ReImagining the Future
View from the Leighton Art Centre
Reimagining is what artists are really good at. Right now, I am working on an amazing artistic project, "Wandering with Wonder" that is inspired by the land. Our goal with this project is to create a multi-disciplinary work held together by a newly composed soundscape that will be performed on the land.
For the last few days I have been reimagining what this project will look like at this time in our collective history. It is set to have its world premiere outside at the Leighton Art Centre in September 2020 and it is probably going to look a little different than I first imagined it and that is alright. Many artists have been, and continue to be hard at work to bring this piece to life. Our singer-songwriter, Matt Epp, spoke about the project on his Facebook Live Concert yesterday and did the first 'live' performance of his beautiful piece 'Water and Love', about our human connection to each other through water, which will be opening the show. Two of the staff members from the Leighton Art Centre, Stephanie Doll and Amanda MacKay were there in the online audience with myself and two of our other composer's, Sherryl Sewepagaham and Walter MacDonald White Bear. It felt 'wonderful' to be listening to Matt sing together - apart.
The land, which inspired this work, is completely fine right now and some might say it is doing better than ever with everyone self-isolating. This project was created to help us listen to the land. Its objective is to bring community together through music while being surrounded by the wonders of nature, using traditional artistic methods and modern technology.
The artists working on this project, who are also self-isolating, have been creating artwork, music, costumes, puppets and brainstorming creative ways to bring this project to our community. When one of them sends me something to listen to or look at it is the best part of my week. The music Chris Andrew is writing for string quartet and jazz trio is other worldly and Lynne Huras' artwork has my heart singing.
Creating a project of this magnitude is like making a puzzle. Right now, the boarder is complete and all the pieces are turned over and starting to fall into place. To complete this puzzle, we are going to have to be creative and really good at reimagining this work as we bring it to life for you and we are up for the challenge. The Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Canada Council for the Arts have been extraordinary in providing us strong guidelines to help us figure out how to do this. We don't know what it is going to look like yet but what I do know is that it is going to be beautiful, it is going to showcase the talents of many incredible Canadian artists and it will be magical because it is inspired by the land.
My Irish cousin who lives in London, Sinéad Whelan, messaged me the other day to share a piece of music several musicians created together - apart while socially isolating in Europe. She commented that 'musicians keep the magic going at the moment.' I think musicians and all artists keep the magic going always and I'm excited to see what we will create together - apart that will be shared with you in September with ‘Wandering with Wonder’ and in the months and years to come.
Huge thank you to the Leighton Arts Centre for your spirit and caring, the Calgary Stampede, Green Fools Theatre,H/W School of Ballet, The Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Canada Council for the Arts for everything you are doing to keep the arts alive in Canada and to all of you for your support. It means the world to all of us.
“Here is a sneak peek at the artwork Lynne Huras has created for the Bear character in our project. I love how he is so strong and fierce but also kind looking. He is protecting the land by cuddling it in his arms. Be well and safe.”