This week's Live On The Drive focuses on MOSAIC's Workplace Connections, a program that matches skilled newcomers with professionals experienced in Vancouver's competitive job market. We spoke with mentor Felica Granger, "mentee" Tiffy Riel and volunteer coordinater Astarte Sands. Thursday, January 21st was premiere night. There was no red carpet and the "theatre" was really just a boardroom at MOSAIC's central office at Grant and Commercial but the non-profit's staff and volunteers did their best to create a theatre-like ambience all the same replete with flashlight wielding ushers and a free snackbar serving buttered popcorn and rainbow twirlers. There was even a popcorn cart.
The premiere gave mentors, newcomers, staff and myself a chance to get to know and learn a lot about each other. A Vancouver institution, MOSAIC plays an indispensable role helping immigrants from all corners of the world. MOSAIC's Workplace Connections program is one more example of how the non-profit reaches out to serve the needs of its clientele.
The Co(Lab) showing: An Indigenous Crossroads laboratory
The Arrivals Co(Lab) Exchange (Nov 16-22) is a multidisciplinary performance project exploring root cultural practices, ancestral embodiment and intercultural exchanges. Using Commercial Drive-based urban ink’s Personal Legacy Creation process, led by Diane Roberts, Heather Hermant, Danielle Smith and Rose Georgeson- 18 artists of Aboriginal & diverse backgrounds from across the country will plant the first seeds for an exciting new cross-disciplinary performance work. The Co(Lab) will culminate in an invitational showing on November 22nd at 7pm. The Co(Lab) performance outcome will explode with contemporary and historic collisions of language, ancestry, and ceremony. – Join in the post-showing talk back session to piece out the Co(Lab) creation-compounds. Live On The Drive talked to Roberts and co-creators Mayahuel Tecozautla, a transplanted actor, dancer and choreographer from Mexico, now living in Toronto; Gwen Armstrong, a visual artist and nurse from Winnipeg, Chimwemwe Miller, a storyteller, musician, actor and parent, to discuss what the process was like for each of them.
The event takes place November 22, 2009 at 7pm- 112 W. Hastings (W2 Bldg.) Vancouver BC
It’s tough enough to be a teenager, let alone a girl, let alone a teenaged girl in the only Black family in post-war Winnipeg and Nova Scotia! No doubt one would have enough stories to fill a book. Indeed, local writer Addena Sumter-Freitag had enough poems and stories to fill two! Back in the Days – her second collection - recently published through Commercial Drive-based Wattle & Daub Press, brings to life the girls, boys, men and women of the Black communities in Winnipeg and Nova Scotia of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s adding to the tapestry of memories Sumter-Freitag brought to us with her first book, Stay Black And Die. A 7th generation African Canadian, Sumter-Freitag was born in St. Boniface, grew up in Winnipeg's North End, and has lived all across Canada, before settling here. She was a black child in a white prairie city and a young woman in the ungentle hands of racism and love. As personal as she makes every encounter, the collection helps flesh out the Black experience in Canada for many of us who can barely fathom it. And yet, as I read these stories, I can't help but see myself somewhere in these stories. Probably because Sumter-Frietag's writing reminds me a little of my own prairie childhood and I like that. Deep down – I don't need to be black or female to find something familiar to hang on to. Addena says she challenges ‘form’ in order to bring her stories, characters, and worlds alive, inviting you love them, hate them, identify with them, or wonder at them. “I love to make my audience laugh, and encourage them to cry, whatever the musical and composition of the language compels them to feel,” she claims. RC Weslowski, Poet of Honour at the 2008 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, has this to say about her work: (She) bounces between voices and characters with ease like a honey bee going from flower to flower pollinating our minds with the multiple perspectives of her subjects. Each person feels authentic as she takes on the weight and history of her family and provides them with release through these stories and poems. It’s a trip into the past well worth taking. Wise, wild, woeful and knowing, the writer’s words lift off the page and sweep you with them into worlds hidden, forgotten, repressed and denied. She is a sage tale-spinner who will challenge and confront you, caress and console you. Oh yes, and she’ll make you laugh, too! Her last book, Stay Black & Die, published by Commodore Books, has been included in the English curriculum reading lists at UBC, Emily Carr, Vanier College: Montreal, and Women’s studies, UBC. When she's out making a living, she dreams of the blue oceans, white sands, and reggae music of Jamaica, “a land where she discovered a kaleidoscope of coloured faces who could be kin.” Besides her big and extended family, the stage is Addena’s true love and you can tell by the brightness in her voice and smile that she's a strong character actor. She co-directed Black Theatre West’s production of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf” at City Stage here in Vancouver. She has also toured her award-winning play “Stay Black & Die” across Canada as well as at Australia’s Adelaide Fringe Festival, where she performed at each engagement to ‘sold out’ houses. As a storyteller and performance poet, she is a familiar face and voice in Vancouver’s poetry and storytelling community, performing at the Vancouver Storytelling Festival, Vancouver Spoken Word Festival, The World Poetry Reading Series, Vancouver’s Women’s Film Festival. “I live in East Vancouver,” she says, “because I love the swirls of color in the paint of its people, and the music of languages that play in the air. The neighborhood's vibrancy and diversity remind me of Winnipeg's North End, so it feels like home.” She shares a household with her husband Irvin and daughter April. "No dogs, no cats, no fish, and only plants that understand water is a rare treat." We caught up with Addena in her East Van kitchen for this neat little interview and impromptu reading. For more info about the book and this talented writer, check out her website: http://www.addenasumterfreitag.com
Guten tag! The Germans had the right idea when they decided that the best way to deal with the dread of the long winter approaching was to drink beer, and lots of it. Hence Octoberfest was spawned. Right here in East Van, we have our own beer making tradition called Storm Brewing, which, just last weekend celebrated fifteen years of making beer at it's CD location. We visited Storm and spent a few minutes with owner/operater James Walton discussing what he does and what it's like to run your own brewery.
Storm is served at various Drive locations and can be bought by the keg for your next fundraiser and private shindig. So check out their website www.stormbrewing.org or give James a call at 604-255-9119 and be sure to hoist a glass for me.
These days, we could all use a good belly laugh. 17 year veteran laughmaster Carter Hortie thinks so anyway, and is putting his money where his mouth is by hosting a competition between 40 local stand up comedians all vying for a $750 brass ring, not to mention a chance for a paid headline spot on Hortie' regular "Drive By Comedy" night. Now in it's fifth week, this competition is clearly heating up. We sat down with Carter and let him tell us a bit about his show and how the contest works. Plus we gave you a little taste of last night's competition. Drive By Comedy happens every Thursday night at 9pm @ Zawa's. WARNING: Strong language and questionable subject matter. Viewer discretion is definitely advised.
For complete info join the Facebook group "Drive By Comedy".
Coming up on Thursday, Oct. 1st: Semi Final
Headliner: Darcy Michael plus semi-finalists: 1 Seth Perry 2 Ivan Decker 3 Byron Bertram 4 Watermelon 5 James Masters 6 Andrew Von Rosenbach 7 Lauren McGibbon 8 Zack Hershfield 9 Russ Kennedy 10 Danny Mendlow
My interview with Bonnie Nish and Rhonda Milne, organizers of the 6th Annual Summer Dream Literary Arts Festival, held August 19th to 29th. For more info on the event go to www.pandorascollective.com/sdrfestival.
Thanks t.o Lynn Wilson for operating the camera on the intro.
Was just sent an email from Pawnshop Diamond's lead singer Katie Ormiston about their new video shot locally and featuring jewlery designer Jesse Turner. Check it out below. Katie's letter follows.
Hello everyone!
I am writing to share with you the latest of my doc-style music videos. This latest is a peek into the life of our dear friend and extremely talented jewelry designer - Jessie Turner. Pawnshop Diamond serenades the lovely Jessie as she hand-makes a piece from her new Open Heart Collection. Please check it out! And make sure to let me know what you think:) It was my first time using a tri-pod. Very proud of the steady hand I am. It is 3 minutes long.
In other Pawnshop news, the band had photos taken by Fiona Garden http://www.fionagardenphotography.com on Sunday as part of the Songbird West Songwriting Contest we won a while back. The photo shoot was more fun than to be expected thanks to Fiona and we look forward to putting them to good use with the new upcoming CD - Leaning to the Sun.
Our CD Release Party is set for Dec. 5 at the Grandview Legion in Vancouver - details to follow. We are very proud of the new album and can't wait to share it with you. For a sneak preview, check out the songs on our myspace page. Link below.
Live On The Drive sat down with singer/songwriter, and now actor, Michelle A. Richard and talked about her music and her roll in Theatre In The Raw'sRolling Stock Prairie Theatre Tour. And be sure to check out TiTRaw's Rolling Stock blog at www.rollingstockprairietheatre.blogspot.com which features a preview of Patrick Foley's play "You Are What You Eat". Very fun stuff!
I had a chance to sit down with the Artistic Director of East Vancouver's Theatre In The Raw, Jay Hamburger and Serge Saika, one of the cast of its "2008 Rolling Stock Prairie Theatre" troupe, which heads out late in May for parts East with three original one-act plays (two of which were written by Hamburger and Downtown Eastside playwright Patrick Foley. Our conversation concerned the plays' issues around encroachment, the environment, and aging.
The cast members, which also include zi paris, Maria Lakes, Roger Howie and Michelle Richard will all play various roles in the different plays and Richard starts each evening with a selection of traditional French-Canadian, jazz, and original songs, in both French and English. Find out more about the tour at: http://www.rollingstockprairietheatre.blogspot.com
Some folks may not realize that Hamburger is a bit of a living legend, having written lyrics for the legendary Broadway musical, Godspell. As this interview shows, Jay Hamburger is truly a Commercial Drive original!
The tour launches in Vancouver at the PAL Lodge Theatre, 581 Cardero St. on May 20 (Preview), 21, 23, 24.
Bringing you the best of the rest of the world..This week, a great little video I found from Japan about proper sushi etiquette.Great care and attention went into this piece.
Thursday night is always a great night at the Libra Room with the Monica Lee Band. Stay tuned to www.thedriveisalive.blogspot.com for word on their release of live music recorded at the Libra Room.
The ever-versatile Monica Lee on viola.
Here's some video of the band performing "Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be MC's":
Just got a tip to check this young woman out at The End Cafe tonight!! Take a look at this video, and then head down to the End and check her out. Just one block North of Sky Train.
