A sprawling landscape of trees and snow-covered mountains pours in through the large living room windows. As the sun shines on the scenic view, Heidi Hehn tells stories of animals that have crept out of the forest setting and into her backyard. Having this setting at her doorstep couldn’t be more fitting for Hehn. Wildlife …
As the sunshine creeps into the evening and temperatures slowly rise toward double-digits, some art organizations’ seasons are winding down. One of the final accomplishments in focus for Nakai Theatre is a barrage of local performance artists. Also affectionately known as the Homegrown Festival. “It’s emerging artists, first-time artists and artists who are devoting their …
BY TARA McCARTHY Tackling Bernard Pomerance’s play, The Elephant Man, is a huge undertaking. From the rich script filled with emotion and tender subject matter, to the seemingly abbreviated scenes that connect to tell the true tale. And Moving Parts Theatre’s production fairs well on certain aspects, but lacks an all-encompassing sense of despair and …
BY TARA McCARTHY A group of actors gather at the Wood Street Centre, pulling costumes off a large rack and holding them up to their chins, evaluating whether it works for their character. Before long, the stage in the adjacent gymnasium will house Moving Parts Theatre’s production of the 1979 play, The Elephant Man. Resurrecting …
It’s an object within the art world that’s often overlooked. To a degree it’s meant to be that way, to avoid steering attention away from what it surrounds, while keeping it safe and sound. But without it, the ultimate visage of the artwork is altered. It’s the frame. For custom framer Steve Brewis, framing is …
As the last few hours of sunlight pour in through the windows at Baked Café, Lea-Ann McNally sits solo with a large mug clasped in her hands. After I profusely apologize for being tardy, she glances at me and admits she’s a bit nervous. It’s not surprising. By the end of the week, the walls …
BY TARA McCARTHY As quoted in the show program, playwright Joe Orton was “widely recognized as the bad boy of British theatre.” And only minutes into What The Butler Saw, it’s rather obvious why. The Guild’s production of the 1969 sexual farce opens with a peculiar job interview, which introduces Dr. Prentice – finely cast …
As we creep toward the end of another year, it’s only natural to reflect on how far we’ve come. And for the Sundog Retreat Carving Program, it’s been a momentous stretch. From select artists travelling to Ottawa’s annual Winterlude festivities, to Calvin Morberg’s trip to Russia, Sundog students’ artwork has reached a wider, international audience. …
BY TARA McCARTHY It’s only Wednesday, but the tables at Coasters are packed as a constant flow of local comedians take the stage. And while comedy nights at the downtown bar are nothing new, this time it’s a battle of the funniest. For a number of weeks it’s been elimination after elimination in the Yukon’s …
The Convention Centre is transformed by Emma Barr & Lauren Tuck for Wonderland Gala “It’s time Whitehorse had a New Year’s party.
When it comes to theatre, David Skelton says he believes Whitehorse audiences are “brave and sophisticated”. As Nakai Theatre’s artistic director, Skelton admits that last year’s Pivot Festival came with a small dose of controversy. However, he’s ready for another go this January when the avant-garde performance event hits the stage for its second run. …
Gallery intern Jessica Vellenga stands in the youth grotto at the Yukon Arts Centre, flipping through a handmade accordion-style book. “She’s talking about Vancouver and the smell of the sea, so we put in sea salt,” she says as she flips to a page with a small cutout revealing a handful of off-white sea salts …
BY TARA McCARTHY Grocery stores are not terribly interesting, especially in an age where most are cookie-cutter versions of each other. That is, if you’ve never waltzed the aisles of Riverside Grocery in Whitehorse. With its incredibly vast selection of spices, snacks, as well as strange and staple kitchen items, it seems like an understatement …
Theatre isn’t just about the actors on stage. And while Moving Parts Theatre concentrates on methods and techniques for its players, it also provides community members with important roles behind the scenes. Balancing school work and rehearsals is Wren Hookey’s latest priority. The 17-year-old high school student just began her fourth year with the popular …
By Tara MAcCarthy Local artist Kirsty Wells was noticeably filled with anticipation last week. As friends scurried around The Old Fire Hall caring for finishing touches, Wells’ latest encaustic and ink works stood out from the white gallery walls stretched throughout the venue. The show’s title was lifted from a common phrase: Two Steps Back. …
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood in the House of Commons on June 11, 2008 and apologized. His address was in regards to Indian Residential Schools in Canada. “Truly, with the Stephen Harper apology, he was just the deliverer,” artist Cathy Busby says. “Stephen Harper is apologizing as the Head of State. So it’s kind of …
Back in 2005, artist Catherine Beaudette was in search of history. Having traversed Europe, on numerous occasions, she felt the desire to explore her home and native land, which led her to explore what was left behind during the Gold Rush era in Dawson City. As artist-in-residence at the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture, …
There is something undeniably natural about the wide range of textures and tones Marlene Collins demonstrates in her latest showing of work titled, Seed. “I think pretty much any theme I could have gone with, my work would still really focus on the textural surfaces and the earth tones,” Collins explains. “I can go back …
For visual artist Cécile Girard, living in the Yukon has been a catalyst for personal and artistic growth. “When I first came here, I lived in a wall tent, listened to the ravens in the morning and played the guitar,” she recalls with a smile. Initially she billed herself as a freelance artist, working on …
Through her latest exhibit, titled Colour Transfusion, local artist Heidi Hehn figured out a lot about herself. “People asked me, ‘Why Colour Transfusion?’ And I’d say, Well, people need a colour transfusion after the long winter. “I was just working in whatever I felt like and the only commonality was the colours, not the themes. …
Upon entering the Yukon Arts Centre Public Gallery, a full-sized taxidermy polar bear stands stoic with its jaw wide open. Peering out from the bear’s white limbs sits a somewhat-to-scale cut-out of Joseph Tisiga, outfitted in his familiar Grey Owl getup. Over the speakers in the gallery, voices rhyme off slogans: “Indian Brand Corporation is …
For those who have never ventured above the 60th parallel, the Yukon can encompass a sense of mystery and awe. A territory where the sun either rarely sets or rarely rises, where history is rooted in gold and where vivid colours dance upon the evening sky. And, for some, these instances are thus represented through …
As the motorboat rounded a slight bend in the Yukon River, suddenly a white-arched shelter can be seen on the not-so-distant shoreline. Once the lifejackets are shed, everyone climbs out and onto a tiny makeshift dock. A few people gather around a softly smoking fire, but the focal point of this campsite is the makings …
It’s nothing new to hear that the Yukon is filled with both loyal, long-time residents and transient citizens. And whether from near, local or far, the turnover and mass exodus of community members comes and goes just like the seasons. Dawson City’s population swells each summer, and then those that stay bid adieu to those …
BY TARA McCARTHY Amongst the early-afternoon rush, at a local coffee shop, Barbara Chamberlin stands out as she pushes through the door clad in a long, bright-red coat. She glances around the café, feverishly, then spots me and promptly beelines to the table. She admits that the past number of weeks have been a whirlwind. …
The masterminds at the Yukon Arts Centre are preparing for another season of entertainment. And judging from the 2009/2010 lineup, there will be a lot of dancing going on. Earlier this month, artistic director Eric Epstein announced what’s in store. The Art Lover’s Series had already been unveiled, inviting Yukon theatergoers to indulge in something …
As the sun pours through the window, artist Maria Luisa de Villa adjusts her long, wavy hair and launches into a round of questions. She’s begging to know what it’s like to live in the territory – from what the communities are like, to what people do, how they live and how they all survive …
“Book for a Public Library” by Ian Carr-Harris “Drawing is similar to writing.” Those words are printed in bold black letters upon a stark white wall in the Yukon Arts Centre Public Gallery. And while the sentence is simple, over a dozen works of art in the latest exhibit lead visitors far beyond minimalism. The …
Gallery intern Jessica Vellenga stands in the youth grotto at the Yukon Arts Centre, flipping through a handmade accordion-style book. “She’s talking about Vancouver and the smell of the sea, so we put in sea salt,” she says as she flips to a page with a small cutout revealing a handful of off-white sea salts …
BY TARA McCARTHY Crash the Car may be billed as Kyle Cashen’s solo project, but many artistic acquaintances helped make it a reality. The debut album, titled They Built Houses Here, is riddled with creative partnerships and Cashen feels it’s time to showcase the sum of its parts. “At this point, I’m so satisfied with …
Trevor Mead-Robins’ suburban home in Whitehorse appears rather average from the outside. But a small green sign on his front door and another near the side entrance lead you to something a little less than ordinary. A kitchen setting – complete with an oven, cabinetry and tile flooring – has been transformed into a computer …
Some people feel something is missing when they’re in complete solitude. But walking into the lunchtime silence of the Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery felt comforting and soothing compared to the bustle of downtown Main Street. And even though I might have been the only person in the expansive space, I was still in …
From Abstract to Traditional: Local Artists Show Their Roots Read More »
Daylight pours through a large window as Meagan Perry sits tapping away at her keyboard. The subdued lime green walls seem to expand the relatively small home office space. And while the laptop perched on the wooden desk means business, a bright blue yoga mat reveals an accompanying sense of relaxation. “The great liberation of …
Our first conversation, we were slouched on separate couches in a living room. The clock had struck way past midnight, but we stayed awake talking of dreams and passions. His was undeniably what he saw through a camera lens, explained in delicate words, as though he were describing a devoted lover. “It lends itself to …
A rainbow of paint drips cover the floor like confetti. Music blasts from a small radio in the corner while light pours in from a tall, narrow window behind it. Dressed in a weathered apron, hair tied back, Emma Barr mixes a brilliant shade of fuchsia. “Sometimes, if I haven’t been working in it for …
BY TARA McCARTHY According to her artist statement, what Shiela Alexandrovich sets out to do, rarely coincides with what actually happens. Thus her current exhibition at the Yukon Arts Centre Community Gallery demonstrates the artist’s unpredictable creations. “This exhibit up there right now is about exploration, so I was looking to play with vessel and …
BY TARA McCARTHY It all started with a journey. And it culminated into an exhibition of memories, textures and environment. In August 2007, Yukon artist Joyce Majiski escorted two California-based artists on a tour along territorial waterways to the Lowell Glacier. Life amongst the ice and water inevitably inspired creation. “They were here and they …
BY TARA McCARTHY Walking through the doors to the auditorium is like travelling into a world of storybook proportions – the air is filled with energetic rhythms, while the stage is devoured by colour with a rainbow cast of characters. After weeks of work, the dedicated Music Arts and Drama students at Wood Street Centre …
“Oh the thinks you can think, when you think about Seuss.” Read More »
BY TARA McCARTHY Variety is the spice of life. And Tang Productions’ Varietease aims to tickle all your senses. “Expect the unexpected. It’s going to be a fun ride,” says director Brian Fidler of the unapologetically sexy show. From sultry singers to scantily clad dancers and risqué comedy, Varietease finds the artistry and hilarity in …
The shop is lined with seed packets and items for the outdoors, with a medley of unique giftware tucked away in the corner. Large cotton bags hang along the wall and meticulously curved pottery mingles with vivid framed photographs of flora and fauna. Medium-sized pillows dressed with whimsical felt flowers sit on shelves. It seems …
BY TARA McCARTHY A crowd of young voices echoes through the hallway at the Wood Street Centre, accompanied by the soft sound of a piano. The talented group is still rehearsing for their next ambitious performance – but judging by their excitement, it won’t take long to sink in. The Music Arts and Drama students …
BY TARA McCARTHY The chatter of young voices accompanies the patter of feet adorned with black jazz shoes. Then the rehearsal studio falls silent before an upbeat music beat floods the space with energy. Junior, elementary and adult level dancers are polishing their moves for the big finale – the Northern Lights School of Dance’s …
BY TARA McCARTHY Many unsuspecting pedestrians stopped to look up at the Vancouver Public Library last month. An energetic jazz tune echoed into the afternoon air, while a group of dancers delicately swung from the building on ropes in an extreme demonstration of physical artistry. The art form has been dubbed aerial dance and, for …
BY TARA McCARTHY Under the gaze of soft lighting, a microphone and guitar sit idle. Andrea Burgoyne swiftly walks onto the Wood Street Centre stage and breathes life into the instruments and minimal surrounding. It’s not the first time she strummed a guitar and sang lyrics with engaging honesty – Burgoyne habitually graces the stage …
Since moving to Whitehorse, Amber R. Walker’s creative energy has resurfaced. “I thought acting at first, because I kind of wanted to try acting, but then when I started getting back to my original background it was more of a ‘oh well I want to do art. I want to keep doing art,’” she says …
The smell of lemongrass fills the foyer, while soft music echoes from an adjacent room. The décor is minimalist, yet inviting. Warm and cool tones create a different sensation of relaxation in each space with candles delicately flickering. The undeniable intimate spa atmosphere makes it hard to believe that you’ve walked into the basement of …
BY TARA McCARTHY Blues music vibrates through the floor, signalling when the dancers are to make their move. A sultry sway of the hips oozes with sex appeal as the women take a seat, teasing their audience with swift kicks in the air. It’s all part of an audition for one of the sexiest shows …
Perched at the window, Meghan Hildebrand grabs her cup of tea and gazes out at the city’s Main Street with a comfortable smile. Whitehorse is both a familiar and unfamiliar atmosphere for her. It was her childhood home in the past, but now the Powell River, B.C.-based artist says it seems altered each time she …
The rehearsal space looks generic with its black floors and black curtains covering a wall of mirrors. With costumes absent and only a scattering of furniture to emulate the stage setting, it’s hard to envision how the Guild Society’s production of Born Yesterday will play out on the Yukon Arts Centre stage until March 29. …
A Refreshing Connection of Hilarity and Corruption Read More »
It all started with a care package from home. Heather Read felt she was growing tired of her graduate degree program on the East Coast and parental sympathy came in the form of felt pens and watercolour pencil crayons. From there, a trip around Newfoundland led her to experiment with bold lines and subdued washes …
BY TARA McCARTHY Director Mort Ransen says he’s in a state of transition. Although his life has been filled with acclaim when it comes to the silver screen, his focus has recently shifted back to his roots in theatre. “I started in the theatre. And when I left, I thought I was leaving it for …
BY TARA McCARTHY Elaborate costumes and stage design create a world of fantasy for a cast of seasoned and budding actors to tell an age-old story of redemption, love and magic. Moving Parts Theatre has brought together a large ensemble for its large production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. “The Tempest is really high stakes …
Texts are strewn about and art is placed along the walls amidst a puzzle of second-hand furniture. Each item, whether handcrafted or found, has its own story. Stepping into Joseph Tisiga’s humble home is much like stepping into the young artist’s mind. The clutter reflects the multitude of ideas swirling in his brain, while the …
BY TARA McCARTHY The welcomed January sunlight pours through the windows at the Wood Street Centre, while a handful of people talk and laugh with paints and art materials strewn about the room. Anton Solomon sits cross-legged on the floor, meticulously painting thin red veins onto a larger-than-life-sized eyeball. It’s a weekend of creation for …
In the quiet foyer of the Yukon Arts Centre, Catherine Deer says she’s not the best at interviews. But she hits a confident stride fast as she begins to discuss the innocent history behind her exhibit, Drawn To Memory. Her large-scale lifelike charcoal drawings, currently displayed in the main gallery, devour each wall. Each intricately …
BY TARA McCARTHY Crouched over a spread of sound equipment, Galen Ashley meticulously crafts a bass line. Daniel Ashley breaks into a rhythmic delivery of lyrics, while Lauren Tuck quietly hums a melody, scribbling down words to remember. Like pieces of a fine-tuned puzzle, each effort layers then bursts into a swell of energy in …
BY TARA McCARTHY Tucked away in the industrial area of Whitehorse is a small office focused on huge opportunities. Dan Curtis says he could probably go on all day about the possibilities out there for young workers, as the buzz and beeping of heavy machinery filters through his window. Curtis is the executive director of …
