ArtScene13: Milestones and Motion

This week we’ve got milestones and motion. Significant calendar dates and a flurry of online videos dominate this #ArtScene13 list. So get your day-timer out and turn your speakers up to discover what’s up this week in the spaces where #yegarts and faith collide. 

ONE: Adobe Photoshop turns 25 this year.

Happy Birthday to the magic wand!

Show postcard from The Nina Haggerty website.

TWO: The Nina Haggerty Centre Turns 12 with Confusement.

The Nina Haggerty Centre is a unique gift to our city and the Alberta Avenue community. They provide opportunities for those with developmental disabilities to make art. Celebrate their 12 year anniversary with artist Scott Berry’s sculptural installation Confusement. Berry has been recognized as Stantec’s Artist of the Year. View Confusement at Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts until February 27. 

 

 

 

 

 

THREE: On 118 Ave, the arts are bringing New Beginnings for everyone.

And they are bringing change. Just watch this new video and see for yourself.

OUR: The Women are here. 

The Women is a collection of black and white photographs of Edmonton women organized by Julie Rohr (sister of Marcie Rohr whose work currently hangs at The Bleeding Heart). More than an art show, The Women is a movement in support of women who have been sexually exploited or trafficked, both here and internationally. Women have paid $50 for a potrait to stand in solidarity with exploited women we may not see. All funds raised through the project are split between CEASE (local) and IJM (international). The March 8 event at the AGA, held on International Women’s Day, is now sold out, but donations can still be made to support the project at thewomen.ca.   

FIVE: Walk with me for the homeless this Saturday.

Speaking of social good, consider joining us this weekend to walk for the homeless with the Coldest Night of the Year. The walk benefits Hope Mission here in Edmonton. For the first time, The Bleeding Heart has an official team, and if you cannot walk, you can stil give. 

SIX: David Hockney Collage

Scrabble Anyone else play games inside when it’s cold outside? Austin Kleon wants us to see David Hockney’s awesome Scrabble Game collage. 

SEVEN: ArtLuck in the Month of Luck

Another great indoor activity? ArtLuck! Join us at The Bleeding Heart Art Space to share food, friends and art on Thursday, March 5 at 7. 

EIGHT: Installation Art Workshop

How about learning to transform a space? Harcourt House is offering a workshop on Installation Art with Artist in Residence Ali Nickerson. I wish I could take this in, because it sounds awesome.

NINE: Sufjan Song

Sufjan Stevens has release his new single, No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross. It’s beautiful, but perhaps NSFW (f-bomb ahead).  

TEN: NextFest Call for Sound

NextFest is looking for audio work (music and otherwise) for its NuMusic component. The Call for Submissions is up and you have until May 1. Sadly, I have realized that I am now too old to submit to NextFest. Ouch. Don’t be like me. Don’t miss your chance! 

ELEVEN: Black History Month on The Ave

February is Black History Month, and Arts On The Ave is celelbrating with Rythms of the Earth, a series of arts events, workshops, great food and more. You can still catch an African dance workshop, a Poetry Slam, an Open Mic poetry night and the Adjè  Performers (West African drumming and dance) - all before the month is out. 

TWELVE: Create Silence for Lent

On important times of the year, I’ve been reflecting on the season of Lent, fasting and what this all means for artists.

THIRTEEN: Ash Wednesday's Sad Clown

According to Loyolla Press, Lent might involve a painting of a sad clown. Take a few moments for this art-focussed Lenten reflection.

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Remember to send me your art and arts happenings. Simply email dave@bleedingheartartspace.com or post on Twitter or Facebook with #ArtScene13 and I will do my best to get you on the list next week. 

Or, just fill out this form right here.

Send Your Perfict Song by January 31

Send A Perfict Song by January 31

You. Yes you. I know what you do. I know who you are. I know that you stay up late into the night wrestling a melody into submission. I know that you scour the globe for the perfect rhyme. I know that stories haunt your waking hours like dreams. I know you carry a notebook and hum into your phone. I know what you are, so there is no point hiding behind that day job. You, my friend, are a songwriter.

You write songs, so hear this now. You have been granted an extension–an extra couple of weeks to get your song submission into Bridge Songs: Perfict. You now have until midnight on Saturday, January 31 to send your ‘perfict’ song to art@bleedingheartartspace.com. You’ll find the updated Call for Submissions right here.

I want to hear your struggles toward perfection set to music. I want to hear your imperfect rhymes. I want to hear about your perfect romance. That perfect sunrise. The almost perfect summer that fell apart. I want to hear stories I can sing to. Songs I can’t get out of my head. I want you to get it exactly right and then screw it up on purpose.  

Submitted songs will be heard by a jury. If yours is chosen, we will record it together. You will meet new songwriters–strange folks just like you and I who have to pull over and hit record before we lose the tune. We will record an album together and release it on June 18 at Bridge Songs: Perfict, when we will perform these songs together. You’ll make new musical friends. 

We’ll have a great time making music together. But only if you send me that email. 

You have until the end January to craft your ‘perfict’ song.

I cannot wait to hear it.

Sell Your Wares at The Carrot Christmas Arts Bazaar

The Carrot is hosting a Christmas Arts Bazaar and you could sell your wares right here in Alberta Ave.

Here are the deets straight from the fine folks at Arts On The Ave ...

"On Friday November 28th and Saturday November 29th the Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse will be hosting the 2014 Carrot Christmas Arts Bazaar in conjunction with Just Christmas, a Christmas craft fair at the Alberta Ave Community League. 
 
This year we will feature 6 indoor artisan spaces inside the Carrot and 6 outdoor artisan spaces in heated winter huts outside the Carrot.
 
Venue: The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse (9351-118 Ave)
Dates: Friday November 28 (7:00PM-9:00PM) & Saturday November 29 (10:00AM-4:00PM)
Cost: $80 per table (for both days)
 
To apply for a table at this year’s Christmas Arts Bazaar please fill out the attached form and return it to carrotassist@gmail.com or drop it at the Carrot (9351-118 Ave) by Friday November 7th, 2014."

And that form? That's right here.

We Invite You to Make it Perfict: Bridge Songs 2015 Call is Open

We want to hear your songs. We want to see your art. We want to watch your words come to life. Don't let something as small as perfection stop you. 

Musicians, artists and writers are invited to submit original works for Bridge 
Songs: PERFICT.

Bridge Songs, an annual event in its ninth year, combines live music, poetry, spoken word 
and art around a central theme. Songs are also recorded and released as an album. Bridge 
Songs: PERFICT takes place Saturday, June 13, 2015 on Alberta Avenue. It is produced by 
The Bleeding Heart Art Space.

This year’s theme, PERFICT, asks artists to explore our striving for perfection. Artists may 
examine the effects of that pursuit, and whether perfection is attainable. Artists may also 
explore the idea of societal utopias and personal perfection.

We are seeking visual art in all forms for the gallery, songs for the album and performance, 
and written work, short films and performance pieces for our evening show.

Song submissions are due January 11. 

Artwork, films and written submissions are due April 19.

Visit the website and download the Call for Submissions here.

Oh, and please do spread the word.

Volunteer for the Nina Haggerty Centre

The Nina Haggerty Centre for the arts does great work in our community, providing opportunities for people with disabilities to make art. I've volunteered with them myself, and it was an enriching experience meeting some great people. I even learned a bit about working with clay! 

The Nina needs volunteers this fall. 

There are many ways to contribute to the centre and anything you might do will be appreciated.  Here are the main, current possibilities—but if you have another way of being part of the centre, they are open to new ideas!

If you are interested, please reply to Jocelyn, who will contact you about possible dates and times.  

Current Opportunities

• Special events volunteer: 
  • November 4: Here’s Nina (Annual fundraiser at Chateau Lacombe)
  • December 13: Behold: Nina’s year-end show and sale
• Gallery assistant (Thursdays 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. or Saturdays 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.)
• Studio assistant (Studio is open Monday – Friday 10:00 – 2:00)
• Mentor to individual artist
• Animation helper (knows or has zeal for learning AfterEffects)                          
• Archive assistant (photographing and storing art)
• Administrative help (keeping chaos at bay)

Contact

Jocelyn Brown / Community Liaison

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts

9225-118 Avenue

Edmonton, AB  T5G OK6

780.474.7611

volunteer@thenina.ca

Friday. The 13 Arts, Faith and Community Links you Need to Visit.

This week I've got 13 more links about art, faith and community for you. We'll learn a bit about all there is to learn, listen to some new music from Leonard Cohen, meet a young songwriter named Braden Gates and carve out some sacred space. Sound good? Dive in.

1. Before you go reading any of this stuff, remember that knowing does not necessarily make you wise. This charming animation reveals a great truth for our times from Maria Popova; Knowledge DOES NOT EQUAL wisdom. 
2. This is Leonard #CohenWeek folks! Why? Because on September 21, the legend turns 80. And because CBC Radio 2 says so. To celebrate, Cohen releases his 13th album, Popular Problems, next week. If you can't wait that long, you can have a 'first play' right here, right now.
3. Speaking of Leonard Cohen, you have read his poem, God is Alive, Magic is Afoot, right? Maybe you'd rather if Cohen read it to you?
4. While we're onto words, do you like quotes about creativity? How about 45 creativity quotes in one post?
5. And while we're onto music, last weekend at Kaleido I stumbled upon Braden Gates in a back alley. It was, perhaps, the best possible way to discover this local folk gem. 
6. Amid the roar of the new U2 album, no one is really talking about the music. Well, neither is this guy, until the end of this insightful New Yorker article on U2's Christianity.
7. While U2 gives an album away for free, many of us wonder how to make any money off of music. New models keep emerging, like my friend Jonathan J Bower's 'kick-ender' campaign. Have a listen and support great music.
8. Wonder what it's like to start something you know little to nothing about - like a business? Listen to the process on a new podcast from the Producer of This American Life at http://hearstartup.com/.
9. Of course, here's what might really happen when you follow your bliss.
10. But there are plenty of resources to help you succeed. CARFAC is launching a new series of Webinars (online seminars over Wednesday lunch hours) for just $15 each - and less if you register for all six at once. The series covers topics ranging from Marketing 2.0 to Doing Business With Commercial Galleries and crafting the Perfect Portfolio.
11. How do you get the important stuff done? Here's how the most successful people manage their time.
12. Rather than doing any of this, you might want to carve out a sacred space for deep thinking.
13. You can get some good tips on crafting your own Sacred Space through a weekly Sabbath from the folks behind the Sabbath Manifesto. They've been slowing down lives since 2010.

Calling All Poets! Experience Poetry in Community at The Carrot

The Carrot is beginning Poetry Nights this week! If you love to string words together - or hear such a feat done by others - this is an event for you. Here is the official word from The Carrot's Brendan Van Alstine ...

"Just a quick note to let you know that starting next week on June 26, and continuing on the last Thursday of every month from 7:30-9:00pm we'll be hosting a new monthly poetry night facilitated by Dahlia Ross, a published poet who has been writing for over 25 years. It's a chance for poets and poetry fans of all ages and abilities to participate and share. We will run the night in a similar fashion to our Saturday open mic, so there's no need to sign up ahead of time either.

Please feel free to come down and check it out, and feel free to pass the info on to anyone else who you think might be interested."

Do indeed - perhaps I'll see you there some time soon?

The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse is located at 9351 118th Ave. You can find more info at their website, thecarrot.ca.