ArtSpring newsletter March 15, 2021

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Dear Friends,

As we move forward in this challenging time we try to find ways to help. This year has been so hard on many and the performing arts industry has been one of the hardest hit. For touring artists the platform on which they made their living is for the time being gone. Soon we will welcome touring artists back, and provide space for artists to create new work. In the meantime we continue to maintain this wonderful facility for the Salt Spring community. Our mighty team of staff, board, volunteers, patrons, and supporters mean that we will continue to provide arts, culture, and a venue to this community. On the one-year anniversary of the pandemic I am grateful that we are still standing, and standing among friends.

DanceHouse in Vancouver has been presenting a wonderful online season this year. In February I enjoyed their online presentation of Crystal Pite’s Body and Soul for the Paris Opera Ballet (France). DanceHouse has offered ArtSpring 10 free tickets to their upcoming online presentation of Joe by La Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault (Montreal), available March 17-23. The first 10 people to email us at tickets@artspring.ca will get a free ticket to this online presentation. If you aren’t able to get a free ticket you can always support DanceHouse by purchasing a ticket through their website. More about this work below.

The BC Provincial Health Order of November 19 continues until further notice based on direction from the PHO. Unfortunately this means that ArtSpring will be closed to the public for the time being. Our Makana Youth Choir is able to continue under the current order.

With thanks,
Cicela Månsson
Executive & Artistic Director, ArtSpring

 

At ArtSpring

 

Makana Youth Choir

The Makana Youth Choir directed by Caroni Young continues from last year. The new session started on February 5. Thank you so much to this season’s sponsors of the program: Joan Farlinger, Galleons Lap Photography, The Lost Chords, and Viva Chorale. more>

 

Interesting Links

 

Joe – La Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault (Montreal)

March 17-23 | Link available for 7 days | Streaming worldwide
BUY TICKETS

One of the most remounted works in Canadian dance, Joe (1984) always evoked varied responses. It can be read as a grim image of human oppression or of herd mentality and conformity. It may also be seen as a tribute to human resilience. More generally, it reflected Perreault’s fascination with the way the environment shapes human behaviour. “For me,” Perreault wrote, “choreography is the expression of space, as dance is the expression of the body.” Read the full article by Toronto Star’s dance critic Michael Crabb here.
Having premiered in 1984 to critical acclaim, the visually arresting work is considered one of the most iconic creations in the Canadian dance canon and showcases the brilliance and scope of Perreault’s vision, as a company of 32 power through a driving commentary on the human condition. Enjoy this archival video in its vintage resolution, which is already 26 years old. The technology may have aged a little, but Joe hasn’t!

Karen Kain

In late 2019 Karen Kain announced her January 2021 retirement as the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada – but then Covid came. She remains at her post and I get the impression that she is the kind of person that just keeps on going when she sees a need. Could someone please nominate her for the position of Canada’s next Governor General?
In the meantime BMO has presented Karen Kain with their inaugural Celebrating Women in the Arts Award. Joan Farlinger sent me the lovely video I’ve included below. Nada Ristich, Head of Community Giving for BMO, sat down with Karen to discuss Karen’s 50-year career in dance, her leadership of the National Ballet, making bold choices, and providing opportunities to today’s artists.

…and if you’d like to read a little more about Karen Kain, here is a CBC article from 2019. more>

 

The Pandemic Limerick Project book

Available through ArtSpring. more>

 

ArtSpring Presents 2020-2021

It continues to be a wild ride, and we are looking forward to seeing you back at ArtSpring.
Please see the complete season listing.