Ever wonder why an artist stops to look at a single solitary lost mitten or crouch down to examine a randomly found heart shaped rock?  Why is it crucial for some to draw a sketch of an old man wearing some neon orange suspenders at the back of the bus?  What motivates and drives an artist to create long after the work day has ended?   Do artists ponder that they might be considered crazy banshees for having the guts to do what they really love doing?  What about the choice to continue creating no matter what the monetary reward?  How can a flock of birds whistling away in the morning spark a vital project idea?  All these questions and more surface in my mind sea, bobbing there and intriguing me.  Hence forth, a series emerged focusing on the thoughts and ramblings of kooky artistic minded people.  Find out how these lovelies find extraordinary ways to create and multi-task their passions into the universe that is their life.  The talented and lovely Alyssa Moor spring boards into question land…

‘You know how some girls have lots of dolls?’ Alyssa Moor asks me.  Though Miss Moor resembles a doll herself the key difference between her childhood and that of other girls’ is that mounds of blocks and art supplies were her dolls.  All the goodies you can imagine under the art supply sun ran rampant in the Moor household.   She could be found making her own toys to play with, instead of playing with the toys given to her as gifts.  Those gifts sat gathering dust.  Her parents were the type of dream team that encouraged her to go to university for something she was passionate about.  Queen’s University was her proverbial cake mold where she attained her Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Sculpture.  Now working in Calgary at Studio Y Creations as Assistant Production Manager, she oversees the quality control of custom sculptures made of styrofoam for a stellar array of venues from theme parks to museums.  On a quasi-tangent Alyssa loves extremely hot showers and can be found playing classical violin in her living room…

Who are your influences when it comes to creative endeavours?

There are many people who have inspired me to create, but the strongest supporters and major funders of my work were my parents.  They never told me that I couldn’t do anything.  They just said ‘do what you like to do and stick with it and you will be fine’.  I was lucky enough to never have the pressure to grow up and ‘be’ anything.  As for other influences my fabulous artist friends continue to awe and amaze me with their talents and that helps keep me going.  I look to the old Italian and northern renaissance masters for inspiration, as well as some excellent practicing artists such as Mark Ryden, Jana Sterbak, Lois Andison and Aganetha Dyck.

Would you use the word artist to describe one of the many facets of yourself?

I have always identified with the word artist since I have always felt a need to create things ever since I was really young.  I started my creating with construction paper and ended up with steel, wood, stone and oil paint.

When an idea is born within your brain unit, how do you go about thinking it up? Are you an ever-elusive aha moment person? Or is that a load of bull stink?

Ideas are strange things, they usually appear when my brain is bored, in the middle of sanding something at work, or right before I go to sleep.

Any projects on the go at present? If so would you mind spilling the beans?

I have a three painting series on the go: I’m currently working on painting number two.  I plan on showing  the series at the end of this year, or the beginning of next year if I can find a good venue for them. I am also working on getting an octopus necklace cast in silver and a Mucha sculpture reproduction.

What time of day is your best creative time?

I’m definitely a mid day to night worker.  I have a really long attention span when I am working on something, so as long as I can start at 10 am or later I have no problem working until 11 pm.

Do you ever get scared when you’re about to embark on a new project?

It is difficult to make a decision to just do it.  Working full time at a hands-on job takes a lot out of me, and there are also outside distractions such as the gym, socializing, t.v., cleaning, etc.  I recently cancelled my cable to try to cut out one of those distractions so I can focus more when I get home.

Once “project something” has begun, how do you successfully finish what you have started?

I wish I knew the answer to that - I would have many more finished projects!  Deadlines are excellent motivators to produce.  I should set deadlines more often.

Are there any rituals that you’ve acquired while making and creating work?

I am not sure if it would be considered a ritual, but I do need a great deal of time to make anything.  I cannot make art for 20 minutes at a time: it needs to be hours.

I’ve been fortunate to be at several events where you have made cakes for special friends and birthday extravaganzas.  When did you start making such speciality items and what draws you into making them?

I have been a baker for a long time.  Both of my parents were interested in the culinary arts when I was young so I was never limited to hot dogs and Kraft dinner.  I was raised on stir fry, curry in a hurry, chilli and home-made baked goods.  After my BFAH at Queens I was going to go to the Culinary Institute in Vancouver, but I got a job in a restaurant as a cook the summer before and I hated it - so I never went.  After that I decided that cooking for friends and family was enough.  Specifically, cake baking has come on recently, as people seem to like them and they make good birthday presents.

Is cake and art-making similar in creative processes or are they viewed as two separate activities to you?

Baking is easy, art-making is hard.  If you want to bake a chocolate cake there are step by step instructions to make it perfectly, but if you want to make art it is all up to you.

Please use six words to describe the state of your cooking space after said cake-a-thon. Go.

Sugary, congested, piled, crummy, fragrant, warm.

Do you have any philosophies about food that you’d love to share?

Food is a great way to bring people together.  Everyone eats and has certain likes and dislikes so you can always start conversations about food, which ultimately leads into discussing other things.  Good food makes people happy.

special thanks to these lovelies (answers: alyssa moor, photo crew: denly wunderpants smyth mcmann and lyndsay stang hinds, editor and ever expanding vastly beautiful mind: christine neave and title aid: dustin wahlund)

Colin Menzies INTERVIEW’S:

15 artists. 15 questions.

Artwork by Daniel Kirk. Currently on exhibit at The Gallery 113-1013 17^th Ave sw

Interviews conducted and documented by Colin Menzies.

Allison Hall, stylist, fashion designer, owner of Chosen Boutique.

Amy Darling, film fest maven, philanthropist.

Andrew Hartman, comic book artist, musician.

Aviva Zimmerman, theatre artist.

Casey Reid, multimedia artist.

Daniel Cristini, printmaker, painter.

James Carless, graphic designer, director and founder of Carbon Media Design.

Janine Vangool, publisher, designer, and shop owner of UPPERCASE.

John Bayko, writer.

Kimy Simpson, photographer.

Ocean Forstner, community outreach facilitator, visual artist.

Phillip Elliot, hair stylist.

Stephanie Damus, teacher.

Terry Reynoldson, sculptor.

Wilmer Aburto, photographer, blogger.

1. How would you describe Calgary in 5 words?

Allison: Calgary is young, vibrant, cosmopolitan, outgoing, and interested (in all things new).

Amy: Canada’s youngest big city. Yup.

Andrew: Honky-tonk-cowboy-town. Paradise.

Aviva: Homogonous white bread no more.

Casey: Vibrant. Cosmopolitan. Eclectic. Adventure. Cultural.

Daniel: Blind to it’s own problems.

James: Underground. Fertile. Burgeoning. Innovative. Challenging.

Janine: Independent, unsentimental, conservative, challenging, corporate.

John: Western. Oilpatch. Dry. Dusty. Drunk.

Kimy: Home. Rivers. Lilacs. Magpies. Changes.

Ocean: Conservative, growing, reserved, safe, dry.

Phillip: Fun. Boring. Effective. Warm. Cold.

Stephanie: Expanding, budding, dynamic, productive, stimulating.

Terry: Expensive, conservative, corporate, aesthetically immature.

Wilmer: An unrealized creatively talented collective.

2. Do you enjoy living in Calgary?

Allison: Yes, this is my home and I am a proud native of this city.

Amy: Most days. I have a wonderful life and lifestyle here.

Andrew: Yeah. I’ve lived here all my life.

Aviva: Most of the time.

Casey: Yes.

Daniel: There are times in which I do enjoy living here, although this mostly happens to be due to the proximity of the city to the mountains, the people in my life and certain events.

James: Most certainly!

Janine: Yes, I do, but I qualify that to living in the centre of the city. I live in Sunnyside and can walk to my shop in Art Central; my life is very much concentrated on the inner city. If I had to be in a car commuting from suburbia everyday, I would not be happy.

John: Yes and no. I’m an Albertan and proud to be one. The fact that we survive and thrive here is important to me, but it also makes it clear that hard work can easily be used to re-locate somewhere a little softer. A lot of Calgarians have the means to escape regularly; I don’t.

Kimy: Yes and no.

Ocean: Off and on.

Phillip: I do to a certain point.

Stephanie: I enjoy the opportunities and experiences that Calgary provides me. It’s great to create experiences and opportunity for yourself. It is a budding city that allows you to create your own opportunities and shape your world to look the way you want it to.

Terry: Most of the time I do. It can be a very difficult place for artists because of the high cost of everything. Affordable studio space is very hard to come by.

Wilmer: Yes.

3. Are you inspired by this city?

Allison: Yes, there are so many opportunities here for people to create their dreams.

Amy: I am inspired to connect disparate groups of people to forge new collaborations in this city. I am inspired to help build events and initiatives in this city. (Wait’ll you see what I’ll be doing in October dealing with Alberta’s troubling syphilis outbreak. I am serious.) I am inspired to do as many brash, confrontational – sometimes silly, self-indulgent – things as possible in this city. So, I guess, yeah.

Andrew: Oh yeah…different parts, and how it looks as a whole.

Aviva: Yes. As there is nowhere else on earth like it. Where else can I see a C-Train packed with Sudanese immigrants wearing cowboy hats.

Casey: Yes. Very inspired.

Daniel: Not really, this city as a whole does not inspire me. There are always parts of any city, which are interesting, and those few parts of Calgary keep me interested, but still relatively uninspired.

James: I’m not inspired by the city itself, in the way that some say New York or Paris inspires them. I am, however, constantly inspired by the individuals who choose to call the city home. This of course extends to those who I am fortunate enough to meet while they pass through.

Janine: I am inspired by its potential and growth; I think it is still possible for independent people with vision to shape its character.

John: I’m inspired by its work ethic and its toughness and its international reputation as a place where people are capable.

Kimy: Yes, I am inspired here. It’s my hometown, my landscape, my community, my history. Although I believe inspiration comes from within and therefore can be found in any place.

Ocean: By certain individuals.

Phillip: I’m inspired by this city only for the fact that I believe the arts community is on a rise.

Steph: Calgary inspires me to create new perspectives and become more creative in finding what I want from life. Because the city is expanding, there is a constant change in my environment. This forces me to change my own perspective and ideas as a reaction to what goes on around me; and forces me to really search for inspiration within this city.

Terry: Sometimes. The Bow River, Fish Creek Park, Nose Hill and similar “urban wilderness spaces” inspire me.

Wilmer: Most days.

4. What is your favorite city in the world?

Allison: Calgary. I’m inspired however by London, Paris and New York. Fashion!!!

Amy: That’s a toss up between Cannes and Moose Jaw. For reals.

Andrew: Calgary.

Aviva: Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Casey: Right now…Calgary. Would like to travel more though.

Daniel: Perugia, Siena, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London…they are all too different to compare.

James: I feel ill equipped to answer this question as I haven’t experienced them all yet. Though Tokyo definitely made an impact; I love the contrasts between modern metropolis and historic sites of worship.

Janine: If I could teleport my entire life and business somewhere, it would be San Fransisco.

John: Haven’t been to enough cities to have one.

Kimy: As of now, I couldn’t decide. There’s too many I’ve not seen. Some place with natural and cultural beauty. Peaceful and clean.

Ocean: I prefer small towns, but I quite like Berlin.

Phillip: Probably Chicago.

Stephanie: I feel a strong connection to 2 cities, Barcelona and Paris. I’ve traveled to both and have had strong positive experiences in both cities. When I traveled to Barcelona, I traveled with a group of people I had never met before, and without my parents. It was freeing because of the sense of independence it gave me. It was also a very vibrant city with a really laid back vibe. It is a city with a lot of history and culture, and conducive to great creative thought and expression.

Paris offers a lot of art history and is a city with great creative energy. You can feel it running through it. I also traveled there with my mother a few years back; which was the best time that I’ve had with her in my life. I hold that city close for all the experience it has allowed me to share with my mom.

Terry: New York.

Wilmer: Calgary.

5.What is one thing that you would change about Calgary?

Allison: We need to grass over some of the Impark parking lots downtown. We need more places and parks for our community to connect.

Amy: Less of what I call ‘Testosterone Art”. If I see one more epic bronze rendering of a prairie animal I might prolapse.

Andrew: More venues for bands.

Aviva: Geographically squish it down in size so it can be biked from one end to the other in less than an hour. Also…I would add loads more collaboration. There is a lot of small-scale cool stuff going on here by incredibly talented and motivated people. These small-scale things need to team up and collaborate on projects more. If we worked together more as an arts or activist community, a whole lot MORE great stuff could happen.

Casey: The racism element. The city is so diverse; it seems unfair to judge anyone. We are all so unique. Everyone brings something to the table.

Daniel: Bring more world-class exhibitions of art.

James: I would hope the city and public at large continues to gain an awareness and understanding of the various subcultures that exist within our city. From this base I hope they would in turn be embraced and promoted as cultural assets.

Janine: I would like Calgarians to be a little more adventurous, open-minded and explore their city.

John: Weather.

Kimy: It’s urban planning. What are they thinking? Ring roads…sprawl. tearing down historic homes for uninspired condo’s..a train that stops at red lights.

Ocean: Many of the by-laws.

Phillip: CRAPPY COSTUMER SERVICE.

Stephanie: For me, Calgary is a city where artists have the potential to succeed, with the support from their community. I would expand the community support and build more resources that artists could tap into when building their artistic or creative career.

Terry: The high cost of housing. If housing were less expensive, more artists could own their own homes. Then we would be able to set up illegal studios in our garages where we would make amazing art to our hearts’ content.

Wilmer: Elimination of cow town culture/unculture

6. Are you able to pursue what you are passionate about in this city?

Allison: Yes, there are so many opportunities here for people to create their dreams.

Amy: That has been this city’s gift to me: being able to pursue my interests on a meaningful level. When I became interested in film, everyone said to move to Van or TO. Picking up A-lister’ trash on a movie set, however, was not really relevant to my interests. I stayed here, got involved with the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers and eventually joined their board of directors, worked on indie films I genuinely liked, and within two years was lucky enough to be asked to co-produce a film that got invited to show at Cannes. That never would have happened had I gotten stuck as a cog in a big machine.

Andrew: Yeah. Art and music.

Aviva: Yes.

Casey: Yes. Though the 9 to 5 job allows for the bills to be paid.

Daniel: Not really.

Janine: Yes, but I also look beyond Calgary in my pursuits.

John: The factors preventing me from pursuing what I’m passionate about are not external.

Kimy: Yes. I have always been able to pursue my art in this city…although I am leaving to experience something new.

Ocean: It is difficult.

Phillip: I can but not to the degree that I could somewhere else.

Stephanie: I am pursuing what I am passionate about in this city as of right now; however I do think that I will eventually move away to another city in order to pursue my passions further, or just expand my perspective on the world. But I have a feeling that I may eventually end up in Calgary once more. I think that because Calgary is expanding so much, there will always be opportunities and new opportunities available, as well as an open energy or environment where you could create an opportunity if what you’re searching for is missing.

Terry: Yes, with a bit of determination and saving money by not eating.

Wilmer: Yes to an extent.

7. Do you think that Calgarians are excited about art/artistic culture?

Allison: Yes, and we are beginning to develop avenues to showcase our work through magazines such as atbt.

Amy: I think that some Calgarians are excited about art and artistic culture, and I really like some of those some Calgarians.

Andrew: I think so.

Aviva: Depends where you go in the city. And depends on what you consider “art”. In short…the majority of Calgarians…not really.

Casey: Good question…I do believe that they are excited about it, however, there are always people who will pigeonhole and perhaps miss something that is different or wonderful.

Daniel: Unfortunately, generally no. I think the majority of Calgarians are not engaged in the arts. The population of the arts community is small and the ongoing patronage and participation seems to be a very small percentage of the whole population of Calgary.

James: Calgarians are like most people, when given understanding and context; they become excited about the arts. I think the key is to not so much repeat the phrase “art is valuable” but to help individuals understand why it is valuable.

Janine: There are definitely Calgarians excited about art and culture, but I would say that these are people who make creativity and arts part of their own daily life wither through a career choice or personal interest. As a general population trait of Calgarians, excitement about art and culture would not be something I ascribe to a typical resident.

John: I do. It’s funny because today I read a quote on the Calgary International Film Festival’s brochure saying MacLean’s Magazine has Calgary ranked as the “most cultured city in Canada”. I don’t know that to be true, but Calgary is quietly quite active in the arts. For instance, I certainly didn’t realize how much major film work is based in and around Calgary until I moved here.

Kimy: Some are. Some aren’t. I think most are though. Calgary can surprise you.

Ocean: Some.

Phillip: I feel everyday more and more people are getting excited about the arts. Stephanie: I think the Calgary community is starting to get excited about the arts. I notice more artistic spaces being developed to showcase the local art being created.

Terry: Sadly, no.

Wilmer: Yes, I believe there is a passion for creative expression.

8. Do you feel connected to other artists here?

Allison: Yes, it’s all about getting out and collaborating with people to create.

Amy: Yes. Calgary’s artistic community is a true example of unselfish, generous collaboration.

Andrew: Yes. I have a lot of artist and musician friends.

Aviva: Yes.

Casey: Somewhat connected. Somewhat disconnected. I lost focus for a time, and now I am reconnecting.

Daniel: There are times when I do feel connected, but in my practice this interaction ebbs and flows and is navigated by the dictates of life.

James: Very much so. Through our monthly exhibits and opening receptions we have the opportunity to interact with so many great artists from a wide variety of backgrounds. Of course the internet is always a great resource to be able to view other like-minded individuals, artists and galleries.

Janine: Use, by nature of having my gallery in Art Central where I can meet and talk with people interested in art and design. Many of my regular customers and magazine subscribers work in Calgary’s downtown Cultural District. I will also be teaching at the Alberta College of Art & Design this fall and I look forward to working with the students. However, the biggest connection I have with other artists is online via my website and the majority of artists and designers that I correspond with are from outside of the city.

John: I don’t socialize enough to be connected with anyone really.

Kimy: I do feel connected to many artists here and I also don’t feel connected to many artists here. I’m pretty sure feeling/being connected is up to the individual, not the city.

Ocean: Yes – the community works hard to support each other.

Phillip: I do for the ones that I talk to.

Stephanie: Currently, I don’t feel very connected to other artists, however I feel as though I could feel connected by integrating myself more fully in the art community. I think as though exploring different galleries and meeting other artists, and opening the doors of conversation and idea sharing within the art community could cultivate that connection.

Terry: I used to have many artist friends who have since moved away because of the high cost of everything.

Wilmer: Thankfully yes! I have had the honor to collaborate with artistic souls whose creative vision has become their life’s work…truly admirable.

9. How do you think visitors view Calgary?

Allison: Friendly. Friendly. Friendly.

Amy: From the top of the Calgary Tower. (Ooooooh, that is so deep on so many levels. Think about it.)

Andrew: As a big city.

Aviva: White cowboys riding horses to the local oil rigs…and where the streets are paved with gold.

Casey: Hmmm. Hopefully as a visual and artistic cultural melting pot that allows everyone to find something to enjoy.

Daniel: Having recently hosted visitors from the old continent, descriptions of Calgary ranged from a clean and new city, to lots of space and many homeless people.

James: -

Janine: When it comes to tourism, I think the city still struggles with an overbearing focus on the Stampede. We have so much more going on, but art and culture is more subtle and sophisticated than painted window graphics, straw bales and cowboy hats!

John: It’s been my experience to see people taken with the hospitality of Calgarians. There is a real pre-conception about the city in some instances however (in my opinion). Having said that, I suppose those who come for Stampede are rarely disappointed…

Kimy: I don’t know…I’ve never been a visitor here. I would imagine it would depend on whether the visitor had a Calgary friend showing them the city’s secrets. Are they here in summer or winter?

Ocean: Dry and oil based.

Phillip: STAMPEDE.

Stephanie: I think visitors often view Calgary as a city that revolves around oil industry. However, as much as Calgary is the oil capital, I think visitors are often surprised by how much art is present within the community. I think we must only sit back and observe the changes occurring in the city to see that there are expanding opportunities for artists. There are a number of art galleries and art spaces that are becoming available for artists in the community, both established artists as well as “new” artists. Not only galleries are becoming available, but also spaces within the community, such as murals that are being commissioned.

Terry: Clean, western and wealthy.

Wilmer: Stampede oil & gas town.

10. Do you feel that you contribute to the culture of this city?

Allison: Yes, we all do!! Every time you walk out the door you have an opportunity to contribute to our city’s culture. Mine is through fashion.

Amy: I fucking hope so.

Andrew: Oh yeah.

Aviva: In my own way…yes.

Casey: Yes.

Daniel: I guess contributions are made with part of my job consisting of working in a gallery, and a studio, teaching art for students with disabilities, showing their work, showing my work, attending exhibitions, and going to concerts and productions.

James: Is it egotistical to say yes?

Janine: Yes, I think so. I work extremely hard to make my gallery an interesting place and constantly challenge myself to come up with new ideas. I think the quality of my magazine and books is a significant contribution.

John: Maybe in some small way I do, but certainly not substantially at this point. Certainly not more than anyone else does.

Kimy: I think that I do contribute …but I could always do more. One day.

Ocean: Not as much as I should.

Phillip: I hope so.

Stephanie: I don’t really think that I actively contribute to the culture of this city, but I believe that everyone has an influence on this city.

Terry: Yes, in a small way.

Wilmer: That is my goal.

11. Do you think that living in Calgary contributes to or challenges your work?

Allison: Contributes, absolutely!!

Andrew: A bit of both.

Aviva: Both.

Daniel: Currently I am able to have a studio; therefore I guess it contributes to my work to a degree. Unfortunately I think Calgary lacks greater cultural experiences and in turn makes it challenging. I strongly believe that without the presence of the Alberta College of Art and Design, visual arts in this city would not have become very tenacious. I think ACAD had brought to this city many artists and art, but it is only one institution and it cannot necessarily hold artists in this city.

James: We are coming at this from the perspective of independent business owners who work to promote unique products and emerging artists. Calgary presents its own set of unique challenges however it certainly makes us appreciate our successes that much more.

Janine: In the early days of my design career, living in Calgary was certainly an asset – the city was small enough that a young designer could establish a good freelance career. In a larger city such as Vancouver or Toronto, it would have been very difficult to set up on my own business straight out of school. My career has definitely shifted towards more entrepreneurial pursuits in retail and publishing, and I also attribute that to living in this city. That being said, running a creative retail space and gallery in Calgary is definitely a challenge.

Kimy: Both.

Ocean: -

John: Living in Calgary provides me with a great opportunity to work. I didn’t have such an opportunity elsewhere and that’s why I’m here. Calgary gives me the means to live somewhat comfortably and still be creative to some extent between the hours of 9 to 5. The city rewards hard work and perseverance unlike many major Canadian cities.

Phillip: It challenges my work. It does because people come to me for changes and I have to be on top of my game in order to do so.

Stephanie: Calgary challenges my work by challenging me to become creative in finding what I want from this city and in challenging where I find my inspiration. Calgary also challenges me to create my own creative opportunities and experiences.

Terry: It definitely challenges my work because I have to be creative in how I produce it. Right now, I’m sculpting in my dining room which means having to move heavy objects anytime I want to eat which luckily isn’t often because, like I mentioned earlier, I have to cut back on my eating so I can save money to make art. I think they call that a “reverse catch 22”.

Wilmer: Calgary contributes to my challenges. Is that an oxymoron? I feel the strongest challenge is for Calgary to discover the talent it harbors…the journey to that destination is contributing too many artists’ work.

12: Where do you go to have fun in this city?

Allison: I’m into the café and lounge scene. For dinner I love the Living Room. Café: Kawa on 8^th Street. Lounge: Milk Tiger on 4^th Street. Check them out!!

Amy: Nerdily, I will say that whatever is playing at the Plaza Theatre is always fun. Lately I am also really enjoying the 3-dollar steak sandwiches at this amazing biker bar in the southeast. Hutterites show up on weekends to sell great vegetables right there in the bar. 2 weeks ago, I got some really spectacular beets.

Andrew: Movie theatre.

Aviva: Other people’s kitchens.

Casey: I will go to the odd club or concert. Historic parks. Spend time with friends…and get out and enjoy as many festivals as possible.

Daniel: Wherever there is good food, music, films, books, parks and conversation.

James: There are so many great venues. The Marquee Room is quite rad though. I love the DIY aspect! Chris Vail has created a great space for live music and emerging art.

Janine: Since I work so hard, I go home to have fun – spending time with my husband and dog!

John: If I can name a place, I like the Palomino for its diversity, and its food, drink and personality. I may be wearing my welcome thin there, but it’s unique in its ability to absorb almost any type of person an make them comfortable and at ease quickly.

Kimy: Riverbanks. Friend’s porches.

Ocean: Since the Night Gallery closed, I have the most fun eating, drinking, and connecting with friends in my home or their homes. I also enjoy walking in Bowmont Park.

Phillip: Anywhere - there’s usually great people wherever you go.

Stephanie: I like to go out to a pub or bar with my friends, or go dancing, as well as picnics, or BBQ’s with friends are fun. Sometimes, I also like to go to a park and read a book, take a walk or hike on my own. I find that is also fun for me.

Terry: I like visiting the parks, floating down the Bow in a raft, having a pint or two with friends on a patio along Stephen Avenue, listening to Jazz Jam at Broken City.

Wilmer: I go to the people.

13. Why do you think so many people complain about living in Calgary?

Allison: They’re not getting out and creating the change they want to see. If you see something that needs improvement – do it!! We are all responsible for creating our environment.

Amy: Incessant birching and moaning gives poor talentless hacks the illusion of feeling discerning, I think. Additionally, whining about how you can’t find a good latte in this city is probably much easier than actual making the effort to find out what is going on around you; easier than actually doing something creative or productive with your life; easier than putting yourself out there and being vulnerable; easier than contributing to your city in any way. Ugh. I have no time for that shit.

Andrew: Because of the stereotype of the cowboys and stuff.

Aviva: It is way too spread out…which again, leads to lack of collaboration.       Again…great stuff is happening. However, because it is so grass roots, many people don’t know about tall the cool stuff that happens. You really have to scratch the surface to be in the know sometimes. We are too compartmentalizes. The spoken word artists know about the spoken word event. The visual artists know about the art shows. The activists do their activist thing…we gotta spread the word more.

Casey: Some people upon coming here have preconceived expectations about this city…and this city challenges them. (Some people don’t like to be challenged.)

Daniel: Calgary is still corporate, consumerist, and way too sprawled. It is expensive to live in Calgary, and there are few affordable arts and studio spaces. The arts and culture scene is a very small fraction of the broader Calgary.

James: I’m going to have to see some stats on this one. J/K. I think the amount of people who are disenchanted with Calgary are more and more becoming the minority.

Janine: People think that by virtue of the sheer number of people living here that there should be more of a built-in audience for arts and culture, but I don’t think it works that way.

John: The climate is horrible. That and the fact that people will always complain about anything and everything.

Kimy: I try not to but..I complain about living in Calgary because the winters are long. Apartments are expensive; there is no protection for heritage homes and buildings..and I’ve been here too long. There are only so many times you can go to the same bars to hear the same bands…see the same people you don’t want to see and so on.

Ocean: It is a tad boring to live here and not very attractive, especially the architecture.

Phillip: I think it’s because people sometimes don’t see the need to be here because Calgary always wants bigger and better, so why don’t the people.

Stephanie: It’s hard to determine why someone complains. Often I find myself complaining because it’s fun. Other times, I have more valid complaints. Calgary is a city that is quickly growing and growing quickly; so you get people complaining that there are resources mission an others complaining about how the city was better before the big boom. I think in the end people will always have something to complain about, and some of those people will find solutions to their complaints, and others will not.

Terry: I don’t know. I certainly never complain. ;^)

Wilmer: People are too agreeable here. There are more people complaining than there are people challenging the complainers. I commend people who take pride in this city and express it. Do you agree?

14. Is Calgary capable of a creative movement?

Allison: We are in one!!

Amy: Sure, anything can happen. A movement seems so demonstrative, though. I do feel that creativity is slowly crawling up conservatism’s pant leg and making itself felt here.

Andrew: Yeah. There’s a scene of course.

Aviva: Yes.

Casey: Yes.

Daniel: I wouldn’t doubt it if there were enough creative people to create a creative movement and the support to do so. Momentarily I am not convinced this is the case.

James: I hate to continue with the resounding optimism…but I would say yes.

Janine: There are always small creative movements happening in the city, in visual arts, writing, design, performance, music…as for a city-wide vision for arts and culture, that is much more difficult.

John: It’s already happening. There is a lot of creativity in this city and over time it will surface and be noticed. I doubt it’ll ever define the city (but I suppose stranger things have happened.) Calgary is a capable city in every aspect and the arts are no expectation.

Kimy: Calgary is definitely capable of a creative movement and I believe we are at the cusp of a creative movement. This is a young city…there is limitless potential here.

Ocean: Yes.

Phillip: Definitely. I actually believe we are on the cusp of it as we speak.

Stephanie: Calgary is definitely capable of a creative movement. I think it would be a slow in starting but definitely present!

Terry: Gawd yes! We have many talented people here. If only there was some way that we can all get together every now and then. Maybe we should have a conference or a symposium or something. I’ll come if there’s food.

Wilmer: The time is now! It is in its early stages.

15. Does Calgary love you?

Allison: I love Calgary, and Calgary loves me.

Amy: Can Calgary really love anyone? I mean, besides Dar Maqbool.

Andrew: I don’t know. I’ve never asked it.

Aviva: Not sure.

Casey: I’d like to believe so. But love is objective.

Daniel: I do not know. I am originally from Edmonton.

James: In its own special way  J

Janine: Yes, Calgary has been good to me.

John: If it does, it has a funny way of showing it.

Kimy: The Calgary I love loves me back. The Calgary I loath, loathes me back.

Ocean: I think some of it does.

Phillip: Like I said before, I sure hope so. I love you Calgary.

Stephanie: Calgary has been good to me, for the most part. I would think Calgary loved me.

Terry: It used to love me, but lately it’s been acting kind of cold and distant. I think it might be have an affair: probably with some fancy-dressing, Jag-driving, martini sipping, food-eating, six-figure-salary-earning executive. The TRAMP!

Wilmer: The love is mutual.

Colin Menzies INTERVIEWS:

Ashley Colours Perez

Photograph by Wilmer Aburto

Written by Colin Menzies

This interview was conducted on July 29, 2009 5:15 pm at the Calgary Public Library Memorial Branch, a place filled with stories of passion and perseverance. I get there early, stocked with a bottle of spring water, a bottle of sparkling water, a licorice candy cigar, and a Polaroid camera.

My interview subject is Ashley Perez a.k.a Colours, an extraordinarily talented dancer who exudes innocence and glamour. Ashley is also a choreographer and collaborator with the Haus of Dangerkat, a dance troupe that performs locally and internationally.

As a musician, I am interested in what motivates Ashley to get up and shake it…

Colin: How old were you when you first discovered your passion for dance?

Ashley: Around seven, my mum – she’s a dancer, and she did choreography for a community based dance group that did Caribbean and Folk mixed with African dance. I would watch them, and then I would get up and dance in the background, and so the next year they added me into the dance.

Colin: Do you remember the first song that you ever danced to?

Ashley: Milli Vanilli‘s “Girl You Know It’s True”. I did the running man and the Roger Rabbit for three minutes straight. I had a bob of braids with beads at the bottom, so they would shake when I danced.

Colin: What kind of music makes you want to dance?

Ashley: I love everything. I love Michael and Janet Jackson, I love funk…I’m really into electro right now…the bass in the music just hits your soul to the core, you can feel it when it’s real. I like the energy in the music.

Colin: What do you think is the most beautiful sound?

Ashley: I think the ocean is nice. It’s consistent. It’s really loud.

Colin: Tell me about your alter ego Colours…what’s she all about?

Ashley: Colours is the more authentic me. Sometimes I can be a diva when I dance. I think that Colours sets the tone for what I am about. Colors is still fresh, pretty new for me.

Colin: She seems to have a lot of attitude. Kind of like: “You wanna see what I’m made of?!?!!” When I was looking through photographs and film of your work I could feel that energy as a viewer…definitely a strong sense of confidence.

Ashley: Yeah, for sure. Colours is that…because I’m short, I’m little, and bald.

Colin: So does the makeup and wigs and wild outfits help create that character?

Ashley: It used to, but now I’m trying to dance without all that stuff - just raw energy. I’m totally into that rawness.

Colin: What style of dance would you like to explore that you haven’t yet?

Ashley: Contemporary. I really like contemporary when it’s done right. The emotions are very real when they dance. No painted faces or elaborate costumes…it just is.

Colin: If you could perform with anyone anywhere in the world – who and where?

Ashley: That’s hard. (laughs) I like Europe a lot; maybe London or Paris and I really like M.I.A.

Colin: What comes to mind when you think of your future?

Ashley: Bumpy, really bumpy. I think it’s going to be one hell of a ride. I think it will be bright, just a lot of hard work. I don’t know if I’m ready for the ride, but its coming. There’s no way around it…I used to try to take the other way…it doesn’t work anymore.

Colin: Okay…now we’re going to play a word game. I’ll say a word and you tell me the first word that comes to your mind…ready?

Colin: Kiss

Ashley: Tell

C: Art

A: Fart

C: Fame

A: Game

C: Heart

A: Fart

C: Pirouette

A: Spinning

C: Champagne

A: Bubbles

C: Fear

A: Death

C: Vogue

A: Wack

C: Death

A: Wack

C: Rabbit

A: Jump

C: Beauty

A: Fame

C: Flavour

A: Pepper

C: Dream

A: Wish

C: Stage

A: Show

C: Minnie Mouse (oops 2 words)

A: (laughs) Purple

C: Rhythm

A: Nation

C: Sexy

A: Back

C: Calgary

A: Random

C: Movement

A: Dance

C: Color

A: Black

C: Banana

A: Banana

C: Destiny

A: Fate

C: Subliminal

A: I’m not sure what that word means

C: It means hidden

At this point of the interview a security guard from the library comes over to where we are sitting and asks us what we are doing. We reply that we are contributing to the culture of the library as a dancer and a musician by documenting our conversation on such subjects. He asks us to stop doing what we’re doing, saying that the library is a silent place not a vocal place.

I don’t know how much longer Calgary can keep silent about the boom- BOOM that is Ashley ‘Colours’ Perez.

For more info on Ashley: http://www.myspace.com/ashleycoloursperez

Colin Menzies is an artist living in Calgary. He creates music and film under the alias of The Subliminal Rabbit.

For more info on Colin: www.youtube.com/thesubliminalrabbit

[View with PicLens]

Written by: Magda Gorski
Photos by: Devon Boulton-Mills

Danny Kirk is a thoughtful, intelligent and observant creator whose work explores a variety of themes and topics which are, by nature, open to interpretation. Many deal with identity, subjectivity, “isms”, re-connecting with the precious and the intangibles in life, and re-evaluating predisposed perceptions and meanings in a constructed world. He also makes a mean cup of chai, and might even feed you biscuits.

His strange and fabulous art moves into liberated conversation with its viewers by showing and telling a story, and his observations are reflected in and off his work, which challenges the audience but also acknowledges the information each viewer provides. It reminded me of cutting an earthworm in half - each new process of creation becomes a part of its emerging environment, as well. Sitting down in his studio, a space stocked with art and ideas, where he showed me mounds of his work, we talked candidly about his craft, about condoms, the universe, monsters, teeth, truths and the state of humanity, among other things.

Identity and subjectivity are major parts of Kirk’s work, and he tries to visualize and create new characters and faces that can express these ideas. “We don’t really know what’s true and what isn’t and it doesn’t really matter,” he reflects. His paintings are a fascinating dialogue between consciousness and the physical world, mentally inspiring and materially tactile.

Lately Kirk has been experimenting with different methods in his creations, which include painting with coffee, gold leaf and India ink, or adding burlap and silicone and other industrial materials to the canvas or by wrapping his paintbrushes with condoms (!). The finished products represent changing layered meanings and representations via the actual process of creating them.” Kirk says that sometimes he’ll walk into a gallery or opening where his art is on display and he’ll prod and poke the canvas as people look on in horror. “I’ve purposely made them durable; they can withstand it,” he says, pointing out that part of creating is challenging notions of what art is ultimately for.

Painting with condoms on the ends of his brushes creates “safe paintings” and questions what is created and what is held back. In describing his intentions for this series of work, Kirk says, “I’ve been playing with the notion of the act of creating versus the finished product. The act of making love ends off with warm fuzzy feelings and a used condom - then there’s the act of creating a work of art and what you end up with; and the finished product, is it about the result or the process?

“I like the idea of creating a painting and not actually having the brush touch the canvas. Having that sort of barrier there starts to make the process show through,” says Kirk, adding that his latest work with used mixed coffee grounds as paint also works with the idea of medium as message. “It removes some of the preciousness. It forces you to loosen it up and just let the paint show through.”

Kirk is embarking on an adventure across Canada this summer, ready for stimulation in the form of creating, people, self-discovery and experience. Not sure if this is a big secret, but Kirk’s plan is to work in motion within each new environment and if you take a good look around any random small town from here on east you might just see a gold leafed brick road trailing Danny Kirk’s journey across Canada.

[View with PicLens]

Words: Isis Graham

Photos: Jessica Wittman

Before you go assuming this article is going to be about self mutilation, consider how interesting scars are. Every scar tells a story, natural or self induced. Stretch marks on a woman’s belly can indicate a recent pregnancy, a long scar down your chest can indicate surviving a major heart surgery, an “x” on your knee can indicate a knee replacement, and small scars on your hands can mean, well anything: burn scars, car accidents, or that time that Bobby accidentally shot you with his BB gun in Jr. High. All of these things happen every day. We all run around downtown in our work clothes with secrets and scars and stories. Nobody in our society in the right mental state is going to look at the above mentioned scars with radical negative judgment. The type of cognitive interpretation that a person uses to recognize these as “normal” scars is the same type of judgment a person uses to analyze a tribal scar or judge a self-induced cutter’s scar.

Scarification and tattooing has been practiced by our species for (possibly) over 200,000 years for lack of better proof or research to take it back further. It is believed that the first forms of scarification were used as social markers - sort of how we have grade six, nine and twelve graduations. Men and women would be - and still are - subjected to painful scrapings, sewing, and cuttings of the skin; most of time with very primitive tools made out of rock or wood or in some cases, very old, very dirty metals or glass. Living through these trials and bearing these marks proves something for these people. For the boys it could be coming of age; for girls, it can show that she can survive the pain of going through childbirth. Some tribes in Nigeria use facial scarring and modification as a form of beautification like our North Americans use Botox. Older cultures would modify the bones of their dead which was believed to aid these people in the afterlife and leave evidence for those who came after of what was before.

Today, a person who cuts themselves for pleasure can be hospitalized for mental instability. If you subject yourself to being cut by someone else without painkillers in a tattoo shop or get tattoos or piercings, you can be seen as somewhat of a freak in our society. You are piled into the same social reject bin as alcoholics, drug addicts and white supremacist skin heads. For the next generation it seems that our society will be more relaxed. It has become not only acceptable, but popular to have piercings and tattoos; we have all seen the Miami and LA Ink TV shows where it takes only eight minutes to complete a full color sleeve on someone’s arm… YA RIGHT! Will scarification and body modifications be the next big thing, or will it remain an underground culture?

I am the fairly typical white-girl-living-in-North America type. I have one stylish tattoo and the same-as-everyone-else nose & ear piercings. I have tested my body’s pain tolerance with those few items, but have never contemplated cutting myself or having implants of any sort. Medical surgery was enough for me to understand that I don’t enjoy being cut. Let’s be honest: it hurts and most people are afraid of pain and try to avoid it. I find the thought of being cut open with a scalpel by someone without a medical degree and without pain medication to be a scary thought. When it was arranged that I would meet Dan at Sacred Balance to sit in on one of his scarification pieces on his customer Jeremy Kidney, I had no idea what I was in for. I knew there would be blood, which I am really curious about, so hey what the fuck - let’s do it!

Dan has been performing body modifications since 1997. He has no formal training other than his degree in Zoology from the U of O accompanied by years of intense personal interest and study in human anatomy. Dan can pierce you; install custom Teflon and steel items under your skin; split your tongue or perform scarification on you - all that while wearing jeans and a t-shirt that says “Fucking Classy” on it. Nonetheless, Dan has strict ideas about what types of things people can have done to their body.

“The problem with this industry is you have to direct people on what will work for them. You can’t always do what you’ve seen,” says Dan. “I refused to do something that I don’t think will work.”

He has tried everything he will do to you on himself - he will not give you any room for whining if it hurts. If you’re a baby, this ain’t for you princess. Dan is a tough ass, but he believes in a sanitary and safe practice to create the best work possible which is good news for his clients.
Jeremy, Dan’s client of the day, is at first sight, your grandmother’s worst nightmare. Draped in dark-themed attire and over six feet tall, he totes a green Mohawk and has upwards of 20 facial piercings. Tattoos cover both of his arms and legs. There are metal bars implanted into his forearms and he could probably crush your skull with his bare hands. When you talk to Jeremy, you learn that he is a computer science instructor at the University of Calgary currently working on his Masters. He is extremely intelligent, witty and interesting. Jeremy is a regular client of Dan’s and today he wants complimentary scars around one of his tribal sleeves.

The preparation for the scarification is a five minute sketching session with a sharpie marker. Dan draws the design on Jeremy’s arm, puts on his gloves, a mask, and sanitizes the whole area before he pulls out his disinfected tools which consist of a lot of paper towel and a #11 scalpel. I am getting anxious; I can’t stand getting a paper cut. Jeremy is calm; in fact, he doesn’t even break a sweat. Right before the first cut I was really hoping some super dramatic music would play and maybe some blood, gore and aliens would come spilling out of Jeremy’s arm. Instead, there is no blood after the first cut and something inside of me dies when this happens – all of the glamour is gone. What we are seeing here is a man getting sliced with a sharp knife, and then sliced over and over in the same spot to ensure the lines are the same thickness. BORING! Especially with Jeremy as the recipient who is like a stone. The cutting goes on for about an hour, and when it’s over, the cuts that were done at the beginning of the appointment have now widened to almost ¼ inch in some places on his arm. All that is left to do is abuse the scab. The thing that differs from scars and tattoos is that you want to be as cruel to the scar as possible to get the best effect. The care instructions include: scratch, pick, peel, scrub, irritate, put salt in it, pick, pick and more pick. For all you scab picking, sick bastards maybe this is the body mod you have been waiting for.

Nowadays, scarification is aesthetic or symbolic, or at least for a majority of Dan’s clients it is. He gets people of all ages, backgrounds, men and women coming in with their ideas. He believes that it takes a certain amount of mental strength to submit to one of these procedures and also believes that is one of the main reasons people do it. It is a personal test of strength or survival like our friends in Africa, or a mark of something tragic or life-altering like our friends 200,000 years ago (or something straight up glamorous and cool). Although scarification is very unlikely to become as popular as tattooing or piercing, there is a higher demand for it now than there ever has been. This leads local Tattoo and Piercing shops like Sacred Balance to bring in specialists like Dan to perform these types of body mods. If you have an idea that is a little out of the ordinary, or want to test your personal pain tolerance by modifying your body with rods, balls, scars or implants, you should stop by Dan’s shop to see how deep he can cut you.

[View with PicLens]

Written by: Magda Gorski

Photo by: Devon Boulton-Mills

Paintings by: Eric Louie

atbt magazine issue 3

I accidentally had a dream about interviewing Eric Louie before I ever saw him or met him. We were at a raging party, his name was Eugene Levy (notice the same initials—the subconscious is tricky) and there were elk fights going on in the alley. When I had the pleasure of actually meeting him and peering around his Art Central studio, I was completely awake, yet I still found his work to ride some radical phantasmagoric space in-between the past and the present, straddling time, movement and representation. The youth filled darkness, their space and anticipation immortalized; a prom night gone wrong, a plane in a dream war, a bright cigar ash burning forever – Louie paints things which sublimely evoke a certain street spirit which weave what feel like alive, real and stark images (street scenes, people in transit, visual symbols of war, homeless artifacts, portraiture) with whimsical and dreamlike streams of light and texture. Louie’s work seems to illuminate the often indescribable ghostly moods and nostalgic moments that linger long atop, behind and beneath waking life- he takes them, and he traps them in paint, where they are never let go. His work is striking, and original, and we absolutely demand that you go look at it.

atbt: How you would characterize your work for our readers?

ERIC: I primarily work in oils and watercolours. My style mixes biomorphic abstractions with elements of realism. I gravitate to either end of the spectrum depending on my desired goal.

atbt: How do you approach a blank canvas?

ERIC: My process is fairly unpredictable, I know what I like to paint but I try to keep the target blurred to maintain freshness and a sense of discovery. The paintings feel planned at times but in actuality they develop as I go. My experience guides me but I always try to remain open to take things in a new direction when the opportunity presents itself, either by my own devices or by accident. I’m really into intuitive responses mixed with moments of deliberation.

atbt: What has been inspiring your work recently?

ERIC: My recent body of work, which is still in production, involves aviation war scenes and icons of the past sixty years or so. They stemmed from conversations with my grandfather, a WW2 veteran and his recollections of his missions over Germany and Poland. They attempt to emulate some sense of being on a mission over enemy territory. They talk about heroism, patriotism, nationalism, memory, glory and pain. They’re not meant to be overtly didactic but to serve as renditions of dreams of past generations.

atbt: Many of your paintings are saturated with a feeling of movement, atmosphere and scene. How do you approach the creation of these characters and places?

ERIC: Most of my work speaks from the third person. I suppose there is always that sense of voyeurism present; at rare times allowing the viewer to participate in the scenes. The subject matter attempts to address different aspects of culture, history and personal experience. Over the past several years my work has infused elements of urban living, motion, time and space, youth and social development, poverty, war and nostalgia.

atbt: How do you think your audience relates to this idea of memory or nostalgia, of ‘being there’?

ERIC: Our culture is fairly nostalgic up to a few generations. I think it is important to address the human need for maintaining an identity. Each of us is seemingly small and insignificant but precious. A lot of what I paint is personal nostalgia but I feel the human experience allows most of us who have grown up in this culture to identify with it in some fashion.

atbt: What are all the best things?

ERIC: The very best things are meeting good, enthusiastic people with positive outlooks. You can find it in most places but it really means a lot here and now.

Check him out at his studio at 1639, 12th ave SW Calgary, Alberta.

[View with PicLens]

Written by: Isis Graham

Paintings by: Piper Davis

atbt magazine issue 02

I met Piper in a crowded bathroom at a community centre rave in 1997. She was wearing a green Robin Hood hat, some obnoxious phat pants, while sporting the typical 90’s bleached bob hairdo.
We exchanged some hollow words about how great the party was. Eleven years have gone by - we are still great friends - and Piper is a hot Canadian commodity. She is a vocalist, songwriter, visual artist, and a magical coordinator (www.piperdavis.com & www.myspace.com/piperdavis). One year after the conception of her solo project, she has received a Factor Grant from the Canadian government (www.factor.ca) which will enable her to record and release her first full length album in 2009. Secondly she gained entry to the most unique academy in the world; The Red Bull Music Academy (www.redbullmusicacademy.com). ATBT met up with Piper over the internet the day before she took off to Barcelona to have a little chat.

atbt: Can you define your music for our readers?

PIPER: I don’t have a specific definition. Other people have called it electro-blues. I like that one, but music doesn’t necessarily have to fit too neatly into any particular genre anymore to be successful, which is great. If I were to pin it down myself, I’d call it peanut hawk. Its percussion based.

atbt: Who are your songs about?

PIPER: I’m inspired by humanity… actually they’re all about my boyfriend. Thanks a lot…

atbt: Where do you draw your influence from?

PIPER: My little brother.

atbt: Do you see your craft as underground culture versus a more main stream/ pop idea?

PIPER: I don’t buy into the starving artist stereotype. But I do buy into a diamond button and things like a boot made out of a solid gold nugget; so my music would have to be mainstream. It’s definitely not mainstream right now and I don’t know if it ever will be.

atbt: When you went to school for music in Vancouver, was there one thing that you learned that opened up your mind on how to write a good song?

PIPER: I went to SFU and took Music in the Contemporary Arts program. I thought most of what I was learning at the time was useless but in retrospect it stretched my capacity to experiment which is important. What I’m interested in theoretically, is including enough recognizable elements to set up a base for a track and then from there incorporating more creative or innovative elements so people don’t get totally lost in my brain activity and just shut it off. The pull between those things is what makes a song interesting I think. Whether or not I’m able to do that is a whole other equation; also being too concentrated on any theory while writing usually makes for a boring result. In action music is mostly about listening and putting the note where it goes, I think.

atbt: You’re a visual-artists as well as a musician, where can a potential buyer pick up or see a Piper Davis piece?

PIPER: I’m pro selling art because I have a fine arts degree. I’m not pursuing visual art as a business. The music thing takes up all my time. Some of my stuff is on my myspace page to look at.

atbt: Who else is in your band?

PIPER: Back-up singer/percussionist named Abra Rissi, A drummer named Luke Cyca and a bassist named Adrien “Earl” Fillion. Earl is a lighting technician, Luke is a computer scientist and Abra takes care of the management stuff so they’re a really amazing group of people to have with me.

atbt: As a bonus question what’s your funniest studio story?

PIPER: My studio is comprised of my laptop and closet for a sound booth so nothing amazing has ever happened. One time an iron fell on my laptop.

atbt: Thanks and good luck in Barcelona!