SPRING SUMMER 2018

All in the Family: Vanessa Bate & Bubzee get cozy Getting Fresh: Creative couples take out the garbage Ktunaxa Nation: Wayne Louie tours the homelands

Sense of Place: Natasha Smith gets playful Book & CD releases Inspired Writing: Paul Saso & Luanne Armstrong work it out In Passing: Mountain High: Refuge in the Rockies makes waves Ann Swanson Gross Arts & Heritage News 4 It’s All Relative Art & Nature: Natasha Smith 6 It’s a Family Affair: Creative Couples 8 CELEBRATING ARTS & Families come in all shapes, sizes and colours, kind of like bathing suits (I Community History: Creston Museum & Archives 11 was at the pool this morning, so I have On Screen: Refuge in the Rockies 12 CULTURE IN THE BASIN swimming on my mind). And they can be just as complicated when it comes ARTiculate events calendar 14 Vibrant arts and culture is woven to finding a comfortable fit. We’ve all Mind & Heart: Vanessa Bate & Bubzee 18 heard tales of family members falling Art on Two Wheels: Mountain Biking in Nelson 20 out over who gets Aunt Emily’s ugly into the fabric of the Basin. That’s lamp, and refusing to acknowledge one another’s existence, ever Cover Story: Wayne Louie 22 again; siblings who only communicate through their lawyers; or Surviving & Thriving: Letter from the Interior 24 why we are supporting artists, parental units who bolt when the going gets tough. Off the Press: Kootenay Inspired 26 upgrading galleries and performance Apocryphal stories notwithstanding, finding (or being unable to find) support, acceptance and genuine affection from our families New & Noteworthy: Book & CD releases 28 spaces, and helping to increase the are some of the bigger issues we face in life. Luckily, some of Last Word: Editorial 31 us have managed to navigate around the pitfalls to maintain a impact of arts in communities. semblance of familial harmony, or taken the initiative to build our own version of family from within our extended community. Ktunaxa elder Wayne Louie plies his handmade sturgeon-nose canoe in the In this issue of ARTiculate the notion of family has emerged as reeds of Hidden Lake, near Enderby, a thread in two of our stories. The theme of this year’s Elephant B.C. Photo courtesy Wayne Louie Mountain Literary Festival is “Literary Couples,” and organizers have invited two outstanding representatives, Esi Edugyan and Steven Price, and Stephen Reid and Susan Musgrave, to headline the July event. Riffing off that theme, Anne DeGrace brings us her profile of Kootenay creative couples, artistic types who work, play and parent together, while maintaining their writing, acting, directing and metalwork practices. SPRING/SUMMER 2018 Design: Guy Hobbs Painter Vanessa Bate and her daughter Bubzee, also an artist, ISSUE #33 Proofreader: Anne Champagne are best friends. They live together and find nourishment in Editor: Margaret Tessman Project Management: Krista Patterson each other’s company, while creating some mighty beautiful art. Moe Lyons is an admirer: she spoke with the pair about their Contributors: Sales: Natasha Smith relationship, their feminism and how they inspire one another. Luanne Armstrong, Samonte Cruz, ISSN #1709-2116 Anne DeGrace, Susan Andrews Grace, ARTiculate is produced in In Passing: Slocan Valley artist Ann Swanson Gross died on Moe Lyons, Rita Moir, Mike Redfern, Nelson as a project of the December 8, 2017. Ann was born and raised in Winlaw. She Melodie Rae Storey, Margaret Tessman, West Kootenay Regional Arts Council: studied fine arts at the Kootenay School of Art in Nelson, where ph: 250-352-2421 or 1-800-850-2787 Galadriel Watson fax: 250-352-2420 she met her future husband, Harald Gross. The couple spent email: [email protected] several years in Victoria, where Ann worked at the Royal BC Museum and did freelance illustration. In 1979 Ann and Harald The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council acknowledges the generous support of the following returned to the Slocan Valley and in 1984 Ann opened her gallery, funders and corporate sponsors: Place in the Forest, in Winlaw. Ann sculpted in clay (her garden goddesses grace many Slocan Valley flower beds) and painted her portraits and landscapes primarily with felt-tipped pens, in the earth tones she loved. The often-disproportionate size of her subjects’ hands and feet added a mythical quality to her portraits, while grounding them strongly in their natural surroundings. Jack Shadbolt described her paintings as “genuinely intriguing . . . with a haunting tawniness.” Ann continued to sculpt, paint and draw until her health started to decline. She was a strong supporter of the arts, the women’s Reasonable care is taken to ensure that ARTiculate content is current and as accurate as possible community and local community groups. at the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by ARTiculate or the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council for any errors or omissions contained herein, nor for any losses, damages or A memorial gathering will be held in the spring to celebrate distress resulting from adherence to any information provided. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARTiculate, the West Kootenay Regional Arts Ann’s life. Council or funders and supporters. ourtrust.org/arts Copyright: Contributors retain the copyright of their own original work. By submitting work to Margaret Tessman, editor ARTiculate for publication, contributors are granting permission to ARTiculate for one-time use in the print and digital/online versions.

2 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 3 NEWS NEWS

Gibson will be targeting the communities of Fernie, Cranbrook East Kootenay and Kimberley with her public presentations, starting in April. For more information contact east.kootenay.mining.heritage@ Mining Project gmail.com or Facebook East Kootenay Mining Heritage. by Margaret Tessman Gallery Hopping by Margaret Tessman violence in society. The west gallery will feature famed Nakusp- based mail art creator Don Mabie, aka Chuck Stake, and his Kootenay Langham Art Galleries partner Wendy Toogood, who builds intricate fabric collage wall hangings. Seathra Bell has taken over as gallery curator at the Langham Queer & Trans Cultural Centre in , following the retirement of Maggie The “summer blockbuster” exhibition, as van Wijk calls it, Tchir. “Maggie was my teacher years ago at Kootenay School of is a collection of sculptural forms by Slocan Valley artist Lou Art,” says Bell, “and she has been teaching me the ropes of gallery Lynn. Taken from her “Buttons & Fasteners” and “Tools as Art Show administration.” Bell officially started her new position on January Artifacts” series, the exhibition will include a video component. Complementing Lynn’s sculptures are installed assemblages by 1 and brings heaps of energy and enthusiasm to the job. “My A juried group exhibition featuring local Alison MacTaggart, which van Wijk describes as “objects that could favourite part is plotting shows. There are so many artists to meet or could not be working, such as ‘The Egg Throwing Apparatus.’” LGBTQ+ artists in this area,” she says. “It’s more than you could ask for in a small-town art gallery,” he says. Submitted Originally from South Slocan, Bell has a textile design degree from A group of local artists is coming together to organize an art KSA and an MFA from the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. She Web: gallery2grandforks.ca exhibition that will coincide with Nelson’s Kootenay Pride began her teaching career at the College of Art and Design festivities, August 27 to September 3, 2018. We are seeking in Calgary and worked in Vancouver as a costume designer and Oxygen Art Centre St. Eugene mine discoverer Pielle, aka Pierre Cronin, and his wife ride through Kimberley, submissions from LGBTQ+ artists of all art and craft disciplines stylist before returning to the West Kootenay. Oxygen Art Centre has named 1924. Photo: Kimberley Heritage Museum, accession #0196.0049 for a selected group exhibition. We see this first show as a starting Bell is able to do most administrative tasks from her home office, Genevieve Robertson as the point and as an opportunity to highlight the work of queer and travelling to Kaslo to hang and strike exhibitions. The Langham trans/gender non-conforming artists living in the . It is new executive director, effective As a mineral exploration geologist and a relative newcomer to the has a long history in the community. In March it celebrated our hope that it can grow into an annual arts festival showcasing January 15. East Kootenay, Rohanna Gibson was interested in finding out more its 125th anniversary with an exhibition guest curated by local local LGBTQ+ artists, and featuring community arts workshops, Robertson, who moved from about the mining history of the region. Her specific interest lies in historian Elizabeth Scarlett. Upcoming exhibitions include: how society and resource extraction overlap. Extraction industries, artist talks, live performances and an arts and crafts market. Vancouver to the Kootenays in her view, are inherently neither good nor bad. If we can increase The purpose for this art show is to highlight the work of queer • North photographer Jim Lawrence in the last year, was instrumental to the dialogue around the divide that exists among proponents and and trans/gender non-conforming artists in the Kootenay region community gallery and jacquard loom tapestry weaver Kaija Touchstones Nelson’s exhibit opponents, we can better understand how history and industry while creating educational opportunities, fostering community Rautiainen in the main gallery. Lawrence is well known for his “River Relations: A Beholder’s are linked. connection and promoting resilience through the arts. candid wildlife photos and affinity for bears, while Rautiainen Share of the Columbia River brings bear images into her digital weaving patterns. May 18 to Dams,” an interdisciplinary To that end, Gibson has initiated the East Kootenay Mining Submissions are welcome from artists and craftspeople in all July 22. research project that considered Project. Over the summer she is planning to offer public disciplines who are living in or are from the Kootenay region of the impact of hydroelectric presentations on the rich mining history that has defined many B.C., who also identify as members of the queer and trans/gender • Revelstoke landscape painter Jo C. Willems in the community power production on the areas of the Kootenays. “Once I got started I didn’t realize how big non-conforming community, including but not limited to queer, gallery and Vancouver Island fabric artist Maureen Gruben in the Genevieve Robertson, Columbia River. Her drawing- the topic was,” she says. “The research shaped my direction.” two-spirit, transgender, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, main gallery. Gruben summers in Tuktoyaktuk and incorporates new director of Oxygen Art Centre. based interdisciplinary pansexual, bisexual, lesbian and/or gay. Artists who are also unique elements (bull kelp, cedar, recycled hides) into her pieces. Photo courtesy Genevieve Robertson Gibson’s science background gives her the ability to explain the artistic practice explores the indigenous, black, people of colour, people with disabilities, July 27 to September 30. process of extracting metal from ore and then to situate the end neurodiverse, or artists with other intersecting identities within complexities that emerge around land and water usage in a time of product in the context of things we use every day. Over the course the LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply. Web: thelangham.ca large-scale industrial exploitation. of her research, she found that history wasn’t so cut and dried. Application deadline: May 26, 2018 at 5 p.m. PDT. Robertson holds an MAA from Emily Carr University and a BFA “My research methods were a bit intimidating,” she says. Gibson How to apply: from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. She has been an artist interviewed prospectors and workers from the Crowsnest and Grand Forks Gallery 2 in residence and exhibited her work across North America, and Sullivan mines, and scoured the Fernie and Cranbrook archives for 1. Complete the online application form by visiting Tim van Wijk is the new executive director and curator of the has instructed visual arts courses both at Emily Carr and through photographs and background material. “I want to present human samontecruzstudios.com/KootenayLGBTQArtShow. Grand Forks & District Art & Heritage Centre. Former curator various youth arts programs. history as well as the geologic timeline.” 2. Email a current CV and related artwork images to info@ Ted Fogg and ED Terry Woodruff both retired in 2017 and the “I am thrilled for the opportunity to step into the executive One of Gibson’s favourite stories concerns the discovery of the St. samontecruzstudios.com. split positions have been rolled into one. Van Wijk has a BFA director position at Oxygen Centre,” says Robertson. “Being new Eugene mine in the late 1800s. Father Nicolas Coccola was the from Concordia University and formerly worked at the Glenbow 3. Email between 5 and 10 images, a maximum of 1 MB file size to the area, I look forward to integrating into the arts community parish priest of the St. Eugene Mission near Cranbrook. A member each (jpeg format with a resolution of 72 dpi at 1024 x 768 Museum and as facilities manager at the Fort Calgary National and supporting its sustained growth and vibrancy. I’m looking of the Ktunaxa First Nation brought back a galena sample that he pixels), of the work intended for exhibition or related/recent Historic Site. He is looking forward to building next year’s forward to working in the service of an organization that supports had found while hiking in the Lake area to Father Coccola work. Images must be labelled with a number/title. exhibition program for Gallery 2 and growing the gallery’s offerings to continue to appeal to a changing audience. “It’s an interesting and provides a platform for artists at different stages in their career, and the priest had it assayed. The pair had hit pay dirt, or “money 4. For video or film, email direct links or mail a DVD related to time in cultural institutions,” says van Wijk. The gallery has a large and promotes regional relevance and artistic excellence.” rock,” as Father Coccola called it, and the lead/zinc your proposal in .avi, .mov, .mpg, or .mpeg format. Do not send mine was created. Father Coccola sold the claim for $12,000 and video files electronically. To submit a hard copy, contact the membership base in the community that will continue to support Robertson replaces Miriam Needoba, who, after six years as used the money to build the St. Eugene Church. project coordinator for a mailing address. it but van Wijk observes that there is work to be done to maintain executive director, is moving on to pursue graduate studies. relevance to the next generation of gallery goers. Robertson is excited to build on the momentum generated Over the next decade, the St. Eugene mine produced more than If you are interested in volunteering to support this event, please from Oxygen’s 12-year span as the only rural artist-run centre $10 million in ore and gave the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Opening May 12 in the main gallery is Glenn Clark’s homage to fill out our online application by visiting samontecruzstudios.com/ in the region. Company (later Cominco) its start. Really, Hollywood couldn’t KootenayLGBTQArtShowVolunteer. For all other inquiries email classic NHL hockey fights, “Wackem Sackem.” Clark’s kinetic have written a better scenario. Samonte Cruz at [email protected]. paintings have movable parts and explore the larger issue of Web: oxygenartcentre.org

4 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 News continued ART onICULATE page 30 5 ART & NATURE ART & NATURE

In her mark-making Smith aims for “the child’s line,” as did Cy Twombly (1928–2011), American painter and sculptor, in his calligraphic paintings about ancient history and poetry. When asked what it is about “the child’s line” that intrigues her Smith says: “The purity and truth of the marks; they are the source.” Perhaps we all participate in the collective unconscious and recognize these marks from our own development, in a sort of cellular knowledge, she suggests. Her abiding use of the circle appears in the 24 cell pieces that appear in both exhibitions. The process of fine art printmaking in which Smith was formally trained in York and Dundee is a complicated one, not unlike learning a language. The processes of lithography, silk screening and copper etching require the artist to think backwards from StudioGiftShop the result and accommodate the mirror image in the planning of a print. While precision is critical, outcomes are never true refl ection of our western completely predictable. Smith often uses collagraphy, in which mountain culture…direct from the the plate is built up instead of incised and is readily made from artist to you. Please come in and found materials. A press is not entirely necessary to produce browse our selection of fi ne art and a decent print of a collagraph plate: a wooden spoon and wax paper will do. And the process is magical, as any of her students home-grown gifts that give everyday will tell you. pleasure and support the community. Natasha Smith In both these exhibits Smith uses printmaking processes and the plates themselves in a delicious blend of process and product The artist at rest. Photo: Jeremy Addington that appear delightfully simple but are a mesh of much thinking, forward and back. After 27 years of printmaking Smith has Magic of place the delectable is usually not to be touched by human hands? accumulated hundreds of her own prints with which to collage. by Susan Andrews Grace Adrian Stimson, artist from the Siksika Nation (Blackfoot) and The heart of Natasha Smith’s work is a joy in creating as she winner of a 2018 Governor General’s Award in Visual Art, says makes sense of her journey from place to place, gathering bits that place transcends time. Smith understands this deeply in the of natural materials to map her art making. The proficiency in This fall Natasha Smith, printmaker, painter and collage artist, way she uses her art vocabulary of houses, angels, clocks, nests, these works is evident to a trained eye. However, such knowledge will have exhibitions in two West Kootenay galleries. Both shows boats, ruins, archways, hearts and knights. is not necessary in order to be delighted by them. celebrate an exuberant sense of place. Natasha Smith first experienced the magic of place on family “Mapping Language,” Kootenay Gallery, August 3 to September 17; “Mapping Language,” at the Kootenay Gallery in Castlegar, vacations as a youth in Whitby, an English fishing village. She “Child’s Play,” Langham Gallery, October 5 to December 16, tracks visual language and a sense of place in 28 collage paintings explored an ancient lighthouse, an archway made of whale Art Gallery of Golden, May 2019. and assemblages. “Child’s Play,” at the Langham Gallery in jawbones, cobblestone streets, quirky houses along a stairway Web: natashasmithart.com Kaslo, features interactive works that invite the viewer into of 199 steps through the town, a boat on top of a house and creative play. abbey ruins from 657 AD. Evidence of Whitby is in her earliest “Mapping Language” comprises collage paintings installed in printmaking. In Scotland, where she furthered her art education, groups of four, eight and sixteen. An example of this is a 48-by- she began to make art inspired by the Callanish standing stones, 48-inch piece made of four 24-by-24-inch square panels. They burial mounds, angels and hourglasses on gravestones. Now she are hung together to make a large circle of materials from Slocan finds magic along the Slocan River. In all her work being shown Valley forests and riverbanks—moss and ponderosa pine and this fall, echoes of Smith’s visual iconography from Whitby and spruce needles—with a print of Smith’s iconic grandfather clock Scotland combine with that of the West Kootenay, transcending in the centre. Sixteen old dresser drawers, hung as shadow boxes time while evoking timelessness. of a sort, contain assemblages of natural materials that push the Another thread that runs through both exhibitions is Smith’s surface with their depth. What appear to be watery river stones long-standing research of visual language and its development stacked on the wall are irregular circles or cells, which reference in the archetypal journey of the psyche. When her two young information, traits and development beyond our control. sons began to draw she was enthralled with their marks. That Reflection at Wragge is a 64-by-92-inch salvaged window. Each of prompted her interest in American psychologist and scholar the 12 panes glazes a separate composition of prints, painting, Rhoda Kellogg, who from 1948 to 1981 collected and studied grasses, ponderosa pine bark, wood shavings, seeds, eggshell, several million drawings by children aged 2 to 6 years. Kellogg’s moss and ferns. work revealed that all children, regardless of language or culture, “Child’s Play” invites the viewer to interact with prints and went through the same stages of artistic development of 20 basic the plates that they are made from to play a matching game scribbles and predictable placement patterns on the page. Smith reminiscent of one that Smith played in childhood. Cellular has shared this knowledge with teachers and students of the pieces are hung on the wall magnetically and can be rearranged region over the last decade in ArtStarts projects. Smith says that by the viewer. On the floor there is a large game of 16 cubes she does not believe that a person exists who cannot be creative. They just haven’t been exposed to art materials and knowledge Natasha in the studio. A piece from “Mapping Language” hangs to her right. of abstract landscapes, which can be rearranged in hundreds of Photo: Murdo Smith potential combinations. How rare is that in an art gallery, where of how to use them, she says.

6 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 7 IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR Getting Fresh Susan Musgrave and Stephen Reid. Esi Edugyan and Steven Price. Photo courtesy CBC Life and Times

Jeff and Lisel Forst. Tony and Twila Austin. Amy Bohigian and Jane Byers, with Franny and Theo. Photo: Maurice Frits Photo: Amy Bohigian

With their son finished high school, they can now take bigger the studio, specifically Dragon’s Rest Working Studios, Gallery & risks, he says, and to that end they are self-publishing a novel Dragon Iron Forge, where they work in metal, ceramic and wood. crafted through their signature tag-team approach. The result? After losing a son to a tragic accident in 1978, “we needed to do An “erotic adventure,” says Lisel, all about men, women, equality something different with our lives,” says Tony. It began initially and relationships. with separate artistic pursuits until circumstance put them in the Tony and Twila Austin are a collaborative force as well. Married same silversmithing class, and a new collaborative relationship for 55 years, the Kimberley pair has been a creative couple for was born. 40 following a career in mining. They’ve raised six kids, which certainly requires creativity, but they find their artistic centre in continued on page 10 Creative couples not only cope, they thrive Blood Blues, won the Giller Prize; Price’s novel By Gaslight was a 2016 Buzz Book. After reading from their work, both couples by Anne DeGrace will be interviewed on stage by Globe and Mail Western arts Personals: Artist ISO same for long-term relationship. Must correspondent Marsha Lederman, who will ask probing questions understand obsession, tolerate angst and eat Kraft Dinner if necessary. about creative coupledom. Artists are a temperamental bunch—egotistical, vulnerable, “We expect lively discussion and insight into how they achieve ecstatic, deflated—extremes matched by their wildly fluctuating success in their careers and still manage the care and feeding of incomes. So what if there are two artists in the family? How do their relationships,” says Smith. they make ends meet? And what if the muse strikes both at the While festival goers will have to wait until July for answers from same time? Who takes out the garbage then? these celebrated authors and life partners, there are a surprising The Elephant Mountain Literary Festival (EMLF) pondered the number of creative couples right here in the Kootenays. From same questions, and that’s why the theme for the seventh annual among them I settled on a visual arts team, a theatre couple and a summertime event (July 12–15 in Nelson) is “Literary Couples.” duo in life but with different pursuits. Through our conversations I found persistent themes and some creative relationship advice. “We wondered what we could learn from creativity within the family dynamic,” explains EMLF executive director Natasha Smith. Jeff and Lisel Forst have been a creative couple for two decades “When we went looking for literary couples, it turns out there are since founding Nelson’s Cedar Street Productions, which birthed quite a few.” such dramatic encounters as Fore-Play, The Cop Shop & the Grow Op and Lisel Forst Can’t Sit Down: A Night of Stand-up Comedy. Each year the festival brings in accomplished Canadian writers Collaborative roles mean variously tackling writing, producing to entertain, inspire and shed light on questions of creativity, and acting. showcasing them alongside talented Kootenay authors. According to Smith, two exceptional literary couples answered the call. Sure, they’ve supported their creative habits slinging coffee or cutting hair, but Jeff now runs Nelson Youth Theatre and both find Multidisciplinary literary veteran Susan Musgrave and her husband that by being flexible and responsive, they can do what they love. Stephen Reid, whose novel Jackrabbit Parole was written while “It’s always a leap of faith,” Lisel says. serving time for bank robbery, will take the stage for the festival’s Saturday Night Live! event. Musgrave is also EMLF’s 2018 writer- Their creative relationship has evolved. Instead of being in-residence, and will offer one-on-one critiques to 12 writers. opinionated—and competitive, especially when directing—they’ve learned to explore one another’s strengths. “Collaborate, give Novelist Esi Edugyan and her husband, award-winning author advice, but let each other be,” advises Jeff. Steven Price, join them on stage. Edugyan’s second novel, Half-

8 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 9 IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR COMMUNITY HISTORY

continued from page 9 The Capitol Theatre in Nelson presents: The 30th Annual Summer Some aspects are individual—Twila does the clay work, Tony works the forge—but they collaborate on most projects, each Looking Youth Program contributing creative vision and talent toward a greater whole. Their proudest collaborations (aside from the kids) are their sculptural commissions: Coming Home (seven westslope cutthroat trout) in Marysville’s Eco Park; Lost Salmon of Back, the Columbia at James Chabot Provincial Park; that historic pachyderm Cranbrook Ed; and a Sullivan Mine commemorative sculpture. “You need to figure out how your abilities fit together,” Moving says Twila, “and you need to consider one another’s feelings.” For Jane Byers and Amy Bohigian, the Kootenays were a catalyst for a creative shift. Since arriving in 2006, Jane has authored two award-winning Forward poetry collections, Steeling Effects and Acquired Community, which explore themes of resilience, homosexuality and July 26, 27, 28 at 7:30pm workplace injury (Jane is also an ergonomic consultant). and July 28 at 2:00pm Amy has worked in film since studying at Selkirk College; now, she’s on the faculty. Through her company Watershed Lloyd Bell donated Bell Brothers’ old farm truck, a 1947 Maple Leaf, to the Creston Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney Productions, she produces films for clients including the CBC, Museum. Volunteers dragged the vehicle out of the bush on a rainy July day in 2016. animated feature, this production showcases the film’s Academy Columbia Basin Trust and, notably, a 2015 Knowledge Network Photo courtesy Creston Museum Award-nominated score and new songs by Menken & Schwartz. commission, If These Mountains Could Talk. (Presented with Music Theatre International) When the two adopted their twins, a documentary film Creston Museum & Archives of the role of volunteers in keeping the museum open. “We have Tickets $16 adult, $12.50 student, $50 family of four naturally followed: Conceiving Family explores the experiences of a huge commitment by volunteers who staff the museum from same-sex couples and adoption, including their own story. by Margaret Tessman May to Thanksgiving.” One volunteer does monthly outreach THEATRE * COMEDY * MUSIC * DANCE * SCREENINGS “Raising kids makes you even more disciplined,” says Amy. presentations at Swan Valley Lodge assisted living facility, bringing 120+ show annually old photos or an artifact from the collection to generate interest “I am creative in ways I wouldn’t have been.” Adds Jane: “My Tammy Bradford knows that the Creston Museum board of 2018 -19 SEASON LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 2018 and dialogue among the residents. The museum participates biggest concern with having a family was that I wouldn’t have directors is up to something. She’s just not sure what. Our best kept secret? Buy a full season subscription time to write. But I wouldn’t have written so much about in the Creston Fall Fair, which will be celebrating its 100th and SAVE 20%! resilience if it hadn’t been through the lens of a parent.” Celebrations are in order as Bradford marks her 20th anniversary as anniversary this year, and hosts tours for local school children. museum manager. Bradford is an energetic advocate for the museum and its profile It helps to have a supportive critic close at hand. “We are each The Capitol Theatre presents local, national and international as a growing Creston institution. “Our partnerships raise the value other’s first editors, first readers, first place to go for feedback,” “The board says they have plans but they’re not telling me what artists in live theatre, dance, music, comedy and more.... of the museum in the community and we become really truly a says Amy. “Jane will tell me things I don’t want to hear, or she’ll they are,” she says. community museum. It’s a two-way street.” SNeAK PeeK: MAY 18, 2019 pull me out of my low points. We do different things, but in this One thing Bradford knows for sure is that this season she will be way we are incredibly collaborative.” organizing a curator’s tour of the museum, opening up corners of One very concrete example of community involvement is the ALI hASSAN - MuSLIM INTerruPTeD museum’s new open-sided shed that now houses a wooden horse- Jane concurs. “We’ve both been there, so we have empathy for the artifact and exhibit collection that she would like to highlight. logging vehicle. Known as a logging arch, it was used for skidding each other’s creative process.” Even when that means picking up A bitingly funny piece of work on Over the last two decades Bradford has helped to initiate and foster felled trees out of the forest. The Creston Valley Rotary Club the slack at home so the other can work. flunking out of Sunday school, many changes to the museum: new collections, a change in focus approached the museum looking for a project idea and ended up ingesting forbidden fruits, and Amy’s advice to creative couples: “Try not to be in a horribly and an increased role in the community. When Bradford came sponsoring and building the shed. “The Rotary Club did all of the becoming a cultural Muslim. vulnerable place at the same time.” on board the collections were in fairly good shape but the archive fundraising, coordinated the contractors and did a lot of the work was housed in a separate location and administered by a separate Ali Hassan is a stand-up comic, actor And remember to take out the garbage. themselves,” says Bradford. “The logging arch is one of the oldest organization. Given that there were vast amounts of information industrial artifacts in our collection so it’s pretty special.” and host of Laugh Out Loud (CBC in the archival collection that were relevant to the museum, this Radio & SiriusXM). He wrangles structure was more than a bit problematic. “Everything we do in Another project well underway is the refurbishment of a 1947 top Canadian comedians for a Maple Leaf flat-deck truck that was donated to the museum. With listenership of over 1 million people. the museum is backed up with photos and research,” says Bradford. Rationalizing the management of the two collections just made efforts from volunteer mechanics and donated lumber to rebuild photo credit: Riaz K Photography sense and eliminated some unwieldy overlap. “The philosophies the deck, the museum hopes to have the truck rolling in time for of the volunteers who worked for the museum and those who the Blossom Festival parade in May. For all upcoming shows check out our worked for the archives were different. At meetings, each would The museum also initiated a major exhibition study, seeking website calendar. Buy tickets online: report on what the other was doing.” The archives hold published input from the community and visitors. “We asked people: ‘What and unpublished documents relevant to the history of the Creston should we be presenting? What are the important parts of Creston www.capitoltheatre.bc.ca Valley including back issues of local newspapers, along with history?’” says Bradford. “We received hundreds of suggestions (250) 352-6363, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson BC thousands of mostly black and white photographs. from online and paper surveys and Facebook.” The results of the August 17-19th survey are being used to make both tweaks and major changes to Box Office Tuesday to Friday Noon – 4:30pm In another bold move, funding was found to hire the museum’s first permanent paid employee. “It’s a huge thing to have somebody museum exhibits. See You AT The TheATre! [email protected] www.ndac.ca here all the time,” says Bradford. And she stresses the importance Web: crestonmuseum.ca

10 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 11 ON SCREEN ON SCREEN

bigger change. The film term is “shooting your babies.” You might end up getting rid of something that you love because it no longer Taking a breather on the Kimberley ski hill serves the story. “A documentary film changes ten times over its (bottom to top): Anderson Losada, Tahay Tha, Kaio Kathriner, cinematographer timeline as the story evolves. The constant changes are exciting. Leonardo Harim. Tahay, a quad amputee You can’t just be married to stuff; you have to be flexible,” says and former refugee from Burma, learned to Refuge Kathriner. ski with his good friend Anderson. He is also Kathriner likes to shoot his films outdoors as much as possible. featured in the film. Photo: Lukas Behrndt “I hold my roots close,” he says. “I ended up bringing the team out here and throwing them head first into it.” in the Kathriner worked with a team of filmmakers from Vancouver including sound director Nate Evans, producer Tony Cerciello and director of photography Leonardo Harim, who is originally from Brazil. “This was really taking him outside of his element, and into Rockies minus twenty-five-degree temperatures. How a small-town documentary facilitated “It’s been a full-on adventure.” Losada has moved on from his skiing career and is living in big-time political change Calgary. He’s proud of the changes that will impact his younger siblings and others in the future. Senator Oh has offered to Producer/director Kaio Kathriner at Kimberley Alpine Resort. “I had a $150,000 premiere the finished version of Refuge in the Rockies on Parliament camera attached to me with a rig, flying down the ski hill after this kid.” from Switzerland when I was a baby,” he says. “I could understand Hill. Kathriner is in the early stages of post-production with a Photo: Shauna Jimenez Anderson’s experience—we came from the same roots but we had a rough cut done and a completion date projected for May. He is whole different story. looking to send the film to festivals across . “His story resonated with me: I had similar ambitions when I was “Over a year is a long process but it’s rewarding originating a point by Margaret Tessman younger.” of view through a small advocacy film,” says Kathriner. Kathriner got interested in film while attending Mount Baker “Canada has great immigration laws but there is still work to Anderson Losada never learned to ski until he came to Canada. Secondary School in Cranbrook, and he went on to study be done.” Losada was born and raised in Colombia and lost one of his legs filmmaking at Capilano University in North Vancouver. to a land mine accident near his home when he was eight years Through his production company, RadioDial Film, he has made Web: radiodialfilm.com old. Three years later, in 2007, Losada, his five siblings and their several short documentary films for non-profit organizations mother were offered a new home in Kimberley through the East around the world. Based in Vancouver, he splits his time between Kootenay Friends of Refugees, a volunteer organization that work in the “service industry” of Los Angeles-type productions resettles refugees from all over the world. and the “independent industry” that produces short films Losada was introduced to competitive disabled downhill skiing on and documentaries. the slopes of Kimberley Alpine Resort. He excelled at the sport but Kathriner connected with Jimenez, who came on board as the was barred from competition in the national Paralympic Games associate producer of Refuge in the Rockies. He shot a promotional because he was not a Canadian citizen. trailer for the documentary, which he sent to the Canada Council DJ Olive: Losada and his family had become permanent residents of Canada, for the Arts and the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance. Not but his mother did not pass the English language benchmark that only did he secure funding from both organizations, but his trailer is one of the requirements of the citizenship application. Because also gained the attention of the Canadian government. Listening to Fir Losada was too young to apply for citizenship without being Senator Victor Oh was proposing an amendment to Canadian sponsored by his parent, he found himself on the outside, looking citizenship regulations and needed examples of specific barriers in. The immigration laws pertaining to minors became a barrier to imposed by the current regulations. He got the rights to Kathriner’s A soundscape installation Losada’s sport and also to his sense of belonging. promo reel and sent it to all MPs and senators. Oh’s amendment For the past 30 years Shauna Jimenez has made refugee would allow minors to apply for citizenship without the help of resettlement her life’s work. She says that the most vulnerable their parents. The law at the time treated parents and children refugees never had the opportunity to attend school in their as a package deal when applying for citizenship. If the parent’s June 9 – August 12 countries. Once they come to Canada they find themselves trying citizenship application was rejected, the child couldn’t get to balance work, English classes and family responsibilities. citizenship either, and had to wait until the age of 18 to Opening: June 8, 7pm Without Canadian citizenship they are unable to vote, travel freely apply again. or obtain a passport. Jimenez spearheaded the Losada family’s Oh’s amendment passed into law in May 2017. It changed the resettlement in Kimberley and continues to work as an advocate age that permanent residents can apply for citizenship without the for refugees. sponsorship of a parent and lowered the application fees from $530 Meanwhile, filmmaker Kaio Kathriner sat down in January 2017 to $100. “My promo film wasn’t the sole agent of change, but it touchstonesnelson.ca helped,” says Kathriner. Unfortunately, it was too little too late for looking for inspiration for his next documentary. After reading an 502 Vernon St., Nelson, BC article that Jimenez had written about Kimberley refugee youth, Losada, who had already turned 20.

Kathriner knew that he had found his subject. Kathriner was raised The law was already changing as Kathriner and his crew went into in Cranbrook but his background had much in common with full-scale production, so they rejigged their focus from Losada’s Losada’s. “I’m an immigrant as well. My parents came to Canada barriers to competition in his sport to his role as the inspiration for

12 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 13 EVENTS EVENTS

Visual Arts Exhibition Literary Festival Music Festival Cultural Event Between the Trees, Carol Reynolds 2018 Elephant Mountain Literary 27th Annual Kaslo Jazz Etc. Summer Nelson International Mural Festival & DetermiNation, Sheldon Louis & Festival Music Festival Aug. 17–19 Csetkwe Fortier July 12–15 Aug. 3–5 Various walls around Nelson June 15–July 28 Nelson Kaslo Bay Park, Kaslo [email protected], ndac.ca Kootenay Gallery of Art, [email protected], emlfestival.com kaslojazzfest.com 8-Day Arts & Culture Festival 120 Heritage Way, Castlegar Festival Visual Arts Exhibition Kimberley Kaleidoscope Arts & Culture 250-365-3337 Christina Lake Homecoming Mapping Language, Natasha Smith & Festival [email protected] Summerfest GLOW, Sonia Haberstich Aug. 18–25, see website for details kootenaygallery.com Aug. 3–Sept. 15 July 13 & 14 Centre 64, 64 Deer Park Ave., Kimberley Kootenay Gallery of Art, Christina Lake Community Hall & Provincial 250-427-4919 Exhibition 120 Heritage Way, Castlegar Beach, Christina Lake [email protected], kimberleyarts. Rufus In Ready Player Two – Sonny Assu & 250-365-3337 Brendan Lee Satish Tang 250-447-6165 com/kimberley-kaleidoscope The Catkins [email protected] [email protected] June 15 (opening 7–9 pm)–Aug. 5 kootenaygallery.com Exhibition Jim Lawrence Touchstones, 502 Vernon St., Nelson christinalakehomecoming.com Sun Worshipers Laura Leeder Naptime Mirja Vahala Art Exhibition The History of Mountain Biking 250-366-4649 250-352-9813 Festival 250-254-0083 250-304-4703 Art by Audrey Jansen & John Boivin Aug. 18–Nov. 4 [email protected] Kaslo GuitarFest www.kootenayreflections.com www.lauraleeder.com www.MirjaVahalaArtStudio.com Aug. 8–25 & Aug. 28–Sept. 15 Touchstones, 502 Vernon St., Nelson touchstonesnelson.ca July 16–21 Studio Connexion Gallery, 250-352-9813 St. Andrews United Church & Langham Cultural Event 203 Fifth Ave. NW, Nakusp [email protected] Cultural Centre, Kaslo Music Events 250-265-3586 touchstonesnelson.ca Arts & Culture Series Cultural Event Lobsterfest ‘9’ 250-353-7600 ONGOING Art & Music in the Market [email protected], facebook.com/ Music in the Park Revelstoke Timber Days June 23 [email protected] Film & Food Live Theatre Performances Saturdays, June 9–Sept. 22, 11 am–1 pm studioconnexion July & Aug., Wednesday evenings May 19, Centennial Park, Revelstoke Kimberley Conference Centre, Kimberley kasloguitarfest.com Evening in the Courtyard Capitol Theatre Summer Season Front St. Park (beside Kaslo Hotel), Kaslo Gazebo across from the beach, Nakusp [email protected] 250-520-0196 Exhibition Aug. 26, 7 pm Mar. 1–July 31 250-353-7600 Music 250-265-3322 revelstoketimberdays.ca kimberleyrotary.org/whats-on Field Doll: Heather Benning Creston Museum, 219 Devon St., Creston Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria St., Nelson [email protected] Derina Harvey Band at Music in the Aug. 10 (opening 7–9 pm)–Oct. 28 Art Exhibition Festival Cultural Event 250-428-9262 250-352-6363 Kaslo ArtWalk Park’s Night Market presented by Trail Touchstones, 502 Vernon St., Nelson The Hidden Garden Gallery’s Summer Kaslo May Days Festival [email protected] [email protected] June 15–Sept. 15 Grand Opening of the Temple of Light & District Arts Council 250-352-9813 Season May 19–21, Vimy Park & Logger Sports & Strawberry Social crestonmuseum.ca capitoltheatre.bc.ca Various venues in Kaslo Grounds, Kaslo July 19, 7 pm [email protected] July 2–Sept. 8 June 23, 1–4 pm Gyro Park, Trail Spring Concert Series 250-353-7600 250-353-3464 touchstonesnelson.ca 702 Eldorado St., New Denver Yasodhara Ashram, 250-368-9669 SEPTEMBER Live@Studio64 Spring Concert Series [email protected] [email protected] Food Entertainment hiddengardengallery.ca 527 Walkers Landing Rd., [email protected], trail-arts.com Art Exhibition Nelson ArtWalk: 30th Anniversary Edition kaslochamber.com/Kaslo-May-Days Afternoon Tea Mar. 24, May 9, May 19, see website for details 250-227-9224; 1-800-661-8711 Through the Eyes of a Kootenay Artist June 29–Sept. 9, Galas: June 29, July 27, Aug. 11, 1–4 pm Centre 64, 64 Deer Park Ave., Kimberley Art Market [email protected], yasodhara.org Music Festival by Laura Leeder Sept. 9 MAY Creston Museum, 219 Devon St., Creston 250-427-4919 8th Annual Oxygen Art Market Starbelly Jam Music Festival Sept. 1–30, see website for details Various venues in Nelson Visual Arts Exhibition 250-428-9262 [email protected] Opening May 25, 7–10 pm, May 26, Art Exhibition July 20–22 Cowan’s Office Supplies, 517 Victoria St., [email protected], ndac.ca River Arts – Student Exhibit [email protected] kimberleyarts.com/musiccentre64 10 am–6 pm, May 27, 10 am–5 pm Art by Maureen Howard & Tatjana Crawford Bay Park, Crawford Bay Nelson Apr. 19–May 26 Mirkov-Popovicki [email protected], starbellyjam.org crestonmuseum.ca Art Exhibition Farmers’ Market Oxygen Art Centre (320 Vernon St. – 250-254-0083 Golden Farmers’ Market Kootenay Gallery of Art, June 26–July 14 & July 17–Aug. 4 Alfoldy Gallery Summer Season entrance in alley), Nelson Live Theatre Performance Studio & Culture Tour [email protected], lauraleeder.com Wednesdays June 13–Oct. 12–5 pm, 120 Heritage Way, Castlegar May to mid-Sept. 10:30 am–5:30 pm Wed., [email protected] Studio Connexion Gallery, 203 Fifth Ave. The Hunchback of Notre Dame Columbia Basin Culture Tour Saturdays July 1–Sept. 10–3 pm 250-365-3337 Cultural Event Fri., Sat., Sun.; July & Aug. every day oxygenartcentre.org NW, Nakusp (Musical) Aug. 11 & 12, 10 am–5 pm Golden, see website for venue information [email protected] Hills Garlic Festival 3917 Hwy. 3 , Erickson, 5 min. east of Creston Garden Festival 250-265-3586 July 26–28, 7:30 pm & 2 pm matinee Venues throughout the Columbia Basin/ [email protected] www.kootenaygallery.com Sept. 9, 10 am–5 pm 250-428-7473 Castlegar Garden & Nature Fest [email protected], facebook. Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria St., Nelson Kootenay Region facebook.com/goldenbcfarmersmarket/ Centennial Park, New Denver [email protected], Alfoldy Gallery on Facebook Art Exhibition May 26, 10 am–3 pm com/studioconnexion 250-352-6363 250-505-5505; 1-877-505-7355 Street Festival Castlegar Sculpturewalk Community Complex, [email protected] [email protected], cbculturetour.com hillsgarlicfest.ca Retreat Revelstoke Summer Street Fest May 5, 2018–April 2019 2101 6th Ave., Castlegar JULY capitoltheatre.bc.ca Cultural Event Interactive Performance Johnson’s Landing Retreat Centre June 23–Aug. 26 Downtown Castlegar 250-365-1653 Giant Book Sale Pirate Day on the SS Moyie “In Time” Live History May–Sept., The Retreat Centre (2240 Grizzly Plaza, Revelstoke Cultural Festival [email protected] [email protected] July 1, 10 am–3 pm Aug. 13 Sept. 15 Kootenay Joe Rd.), Johnson’s Landing 250-814-9325 Kootenay Festival – Let’s Celebrate sculpturewalkcastlegar.com castlegargardenfest.com Salmo Valley Public Library, Salmo SS Moyie Historic Sternwheeler, Kaslo Creston Museum, 219 Devon St., Creston 250-366-4402 [email protected] July 28, 10:30 am–7 pm 250-357-2312 250-353-2525 250-428-9262 [email protected] revelstokeartscouncil.com Art Exhibition Millennium Park, 100 5th St., JUNE [email protected] [email protected], facebook.com/ [email protected] JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca Art by Denyse Marshall & Karen Coon downtown Castlegar Music Series Exhibition SSMoyiePirateDay crestonmuseum.ca Kootenay Savings Music in the Park May 18–June 2 & June 5–23 Music Festival 250-365-3386 ext. 4105 Performance DJ Olive: Listening to Fir Music presented by Trail & District Arts Council Studio Connexion Gallery, 7th Annual Steamboat Mountain Music [email protected] Cultural Event Castlegar Music in the Park June 8 (opening 7–9 pm)–Aug. 12 Music in the Park & Night Market June 14–Aug. 30, every Thurs., 7 pm 203 Fifth Ave. NW, Nakusp Festival kootenayfestival.com Kootenay Rock Climbing Festival Every Wed., June 13–Aug. 29, 7–9 pm Touchstones, 502 Vernon St., Nelson presented by Trail & District Arts Gyro Park, Trail 250-265-3586 July 6–8 Sept. 22, 2–10 pm Kinnaird Park, Castlegar 250-352-9813 Council 250-368-9669 [email protected], facebook.com/ Edgewater Community Hall & Park, AUGUST Lions Head Pub, Robson 250-365-1653 [email protected] Aug. 16, 7 pm [email protected], trail-arts.com studioconnexion 4818 Selkirk Ave., Edgewater 250-354-7535 [email protected], castlegar.ca touchstonesnelson.ca Art Exhibition Gyro Park, Trail Arts, Culture & Heritage Celebrations Live Music Performance on Mother’s Day 250-347-9860 A Garden Comes to Life by Artist Laura 250-368-9669 [email protected], tawkroc.org/ Concert Series Garden Festival www.steamboatmtnmusicfest.ca Kimberley First Saturdays Constantinople – Itinerant Gardens Leeder [email protected], trail-arts.com Cultural Event Summer Kicks July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 1, Oct. 6, see website Castlegar Peony Show May 13, 7:30 pm Aug.1–31, see website for reception date Luna Art Fest June 13–Aug. 15 for details June 15, 3–7 pm, June 16, 1–7 pm Arts & Culture Event Beer Tasting Fundraiser Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria St., Nelson Cranbrook Arts Gallery, 1013 Baker St., Sept. 29, 6 pm Spirit Square, downtown Golden Centre 64, 64 Deer Park Ave., Kimberley Sandman Hotel (1944 Columbia Ave.), Balfour Daze Taps & Tapas 3 250-352-6363 Cranbrook 250-344-6186 250-427-4919 Castlegar July 7 Aug. 17, 7–9:30 pm Downtown Revelstoke [email protected] 250-254-0083 [email protected] [email protected], kimberleyarts. 250-368-6228 Balfour Playing Fields, Balfour Gallery 2, 524 Central Ave., Grand Forks [email protected] capitoltheatre.bc.ca [email protected] kickinghorseculture.ca com/kimberley-first-saturday [email protected], castlegarpeony.com [email protected] 250-442-2211 revelstokeartgallery.ca/luna lauraleeder.com or cranbrookarts.com [email protected], gallery2grandforks.ca

14 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 15 ARTWALK/FESTIVAL ARTWALK/FESTIVAL

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• • 3 Y 0 T H 1988-2018 R A S A N N IV E R ExciteExcite youryour sensessenses June 29th-July 27th- September 7th, 2018 Art | Food | Live Music | Films | Festivals Nelson BC Visit Pynelogs Cultural Centre & Cafe Allium On the shores of Lake Windermere [email protected] [email protected] Kinsmen Beach - Invermere, BC www.columbiavalleyarts.com 250.342.0316 250.342.4423 www.ndac.ca [email protected] Castlegar’s Sculpturewalk is entering its 4th year, and what a success it has been! This exhibit of original outdoor sculptures displayed in downtown Castlegar is attracting interest from across theCastlegar’s country. From Sculpturewalk May through is entering September its 4th the year, public and votes what fora ‘BLOOM Castlegar’sThesuccess People’s Sculpturewalk it hasChoice been! is enteringsculpture This exhibit its which4th ofyear, original is and purchased what outdoor a by sculptures the City of Castlegar Sculpturewalk Castlegar for Castlegar’s Permanent Collection. WHERE successdisplayed it has been!Castlegar’s in Thisdowntown exhibit Sculpturewalk of Castlegar original is entering outdoor is its attracting 4th year,sculptures and interestwhat a from across features over Stunning displayedthe in country. downtownsuccess From Castlegar it has May been! through Thisis attracting exhibit September of original interest outdoor from the sculptures acrosspublic votes for Outdoor the country. From displayedMay through in downtown September Castlegar theis attracting public interest votes fromfor across The People’sthe country. Choice From sculpture May through Septemberwhich is the purchased public votes forby the City of Sculptures YOU ARE The People’s Choice sculpture which is purchased by the City of CastlegarThe for People’s Castlegar’s Choice sculpture Permanent which is purchasedCollection. by the City of Castlegar for Castlegar’sCastlegar Permanentfor Castlegar’s Collection.Permanent Collection. Enjoy artwork from International artists on a beautiful walking tour in downtown Castlegar. Vote for your favourite sculpture via ballot, or decide which one you’d like PLANTED’ to purchase or lease for yourself. See why we’ve been named The Sculpture Capital of Canada™ and take the Sculpturewalk today! Sunday, July 8, 11 am - 3 pm

Tour a variety of private gardens and enjoy the artistry of local talents demonstrating their skills on location. Ticket price $20 (including refreshments) available at Centre 64 Visit www.kimberleyarts.com for monthly exhibition schedule and events Gallery & office hours: Tue. —Sat. 1—5 pm

Kicks off [email protected] 5th 2018 | sculpturewalkcastlegar.comcastlegarsculpturewalk.com

64 Deer Park Avenue, Kimberley, BC SponSor, Buy, or LeaSe a ScuLpture

SponSorShip program ICULATE Sponsor a sculpture for $1000. Your name will be 16 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ART 17 engraved on the nameplate and your business logo & link will go on our website and brochure. purchaSe program Buy a sculpture and place it where you want (even SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY! your own backyard!). Leave a business or family CONTACT CASTLEGAR SCULPTUREWALK SponSor, Blegacyuy , toor the community LeaSe to a beautify Scu theL pturecity or your FOR THE FULL SALES & LEASE CATALOG. SponSorneighbourhood., Buy, Prices or range Lea fromS $3000-$30,000e a Scu Lpture SponSorShip programand payment can be made over time. Sponsor a sculptureLeaSing for program $1000. Your name will be SponSponSorShipSor program, Buy, or LeaSe a ScuLpture engraved on theAfter nameplate the sculptures and have your been business up for a year, logo those & link Sponsorwill go on ourasculptures sculpture website not andpurchased for brochure. $1000. can be Yourleased andname moved will be engravedSponSor toonS thehip the location p rogramnameplate of your choice. and Average your lease business price is logo & Sponsor$1500/year. a sculpture for $1000. Your name will be link will go on our website and brochure. purchaengravedSe program on the nameplate and your business logo & Buy a sculpture and place it where you want (even SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY! link will go on our website and brochure. CONTACT CASTLEGAR SCULPTUREWALK yourp ownurcha backyard!).Se Fromprogram left Leaveto right: Salmon a business by Christina or Nick, family Chieftain by Daniel Kloc, Full Metal Basket by Kate Tupper, Kinetic Weather Disturbance legacy to the communityEnsemble by Douglas to beautify Walker, QR the by Carl city Schlichting, or your Soaring by Spring FOR Shine, THE Look andFULL YouSUPPORT Will SALES Find It by & Kate LEASETHE Christopher, COMMUNITY! CATALOG. Seeker of Buy a sculptureVisions by Davidand Sidley, place and Man it wherein Motion by you Denis Kleinewant* (even neighbourhood.purchaS ePrices program range from $3000-$30,000 your own backyard!). Leave a business or family SUPPORTCONTACT THECASTLEGAR COMMUNITY! SCULPTUREWALK and paymentBuy a cansculpture*these be andmade more and overavailable place time. for it purchasewhere oryou lease want before (even april 1 st. legacyyour toown the backyard!). community Leave to beautify a business the cityor family or your CONTACTFOR THE FULLCASTLEGAR SALES &SCULPTUREWALK LEASE CATALOG. LeaSing program neighbourhood.legacy to276 the Columbia community Prices Ave. range | [email protected] beautifyfrom $3000-$30,000 the city or your | sculpturewalkcastlegar.com FOR THE FULL SALES & LEASE CATALOG. Afterand the paymentsculptures canhave bebeen made up for over a year, time. those sculpturesneighbourhood. not purchased Prices can be range leased from and moved$3000-$30,000 to the locationand payment of your canchoice. be Averagemade over lease time. price is LeaSing program $1500/year. AfterLea theSing sculptures program have been up for a year, those sculpturesAfter the notsculptures purchased have can been be up leased for a year,and movedthose to sculpturesthe location not of purchased your choice. can Average be leased lease and price moved is From$1500/year. leftto to the right: location Salmon by of Christina your choice. Nick, Chieftain Average by Daniel lease Kloc, price Full Metal is Basket by Kate Tupper, Kinetic Weather Disturbance Ensemble$1500/year. by Douglas Walker, QR by Carl Schlichting, Soaring by Spring Shine, Look and You Will Find It by Kate Christopher, Seeker of Visions by David Sidley, and Man in Motion by Denis Kleine*

*these and more available for purchase or lease before april 1st. From left to right: Salmon by Christina Nick, Chieftain by Daniel Kloc, Full Metal Basket by Kate Tupper, Kinetic Weather Disturbance EnsembleFrom left by to Douglas right: Salmon Walker, by QR Christina by Carl Nick, Schlichting, Chieftain Soaringby Daniel by Kloc, Spring Full Shine, Metal BasketLook and by KateYou WillTupper, Find Kinetic It by Kate Weather Christopher, Disturbance Seeker of 276 Columbia Ave. | [email protected] | sculpturewalkcastlegar.com VisionsEnsemble by David by Douglas Sidley, andWalker, Man QR in by Motion Carl Schlichting, by Denis Kleine Soaring* by Spring Shine, Look and You Will Find It by Kate Christopher, Seeker of Visions by David Sidley, and Man in Motion by Denis Kleine*

*these and more available for purchase or lease before april 1st. *these and more available for purchase or lease before april 1st. 276 Columbia Ave. | [email protected] | sculpturewalkcastlegar.com 276 Columbia Ave. | [email protected] | sculpturewalkcastlegar.com MIND & HEART MIND & HEART In recent years she travelled to Australia, where she was deeply affected by the aboriginal artists she met. She produced a powerful Vanessa Bate body of work influenced by the aboriginal way of seeing, a kind of aerial mapping featuring beautiful dotted patterns and animal tracks. What she learned there was, “I can fly over anywhere, really, and look down and see the story. Not only earth, I can fly through the and Bubzee cosmos.” Both these women are storytellers, using their art to convey a vision Mother, daughter, lifelong friends of the world as they see and experience it. These days, Vanessa and Bubzee caretake a small piece of land in the by Moe Lyons Slocan Valley, where they live, garden and make art. “We take care of one another,” they say. “We are really tight, really good friends.” The first time I saw Bubzee’s work, I thought I might have to cut my throat. Her pieces dominated the tiny gallery in Passmore: exquisite, “I love it that our art is so different,” says Bubzee. “Her art feels like detailed line drawings of women enduring unimaginable sadness. home.” The powerful images made me recoil, repelling me while at the same Web: bubzeeart.com, instagram.com/bubzeeart, vanessabate.com, moment I couldn’t look away. instagram.com/vanessabate. Omigoddess, I thought, who is this? And at the same time: I could never have this woman’s work on my walls; I couldn’t bear it. Now her work is all over my house. Not the stuff from those “dark times,” as her mother Vanessa describes it, but still exquisite, Anne Béliveau profound, often troubling, always fascinating. While much of her Gallerist work is still not accessible to the faint of heart, now it is perhaps more beautiful than gut wrenching. “I was heartbroken, unbelievably sad in those days,” she says. “I have healed so much.” 203 Fifth Ave Nakusp, BC At the same time, I began to notice another artistic presence in the Tel: (250) 265-3586 Slocan Valley: rich, textured oil paintings of forests and flowers Vanessa has recently been experimenting with brilliant colours on large black or near- [email protected] and the secret places we love to discover in this magical place. black canvases. The result, as in this painting of zinnias, is that the flowers pop off the Bubzee’s powerful images of women and animals, rendered in detailed fine line This was the work of Vanessa Bate. Before too long I saw her work canvas and completely capture the viewer. drawing, have gained her a considerable following. everywhere: beautiful art cards displayed on counters, brilliant Photos courtesy Vanessa Bate and Bubzee canvases on the walls of local cafes. Celebrating 10 Years of Fine Arts Little did I know these two women were inextricably interlinked: I painted alongside of him. He taught us how to get the work up mother, daughter, lifelong friends. “Sometimes it’s hard to know and out there. Bubzee and I had our first show with John at Danny’s written on their skin. “I am a queer artist,” she says. “I mostly who is the mother here,” says Vanessa. “I have learned so much Deli in Nelson.” After that the opportunities kept on coming. One tattoo people from the LGBTQ2 community and I really love and from her; she opens my mind and my heart. She taught me to be day a friend said to her, “Come with me. There’s an art class in the appreciate to work with like-minded people.” open-minded. I love her symbolism, and I learned about drawing on basement of the Capitol Theatre.” Suddenly she found herself in the midst of a wild and crazy crowd of ground-breaking artists: LX When asked why so much of her imagery is about women, myths and stories. Bubzee tells stories in her art. She puts the dark her immediate response is, “Because I am a feminist!” Vanessa side out there for everyone to see.” Forde, Wayne King and the folks who created Nelson’s once-famous alternate art scene, Samizdat. These were heady times; this was where concurs that identifying as feminist is important for both of them. Bubzee won’t explain the meanings in her work. “I want people to they needed to be. “And,” says Bubzee, “women are so much more beautiful. I am have their own stories,” she says. “Also, I avoid looking at my old drawing what I love.” Meanwhile, Bubzee was growing up and going her own way. work. I am always moving forward. Looking at what I did in the past Vanessa has similar feelings about her work. “It’s a love thing. is like looking at my old dead skin.” She went to Vancouver Island, and soon was off on a huge adventure, climbing into her bus and heading for Montreal. There I meet myself on canvas, and the plants call me. Sometimes while When did Vanessa realize she was meant to be an artist? “I think it she became deeply immersed in street art culture and the punk I work I am crying, dancing, surrounded by music. I feel I am started because my mother’s mother was an oil painter. Her work scene, began to identify as queer and went out with brush and pail touching the subject while I am painting it. I love working with oils was on the walls all around. I realized you could be an artist, that in hand to create huge wall murals, some of which exist to this very because I love mixing colours, and I feel as if I am sculpting with maybe I could be an artist, too.” Once, she was looking out the car day. She was developing a reputation as someone to watch. paint.” window, describing what she was seeing, and her mother said to her, “You should be an artist.” She never forgot those words. In her body of work, you will find a huge range of media and approaches. “I’ve always hustled clothes,” she says, and almost However, much of her adult life was consumed by being the mother every member of the (mostly) younger alternative community here of six children, Bubzee the youngest. Her husband having died when proudly wears patches, repurposed lingerie, T-shirts and other fabric Bubzee was two, survival was paramount. The family lived in Nelson with her distinctive silk-screened patterns. Repurposing is a big for 23 years and it took a while for Vanessa to find her place in the part of what she does, from unlikely dolls decked out in antique creative scene there. Eventually she took up making art, her tiny lace to wall hangings wrought from bones, feathers and lichen. She daughter by her side. also designs and produces an annual moon calendar. For a while, “Really, we started painting at the same time,” laughs Vanessa. she and her partner at that time had a band called Mogli and the “Bubzee was three, and we went together to art classes.” It was always Dirty Sisters and opened a little shop in Winlaw called Feral Rose, a clear Bubzee’s destiny was to be an artist. “There was never really any creative and social hub for the alternative, punk queer community. question I would do anything else.” She is now gaining a considerable reputation as a tattoo artist. They became involved with John Cooper, renowned colourist and “Tattooing developed my art,” she says. “You have to do it in slow en plein air painter. “We learned so much from him,” says Vanessa. motion, the lines have to be perfect.” She sometimes travels to do “He was a role model for me. He was doing it! Surviving as an artist. this work, and people come from near and far to have her visions

18 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 19 ART ON TWO WHEELS Trails, LUNA NOCTURNAL ART & WONDER Tales & REVELSTOKE, BC

Bails Photo: David R. Gluns, courtesy Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism

To celebrate local culture, a museum gets sporty the history and culture of the sport. Themes will focus on the founders, professional riders past and present, women in mountain by Galadriel Watson biking, those who build and shape the trails, races and festivals, and mountain biking in the arts. Nelson’s own Kurt Sorge will be Think “museum” and you may think of artifacts, paintings or featured: three-time winner of Utah’s Red Bull Rampage mountain sculptures. You probably don’t think of dirt-caked tire treads. biking race. So will the area’s original mountain bike fest—the To shift your perspective, look to the Touchstones Nelson Museum Nelson Fat Tire Festival, established in 1996. of Art and History in Nelson. From August 18 to November 4 it “If you’ve never experienced mountain biking before, you can come 2018 will be hosting a new type of exhibit focused on the local history of into the museum and understand the art of it, and understand the mountain biking. beauty of it,” says Heyerdahl. “Why is there that joy, that passion opening Astrid Heyerdahl is the museum’s executive director. A mountain and that freedom? If you’ve never been on a bike, I want you to biker herself, she moved to the area and started working with the come into the museum and feel that.” night museum in late 2016. When she realized the museum had never Fellow organizer and mountain biker Darren Davidson focused on this sport—vital to so many residents and visitors and understands that drive. “I just love it,” he says of the sport. SATURDAY a strong influence on the area’s tourism economy—she started “It’s great for your soul, great for your health, great for your mind.” pulling together the resources to make it happen. The region offers “hundreds and hundreds of kilometres SEPT 29 “We have some of the best riders in this community involved of wonderfully built trails through a lot of beautiful places.” 6PM - MIDNIGHT in creating this show,” she says. “I’m bringing in everyone who The museum also plans to engage with people out in those places. knows it intimately to express it in a way that’s true, honest, It’s working with the Nelson & District Arts Council to bring art open and exciting.” installations and history to the trailheads. Also, exhibit workshops Former competitive rider and Nelson Cycling Club director Deb might focus on how to set up film and photography shoots on MacKillop is one of these people. She’s lived in Nelson since the the trails, or how to build trails. By looking beyond the museum’s early days of mountain biking in the mid-1990s, when Nelson archives and permanent collections, focusing on a locally relevant became one of the province’s first communities to embrace the topic, attracting new audiences and bringing information out into sport. MacKillop is also one of the many volunteers who, since the landscapes, Heyerdahl hopes to “blow open the walls of the then, have helped the area grow into an internationally known museum a little bit more.” FEATURING OVER 25 ARTISTS, mountain biking destination. MacKillop is also excited about this novel way of bringing people LUNA BRINGS ART AND ENERGY “Yet I think a lot of people in our community don’t actually together—from mountain bikers, to tourists, to non-biking TO DOWNTOWN REVELSTOKE WITH recognize the significance of the stories that have gone into making community members, to landowners—to improve how they INTERACTIVE ART INSTALLATIONS mountain biking what it is in our community,” she says. This communicate, work together and move forward. As she says, WITNESS THE TRANSFORMATION exhibit will help change that. “It’s about celebrating the athletes “It’s not a common thing to link mountain biking and museums. who have been really successful, it’s about celebrating the passions And I think that’s kind of fun.” that a lot of people have, and it’s about highlighting how important revelstokeartgallery.ca/luna this sport is to our town.” Web: touchstonesnelson.ca Although details are still being worked out, the exhibit plans The exhibit tentatively titled “The History of Mountain Biking in to include new and archival photographs and films and objects Nelson” takes place at Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History Luna is produced by the Revelstoke Visual ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION like old bikes—and possibly even a wooden jump—that express in Nelson from August 18 to November 4. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Arts Centre, the Revelstoke Arts Council and the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce

20 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 21 COVER STORY COVER STORY

heads to the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay rivers at Castlegar. At this spot in the early 1900s, Wayne attests, Chief Francois declared the establishment of Ktunaxa territory one mile upstream and one mile downstream from where the waters meet, a declaration that was never made manifest by the subsequent establishment of a Ktunaxa community. The last stop on the tour will be at Burton on the Lower Arrow Lake where in 1871 first contact was made between Indians and white settlers in the region and a reserve established. Later, in 1902, Commissioner Lowell declared the relocation of the reserve to another site near Burton. It is here that Louie wants to make the Ktunaxa people and the public at large aware of the Ktunaxa history in the Arrow Lakes. He is hoping to meet with a representative of the Okanagan Nation and to make known the traditional sharing of the Arrow Lakes territory with families of Kootenay, Okanagan and Shuswap nations who once lived there together in harmony. Prior to this tour of the ancestral homelands, Wayne took his fish traps, yew-wood bows, sturgeon-nose canoe and traditional tipi to the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook in March for a demonstration for the Indigenous Education Support Worker program. On May 15 he will be conducting a dyke walk at the Creston Bird Festival, where he will explain the relationship Wayne between birds and First Nation culture. He will also have on display a tule-mat tipi and a sturgeon-nose canoe. Several videos are available for viewing on Louie’s website, sturgeon-nose-creations.com, one of which shows a gathering of sturgeon-nose canoes, another a demonstration by Louie of the Louie construction of a sturgeon-nose canoe. Wayne receives assistance at a sturgeon-nose canoe-building demonstration in Vancouver, 2016. Touring Ktunaxa ancestral homelands Photo courtesy Wayne Louie by Mike Redfern transform your art into...

Wayne Louie, a member of the Lower Kootenay band of the this traditional craft. For the past 20 years he has been giving Ktunaxa Nation, is a traditional craftsman. Owner and creative workshops on a variety of Ktunaxa traditional crafts, including CANVAS PRINTS craftsman of Sturgeon-Nose Creations Traditional Indian Crafts the construction of tipis, yew-wood bows and fish traps, as well in Creston, Louie makes white pine sturgeon-nose canoes, a vessel as sturgeon-nose canoes. He visits schools and attends festivals peculiar to the Ktunaxa people. Other indigenous peoples created throughout the province, demonstrating and teaching these POSTERS more familiar canoes such as the birch bark and the dugout, but traditional crafts. Things are only the Ktunaxa created the sturgeon-nose. This summer, Wayne is The Touring Our Ancestral Homelands project was made possible ART CARDS taking the canoe on tour through the Ktunaxa ancestral homelands. by a grant from the Columbia Basin Trust through the Columbia different here Designed with a pointed prow that resembles the nose of the white Kootenay Cultural Alliance. Louie hopes to commence tours in sturgeon that was once plentiful in the waters of the Kootenays, July, once he has assembled his crew. The crew includes Richard Complete your Kootenay POST CARDS the canoe is ideally shaped to part and glide through the reeds and Jacobs, the son of Wilfred Jacobs, who is a canoeist and drummer; experience with a visit to bulrushes abundant on lakes and sloughs in traditional Ktunaxa Alan Eneas from the Okanagan Nation, who assists Wayne on the Kootenay Co-op, our territory. The canoes were used for fishing, trapping, collecting coot many of his projects; and Chuck Blunt, who drives the truck that community-owned STICKERS eggs and for travelling from community to community. Featuring transports the canoe-building crew and their materials to festivals grocery store. a hull of white pine bark sealed with fir pitch and bindings made and other events around the province. Louie hopes they will also be BOOKMARKS from strips of bitter cherry bark and cedar roots, the canoes were joined by other Ktunaxa volunteers. Front Street the Ktunaxa vehicle of choice for centuries before the advent of The tour will take four days. It will start on the flats below the CALENDARS white settlers and the introduction of roads and motor vehicles. Lower Kootenay community south of Creston where Louie was But sturgeon-nose canoe building is a dying art now, only kept born over 60 years ago. Signage on Highway 21 will direct visitors organic produce & grocery • meat & seafood • fine cheeses alive by Wayne Louie. He learned the craft from his grandmother, to the site where they can see examples of traditional Ktunaxa tipis supplements • bulk foods • bodycare • café & eatery & MORE

Marion Ernest, who ran a trapline on the Arrow Lakes. “It didn’t and white pine sturgeon-nose canoes. From there the tour will go to Hendryx St 1.800.663.7820 Cedar St TRAIL Vernon St take long to build a canoe in the old days with lots of help from the Nelson where the sturgeon-nose canoe-building demonstration will, Hall St [email protected] family,” Louie explains. But since the passing of his grandmother Wayne hopes, build awareness of who the Ktunaxa are and educate Josephine St NELSON 1.877.354.1666 Baker St [email protected] and other elders, like Wilfred Jacobs, a famous canoe builder of his people about their unceded traditional territory that connects in Ward St 777 Baker Street, Nelson generation, Wayne is the only member of his nation to continue the west with that of the Okanagan Nation. From Nelson the tourVernon St Stanely St Herridge Lane Open Daily • 250-354-4077 www.hallprinting.ca Kootenay St

22 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 23

Falls St Victoria St Baker St SURVIVING & THRIVING Letter from the Interior ISLAND MOUNTAIN ARTS An experience like no other The art of Creston bursting with young families and people who want to be writers or WELLS BC CANADA • CARIBOO COUNTRY • LHTAKO DENÉ TERRITORY musicians or artists. Some people work online; many are actually by Luanne Armstrong making a living farming and selling local food; and many are retired I walk into my favourite but still young and healthy and wanting to do creative projects. bookstore, Kingfisher Books, The weekly farmers market is always bustling. Friday afternoons at The Toni Onley Artists’ Project in Creston, B.C. Joe Fraser, the the library are packed with young kids learning computer coding, for Professional and Emerging Artists smiling and always friendly owner, playing with the 3D printer, reading books, playing chess and makes me a London Fog without generally having a great time. July 7 - 15, 2018 me asking, and then I head for the For most of its history, Creston was a place of farmers, retired people Artist Mentors: Lisa Millroy & Jen Mann writers’ meeting in his basement. and a sprinkling of civil servants and teachers. But now, when I Summer student Skylar Eyre dusts Ten of us gather around the small go to a community event, I take my three grandchildren and their The Artists’ Project is an intensive juried artist retreat guided by off The Hunter by Stewart Steinhauer table next to the pellet stove and friends are there as well. In fact, usually the event is packed with outside the Kunze Gallery. The get down to critiquing each other’s young families. Self-employed artists, people taking early retirement senior artist mentors. It is a forum for artists to explore, develop statue has since been moved to the manuscripts. This is not the first from the oil industry and people with young families are settling and forward their ideas in relation to visual arts practice. Artists of University of Alberta campus. time I’ve organized a writers’ Photo: Sandy Kunze here. People who can work online have found a place where they can the Kootenay/Boundary are eligible for the “Articulate Magazine group in Creston. But this is the afford both a house and some land for their kids to grow up on. first group I have been part of Scholarship”. For application process and more details about the For example, filmmaker Sarah Kapoor lives here with her that is not mainly older people writing memoirs. In fact, it is mostly project please visit www.imarts.com. younger writers. Small towns in the Interior are changing and what is husband and two children. She and her husband have found ways changing them is a host of factors. to work long distance and still have a rural life complete with land and chickens. Creston has always had a boom and bust economy. But, unlike “This intense period of exploration will guide other towns in the southeast corner of B.C., Creston wasn’t It is still far from easy. Jobs aren’t always advertised and getting a job and strengthen my work for years to come.” often depends on who you know and who you are related to. The founded because someone discovered a mine. It has always been ~ Laura Widmer, Artists’ Project Participant an agricultural town, situated on alluvial soil above a vast flat town is six hours’ drive to Calgary and a ten-hour drive to Vancouver. land that has been reclaimed with diking systems. So, where It is still a very small town with no airport and it’s hard to get other towns boomed with money from a mine and then had to somewhere if you need to. Especially if you need health care from a For more information on this and other programs: reinvent themselves or die, Creston has cranked on slowly without specialist. That usually involves a drive to either Kelowna (five hours) much change. or Calgary, often over scary winter roads. 1-800-442-2787 • www.imarts.com • [email protected] Until recently. But there is cross-country skiing in the mountains and huge, clear Kootenay Lake 20-minutes’ drive away in which to play in the There is an amazing art gallery now, in one of the old grain elevators, summer. Local organic food is rarely advertised but it’s everywhere. run by a brilliant artist named Sandy Kunze, whose murals grace I have explained to more than a few new people that shopping in the Calgary airport, along with granite sculptures made by Creston- Creston for food can be wonderful but it’s almost all word of mouth. based artist, Stewart Steinhauer, whose sculptures sell worldwide. Find the farmers and you find the food. During the summer, there are often so many music events that it is Tourists continue to come and go but Creston now has a big enough, hard to choose. Local musician Velle Huscroft Weitman packed the settled enough population that prevents the problems that hurt other Columbia Basin community auditorium for the launch of her new CD. The local small towns whose populations are aging or dropping. theatre group, Footlighters, puts on huge, brightly costumed musicals Culture Tour every year. They always sell out as well. Meanwhile, I am so happy to see so many emerging new writers and artists, many with young families. I am busy every day of every week, Aug 11 & 12, 2018 Many women of the area, including me, have had their photos taken either mentoring a new young writer, helping someone with ideas for for a big show at Touchstones Museum in Nelson by photographer publishing or listening to someone’s idea for a new book. And, I have 10:00am - 5:00pm Michelle Rainey, another recent arrival. She and her husband have much to share with them about surviving and thriving as an artist in bought a gallery space and have a lot of exciting plans for it. the B.C. Interior. And in my spare time (what spare time?) I work Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and I have lived on the edge of this town for many years. For a long on my new book that is coming this fall, and several other books still heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour within time, I was the only lonely writer. Now suddenly the town is gestating and waiting their moment to see the light. the Columbia Basin. Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive displays or chat with local historians during this two day long cultural celebration!

For further information A project of Funded by

visit our website or call. Kim Horrocks Ceramics www.cbculturetour.com 250-505-5505 • 1-877-505-7355

24 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 25 OFF THE PRESS OFF THE PRESS

rural community halls to graduate school—for many years. I am presently mentoring a variety of writers all over the Kootenays. I knew Paul as a friend of my son. He is a tall, thoughtful, sincere Kootenay Inspired guy who also loves to ski, go hiking and drink a few beers with my son. They would disappear over to my beach and return for Kootenay Gallery dinner, tanned and happy. I also knew he did Shiatsu therapy and of art & Gift Shop he very kindly offered me a few free treatments. Fine Art. Unique Gifts. But a book? I never discourage people. Maybe they will write a Beautiful Things. book; maybe they won’t. Most people are surprised at the hours of commitment and care it takes to complete a book, get it edited Open Jan. - Nov. Tues. - Sat. 10am-5pm and get it published. December 1st - 24th 120 Heritage Way. Castlegar, BC But I freely admit I underestimated Paul. Under his easy-going, 7days/week 10am-5pm 250.365.3337 | kootenaygallery.com jovial manner is a thoughtful, caring, hard-working person. He set out on his book journey and I said, “Let me know when and where I can help.” The first draft was pretty rough. He had found the people he Debra Rushfeldt wanted to interview for his book, Kootenay Inspired. Paul loves the John Cooper, painter Studio/Gallery I don’t paint to make masterpieces. Kootenays. He wanted to communicate the variety of interesting people who live here and inspire him. He sent me the early drawings - paintings - I don’t paint to make money. I don’t mixed media assemblage paint to be an artist. I paint because drafts of the interviews, which were done in depth but also in - prints and cards I paint, and it’s like a rollercoaster ride. a fairly rough question and answer format. I went through the I’m in there fencing with it, slugging it out, manuscript, made a whole host of suggestions and sent it back. 206 Broadway St. and at last some order comes out of the chaos, and then that order moves to some There was a long pause. Eventually it came back again, this time Nakusp B.C. Summer hours, Tues through other order, and in the succession of the in a much cleaner version. I think it went back and forth about Friday 9:30am to 1pm, order I arrange my thoughts and ideas. It’s five times over seven years. During this process I had a brain Saturday 11am to 3pm. Other times by appointment. like play. As an artist I get to play with and injury, a heart operation and went through several years of pain present ideas. Painting is communication. “Rubble #1” 2017, 22”X22”, and exhaustion. But editing was something, somehow, that I charcoal drawing on BFK Reeves 250 265-3288 (Reprinted by permission.) by Debra Rushfeldt Photo: Louis Bockner could still do, so even when I couldn’t write, couldn’t read, could www.debrarushfeldt.com barely drive, editing gave me a sense of value, a sense of worth. Paul has a busy life. Besides his Shiatsu practice he also works Mentoring the creative process I learned so much from hearing and writing each person’s story. part-time as a biologist. But his interest in writing has always been “One of the best The process has profoundly enhanced my life. I have a new set of a huge goal for him. He never let the book go. 12 buildings in BC” by Luanne Armstrong mentors who influence me every day to do better, enjoy more and help Architecture Foundation He found some brilliant photographers and one day Louis of BC, 2014 In 2008, inspired by the amazing people of the Kootenays, I decided change the world. Bockner showed up at my place. He never openly took my to learn their stories and share what I had discovered by writing. As it The response has been wonderful. Kootenay Inspired is adding to picture; he simply took his camera along as we drank tea, talked turned out, writing a book is many thousands of times more difficult the momentum of our community and propelling more people, in the to the horses, walked to the beach and wandered home. I often than I ever imagined and I am now literally amazed that there are Kootenays and beyond, toward inspired, actualized lives. That is all I become self-conscious and fidgety in front of a camera but since I shelves and shelves of them in the library every time I go in there. ever wanted to achieve. –Paul Saso couldn’t really tell when Louis was taking pictures, I just went on I quickly realized I was going to need help with this. I found telling stories and being relaxed. I think his pictures are the best I When Paul Saso told me he was going to write a book, I said, have of myself. photographers, editors, designers and friends who were as interested as “Great.” Many people tell me this. I usually say, “Well, if you I was in learning from the people in our community. I called Luanne need any help, let me know.” I have now co-written three books Paul did the layout and design and picked the photographs. Armstrong and she was wonderfully encouraging, often telling me and edited many more. I have also written 20 of my own books. I Finally, he sent me what he hoped was the last draft of the book. how great the book was and helping me to refine my style. have helped people to learn to write in many places—from small, I wrote back. I said something like, “Paul. You have to put yourself in the book. You have left your own experience out. It’s a big gap.” YOUR ONLINE RESOURCE: This threw him a bit. He was trying to be objective about the people he interviewed. But he did a final rewrite, put himself in Mar 10 to May 13 - Leora Gesser: Boundaries - Back issues of ARTiculate Magazine the picture, and the last draft was excellent. I have never tried to Mar 10 to May 13 - Kootenay Lake Historical Society: - Kootenay Festivals & Events count the number of books I have helped through to publication Kaslo - The Beginning but Paul’s was one of the most satisfying, about people I also May 18 to July 22 - Kaija Rautiainen: Bear-Dweller of the Wilderness - Cultural funding and resource information knew and admire, and full of great, well-written Kootenay stories. May 18 to July 22 - Jim Lawrence: Wild Things - Connect with your local arts council I am so glad to have been part of the process of bringing another July 27 to Sept 30 - Maureen Gruben: Sealskin, Gathered Kelp great book to life. July 27 to Sept 30 - Jo C. Willems: Fare Forward - Business 101 - A publication for artists, writers, performers and presenters kootenayinspired.ca - Kootenay Arts E-Bulletin Fifty percent of the proceeds from Kootenay Inspired is being donated to Wildsight Education Program and Guiding Hands Art Gallery • Theatre • Japanese Canadian Museum www.wkartscouncil.com Recreation Society: Tipi Camp Nature Retreat. 447 A Avenue, Kaslo, B.C. www.thelangham.ca

26 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 27 NEW & NOTEWORTHY NEW & NOTEWORTHY

Marilyn James and Taress Alexis Sean Arthur Joyce Bill Lynch Freya Not Extinct: Keeping the Mountain Blues: Would You Speak on Freya Sinixt Way Martine denBok and musical partner Noel Fudge form the violin/ A Novel My Behalf guitar duo Freya. Their self-titled debut CD, released in the summer Maa Press, 2018 NeWest Press, 2018 review by Rita Moir of 2017, has deep local roots: it was recorded in New Denver and by Melodie Rae Storey the cover art is by New Denver painter Louise Ducharme. Mountain Blues is the story of a small village Bill Lynch’s CD Would You Speak on Named after the Norse goddess of love, Freya has been busy writing Reading can be a powerful act of in the Valhalla Mountains that must struggle My Behalf is like a good kitchen party and performing throughout the West Kootenay and beyond since bearing witness. The moment we enter to save its hospital emergency ward from with the perfect mix of friends, old and coming together in 2015. They were feature performers at the Hills into someone else’s story, we see them. government cutbacks. When reporter Roy new: fun, unexpected, raucous with Garlic Festival in New Denver, the Kaslo Jazz Etc. summer music Breen arrives in little Eldorado after 15 years working at a big-city Such is the hope of Sinixt storytellers Marilyn James and her laughter at times, but with side rooms festival in 2017 and have performed at a number of house concerts, newspaper, he is soon pitched into the town’s crisis. He must decide for quiet, intimate conversation. an intimate setting where their personalities and musicality excel. daughter Taress Alexis, with their new book Not Extinct: Keeping whether to blur the lines between his role as an objective observer and the Sinixt Way. Being seen is especially pressing to a people declared an activist, knowing that closure of the village’s ER could mean the With so many local musicians joining Fudge combines fingerpicking, strumming, percussive techniques bureaucratically extinct as the Sinixt people were in the 1950s by the end of the community. Lynch, from blues maestro Jon Burden to classical singers Noémi and a range of alternative tunings that demonstrate his guitar Canadian government. Not Extinct is a creatively defiant act against Kiss and Allison Girvan, trumpeter Donnie Clark and Bessie Wapp virtuosity. DenBok is a classically trained violinist who plays with the forces that perpetuate colonization, and is a testament to the Along the way he meets the many wild, wacky and sometimes just with her Balkan ululations, this could have been one of those the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. Her violin and viola technique tenacity and strength of indigenous identity. plain weird characters that inhabit Eldorado and its surrounding overcrowded albums you listen to because friends are involved, alternately wails and soothes. Together the duo creates a close weave communities. There’s the guitar-playing hippie mayor, a Rastafarian and then let it disappear into the dog-haired crevices of your car. of gorgeous music. Each chapter begins with a different Sinixt story—a story that has sage, an older Métis woman activist and a highly competent young been used as a guide for the Sinixt people generation after generation. woman named Rosanna who organizes the campaign to save the But I’ve listened to this thoughtful and rocking CD so many times The CD is available for purchase on iTunes, or on the Freya website, These are fascinating stories with a wildly different worldview set in hospital. It’s that rare creature—an activist story that’s fun. that it’s become a friend. Lynch is the well—the linchpin—with fortheloveoffreya.ca. the familiar landscape we inhabit. We learn how those who have gone his multiple talents on vocals, and acoustic, 12-string and electric before have interpreted the mountains and understood the waterways; CanLit luminary Gary Geddes writes: “Joyce has written the kind of guitars. His lyrics and honest voice, underlaid with Jeff Faragher we learn how to treat the land, and each other, with honour. novel that makes you want to locate his ideal community and move on cello and Girvan and Kiss’s ethereal accompaniment, speak there immediately. He brings a unique toolbox of writing skills to eloquently and poetically in “Would You Meet Me There?,” a song The stories are followed by a relaxed and informative commentary bear in Mountain Blues that makes for crisp, lyrical prose, an engaging by James. She helps the reader understand this different approach based on a discussion of personal tragedy: “The moorings have narrative, memorable characters, including an emotionally articulate slipped loose/From the things that you hold dear/At the shoreline to story and illuminates the deep universal human nature the stories cat, and a lightness of touch that is as surprising as it is delightful.” expose. James and Alexis then graciously invite a group of artists and boats are drifting/And the front line, it draws near.” Sometimes writers who are not of Sinixt descent (settlers) to both illustrate and New Denver’s own Sean Arthur Joyce will be featured at this they’re raucous. In “Please Leave My Kitchen” he kicks out the reflect on each story. The settlers and Sinixt together call themselves summer’s Elephant Mountain Literary Festival in Nelson and will guests at his own late-night party: “I fell in with bad company/But the Blood of Life Collective. And so, Not Extinct was born out of a be touring the Columbia Basin with Mountain Blues. For more I’ve worked it out/You must be the people/That my mother warned community of diverse parts and the collaboration aspect of the book information on readings near you, consult me ’bout. Now you can entertain yourselves/Go out and gaze up at feels fresh and hopeful. The gorgeous illustrations and the honest, chameleonfire1.wordpress.com/ or chameleonfire.ca. the stars/Or take another pub crawl/This town has thirteen bars.” respectful commentary between both parties reflects a new way And one of my favourites, “Waiting for a Dancer,” stemming from forward. To their credit, the book is only part of the project. There is an evening with Sabbian Clover: “The world’s been waiting for a also a podcast series called “Sinixt Stories: Ancestral Roots, Cultural dancer/Ain’t it time we had good news?/When all the questions meet Seeds,” recorded at Kootenay Co-op Radio, a community radio Kootenay Lake Archives their answers/And you slip on your dancing shoes.” station based in Nelson. Resource kits are even available for teachers. Pioneer Families of Kaslo The fun and respect this team of 25 or more had working with James certainly accomplishes what she sets out to do: “present Lynch and recording engineer Rick Lingard (who also joins in on Sinixt culture . . . and foster community relationships between self-published, 2017 alto and tenor sax) is at the very core of each song. There is Aryn Sinixt and settler.” Indeed, the stories, explanation, illustration and Sheriff wailing out, Wapp weaving in on accordion and eerie vocals, reflection combine together in Not Extinct to create a moving reading The Kootenay Lake Archives in Kaslo has just Clinton Swanson on clarinet, Don Macdonald on violin, Tom republished the book Pioneer Families Thomson on keyboards and so many other local greats. experience. It points to a vision of the Sinixt as not extinct, but seen Margaret Pacaud Anne Helps and thriving. Reading their stories becomes a political act, allowing of Kaslo. Watch for the road tour; it will be a hot ticket. As Lynch says on his Jacquie Hamilton David Halliday the reader to participate in fulfilling the vision. Thank you, Blood of website, billplynchmusic.com, where he thanks his friends, this is This book was originally published by the Randi Fjeldseth Robert J. Glover Life Collective, for the opportunity. Kootenay Lake Historical Society in 1980 “hot music and world-class fun.” Carol Palladino Anonymous but had been out of print for many years. In 1979 the Historical Society wrote to newspapers in Canada and the U.S. asking families who had lived in Kaslo prior to 1915 to write their stories of life in the community between 1890 and 1915. In republishing the book the Archives has used the original text with some additional stories from the original letters received. It had some of the original photographs in its collection, but many of them were no longer accessible. It has therefore drawn on the historic photographs it has collected in the last 30 years from pioneer families to illustrate the text. The book costs $25 including taxes and is available from the Archives, [email protected], 250-353-3204 or the SS Moyie Visitor Centre in Kaslo, open May to October.

28 SPRING/SUMMER 2018 ARTICULATE 29 news continued from page 5 LAST WORD Oxygen Art Centre Youth Art Exhibition Editorial Wayfinding can be defined as the ways in which people (and How Art Helped Me Heal animals) orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place. Questions that applicants were asked to consider The biggest lesson I’ve learned as an artist living with a disability is included: How do you locate yourself as a young Kootenay that understanding and respecting my limitations is not the same artist, geographically, politically, historically or otherwise? How thing as giving up. I took two years of part-time study to complete does living in or originating from the Kootenay region influence a ten-month program. Even at the reduced pace, the workload was your art practice? If you were to build or draw a map of your extremely challenging for me. I have been in physiotherapy for years, personal relationship to this region, how would that look, feel but training at KSA felt like its own intensive rehabilitation program and be read? not only physically, but mentally as well. I had to build up strength in my arms and hands. I had to teach myself how to hold and adapt The exhibition will pay professional artist fees and will include tools to account for the decreased motor function on my right side. work by young artists in all mediums: painting, drawing, But the hardest thing to learn was to stop comparing my speed, printmaking, sculpture, installation, video, sound, crafts and production or abilities to those of my fellow students. I was on my performance art. Samonte Cruz. Photo: Bree Prosser own journey, carving out a path that worked for me, and when I let Jurors include Maggie Shirley, curator at the Kootenay Gallery my disability become a conduit for adaptation and creative problem of Art in Castlegar; Brian Kalbfleisch, Nelson artist and director solving was when I really began to thrive in my new craft. of Blue Night art and culture crawl; Genevieve Robertson, by Samonte Cruz I also noticed the positive impacts that developing an artistic practice executive director of Oxygen Art Centre; and Stephanie Kellett, “in flux” youth exhibition, Oxygen Art Centre, 2017. Works by Tyler Vance Wright There are moments in our lives where an event happens, and was having on my mental health. Instead of struggling to maintain (left) and Olivia Mansveld (right). local artist and recent solo exhibitor at Oxygen. afterward nothing is the same. People can almost categorize their a routine that was unsustainable, I was seeking inspiration in my Photo courtesy Oxygen Art Centre Oxygen Art Centre has been integral to the regional arts lives into snapshots of “before” and “after.” Often these are happy everyday life and looking for ideas to incorporate into my creative community as a steppingstone for professional artists. The events, like the birth of a child, but they can also be painful, like design process. Instead of being reminded of all the activities I could a traumatic accident. In my case it was the latter. On February no longer do, I experienced the deep satisfaction that comes from Oxygen Art Centre in Nelson will be featuring visual and media Canada Council for the Arts requires artists to have had a minimum of three professional exhibitions in order to receive 26, 2010, I was hit by an SUV as a pedestrian in Vancouver. That bringing an idea into a real-life, 3D form. I spent my days pushing art work from East and West Kootenay youth ages 18 to 29 at myself to the edge of my capacity, learning and creating as much as I funding, so this exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to build moment completely changed the trajectory of my life. a professional juried exhibition opening in June. Young artists possibly could, because I found the creative process so invigorating. professional experience. were invited to submit finished work or produce new work that The accident left me with a broken neck, sternum and leg, a When I came home and practically collapsed from exhaustion, the addresses the theme Wayfinding: Identity and the Kootenays. Web: oxygenartcentre.org. collapsed lung and a head injury. After three months in a full-torso joy from a day spent creating would inevitably get me out of bed the brace, my bones had healed enough for me to begin the hard work of next morning. building back my strength and function. One of my strategies for coping with daily chronic pain is to What I didn’t know at the time is that despite my years-long purposefully cultivate more joy in my life. I figure if I can create Kaslo Guitar Fest dedication to physiotherapy, acupuncture and chiropractic more experiences that bring me joy, even if I am still experiencing treatments, chronic pain would remain a constant in my life. I did submitted Dr. Daniel Bolshoy, a Canadian classical guitarist with an the same amount of pain, the relative space the pain takes up in my eventually make it back to work, but the price of maintaining my life is diminished. I am still healing from the physical trauma of international reputation, heads the festival faculty. Bolshoy Attention classical guitar players and fans: Kaslo Guitar Fest is career came at the cost of almost everything else in my life. After my accident, but learning a craft and developing an artistic practice has recently been appointed to the position of head of the returning this summer after a year’s absence. The festival will run work and my commute home I was in too much pain to cook for has been a transformative component of my rehabilitation. I have a guitar division at the UBC School of Music. Other faculty July 16 to 21 at St. Andrew’s United Church and the Langham myself, or clean, and I was left without energy to spend time with creative outlet to express myself. I feel I have a new purpose in life, members are Nelson’s Rita Deane, Marc Teicholz (San Francisco Cultural Centre in Kaslo, on the North Shore of Kootenay Lake. even my closest friends. creating meaningful objects that my clients will be able to cherish for Conservatory), Murray Visscher (Ambrose University, Calgary), Guitar Fest is a week-long educational opportunity for classical I had to learn to separate my self-worth from my ability to work. generations to come. I have attainable professional goals that excite Alec Pearson (UBC) and Luis Medina Rodriguez (UBC and me and motivate me to keep healing and moving forward. guitar students at all skill levels. Master classes, private lessons, University of Georgia). I realized that I was still trying to “get back” to a life I was living guitar orchestra, small ensembles, guitar technique, fingerboard before disability, giving everything I had in order to regain a level Learning a craft like metalsmithing has opened up a whole new geography and sight-reading workshops will be offered to the Kaslo Guitar Fest attracts serious students ranging in age of function that was no longer sustainable for me. It was difficult to chapter in my life. The process of creating treasured objects for festival participants. Four professional-level concerts are also from 10 to 70. For more information and registration visit accept, but eventually I made the decision to resign from the job I people has become like a mindful meditation practice for me as I open to the public. kasloguitarfest.com or contact David Stewart, Kaslo Guitar Fest had held for nearly a decade, in order to focus on my health. cut, file, sand: remaining present to witness the transformation of director, 250-353-7600. raw materials into a new form of my design. I had always meant to I let go so I could make space to rebuild. take time out of my busy life in order to devote time to developing GYRO PARK, I moved out of the city to allow myself time to rest and recover. my artistic practice, but it took breaking my neck in order for me TRAIL, BC I started brainstorming new ideas for employment. I had always to actually do it. If you’ve been thinking about taking up a creative wanted the chance to develop my creative abilities, and started outlet, I’m here to tell you that I’ve experienced the positive effects thinking seriously about metalsmithing and small object design, first-hand, and to remind you that your life can truly change in an which seemed like the perfect combination of personal expression instant. So what are you waiting for? and technical skill. Samonte Cruz is a mixed-gender, mixed-race, Filipino metalsmith, KOOTENAY artist and educator based in Nelson, currently making custom, one-of- SAVINGS Eventually, I called Laura White, jewellery instructor and coordinator at Kootenay Studio Arts (KSA), Selkirk College, to a-kind jewellery and accessories, while working toward the launch of find out about the program and ask if they could accommodate their own online shop. This summer Samonte will also be teaching two my disability. We talked for over an hour, and I hung up the phone beginner jewellery classes at Kootenay Studio Arts, Selkirk College, and absolutely convinced that it was the right program for me. Two years coordinating an art exhibition to highlight the work of LGBTQ+ artists later, in June of 2017, I graduated from KSA with honours, and with living in the Kootenays. For more information about the artist visit TRAIL-ARTS.COM a skilled trade I can now do from home. samontecruzstudios.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram: PHOTO:RYAN FLETT/LOWER COLUMBIA @samontecruzstudios.

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