Archive for the ‘Art apart’ Category
Art Apart: Post-Production
Watch Post-Production below!
Watch a Post-Production interview with Alexandra Lord, Cameron Carver, and Jac Cooper below!
About the project
Forced confinement inspires the mind to theorize the possibilities of existence. Layers of reality we are not built to comprehend, incurring an existential crisis, echoing in an empty room. We’ve become attached to our comfortable, mundane lives, blissfully unaware of the answers that lay directly in front of us, or closer yet, within us.
“Post-Production” seeks to explore what lies behind the drawn curtains we’ve grown accustomed to. How do we continue on a quest for answers that cannot be found? Why are we persistent?
This piece was inspired by a phenomenon called Truman Syndrome derived from the fear that we are the star of a television show being watched by millions. Inspired by “The Truman Show” directed by Peter Weir, we follow the character Lincoln as he discovers the truth about his life. What lies beyond the halls of his constructed reality? “Post-Production” takes place the moment after Lincoln leaves the LED lit studio. He slowly peels away the veil of existence, one layer at a time, embracing whatever “reality” turns out to be, learning to embody uncertainty.
Often playful in its examination of the human condition, utilizing poetry, choreography, eccentric editing techniques, and exploring the parallels with what many are calling a Global Awakening. Is this Pandemic an opportunity to wake up from our sleep-walking state, to examine whatever “this” is? Even if we could solve the paradox of life ⎯ what then?
This project received financial support from the National Theatre School of Canada via the Art Apart program, an emergency fund for emerging artists who are affected by physical distancing due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
About the artists
Alexandra Lord is an emerging eco-scenographer. She strives to build environments and construct characters that propose alternative realities which encourage audiences to believe in change. She aspires to do this work through design but also through community engagement, inspiring us to imagine and act for a climate positive future. Alexandra Lord studied costume and set design in the bilingual program at The National Theatre School of Canada where she began cultivating a preference for recuperating, reimagining and repurposing materials in her work, creating from a place that takes into consideration the human relationships with ourselves and others within diverse environments. She is particularly drawn to collaborative projects that demand a discourse that transcends difference, engaging in the liminal space of gender, race, and socio-economic definitions. She is also a recent graduate of the Soulpepper Theatre Company Academy where she was mentored by Lorenzo Savoini in dramaturgical design practices. Alexandra Lord is a co-founder of Triga Creative. Through harmony and disruption, Triga creates extraordinary live experiences. Applying an autonomous, collaborative model that values the sustainability of people, planet and profit, Triga is able to design for any scope, always at the human scale.
Previously As Director/Choreographer: No Place Like Home (Camden People’s Theatre), Little Mermaid (Theatre Royal Bath- UK Theatre Award 2018), The Addams Family, The Wizard of Oz, Sweet Charity (St. Lawrence College), Never Swim Alone (Alma Tavern). Previously As Choreographer or Movement Director: Cabaret (Grand Theatre), The Curious Voyage Canada/UK (Talk is Free Theatre), La Strada (UK Tour), Spring Awakening (Redgrave Theatre) Manhattan Parisienne (The Other Palace with Alain Boublil), The Trojan Women (Bristol Old Vic). Upcoming (Choreographer): Cabaret (Grand Theatre- Canadian Tour), Alice in Wonderland (Bad Hats/Soulpepper). Website: www.cameron_carver.clinkom Instagram: cam_carv Comments
Art Apart: Patients
Read the play here
About the project
Patients is a verbatim theatre piece sourced from the community members of Canmore, Alberta. Inspired by the intriguing people of his father’s town, Eric wishes to make a piece about them; about their daily lives, relationships with nature, experience with coronavirus, and hopes and dreams for the town’s future. Working from submissions obtained through a mass-printing, the artist shaped the different stories into this script.
This project received financial support from the National Theatre School of Canada via the Art Apart program, an emergency fund for emerging artists who are affected by physical distancing due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
About the artist
Eric Ollivier
Eric is a theatre performer and creator from Calgary, or Mohkinstsis, where he grew up on the traditional lands of the Tsuu T’ina, Nakoda and Blackfoot Nations. Treaty 7 territory is also shared with the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. Eric is a second-generation Canadian of European descent. Their recent projects include: Revolution or Slumber (WCHS & High Performance Rodeo), The River Clyde Pageant (Cooking Fire Theatre Festival), The Picture of Dorian Gray (GBTS) and Concord Floral (Theatre Junction GRAND). Eric is a recent graduate of George Brown Theatre School.
Art Apart: Fabric & Flame
Click here to see the project
About the project
Fabric & Flame is an embroidery project from behind a screen. It aims to connect isolated artists through the medium of community embroidery. In challenging times it is hard to reflect on the passions that bring you joy. Fabric & Flame asks you to conceptualize your flame.
Fabric & Flame is an evolving fabric art piece that brings the internal flame of a community outward. This project will visualize how a network of passion can overcome hardship.
The project takes images of passion from the community through the mail and digital submissions.
This project received financial support from the National Theatre School of Canada via the Art Apart program, an emergency fund for emerging artists who are affected by physical distancing due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
About the artist
Oshan Starreveld
Oshan Starreveld is an emerging artist who works out of Toronto. She is a graduate of Ryerson’s Performance Production program 2019. A long time poet and maker, she branched out in her secondary education into the world of costume, fabric art, and experimental sound.
After graduation she started a relationship with Jumblies Theatre where she has begun a community-based arts practice. She is continuously learning from this relationship about the importance of inclusive art and the magic that can happen when everyone is welcome.
She is interested in unconventional materials, embroidery, and upcycling. Oshan thrives when unexpected art forms merge and create new exciting work.
Art Apart: Sock Song
About the project
In these uncertain times, we wanted to create art that brings people joy. So when we asked ourselves: “What brings us joy? And how can we share this joy with everyone, regardless of age?” We both answered: “Midori Nishikawa.” Midori is Martin’s 4-year-old niece, and she is the silliest, funniest, most adorable kid we know. Her songs, dances, and make-believe games make us belly laugh and bring us so much joy. Inspired by Midori’s “Sock Song,” a funny made-up song that was once caught on camera, we wanted to bring that sense of kid wonder to our work. Please enjoy our silly joyful loving gift to you (our audience) and to Midori (Happy belated 4th birthday!).
This project received financial support from the National Theatre School of Canada via the Art Apart program, an emergency fund for emerging artists who are affected by physical distancing due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
About the artists
Gloria Mok and Martin Nishikawa are romantic partners first, and creative partners second. Honestly, we are just two cheesy love birds who hoped that this project (our first creative collaboration) would help us stay connected during the pandemic. Gloria animated the story from her home in Mississauga, while Martin composed the soundscape from his home in Whitehorse. Luckily, we still love each other, so that’s good I guess. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Martin Nishikawa
Martin Nishikawa is a Whitehorse born, Sound Designer and Technical Director. A graduate of the National Theatre School’s Production Design and Technical Arts program; Martin has worked across Canada including The National Arts Centre, The Blyth Theatre Festival, The Globe Theatre in Regina, The Segal Centre, Banff Centre for arts and Creativity, Gwaandak Theatre and Black Theatre Workshop.
Gloria Mok
Gloria Mok is a Chinese-Canadian designer, production manager, and playwright from Mississauga, Ontario. She is a founding member of Silk Bath Collective, the creators behind hit trilingual plays Silk Bath, and Yellow Rabbit. She has worked with various companies including Cahoots Theatre, Driftwood Theatre, fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts, Roseneath Theatre, SummerWorks Performance Festival, Shakespeare in the Ruff, Soulpepper Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Gargantua, Theatre Passe Muraille, Why Not Theatre, and The Globe Theatre in Regina. Gloria is a graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada’s Production Design and Technical Arts program.
Art Apart: Just Across the Causeway
About the project
A rendition of ‘Just Across the Causeway’ by Natalia Bushnik in the form of a radio play. The story follows four sisters growing up on Cape Breton Island, and explores how life sends them in different directions, and how a tragic loss brings them back together. The play examines themes of cyclical trauma, motherhood, prejudice and ignorance in small-town living, and the complicated bonds of sisterhood. ‘Just Across the Causeway’ is mostly in choral narration, with original song and composition played on the mandolin (written by Kathleen Welch, and played by Andrea Meister), and staged with movement-based storytelling.
This project received financial support from the National Theatre School of Canada via the Art Apart program, an emergency fund for emerging artists who are affected by physical distancing due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
About the artists
Natalia Bushnik (Actor, Playwright, Director)
Natalia (she/her) is a theatre and voice artist, and Dora Mavor Moore Award-nominated playwright. She is Co-Artistic Director of KAIROS Theatre. Select credits : The Bathtub Girls (KAIROS Theatre); the voice of Candy on CBC Comedy’s animated series peopleWatching (Canadian Screen Award for Best Webseries) and the voice of Dyme in the animated feature film, Wish! (Cannes Film Festival). She received a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Windsor. Additional training includes the Saratoga International Theatre Institute, the Stratford Summer Academy Program, and OpenJar’s Musical Theatre Intensive in NYC. She strives to create experimental theatre experiences that address morally grey territories and audience complicity. You can follow Natalia’s additional work at kairostheatrecollective.com.
Kathleen Welch (Actor, Music Composer)
Kathleen (she/her) is an actor, singer, and co-founder of OPIA Theatre Collective, where she originated the roles of Catherine in Widow’s Wedding Dress and Clara in Fermata. A graduate of the University of Windsor’s B.F.A. Acting program, some favourite roles of Kathleen’s include Dean Witherbottom in To A Degree : An Orwellian Musical Comedy (Eli Pasic), the Mouse/Swallow in Thumbelina (Enchantment Theatre), Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (OPIA Theatre), and Maggie in Dancing at Lughnasa (University Players). When not acting, Kathleen spends her time playing piano, singing with various bands, and writing music.
Andrea Meister (Actor, Musician)
Andrea (she/her) is an actor/musician and artist educator based in Toronto. Previous credits include the workshop of Just Across the Causeway (Kairos Theatre), To a Degree: An Orwellian Musical Comedy (Eli Pasic), Thumbelina (Enchantment Theatre). Andrea is a proud graduate of CAP 21 (NYU) Summer Musical Theatre Certificate Program, and the B.F.A. Acting Program at the University of Windsor. Andrea’s grandparents emigrated from Germany and spent their first few years on the east coast so it has always been a dream to work there and see what they saw.
Holly DeJoseph (Actor)
Holly (she/her) is an actor creator residing in Toronto, Ontario where she attended the University of Windsor Bachelor of Fine Arts acting program along with her sisters in Just Across the Causeway. Holly is interested in all aspects of devised and movement-based theatre and is a proud member of ACTRA Canada. Theatre credits : Just Across the Causeway (Kairos Theatre); Dancing at Lughnasa (University Players); The Drowsy Chaperone (Edinburgh Fringe). Film Credits: From Friend to Fiancé (Hallmark Channel); Pluto-Boy (Pluto Films). Holly is an avid knitter/fibre artist.
Jonathan Brown (Audio Design)
Jonathan (he/him) is a Francophone musician, composer, and sound designer. He has produced and edited multiple works for emerging musicians across Toronto. Theatre credits include playing the live music for Enchantment Theatre’s Thumbelina, and Three Little Pigs. Jonathan’s musical influences include Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, and David Gilmore.
Art Apart: Gaakaazootaadiwag: Hide and Seek
Watch the Facebook Live on Tuesday, July 14 at 6:00 pm EST
About the project
There is a museum out in the woods, beyond the fog and hum of cicadas, that holds, beyond the fog and hum of cicadas, that holds the stories of items both lost and found. You can only visit the museum if invited but don’t stray away from the tour guide or else you might find yourself part of the exhibit. What are the histories behind the items in a Lost and Found box? When these items don’t return home, is anyone still looking for them? Are they forgotten or believed to be lost forever? When a person is lost or missing, when do we stop looking for them? Have you ever heard the story about a phone that slipped out of a pocket in Melbourne, travelled with a band to Norway, flew on a plane with friend to Montréal and then made its way home to Toronto? It’s a classic, no? Just me? Come to the museum, listen the stories, enjoy exhibit BUT DON’T STRAY AWAY FROM THE TOUR GUIDE.
This project received financial support from the National Theatre School of Canada via the Art Apart program, an emergency fund for emerging artists who are affected by physical distancing due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
About the artist
Olivia Shortt (They/she: Anishinaabe, Nipissing First Nation) is a Tkarón:to-based multidisciplinary performing artist. They are a saxophonist, vocalist, noisemaker, improviser, composer, sound designer, curator, and producer.
Highlights for Olivia include their film debut playing saxophone & acting in Atom Egoyan’s 2019 film Guest of Honour; their Lincoln Center (NYC) debut with the International Contemporary Ensemble; and recording an album two kilometers underground with their duo Stereoscope in the SnoLAB (a Neutrino Lab in Northern Ontario, Canada). They are a current member of the JACK Studio working with NYC-based JACK Quartet on a composition for the JACK Quartet as well as a musical land acknowledgement for the students of Face the Music program (NYC).
They have been named a 2020 cohort member of Why Not Theatre’s ThisGen Fellowship in Sound Design and recently presented their work ‘ishkwe-ayi’ii at Upintheair Theatre’s s-Volver Festival and will be presenting it again at The Vector Festival in July 2020.
