If there is anything that
I can bring back to my community after attending a Creative City conference
it would be the ideas and innovations that other member cities share. From
multi-use buildings to suggestions on public art - from lunch chatter to
presentations by guest speakers - there is always something to be amazed at and
bring home. Whitehorse did not disappoint. The evening spent in
the Yukon Artists At Work studio was so inspirational that the experience has
resulted in my attempt to bring that alive here - in Jasper Alberta.
Serendipitously, in
December I was approached by a local business man (with a 2000 square foot empty
store) who had been to Hawaii and was fascinated with the studio space he found
there - with live demonstrations and opportunities to meet the artists.
Something we do not presently have in Jasper. Yet!
So, with my 26 years of
working with artists and my last 5 years of researching the Arts of Alberta and
BC I am attempting to create a space in Jasper where artists will have a
gallery, a live demonstration venue (the building is wired for kilns and glass
blowing potential!), and a 200 square foot office/boardroom/classroom - all
located in the core of Jasper, Alberta. The resident filmmaking company
here has expressed interest in setting up a theatre presence complete with
filming capabilities for events. We would also do as YAW did and invite
conference attendees to stop by during the evenings - we would entertain and
feed them - what a wonderfully simple idea that was to get patrons to their
studios!
This space will be
available for exhibits, teaching and just about anything we could dream up.
I say we because it is registered as a non profit corporation. That way we
can offer exhibition space to traveling shows by the AFA and solo artists as
well, and as more artists become shareholders the initiative will grow and
strenghen. We have also been approached by the local schools to use the
space as a creative campus…something other outreach institutions may wish to
access.
This endeavor will only succeed if we have artists willing to be involved. I am hoping that through networks we can find those artists or arts departments that can share this great opportunity with their arts communities. Anyone wishing to be part of 'IOTAD' can contact me.
'Getting to know Canada, one artist at a time.'