and moving exploration of the lives of elephants (The White Bone) to the strange sentimental blip of a love story (The Romantic – which is the only one of your books I haven’t recommended to anyone, sorry)… may nobody ever accuse you of getting stuck in a rut! Mister Sandman introduces us to the eccentric and passionate Canary family in the 1950s. The youngest daughter, Joan, is a mystery: as a baby, she was dropped on her head. But does that explain why she is so -- different? Breathtakingly beautiful, even as an infant, she is also incredibly small. Her hair is white and she only plays at night. As she grows up, she never learns to speak, but instead communicates by echoing the sounds that surround her – the hum of the refrigerator, the revving of a car outside. Because daylight is too bright for her sensitive eyes, she begins wearing sunglasses as a constant. Here’s a passage from Chapter Ten: “Taking Joan anywhere during the day was like transporting a narcoleptic whose dreams are about the real and present moment, as if she were watching the same television program but on another channel. You’d swear she was in a deep sleep because her breathing slowed and because of how she drooped and grew warm and still, and yet there wasn’t a horn or revving she didn’t instantly, almost inaudibly, mimic.” Every member of the family has a special relationship with the strange and lovely Joan. As the story evolves, we learn that everyone in the family also has a special secret, a careful contradiction, an emotional grenade wrapped in tissue paper that they are hiding from the world. It isn’t until the end of the book that the family is able to truly understand who they really are… and it’s up to tiny Joan to show them how they’re going to do this. Mister Sandman is an older novel, one that I missed the first time around. Published in 1995, this uncommonly domestic story about family secrets should be regarded as a classic; find space on your bookshelf and insert this between Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Sarah Selecky is a Toronto based writer and teacher. For more about her and her work please see www.sarahselecky.ca
9. Creativity Coaching with GirlCanCreate
Do you have a creative dream welling up inside? As a creativity coach, I am interested in helping people discover their most creative, true and fulfilling selves. I bring over 20 years experience as a performance artist to my work and understand the practice of starting from an idea and moving towards creation. Together with clients, I aim to bring more art to their lives, work towards specific project goals and assist to make their creative dreams a reality. Together we look towards clarity, inspiration and realization in regards to all aspects of their creative life. My many experiences contribute to my understanding of the creative life. My knowledge of performance creation and the artistic life help me in my work as a creativity coach. With a sense of humour, I work with clients to help uncover your creative dreams. Creativity Coaching deals with one's own creativity. During this time together, many emotions and feelings arise. While this is a natural aspect of the coaching relationship, our job together is to get through your creative dilemmas. Rates: I am offering an additional 10% discount for the month of September and October for RED Letter Readers! I am currently accepting new coaching clients. If you are interested in working with me please email me at lisa@girlcancreate.com with a short introduction. I look forward to hearing from you!
10. Classes, Workshops and ConferencesFujiwara Dance Inventions presents Embodiment: September 16-19, 2008 509 Parliament Street (Canadian Children's Dance Theatre), Studio C Cost: $150 or $45/day A dance-theatre workshop to train the body and the imagination by working from vivid internal conditions expressed through intense physicality. Using Butoh, the modern Japanese dance form as a foundation, we work to reveal the dance’s inner life of authenticity, depth and paradox, and to gently expose one’s humanity in its irrationality, ugliness, beauty and mirth. Limited registration: Priority given to those taking full course. For more information, scholarships and to register, Contact Improvisation Dance Classes All Levels Welcome! Classes Will Explore: Classes will begin with a warm-up using skeletal movements, breath and partner work and will progress to using weight-sharing and momentum lifts while moving through space. Previous movement experience is 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. Location: Class Series Price: Drop-in Price: Facilitator: 416 704-8096 www.contactimprov.ca/on/toronto Creating a Solo Show with Nicolle Nattrass This is a Weekend Intensive for actors/writers/creators who have always wanted to write and perform their own one person/solo show. This workshop is designed to help you generate material for your one person show. We’ll explore everything from the essential elements to building a successful solo show, to practical tools, where to submit/perform your show, the business of a solo show, marketing and producing tips as well as offering advice from both a performing and playwrighting perspective. If you don't have anything written yet- be prepared to write and generate material, just bring your ideas, pen and paper! Sat. Sept. 13- 10- 5pm Total cost: $250.00 for Weekend Intensive To register, email Nicolle at nnattrass@yahoo.ca Workshop facilitated by:
11. Calls for Entries
Alameda Theatre Company invites submissions from established and emerging playwrights for the 2nd annual Latin Canadian playwright's festival: The 2009 De Colores Festival of New Works The festival will focus on providing developmental support for works in progress by pairing the chosen playwrights with professional dramaturgs from Toronto's theatre community. This year's festival dramaturgs are Stephen Colella, Dramaturg at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People and Erica Kopyto, dramaturg working with PEN Canada/ARC Fest and the Writers in Exile program. Our mandate is to provide opportunities to Latin Canadian theatre artists and playwrights and to build audiences for their work. Our goal is for Latin American arts and artists to be embraced by a broad Canadian community that is aware of, understands and respects the Latin-American Canadian experience. Scripts selected for the 2009 De Colores Festival of New Works will receive dramaturgical support and a workshop period that will culminate in a staged reading in April 2009. Work in the festival will automatically be short-listed for production in our upcoming seasons. Selected playwrights will be contacted by November 2008. Deadline for submissions: September 30, 2008 For more information regarding the 2009 De Colores Festival of New Works please email hola@alamedatheatre.com or call (416) 428-7638. The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival The Sixth Annual Cooking Fire Theatre Festival is now accepting applications. The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival is an annual week-long festival celebrating theatre, food and public space, which has been held in Toronto's Dufferin Grove Park each June since 2004. Delicious, affordable organic meals from the park's wood-fired community bake ovens are served alongside an evening of pay-what-you-can outdoor theatre by local, national and international artists. The festival is an ideal venue for small artist-run companies or independent artists creating original, ambitious outdoor theatre. In past years we have presented work which draws from various forms including physical theatre, puppetry, mask, choral singing, live music, clown, street theatre and storytelling. We are primarily interested in supporting new site-specific pieces created for the festival itself, as well as those which are adapted and re-worked for this context. Applications may correspond to one of the following categories: 15-20 minute pieces which play near the beginning of the evening to an all ages audience. For more information email cookingfire@gmail.com Deadline: October 1, 2008 We look forward to receiving your submissions, and will gladly answer further questions about the festival or the application process via email. 08-09 Vernissage-Danse Submission information for the 08-09 Vernissage-Danse series is currently online, with event themes ranging from Ground to Games. The first deadline is September 15th 2008 for Vernissage-danse #141: This event will highlight work touching on Inter-generational collaborations, artists working on questions of age, ancestral body memory, historical revivals and however else the theme might be interpreted. Studio 303, danse et arts indisciplinés Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography Call for Submissions from Artists and Curators 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 and curators who are innovative in their use of materials and approach to subject matter. Call for submissions for PROOF Deadline: November 1, 2008 We encourage the submission of exhibition proposals from artists in the early stages of their careers for our annual group exhibition entitled PROOF. Consistent with our overall exhibition objectives, this exhibition highlights the work of artists who are innovative in their use of materials and approach to subject matter. PROOF is not intended to represent a particular theme but rather to reflect a range of current concerns and practices in contemporary Canadian photography. Gallery 44 views photography within the larger context of contemporary artistic practices and relevant cultural issues in Canadian society. Please see http://gallery44.org for submission guidlelines.
12. Upcoming Performances of InterestSeptember 7, 14, 21, 28 September 10 to October 11 September 16 to September 21 September 18 to September 30 September 19 September 19 September 20 to September 21 September 25 to September 27
13. Photography by Dave Pijuan-Nomura
Dave will be exhibiting at the Queen West Art Crawl this weekend (Sept. 13-14) Check out more of Dave's work at artistasan.etsy.com
14. Last Thought
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