| The RED Letter, Jan 2009 |
Table of Contents
1. Words from Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
This year, instead of of working on specific resolutions, I have decided to choose a word to focus on. And for me, that word will be Growth. I know that sounds a bit hokey, and please forgive me for that. But think about it. In order to go forward in life, we have to grow. We must take steps towards our dreams, let go of ick that holds us down and grow. Last year was a difficult one for me and I feel so lucky to be in 2009 which already feels full of possibility. In the desire to grow, I appeal to you, to spread the RED Letter out to friends and colleagues. I want to continue to provide inspiration and valuable information about art and creativity in Toronto, and I need your help. If you really enjoy the letter, please pass it on to a few friends who might also enjoy it. In the 4 years that I have been writing the letter, I have only had 5 people unsubscribe, which out of 1600 is pretty amazing. I will be going to the Banff Centre for two weeks and then spending time at the Deer Crossing Art Farms in Gibson’s, B.C. for three weeks, so I look forward to sharing my journies with you all via my blog at girlcancreate.blogspot.com Here’s to an awesome new year full of creativity and joy! Best,
2. Feature Theatre: Bear With Me – FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY(Win a pair of tickets to Bear With Me! The first reader who responds to me at lisa@girlcancreate.com with Bear With Me in the Subject Line will win 2 tickets to this great new show!)
Bear With Me Written and performed by Diane Flacks / Directed by Kelly Thornton “I’ve noticed that women tell their birth stories like old men tell their war stories: ‘I was at Vimy ridge when my water broke…’ Bear With Me reminds us of how important it is to keep our sense of humour throughout it all.” Bruce McCulloch, Kids in the Hall Nightwood Theatre is thrilled to present the Toronto premiere of Bear With Me. Based on her laugh-out-loud book, this wickedly funny stage production is a straight-up, rollicking account of Flacks’ reluctant flight into the secret and insane world of motherhood. Bear With Me hits Toronto in January 2009 after wildly successful tours at the Grand Theatre (London) and the Magnetic North Theatre (National Arts Centre, Ottawa). Bear With Me is by women, for women – though the fellas will be in stitches, too. Conceived for all those veteran moms and moms-to-be, this raucous celebration is for every woman who, at one time in her life after giving birth, will utter the crowning words, “…did I poo?” In this 85 minute show, Flacks’ dishes her own experiences - including coping with a ballooning sci-fi body, the dominant JMG (technical term: Jewish Mother Gene), rampant libido-suppressing hormones, Mama- brain, a vegetarian’s craving for liver (served rare) and, of course, the REAL “Ring of Fire”! “Diane keeps the crowd howling…” Bear With Me Details DATES: January 7 to January 24, 2009 SHOW TIMES: Monday to Saturday at 8:00 p.m., TICKETS: Single tickets: $20 - $42, Tickets are available in advance by calling 416-368-3110 LOCATION: Berkeley Street Theatre, Upstairs, 26 Berkeley Street SPECIAL EVENTS:
3. Feature Dance: Up Until Now
Toronto Dance Theatre is thrilled to present the world premiere of Up Until Now…, a newly commissioned work from the iconic American choreographer Deborah Hay. This full-length work for eleven dancers runs at the Winchester Street Theatre from January 29-February 7, 2009 and will showcase Hay’s absolutely unique choreographic signature. Up Until Now… is a rare opportunity for Toronto audiences to witness the work of one of the world’s most important dance experimentalists. Hay is acknowledged by both international critics and historians as one of the most relevant and influential representatives of post-modern dance. She is one of a handful of dance artists who are universally admired on the international scene. TDT’s dancers have been deeply inspired by their encounters with Deborah Hay and her work. Up Until Now… promises to be a major event in Toronto’s dance calendar. January 29-31 8pm Winchester Street Theatre Student/Senior/CADA $20 Call (416) 967-1365 for tickets
4. Feature Festival: Next Stage Theatre Festival
January 7 to 18, 2009 The Fringe® of Toronto Theatre Festival kicks off our 21st year with the second annual Next Stage Theatre Festival at the Factory Theatre, January 7-18, 2009. Showcasing eight of the hottest companies from across the Fringe Festival circuit, NSTF09 is your chance to see the stars of the future in the making. Shows for Next Stage were chosen by a panel of judges to bring you the cream of the crop from the Fringe.. The Fringe experience will be in full effect at NSTF09, with all the anarchy you’ve come to expect from us over the years. Memories of summer will come flooding back with free nightly entertainment, a celebrity stew and, of course, our trademark unexpected art on display in the fully-heated McAuslan Beer Tent! Factory Studio Theatre Yichud/ Seclusion by Julie Tepperman First Hand Woman by Sarah Michelle Brown Don’t Look by Daniel Sadavoy and Rebecca Applebaum Reesor by Erin Brandenburg and Lauren Taylor Factory Mainspace Theatre Humans Anonymous by Kate Hewlett L’Ange Avec les Fleurs The Rake’s Progress: Do You Know Where Tom Rakewell Is? Take it Back
For more information please visit our website at www.fringetoronto.com
5. New Art Gallery – Median ContemporaryMedian Contemporary is the creative vision of artists Kal Mansur and Rui Pimenta, it was conceived as a way for the artists to exhibit their artwork in a manner which allows for as much creative control and experimentation as possible. Functioning as both an exhibition space and studio, it brings the artists, their work and the process by which it is made into closer contact with the general public in order to personalize and demystify the gallery environment which can, all too often, be cold and intimidating. The aesthetic mandate of Median Contemporary is to showcase artwork that exhibits a current and forward thinking display of new materials, light and sound based art, kinetic art, as well as, new media such as video installation. To this end, the work of other artists will be featured on a regular basis, providing a supportive atmosphere in which creative and critical dialogue can take place and professional development may be nurtured.
For more info see www.mediancontemporary.com
6. Read this Book! With Book Lady Sarah Selecky
If you opened a can of beans and a genie came out and said, Wow, thanks for letting me out of that can! Now, let me release you from your can, in return! What would you say? If the genie explained that he could free you from a dull, canned life, but that it wouldn’t make you rich or famous or even really cute – it would just provide you with a feeling of aliveness – would that be enough? I think Lynda Barry is that genie. And this little scenario is how she begins the “Activity Book” section of her vibrant, emotionally-charged, beautiful, mysterious, inspiring, simple, mystical, funny instruction manual for the creative soul. Barry is an artist, writer, graphic novelist and teacher. You might recognize her name from the “Life of Marlys” comics that used to run in the alternative weeklies. Yes – it’s that Lynda Barry. And this book sprouted from her “Writing the Unthinkable” class, a multi-day writing intensive* that is now available to people everywhere, because it is what What It Is is. The workshop – and this book – teaches you how to locate what is alive in your mind, and helps you to sustain the state of mind that cultivates this awareness. In other words, Barry eases you out of your front-of-head thinking and asks you to practice being receptive to the images that are always already living and lurking in the back of your mind – your subconscious. Children, she reminds us, do this all the time. This is the place where art comes from. But this practice is also, quite simply, good for you. Even if you’re not a capital-A Artist (or a capital W Writer, or whatever). The book is made from a complex and beautiful series of handmade collages and paintings. All the text is painted by hand with brush and ink. When you hold a book like this in your hands, it’s hard not to feel the tingle. I believe it’s your body and mind – and your spirit, if you will allow me that word – recognizing in these pages the aliveness of what it means to play. This, more than anything, is the book’s message: that to engage in the world of images is to be a healthy human being. Images, Barry writes, are the soul’s immune system. What It Is is full of Barry’s personal stories (in the first part of the book), her intricate and loaded collage-messages, and her clear, deceptively simple writing instruction (in the second part of the book). At times the mix of text and image can be funny and sweet (I love her story about trying to think up big, compelling conceptual ideas for her art school projects) and at times they can be dark, frightening and sad. The journey into the wilderness of our creative life is like that – the unknowable is sometimes a lonely place, and sometimes it’s absurd. Barry is always brutally honest and authentic in way that makes your heart raw just to read it. The familiarity, the emotional truth of these stories – all of them handwritten, I remind you! – is a rare and tender aperture through which we can see our own creative heart beating. The second part of the book provides some structure for our own exploration of this patient and vulnerable most-alive part of ourselves. It isn’t just a book for writers or artists (though writers and artists would do well to keep this book open in our studios as a reminder of what needs to happen in our work); it’s a manual for everyone who wants to remember what it is to live a fresh life, alive, out of the can. Because I think it’s enough – I really do – to do it simply for the feeling of aliveness. Isn’t it? What more is there, really? * I was lucky enough to attend this workshop in Toronto this October. Barry is a gifted teacher, and rumour has it that she’ll be back in Toronto in May, 2009 to do it again!
7. Local Etsy Shops – Artist and Illustrator Cathy Peng
I found Cathy’s site the other day while looking through the GeoLocator. Now, I know that I am a bit biased when it comes to cats and art, so I was pretty pleased when I found Cathy’s work. Check out her site for all of here feline inspired tshirts, stationary, and cool pieces!
8. Creativity Classes and Coaching 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.”
She Can Create: Creativity Classes for Women 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: Monday Nights from 6:30 to 9:30 To register and place a deposit to hold your spot please email Lisa at lisa@girlcancreate.com or call 416-516-4925 One on One Creativity Coaching Do you have a creative dream welling up inside? Or do you feel stuck by anxiety when you take a step towards your creative vision? Perhaps you simply want more art in your life. 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. Sessions are either in person or on the phone with additional weekly email support. Rates: 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! 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! Lisa has taught at Rio Caliente Wellness Spa, Wild Women Expeditions and as an Artist in Education in the Toronto School Board. 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.
9. Classes, Workshops and ConferencesContact Improvisation Dance Classes Nia with Jennifer Hicks Nia is a blended fitness form combining the dance arts, martial arts and healing arts. It is a unique and personalized movement experience that will nourish your body, cleanse your mind and tickle your soul! Winter Nia schedule: 918 Bathurst Street (1 bl north of Bloor at Barton) *Mondays 6-7:15pm 10 classes to be used in 12 weeks for $120 = $12 per class Contact Li Koo at 416-538-0868 for more information or questions. ************************************************** Flow! Yoga and Wellness http://www.yogaflow .ca *Tuesdays 7:30-8:30pm $15 drop in or $140 X 10 weeks (join anytime!). - please contact Heather at heather@yogaflow. ca for more information or registration ************************************************** Call 416-461-3008 or visit www.jennhicks.ca for more information about registration. Modern Movement Dance for Adults - Beginners are Welcome! Tuesday evenings starting January 13th - Registrations still being accepted! COME DANCING! Modern Movement is a recreational modern dance class offered designed by Lisa Sandlos to be enjoyable and comprehensive, yet challenging for adults with little or no dance experience. Classes include exploration of movement principles, warm-up, centre exercises, and combinations traveling across the floor, as well as group improvisation and stretches. The focus of the class is to have fun while learning to move your body efficiently and expressively. Tuesdays - January 13 to March 24 7:15 to 8:45 pm Trinity St. Paul's Church Registration for 10-class session: $169 Drop-in rate: $19 per class (cash only please)\ For further information, please visit our website at: Short Fiction Writing Workshop for Beginners Wednesday January 14th - February 18th 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 and setting - 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 jump start 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. For more info contact write@sarahselecky.ca Contact Improvisation with Suzanne Liska 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. Classes Will Explore: Centering - Falling Location: Class Series Price: Drop-in Price: Facilitator: Basic Skills Contact Dance Workshop Course Description: Facilitated by: Kathleen Rea and Carlynn Reed Directions: A few blocks west of Ossington Subway and one block north of Bloor Street Fee: $55, $43 with payment one week before workshop $35 with payment one week before workshop with group of two or more To register contact: carlynn@imagiscape
10. Calls for EntriesWrite From The Hip 2009 Call For Submissions If you’re a young woman just itching to write a play... Nightwood Theatre’s 10th annual novice playwriting initiative Write From the Hip is now accepting submissions from 18-29 year-old women looking for an artistic challenge, an opportunity to develop and write a play, a chance to have their say and a place to express their unique and diverse voice. Previous theatre experience is not necessary. Nightwood Theatre welcomes women from various backgrounds and experiences and embraces cultural, racial and sexual diversity. Women from all walks of life are strongly encouraged to apply. What is Write From the Hip? The Hip program is a series of weekly workshops, mentoring and hands-on seminars in writing skills and professional play development specifically designed for young writers. Write From the Hip participants walk away with a reinforced belief in themselves, their stories and their writing abilities. Over a 5-month period (March to July), Each participant completes a new short work that is workshopped and staged on the final night of the program. Participants are selected through submissions and personal interviews conducted by the program coordinator and the Hip Committee (participants in the previous year’s program). Interested applicants should submit a package by January 15, 2009 that includes: - 3 to 4 pages MAX of creative writing - a one page Letter of Interest outlining why you’d like to be a part of the Program - a resume including your name, phone number and address Submission packages should be mailed or dropped off to: Anna Chatterton EMAILED SUBMISIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF RESULTS BY MARCH 15th 2009. For more info please check out our website at www.nightwoodtheatre.net or contact Anna Chatterton, Co-Director of Youth Initiatives – Write From the Hip at anna@nightwoodtheatre.net
11. Websites I loveRandom.org – I just found this via Karyn at the workroom (which if you don’t know about you really should!) But if you are like me and love numbers this is a site for you. I men, really, where else could you flip a coin from roman times. Weird, and fascinating. I love it. Squam Art Workshops– This is one of my dream places. I hope to get there this year in September. Check out their blog and their links, so luscious! Radiolab – I love me my podcasts, and this one was recommended by a good source. Radiolab is a nice mix of sound art, science and talk show. Similar to This American Life with a bit of a science bend. Check it out!
12. Upcoming Performances of InterestJanuary 5 to January 31 January 6 to February 1 Written by Hannah Moscovitch The son of a German ex-patriot flees his family and attempts to invent a new life, until the past catches up with him. Fresh from its success last season, East of Berlin returns to tell the compelling story of a young man steeling himself for a fateful encounter with his estranged father. January 13 January 14 January 17 - 18 January 17 January 18 January 23 to January 25 Celebrate the GTA’s sophisticated culture through dance! From African to Spanish, Ballet to Tap, sample the flavours of our best and brightest dance artists. This year’s remarkable line up includes Randolph Dance, What’s On? Tap!, Little Pear Garden Collective, Forcier Stage Works, York Ensemble, Supernaturalz, Thrilltheworld, The HoneyKats, Larchaud Dance, Octamerous, Aya Dance Collective, Toronto Aerial Dance Theatre, Arabesque Dance Company, Ballet Creole, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Ryerson Dance, Ballet Jörgen Canada, Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Co., Mi Young Kim Dance Company, City Dance Corps, Motus O Dance Theatre, Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre, inDance, Ballet Espressivo, COBA (Collective of Black Artists), Dance Theatre David Earle, Arte Flamenco Spanish Dance Company. For more info see www.danceontario.ca January 23 to February 8 January 24 to February 21 January 28 January 31 February 1 February 7 No Name Dance consists of two sets. Visit www.musicgallery.org for more info
13. Photography by Dave Pijuan-Nomura
Check out more of Dave's work at nomuraphoto.etsy.com
14. Last Thought“The arts are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow.” |
