Gerry Hill & Susan Andrews Grace read on March 17 at 7.30pm



SASKATCHEWAN’S 2016 POET LAUREATE GERRY HILL AND NELSON, B.C.’S SUSAN ANDREWS GRACE READ MARCH 17 AT NELSON’S OXYGEN ART CENTRE

The West Kootenay will take on a prairie flavor on St. Patrick’s Day when former Nelson, B.C. writing student Gerry Hill, who was Saskatchewan’s 2016 poet laureate, will read from his work together with Nelson author and fibre artist Susan Andrew Grace, a long-time resident of Saskatchewan, at Nelson’s Oxygen Art Centre on Friday, March 17.

The duo’s reading begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free ($5 donation appreciated) and the event is open to the public. The reading is the third in a series of author readings during 2016-2017 that mark 10 years of arts programming at Oxygen. The Centre is located at 320 Vernon St. (alley entrance).

Hill, a native of Saskatchewan, received a diploma in creative writing from Nelson’s former David Thompson University Centre following a teaching stint in Papua New Guinea. After further education in Edmonton, he taught English and writing at the University of Regina until 2015. He has published six poetry collections, including Hillsdale Book from NeWest Press in 2015, about the Regina suburb in which he was partially raised.

His honors include two Saskatchewan Book Awards, being a prize-winner in the 2011 CBC Literary Awards, and serving as his home province’s poet laureate in 2016.

One of Andrews Grace’s five poetry titles, Ferrywoman’s History of the World (from Coteau Books) was named Saskatchewan Book of the Year in 1998. Andrews Grace, who has lived in Nelson since 2001, most recently published Philosopher at the Skin Edge of Being from Signature Editions in 2013. Former Canadian poet laureate Fred Wah said that this book “posits anew the old meditation on ‘the one and the many’ through Grace’s masterful poetic skill at sustaining the music in language while allowing some reflective distance from the disillusionments of the present.”

Andrews Grace also maintains a visual art practice, in which her work, in her words, “echoes and honors textile traditions.” Solo exhibits of her work most recently were held at the Langham Art Gallery in Kaslo in the fall of 2015, and at Touchstones Nelson in the fall of 2013.

Support for Oxygen’s celebratory reading series has come from the Canada Council for the Arts through the Writers’ Union of Canada, as well as from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance. The readings are co-sponsored by Nelson’s Elephant Mountain Literary Festival.

Oxygen, Nelson’s only artist-run centre, was founded in 2002 by artists formerly employed by the city’s Kootenay School of the Arts.

The fourth and final reading in the current series will take place May 5, and will present Kelowna novelist Ashok Mathur, who heads UBC Okanagan’s Creative Studies Department, and Nelson’s Emily Nilsen, Columbia Basin Trust environmental program co-ordinator, who was shortlisted for the 2015 CBC Poetry Prize.


MORE INFO:
www.oxygenartcentre.org
info@oxygenartcentre.org 
320 Vernon St (alley entrance)
250 352 6322
Or find us on FaceBook!

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Last week to see the show!



in flux
and in a (constant) state of flux
in constant change; ever-changing.

Oxygen Art Centre's 3rd annual Youth Arts Festival presents in flux, a group show by Kootenay artists Hannah DeBoer-Smith, Maya Kacsmar-Mayoh, Olivia Mansveld, Teyana Neufeld and Tyler Wright.  The artists were invited to submit work and speak to the concepts behind the exhibition’s title, and how it pertains to their art practice and indeed their lives, as they move through the highly transitional time between high school, college and whatever comes next.
 
Textile artist and KSA graduate Teyana Neufeld, describes her new work Encumbrance as an attempt to deal with the struggles implicit in these major transitions:
As I leave my mid-twenties behind, I find myself feeling a state of constantly changing confusion regarding my next step forward: a feeling of hanging in flux, or being pulled off balance in one way or another. I feel weighed down by a complex combination of expectations and baggage and yet am at the same time cognizant of my relative privilege…  Encumbrance is my attempt to deal with this struggle. The form of this piece offers me hope - it implies forward motion, and the shedding of that which is burdensome.

The theme was apropos for Nelson artist Hannah DeBoer-Smith, whose installation I Found this on the Ground chronicles her wonderings throughout British Columbia and beyond.  She describes her work as “… a distillation of my of my various wanderings over the last number of years and all the things I found on the ground along the way, sometimes forgetting to look up, but finding so much mystery and beauty on the earth below me.” 

According to festival director Miriam Needoba, the concept for the show developed through fleeting conversations with these artists, fragments surrounded by long silences; a stop over in Nelson between travels, between studies, between emails…   Meanwhile ideas were percolating and becoming transparent. 

Nelson born Olivia Mansveld, who is also a graduate of KSA’s fibre art program, is currently taking a year off from a BFA program in Fibres & Material Practices at Concordia University in Montreal.  The artwork Mansveld has submitted for this exhibition was created as a direct result of the transitory mode her life has occupied over the last several years.  She describes both process and meaning as follows:
I started making these heart sculptures when I was moving and felt like life was in a state of constant transition. I couldn’t make space to spread out and draft patterns or sew with a machine, so I resorted to packing little baggies of thread scraps and doing embroidery on whatever I could find, and over time I had many bags of very specific fabrics and strings. They needed to be moved from Nelson to Montreal and back again many times while I worked on them. The hearts were born out of various nests of change and scraps, little pieces…  During transitional periods, the spirit may morph, shrink, grow, evolve and this can be felt and seen in the heart. These sculptures aim to illustrate the heart during transitory and ever-changing states of solitude, newness, familiarity, change, love, and joy.

Emerging Nelson artist Tyler Wright is currently pursuing post secondary education through Selkirk College, expecting to graduate in the Associate of the Arts program later this spring.  Wright’s current interests are processed based and he makes the parallel between the theme and his practice.
As a practicing artist, I tend to flit from one medium to another, never settling into one practice which I think comes from an intense desire to learn; once I’m exposed to something new, I become infatuated with it and must explore it. Thus, I’ve moved from acrylic painting in my High School days, to fashion design, felting, digital painting and now sculptural work. If my work does have a re-occurring theme it would be the exploration of obsession.

Maya Kacsmar-Mayoh is the youngest artist in this group of five and is in her final year of high school in Nelson.  She describes herself as “…an eighteen year old ghoul dwelling in the reclusive town of Ymir BC.”   Kacsmar-Mayoh is on the precipice of one of life’s most major and arguably most exciting transitions, and she refers to the different life cycles of insects as a metaphor for the changes her life is about to go through “… Moving away and getting an art education is like me going from a pupa to an adult insect, or maybe simply from a larva to a pupa... Shedding mountainous protection for skyscrapers. ” 

The in flux exhibition opens the Youth Arts Festival on Thursday, February 23^rd from 7-10pm.  The show will be then be open to the public from 1^st - March 11^th.  Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 1-5pm.  Admission is free and everyone is welcome!  We invite school groups interested in viewing the exhibition to get in touch and we can arrange for some of the artists in the show to talk with the students.  For more information please visit www.oxygenartcentre.org
 

MORE INFO:
www.oxygenartcentre.org
info@oxygenartcentre.org 
320 Vernon St (alley entrance)
250 352 6322
Or find us on FaceBook!

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Spring Break Art Camps with Erica Dee & Martina Avis!

SPRING BREAK ART CAMPS
WEEK 1 (March 20-24, 2017):

“SING” a Spring Camp with Erica Dee!

March 20-24, 2017
Monday to Friday

REGISTER ONLINE for SPRING BREAK ART CAMP 2017! (Click here)

OR CALL TO REGISTER: 250 352 6322 OR EMAIL: info@oxygenartcentre.org

WEEK 2 (March 27 – 29, 2017):

THEATRE INTENSIVE with Martina Avis

OR CALL TO REGISTER: 250 352 6322 OR EMAIL: info@oxygenartcentre.org
 

Did you know that Oxygen Art Centre has a volunteer credit program that can be used towards reduced tuition costs?  Some scholarships are also available for help with accessing programming.  Students travelling in for camps from outside of the Nelson area are automatically eligible for 25% off camp tuition!

Oxygen Art Centre is a not for profit, community arts organization and artist run centre.  Contact us to find out about what the options are to help with accessing our arts education programming. E: info@oxygenartcentre.org

Oxygen Art Centre gratefully acknowledges support for its Arts Education Programming from the Province of British Columbia, Nelson and District Credit Union, British Columbia Arts Council and Business for the Arts sponsors; Hall Printing and Nelson Star
 

INSTRUCTOR BIOS:

Martina Avis

Erica Dee

The daughter of Bostonian jazz musicians, Erica Dee has been immersed in music her entire life. She discovered her sound within the underground electronic and hip-hop culture of Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. Erica began singing with DJs and bands at the age of 17. In college, Erica quickly built a name for herself when she began DJ’ing a live set of her own in 2007. After seeing her live, DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 was so impressed with her performance, that he invited her to write and record in Los Angeles. That same year she embarked on her first nationwide tour with DJ Shadow and released her classic mixtape Golden, which combines 90’s R&B flavors with nu house and beat music.

Erica Dee has captivated audiences from Brazil to Israel, and performed with a wide array of artists such as Quest Love, Mark Farina, Masta Ace, Lil’ Kim, DJ NU MARK, Thievery Corporation, Justin Martin, and Bassnectar.

In addition to her recordings, Erica Dee’s live show is a refreshing experience; she’s an international soulstress that’ll lead you to discover the depths of your own heart, beguiling you with melody, rhythm, standout acapella segments and artistically selected productions.

Previous Experience and Education:
– 13 years of professional singing experience
– Selkirk College School Of Music Diploma
– School Of Moves Certification
– 8 Years of Private and Group Lessons
– 3 Years of Youth Camp Facilitations

MORE INFO:
www.oxygenartcentre.org
info@oxygenartcentre.org 
320 Vernon St (alley entrance)
250 352 6322
Or find us on FaceBook!

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Arts Education - Spring/Summer semester!


Oxygen Art Centre is thrilled to announce another great semester of Continuing Arts Education!  Spring semester runs March to May and new this year, a summer painting intensive!

TO REGISTER:

– ONLINE REGISTRATION (click here!)

For more information about classes or help with registration please contact Oxygen Art Centre at:

P: 250 352 6322  E: info@oxygenartcentre.org


SPRING/SUMMER 2017 SEMESTER SCHEDULE:

2 classes: April 1 & 2, 12 – 4.30pm Saturday and Sunday

Course Description: This two day weekend workshop is a great opportunity to discover painting.
We will begin at the beginning! Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of painting through demonstrations and hands on the brush exercises in paint. The first day students will explore shape, mark, tone and space. The second day students will dive into the vary basics of colour mixing and theory as they apply it to painting. Both conventional and non-conventional approaches will be presented.

Course fee: $120  Material fee:  $30 + SEE LIST FOR REQUIRED MATERIALS
Click here to Register

Folk Band Basics with Catherine McGrath

6 classes: April 2 – May 14, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Sundays
(No class Easter long weekend)

Course Description: Do you love to get together with others to sing and play music but would like to develop your skills so you can contribute more at those campfire and potluck jams?  This course will help you do that by showing how common chord patterns work and by demonstrating simple improvisation techniques.  If you have basic skills on any instrument (ie, you can play at least 6 chords or scales in steady rhythm) then this class is for you.

Course fee: $155 + Material fee: $5
Click here to Register

Writing FLASH! with Rayya Liebich

5 classes: April 3 – May 8, 6 – 8 pm Mondays
(No class Easter long weekend)

Course Description: Explore the fun and trendy genre of flash fiction, which is defined as a story under 1,000 words. Also known as “short shorts,” “miniatures,” “sudden fiction”, “postcard fiction,” or “pocket fiction”, short writing is a wonderful way to tighten your craft and to pay attention to every detail in your writing and editing. We will practice writing both fiction and non-fiction (to include micro-memoirs and even Six-word stories) and read several examples by famous authors to draw inspiration and insight. Peer feedback and take-home tools provided each week. All levels and life experience welcome!

Course fee: $135  Material fee: $5
Click here to Register

Recreating the Everyday with Natasha Smith

6 classes: April 4 – May 9, 5.30-8.30pm Tuesdays

Course Description: Explore various techniques to create interesting visual narratives employing mundane materials of the everyday. Broaden the range of materials used to create an artwork evaluating their inherent properties, current purpose and the potential to alter their form and definition. Through deconstruction, manipulation and combination, everyday materials can be transformed and combined using various techniques to create a shadow box, collage or small assemblage, sculptural works. Various artists will be reviewed that employ this popular contemporary art-making approach.

Course fee: $205 Material fee: $15 + SEE LIST FOR REQUIRED MATERIALS
Click here to Register

Drawing Course – Pencil to Paper with Deborah Thompson

7 classes: April 5 – May 17, 5.30-8.30pm Wednesdays

Course Description: Pencil to Paper is a seven week drawing course. The emphasis of the course will be on the exploration of visual expression through drawing. The development of a foundation of drawing skills from modeling of an object in variety of light conditions to working with an object in space will be integral to the course. Students will build their drawings from a variety of sources including photographs, still life objects, other artists drawings and their imaginations. The use of colour in drawing will be introduced as part of an exploration on narrative drawing. Students of any level experience are welcome to join the course.

Course fee: $225  Material fee: $35 + SEE LIST FOR REQUIRED MATERIALS
Click here to Register

Ease in the Spotlight with Bessie Wapp

4 classes: April 6 – 27, 7 – 9 pm Thursdays

Course description: Got a public presentation coming up? A new song, story, or comedy bit you want to perform? A speach or book tour? In a supportive & fun atmosphere, this class will use theatre games, vocal exercises, and role playing to build confidence & make presenting enjoyable. On the last class we’ll entertain an audience of invited guests.

Course fee: $110 Material fee $5
Click here to Register

Intuitive Painting with Kriya A.J. Shakti

5 classes: April 8 – May 13, 10am -12.30pm Saturdays
(No class Easter long weekend)

Course Description: Intuitive Painting is a process art form; a fun and enriching journey of discovery that leads to unique, vibrant and expressive paintings. Process art releases all preconceived ideas and plans of the final result to embrace the creative process as a path to presence and authentic self-expression. This method combines painting principles and techniques with a playful, spontaneous and bold approach, which opens one to greater creativity and deeper intuition.

Course fee: $155  Material fee:  $35 + SEE LIST FOR REQUIRED MATERIALS
Click here to Register

Intuitive Painting Studio with Kriya A.J. Shakti

5 classes: April 8 – May 13, 1.30pm – 4.30pm Saturdays
(No class Easter long weekend)

Course description: Designed for former and current Intuitive Painting students, this studio is an open space to deepen your painting practice and continue the playful exploration of discovery as you expand your creativity, highten your intuition and witness your unique visual language emerging through painting.

Course fee: $165  Material fee:  $35 + SEE LIST FOR REQUIRED MATERIALS
Click here to Register

Writing BLACKOUT POETRY with Rayya Liebich

1 class: April 9, 1-4pm Sunday

Course Description: Also known as found poetry or erasure, create a poem out of an existing text by removing words on the page to reveal a new message. Using old books, newspapers, magazines and more, have fun playing with the space on the page and get as creative and artistic as you desire. Who knew that blacking out with a Sharpie pen could become an addictive, satisfying, and expressive new habit? All levels, ages 10+ welcome!

Course fee: $55 Material fee: $5
Click here to Register

Art as Soul Medicine with Gabriel Keczan

4 classes: April 23 – May 14, 2-5pm Sunday

Course Description: Art as soul medicine is an art-based group therapy course. This course is an exploration of spontaneous art making in the context of a supportive and therapeutic group setting. Art therapy has a focus on personal process and the intersection of conscious and unconscious dimensions of the artist’s creative and healing journey. We will play with art materials; be with what arises; and hold the process in a safe and supportive group environment as it relates to each artist’s personal journey. We will explore inter-modality by using creative writing and image dialogue in response to content and art objects that are created. No previous art experience required.

Participants are welcome to bring whatever materials they would like to use. Gabriel will provide an assortment of paints, paper, scissors, glue and some brushes.

Course fee: $145  Material fee: $25
Click here to Register

 

Summer Arts Intensive: Painting with 2 minds: A painting process workshop with Deborah Thompson

4 days: July 24-27, 9.30am – 3.30pm Monday to Thursday

Course Description: Painting with 2 minds is a four day painting process workshop designed to engage artists of any level in exploring their creative process and in particular the workings of their analytical and intuitive minds! OR how do you get our creative juices moving along and how do we develop our visual language to create meaningful and resolved paintings. We will explore this dualistic quality of creativity through playful exercises, discussions and investigations. We will encourage these two minds to work together in supporting the making of a painting! Each day is designed to build upon the others as we layer our experiences, insights and processes towards a repertoire of tools from which we can invigorate our creative process. Each day will open with painting exercises and explorations and in the afternoon move towards critiques, slide presentations and time for self-directed painting. Sure to be a fun and engaging workshop!!

Course fee: $250  Material fee:  $30 + SEE LIST FOR REQUIRED MATERIALS

Click here for instructor biographies

Click here to Register

Did you know that Oxygen Art Centre has a volunteer credit program that can be used towards reduced tuition costs?  Oxygen Art Centre is a not for profit, community arts organization and Artist Run Centre.  Contact us to find out about what the options are to help with accessing our arts education programming. E: info@oxygenartcentre.org

Scholarships are available for Nelson students ages 12 to 19, though the Community Directed Youth Activity Grant Fund administered Cicada Place P: 250-352-9595 ext. 200

Or contact us to help you get connected E: info@oxygenartcentre.org

Oxygen Art Centre gratefully acknowledges support for its Arts Education Programming from the Province of British Columbia, Nelson and District Credit Union, British Columbia Arts Council and Business for the Arts sponsors; Hall Printing, Nelson Star, Juice FM and ilovenelson.com

MORE INFO:
www.oxygenartcentre.org
info@oxygenartcentre.org 
320 Vernon St (alley entrance)
250 352 6322
Or find us on FaceBook!

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