These conversations are a practice of the Performing Arts Dept at New York’s Lincoln Centre where they have been imagining a more creative community for over 35 years.  The one at the Winspear this week was Canada’s first Imagination Conversation.  The intent of the organizers is to have 150 conversations before 2017 when Canada turns 150 years old.  So for three days we were entertained, fed and watered in both mind and body.

We were right in our sense that something is coming, changes that we need to be able to address…in all facets of society – Economics, Socio-demographics, Regulatory and Technological.  Here in our wonderful remote community we don’t feel the emergence of cell therapy or fusion energy.  Those combined with access to technology, as never before, coupled with the retirement of over 78 million people within the next 10 years leaves our world with changes not unlike those of the middle ages or the invention of the printing press.  These changes will challenge all structures – our institutional systems are becoming archaic.  And as leaders we cannot address these changes by simply moving faster and learning more.  Information is everywhere…no longer do we see our clients (the people that we serve in our nonprofits) as needing information…they have access to as much information as professionals now.  This is a profound change in the service provider’s relationship to clients.  Alberta is already applying analytics to much of its professional sector – displacing the need for professionals – in everything from studying energy to crime to consumers.  (Dr. Pierre Kinkaide, Alberta Council of Technologies, http://www.bestofanalytics.com/category/blog/ )

Coupled with the 78 million retirees and their ‘knowledge’ leaving the workplace is the incoming ‘idea generation’ and their concepts and use of the digital world.  This imaginative generation takes problem solving out of the language and replaces it by facing challenges through ICI – the imagination-creativity-innovation continuum.  (Robert Kelly, http://www.robertkelly.ca/home-page, Scott Noppe-Brandon, http://lcinstituteblog.com/2011/03/23/the-%E2%80%9Cici-continuum%E2%80%9D-imagination-creativity-and-innovation/ )  Changes in educational environments are leading to ‘sustained creative potential’ programs.  Some institutions in the States are already admitting students through an ‘academic blind’ process – where creative portfolios, not the traditional academic ratings, are key.

Educating a creative workforce is a global issue.  CEOs around the world were asked the following question: “What are the top qualities you seek when hiring someone?” The answer was “the ability to deal with complexity.” When they were asked what qualities they find lacking in today’s workplace, they said “creativity.”

A sustainable future depends upon imaginative, creative, innovative solutions to profound and complex challenges. The very future of our communities and institutions depends on our ability to nurture and harness imagination to creatively solve problems.  Alberta is already moving towards changing education to reflect the ‘Creative Challenge Index’.  (Dan Hunter, Hunter-Higgs LLC, http://www.creativechallengeindex.org/ )

All traditional ways of working in committees, ways of leading and solving problems will be challenged by the socio-economic, demographic and cultural changes of the fast paced technological future.

And of course, what would a conference on the future be without the future being included!!  Over 100 children got on stage and did this exact song…wasnt a dry eye in the building.  The Yellowhead Regional Creative Campus will be bringing these fantastic ‘ARTISTS IN NATURE’ to our region, to work with our youth, next spring on time for Earth Day!!

“A time of inbetweenity.”  Psychologist Ellen Langer, known for her work in ‘mindfulness’, tells us that we should be ready to embrace uncertainty.  We learn from noticing differences, we learn through uncertainty.  We cannot continue to look at the world through a ‘deficit based perspective’ (problems to be solved).  She goes on to say that this kind of thinking leads to ‘rearranging the furniture’ – keeping the status quo…a linear approach that focuses on inabilities rather than abilities.  Yet we value abilities as they are the inspiration for leadership.  Embrace the uncertainty and focus on abilities, non linear thinking allows for individuality – acknowledging strength based assets.  (Dr Peter Gamwell, Ottawa, Peter’s philosophy is simple: the health and prosperity of any organization is directly proportional to the value, autonomy and creative freedom given to the people who make up that organization.)

Rex Jung, a neuroscientist from the University of New Mexico, spoke of the processes the brain goes through when thinking creatively.  The way the brain uses creativity is related to intelligence – but not necessarily in the way we think it is.     http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2012/creativity-and-the-everyday-brain/transcript.shtml

‘Selling creativity to a bean counting culture’ by Matt Homann talks about the need to measure things that make life worthwhile – in the future the GDP will not have the same status it has today.  Measuring the economy will be done on new curves.  ( http://www.lexthinkllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Matthew-Homann-One-Page-Bio.pdf )  Matt had an intense view on the economic concept of creativity…arts are communication – have been around for thousands of years, cave art, stained glass windows of cathedrals were storytelling for those who couldn’t read…business has lost that connection.   These communicators, artists and teachers, are often the lowest paid persons…sell your product – give them value, no one wants to buy karma.

Focus on the user of the product, provide an experience that is beyond what is already available.  (Our ‘Come for the Smiles’ program at Habitat last year, where town employees and other corporate offices were invited to come and play in the arts, allowed for creative communications.)  Matt has taken executives into tango classes where he provides each dancer with a secret card…the card might say things like ‘teacher’ or ‘student’ or ‘superintendent’.  No one is told what the other person’s card reads…imagine trying to dance not knowing if you are the teacher or the student…  Rather than putting executives through ‘Toastmasters’ to teach them public speaking…incorporate storytelling, and theatre and song and writing into what these public speakers will need to communicate.  He also talked about the knowledge transfer that is occurring as the boomers leave the workforce…that knowledge is an organizations assets.

Dr David Kahane from Alberta Climate Dialogue wanted us to know that diversity should not only be represented by the different people in a room but should be found in each person as well.  Alberta is not a province of diversity.  Ideas sometimes must die so great ideas can live.  ‘His broader research deals with theories and practices of democratic dialogue and deliberation, with focus on features of process design that make public dialogues more inclusive and transformative.’  (www.albertaclimatedialogue.ca)

It is interesting to note that many attendees at the conference were there to talk about art and creativity, and were pleasantly surprised to find that, in actuality, the focus was on how creativity is incorporated into everything we do – and how important creative thinking will be to lead us into the next generation of change.  Most of us were hoping for the magic formula to take home and implement in our communities.  Showing yet again, how thinking is changing.  There IS no formula.

The nonprofit sector is being transformed by a broad range of trends – generational shifts, economic and political uncertainty, technology and networking, increased diversity, shifting nonprofit boundaries and virtual work.   Transformation is not optional, if we don’t move at the speed of change, we will be left behind.  (La Piana Consulting)

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QUOTES I found:

Ideas don’t make change, experiences do.

You can’t jump chasms without taking a leap.

Follow the crowd, stop with the crowd.

Committee’s are cul-de-sac’s.  (Interestingly the new cultural spaces in Jasper are taking the Partnership Matrix beyond collaborations to actual Strategic Alliances…collaboration is just the beginning to building partnerships!!  The Creative Campus also takes collaboration beyond phase one – creating an alliance between five municipalities!)

Nonprofits want to ‘deserve’ money…ask for it.  Give value, not karma.

Perhaps the most exciting thing collected at this event was the concept of ArtScience.  ArtScience looks at the need to have our cultural, corporate and educational systems use both art and science in ways where the conventional line can no longer be seen; artists, industry and social sectors working together to meet the needs, and lead innovation, for the future.  And David Edwards book ‘Creativity in the post-Google Generation’ has many examples of how this happens every day without notice. ( http://thelaboratory.harvard.edu/concept/artscience/ )

We do not need to work harder or faster to meet these changes, in fact ‘busy’ doesn’t allow for conversation (or healthy relationships)…we need to be mindful of where we are in the process of addressing challenges and influencing change.

Should you have any questions or suggestions on how our communities can move forward into the Idea Generation…we can start conversations now!!

Music in the Street!

And as the Habitat prepares to take down the walls of accessible creative space – the walls for Habitat II are going up.  You see, in 2011 we were invited to be part of the new Library that the Town of Jasper is building.  They have opened up the northwest end of the new structure to be a home for Jasper’s Arts and Cultural industries.

So, as we get into the groove of booking events and opening doors for the varying community orgs to create programming in Hab I for 2012 – our attention and energies are twisted towards making sure that, when Hab II opens its doors in 2013, it reflects all the gusto and intensity of seasoned arts and cultural workers!  We will transfer the excitement of our original opening, such a short time ago, and pour it into the new foundations.

Habitat and Jasper Artists Guild on the far left

And if that isn’t scary enough, we have taken a deeper dive into the world of advocacy and lobbying for this great industry by making sure our funders and future funders are confident in what we bring to the community of Jasper.  To do that, we have to ‘peel back the hide’ on the carcass of Hab I and ‘pick some bones’ to make sure we are getting every possible scrap of information on what we have done and where we can go with what we know.  What are our strengths?  What are our weaknesses?  (feel free to tell us!)

BUT first and foremost, before we go to the big house…before we go to the bright and shiny ‘in the public eye’ cultural spaces being built just for what we BELIEVE we are…lets define the what and the why.

What will it be?  If we learned anything from the past 14 months it’s that not everything we felt the community needed was needed.  At least not in the form that we presented it in.

Our efforts to include all ages – check.  From wee ones to seniors – they came to be engaged or to share their skills.

Our efforts to tie the arts into as many community and extended community (tourism) events as possible – check. From the annual Jasper in January Festival to the Dark Sky Festival to Heritage Day…we built related workshops or displays and even full on festivals to complement what was there (or missing).

Our efforts to co-ordinate the different organizations in the community through art – check.  Arts Days and the annual Arts with Altitude Festival not only got every possible org from the Folk N Blues Society to Arts Jasper to the Film Club doing what they do best – they did it all over town.

ArtsDays 2011

So that takes care of the WHAT.  Now the WHY.

An initial glance at any ‘arts centre’ initiative and you can deduce that it was about the ‘centering’.  It was about creating a ‘hub’ where information on art, arts groups, arts events, arts education…could be found.  Our passing grade on this – check.  Evidence is in the offshoots of success that can be seen in artists, that are now teaching and sharing their art, that found their audiences and students through Habitat’s ‘people place process’ mandate.  Further evidence is in continued support and lobbying efforts made by IOTAD to keep groups alive, and prospering.  This support reaches far and wide…from reviving ToastMasters (fingers crossed for their continued success…we need great speakers!) to offering volunteer support to Arts Jasper to offering space for community to meet.  Continual searching for funds to enhance and financially support others – instructors, artists and even actors – round out the relevancy of Hab’s ‘centre’.  A lengthy pursuit of ideology and philosophy on the detrimental effects of ‘silos’ in community we wont go into – Jasper’s past ‘silos’ are slowly merging and creating a strong diversified cultural industry.

This industry – in Alberta – is responsible for 3500 jobs and a 1:12 return on investment – turning $13 million dollars (in Alberta Foundation for the Arts grants alone) into $153 million for the Alberta economy.  This impact is felt throughout the province from tourism, accommodations, transportation to agriculture and education.  We find the potential to grow this industry in Jasper very exciting, we find the Town of Jasper’s insightful move to create dedicated ‘cultural spaces’ in the new Library very advantageous.

Ok, this is getting very long…and we still have pictures to post!  One final reason for todays post…to educate those that wonder what Habitat is doing, what we stand for, why…

Almost every conversation we have – be it with teachers or students or seniors or parents or politicians…leads to economics.  Well, while we are not artists in the pure sense – we dont paint, we dont dance [where you can see us], we dont sing -  we sure do dream.  And we believe.  We believe that the arts can be a poignant economic driver if we learn from those that have succeeded, if we listen to those that are trying to tell us something, if we watch the signs and enthusiastically grasp and build on opportunities like a new facility.

People Place Process, IOTAD mantra – put them in whatever order you want.  We believe they are the keys to success.   Not unlike the 3T’s of Creative Class fame.  Talent, technology and tolerance.

Talent: The driving force behind any effective economic strategy is talented people. We live in a more
mobile age than ever before. People, especially top creative talent, move around a lot. A community’s
ability to attract and retain top talent is the defining issue of the creative age.
Technology: Technology and innovation are critical components of a community or organization’s ability
to drive economic growth. To be successful, communities and organizations must have the process for
transferring research, ideas and innovation into marketable and sustainable products. Educational institutions are paramount to this, and provide a key hub institution of the creative age.
Tolerance: Economic prosperity relies on cultural, entrepreneurial, civic, scientific and artistic creativity.
Creative workers with these talents need communities, organizations and peers that are open to new
ideas and different people. Places receptive to immigration, alternative lifestyles, and new views on
social status and power structures will benefit significantly in the creative age. Define it as proactive inclusion.

Jasper might be a bit behind on the PROCESS or the TECHNOLOGY to make the arts a viable economic pillar today.  And Habitat II or IOTAD’s dream of a ‘Banff Centre’ atmosphere in Jasper might be a bit reaching…but that’s what we do.  That’s why we are here.  Imagine a world without art.

Since November 10th 2010 the big space located on the corner of Hazel and Patricia Streets in downtown Jasper has been home to the Yellowhead Regional Creative Campus, Library Film Nights, music jams, painting workshops, beading and knitting afternoons – heritage arts, author readings, information sessions from the Banff Centre and Volunteer Alberta, public gallery shows from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts collection, regular meeting space for over six community arts related orgs including a startup for Jasper’s Toastmasters, square dancing, childrens theatre games (lots and lots of children), adult theatre practices, video classes, pottery classes, multimedia art exploring, NFB webcasts, language arts for outreach education, Whats On Jasper wall, volunteer store and centre, afterschool programs, annual cultural celebrations like Celtic Hour, lunch bag programs, studio for visiting artists…

…we were hoping to create a SPACE for community to engage, teach and demonstrate arts and culture.  It looks like ‘it only took a dream’.

Photos of the past year can be seen on our the link to the right here called ‘A Photo History’ – it will take you to a Flickr photo site.  Or catch some sidewalk cinema as we showoff the year on the window screens at Habitat this month…hey – if it’s going to get dark at suppertime…we are going to use the dark!!

The Habitat has been supported by many and supports many arts programs in Jasper.  In 2011 over $20,000 was spread through the community for three culturally related arts ‘festivals’.  Artists were employed, musicians were hired, art was purchased, instructors taught, restaurants and hotels were booked – are we bragging…you bet we are!  In 2010 the social return on a ten day festival was calculated to be a 200% spin back of dollars into the community…we haven’t finished this years SROI.

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But we can tell you:

The ANNUAL JASPER CHRISTMAS FAIR – November 20…make a gingerbread house for Santas Anonymous and maybe you will win a day in the JPL Fairmont Bakery…secrets will be shared I have heard!  To be on the voting ballot please register your house by the 18th..and deliver it to the Activity Centre on Sunday morning between 9:30 and 10:30 please.

And Go to the FAIR!!

ITS ANIMATION MONTH! 

NOVEMBER 21 and 28 – animation NFB short films at 4pm and animation projects for Christmas gift making workshops, $5 and $10 drop in fees for the Craft Stations (might be good to phone and let us know you are coming so there is enough materials!  Hate to turn anyone away)

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=269452783090366

Habitat will have a wish tree outside this year.  We will decorate on the 28th with some of the items we have made in the workshops.

Lantern Making workshop with Ursula is November 16.  And a lantern walk…with her other students…

There are Friday noon hour music jams at the Habitat as well…just until the sun returns to shine on the outdoor ones with some heat!

NOVEMBER 16 – Food Society Film – check out Jasper-Food Local-Society on Facebook.

And while you are on Facebook don’t forget to become Friends of the Jasper Community Habitat for the Arts!

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DECEMBER 10- the Habitat will be open from noon-4 or later for its first birthday party.  Come by for cake and check out Jasper’s very own Jazz Band (I would say High School Jazz Band…but if I don’t tell you how old these musicians are – you would never know by their skill!).  Joel Cultur of Art of Street will do a live demonstration of his art during their music…Amber Hayward will read to us from her latest book…Shara will have some awesome handmade dolls for sale as well as Paintings by Paula and Jewelery by Sandra!  Both of the Art of Street artists Joel and Ryan will have some artworks on display…

Door prizes, and open stage for busking and tours through the building…

Habitat’s office is open Tuesday to Friday – noon to 5 in November.  780.852.4747

Join us for an after dinner black tie affair at the Sawridge – cocktails at 5:30.

October 1

Start the day right with fresh pancakes at 9:30 at the Robson Fair that is now moved from the beautiful little park to the MAIN HALL of Jaspers Activity Centre.

Noon to 4 – check out the artisans, music, food and the labyrinth at the ArtsDay festival…indoors at the Activity Centre.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 2

Another day of great stuff…

Here are a few of the highlights of our first edition!

ARTS WITH ALTITUDE—-Check the right hand column of this webpage for more details!!

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Some changes to the MUSELETTER

PLEASE CHECK THE VOLUNTEER PAGE TO THE RIGHT FOR WAYS TO BE PART OF ARTSDAYS!

Deadline to submit something of interest for next Museletter- Sept 7th

Good question.

In Alberta it is a day – August 1.  A day to celebrate who we are, what makes us Canadians or Albertans…or a day to recognize the multitudes of ethnicity that now constitute our community.

Did you know that Canada was the first country – 1971 – to adopt a policy on multiculturalism?

Living in Jasper, and welcoming the world on a daily basis as we are a true Canadian destination of choice, means we see the ‘Global Village’ in a much different way than perhaps someone who doesn’t experience such diverse visitor traffic.  It’s fascinating to walk the streets or go to the grocery store and hear the languages of the world trying to translate our English world.

What is Heritage?  Well, if you were in Edmonton you could go to Hawrelak Park and taste foods from around the world for Heritage Day – or watch ethnic dance!  (Next summer we shall try this here!) 

It seems that a word like Heritage is not something you can define with just more words…its a feeling…a sound…something intangible.
So – on August 1 in Jasper you can drop by the Parks Info Centre and meet ‘heritage’ characters like Charlotte Small and David Thompson.  Catch the Metis Dancers, try some Maple Syrup cotton candy, check out the art of Creeatives, take a ride on the various modes of transportation…because…like our visitors who arrived this summer – we all came here at some point via RIVERS RAILS OR ROADS!

1pm August 1

Free Community Event…

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AND

DONT MISS THE 3rd ANNUAL ARTS WITH ALTITUDE FESTIVAL

SEPT 23-OCT 2

Check out the page on the right of this site…called ARTS WITH ALTITUDE!

And that is exactly what Habitat is.  Good things.

We are gearing up for another Sunday in July with Matricia Brown – the second Sunday in our Habitat Heritage Series of workshops.  Matricia spent an afternoon sharing her skills at traditional beading.   The Habitat’s classroom with its northwest facing windows proved to be the perfect place to chase tiny beads around a loom…an artform that puts the eyes to work as well as the fingers!  All five of the students (yeh! class sizes are progressively growing) finished bracelets in the allotted time and are already registered for July 17th’s bead workshop – mocassins – beading on hides.  The class is filling up but give Justin a call – we can add another class!

Matricia has also agreed to be part of our RIVERS RAILS AND ROADS Heritage Day program on August 1.  The information centre in Jasper will come alive for half a day with the sights and sounds of Metis Dance, art and music.  2011 is the 200th year anniversary of the cartographer and explorer David Thompson having moved through this area of the Rockies.  In keeping with the spirit of travel we have several summer events around the theme RIVERS RAILS AND ROADS.  And of course what is any kind of a Heritage celebration without cultural expression from as many ethnicity’s as possible!   See you there on August 1 – you will find me at the Maple Shack kiosk…maple sugar candy floss – yum!

The theme of travel is pretty hard to ignore when you live here…we travel out to get services we don’t have here.  And thousands of visitors travel here because of the draw of the mountains…including a class of students who spent an afternoon at Habitat this week.  What to do with 27 children?  How can we build an arts program that they can relate to and learn from?  How can we give them something of value for their afternoon at Habitat?!

A puzzle mural!  We presented them with the concept of RIVERS RAILS AND ROADS and provided them with a short history of David Thompson and the Fur Trade area that we live in…a map was drawn on a 10 foot scale of the three R’s between their home and Jasper and then cut into 1 foot squares.  At random each student chose a square and then was to draw what they knew about the area on their square.  Was there a river there?  Was there any heritage buildings there?  Mountains?  They were free to draw a historical depiction of the area on their square or a futuristic vision of what might be there in 2211!

The map was then reconstructed – and not unlike the one below that we did at the community BBQ – we have discovered that putting the puzzle together is as much fun as painting it!

So we are anticipating July to be as wonderful as June has been.  The AFA exhibit for July is all about our Global Village…what better way to share our love of arts and culture with visitors and community than with ‘This Village’,  works by five immigrants to Alberta.  Did you know that Canada was the first country to adopt a policy of multiculturalism in 1971 where all ethnic groups are encouraged to share their culture with other Canadians?  Be sure to take in the RIVERS RAILS AND ROADS Heritage Day festivities on August 1 …  there will be some great surprises!  (thanks to Deb at Phat Cat!)

Another project under the three R’s program is the revival / continuation of the famed JASPER STORY!  And serendipitously – what should arrive at Habitat this week?  A box full of gold rush Klondike clothing.  Mens and ladies hats, dresses, frills and stockings…  A must see for anyone interested in fabric arts, fashion or history!

Watch for our Mulitcultural displays in July, some films from the NFB and a chance to get involved in history!

Habitat is open Tues to Saturday, noon to 5 (sometimes we close early on Saturdays)

We will be at the Jasper Farmers Market starting July 5!

Located on the second floor of the Provincial Building on the corner across from Nutters and Evil Daves Restaurant.

If you stop by and the door is locked…give us a call…780.852.4747 and we shall meet you there if we can!

OR

You can catch a glimpse of the Habitat on CITY TV’s Breakfast Show soon…

SUMMER THEATRE CAMP – contact Grace!   theatre@iotad.ca

SUMMER FILMCAMP – contact filmcamp@iotad.ca

SO MUCH TO DO…get your culture on!

at the Habitat – where we are RAVEN’ ABOUT THE ARTS!

AND Please…friend us on Facebook!  Jasper Community Habitat for the Arts

Lots of info posted on there…

In case you haven’t noticed we do put updates on the link to the right called HABITAT HUMPDAY NEWS...middle of the week updates.  Please check it out for future happenings.

What has been taking our energy and attention this past month and more is the Rivers Rails and Roads program for this year.  To celebrate the BiCentennial of David Thompson’s trek through Jasper in 1811 we came up with a few innovative ideas that got the attention of Canadian Heritage and the Municipality and we are bringing them to life this year!

One project is Childrens Theatre.  There is a great novel written about growing up in Jasper by John McLay.  ‘On Mountain Top Rock‘ tells the story of two young people, Jenny and Edward, and their everyday adventures of the 1950′s.  The novel is a journey back in time, through our alleys and our heritage homes.  Always on the lookout for treasures, Jenny and Edward spend a bit of time dreaming of finding David Thompson’s cache by the Athabasca River.  This novel is read in Alberta schools as part of the curriculum for Alberta studies.  With the help of Canadian Heritage and the Town of Jasper we are seeking writers to take the novel to stageplay to enhance the curriculum offerings with a theatrical component to reading the novel!  If you have an interest in writing Childrens Historical Fiction…call us to find out how to submit your treatment.

A mural project, involving the community, will see two 4×8 foot mosaic murals installed at the Habitat after completion – until the new cultural spaces the Town is contemplating are brought to life!  Ah – yes…we have been busy these past few months.  Jasper is getting a new addition to the Library.  Included in that addition is a space for culture.  The Habitat and Jasper Artists Guild have been invited to be part of the new space.  Very exciting!

If you look closely you will see a patio like structure on the top left corner with a person.  Habitat will be on the second floor with new clay, sculpture, theatre, music and video spaces as well as a classroom…and even an office!  (Presently Hab’s office is a drawer in the lunch room!)

Back to the murals…June 12th’s community BBQ will allow the community the chance to start the project…and most likely it will continue and complete on Canada Day at the Museum.  All materials supplied – we just need your imagination!!  Stop by the Arts Jasper and Habitat table on June 12 at the BBQ and July 1st at the Museum after the parade.

Canada Day also sees the beginning of the Street Ambassador project.  David Thompson and Charlotte Small will be in the parade and in July they return to engage visitors for the summer – sharing historical tidbits about their Rocky Mountain experiences.  (David’s buckskin boots arrived this week!)  Watch for them at the Info Centre in the evenings – take the information handouts  they offer and register yourself with participating partners.  At the end of the summer we will be taking the handouts that were registered and naming a star after someone.   Jasper was awarded the status of a DARK SKY PRESERVE (the largest in the world) by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada this year.  So when we say that we will name a star after someone – we mean a celestial star!  There may be days when Charlotte can’t get to town so Edith Cavell and Mary Schaffer have offered to share stories too.  Watch for these heritage characters…and learn a bit more about the Jasper of days gone by.

Speaking of days gone by…did you know that 40 years ago there was a theatre troupe in Jasper that put on an annual production called The Jasper Story.  It had a cast of over 100, horses and wagons, a sound track and ended with the rising of a totem pole!  Well…as part of the RIVERS RAILS AND ROADS program we shall bring a piece of this story back to stage for Arts Days this year.  The annual Variety Hour on October 2nd will offer you a glimpse at the Jasper Story.

And to wind up a summer of programs…we offer a look at the history of travel with an exhibition from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.  A look at travel through the medium of art!  Rivers Rails and Roads will hang in the Peoples Gallery at Habitat for the month of September.

Which brings us to the ARTS WITH ALTITUDE FESTIVAL in connection to the provincially sponsored ARTS DAYS!!!  Last year Arts Days and Canada’s Culture Days fell on separate weekends.  Jasper bridged those two weekends with a full 10 days of programming – the resulting week long festival caught the attention of CBC…Jasper came in 2nd as CBC’s CULTUREVILLE!  This year we will be first.

Please check us out on Facebook – Jasper Community Habitat for the Arts -  as we grow towards Arts Days…here are a few teasers that we invite YOU to be part of:

Sept 23 -26 – Artists in the Pines, music, workshops, food and more.

Sept 24, A Community Theatre under the direction of Grace Kohn will present Star Art on Earth.  A Dark Sky event.

Sept 24 25, Artcetera , check out whats happening on the streets around you.  Music in cafes, poets under the stars, artists in the streets…

Sept 26-29, A Vintage Film Festival, Rose Marie / Emperors Waltz and River of No Return!  At the Habitat 7pm nightly

Sept 30, Black Tie After Dinner ARTS AWARDS, be part of Jasper’s first arts and cultural awards night – followed by an Arts Jasper JAZZ night.  Limo service available!  (which brings me to the title of this post…singing telegrams!  We presented Jasper’s Cultural Pillar recipient with her letter of recognition this week so her interview could be arranged…via singing telegram!  And it was delightful…Erin sang beautifully – one of the many arts services Habitat offers!  a wee commercial here – ask us about booking a singing telegram through Habitat 780.852.4747)

October 1, Robson Park will come alive with a one day festival of music, workshops, art and culture.

October 2, the return of Bowls with Soul, the Cake Off, and a Variety Show.  This year someone from the Variety Show will also become a star…a celestial star will be named in their honour to celebrate our Dark Sky status.

To find out how you can volunteer, exhibit, or be part of these events contact the Habitat 780.852.4747.  Other groups that will be involved and need assistance are the Folk n Blues Society, Jasper Artists Guild, Arts Jasper, ACFA…or just call Habitat and we will connect you.

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(Oh popcorn…I spent my morning cleaning the popcorn machine after last weeks successful theatre production by ACT – A Community Theatre.  Nothing makes a theatre smell like a theatre like fresh popped popcorn!)

ACT and the Braden Gates fiddle workshops (that ended in a square dancing) were filmed and will be posted at a future date.  It is unfortunate that you can’t all spend a month in the life of Habitat with us…it is full of the things that make Jasper special!

As a tribute to the power of art – and the new movement by organizations to use social theatre…we actually had a wee bit of social theatre take off from Habitat a few weeks ago.  Check out the video on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidStanCameraman#p/a/u/0/-0HjWAVDehk

While the first session of guitar lessons is over – the second session starts on Thursday the 7th at 7pm with Beginners Blues Guitar with Brian Lackey.   You can register with Justin at 780.852.4747 Tuesdays to Saturdays noon to 5.

Spring seems to be synonymous with strings!  Tickets at Habitat

Spring also leads to Easter and Earthday…lots going on in Jasper for those dates.  The Museum has a special EarthDay event planned around the artworks of Marla Pollock and Sharon Anderson.  Jasper Artists Guild has a weekend workshop for April 22-24 with Marie Banville, an artist with an extraordinary flair for working in wax and pigment.

Video classes begin this week with David Baker, Wednesdays at 4 for youth and at 6:30 for adults.  Register with Justin.  These classes are designed to increase familiarity with your own camera and equipment as well as offer you the chance to work on the Creative Campus edit systems at Habitat.  Email video@iotad.ca for more information.  Registrations are being taken now for this summer’s FilmCamp at the Palisades.  There are two spaces in the camp for students who dont require overnight accommodations at a reduced rate!  www.delphinus18.ca for more info.

For more details about the workshops coming to Habitat check out our Habitat Humpday News on the right hand column here…we edit those listings every week.

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Agents of Change – We Want You!

At Habitat we’re in the business of supporting creative people who make community a better place. With the support of IOTAD (and many many supportive community creatives!), we are delighted to announce the Agents of Change Competition!

We’re looking for a youth (aged 19-29) who is working to make an impact in their community, our city, or around the world.

Is this you?    Is this someone you know?

The chosen agent will receive:

• A one month workspace package (worth $400) at the Habitat.
• Access to 6 hours in the classroom for one month (value $75)
• Access to the Gallery for exhibition for one week during the month (priceless)
• Amazing networking opportunities and more!

Are you an Agent of Change?

We’re looking for youth aged 19-29 who are:

• Making a difference in our community
• Supporting other youth or youth-serving organizations
• Advancing arts and culture causes
• Working with children
• Doing something unique and promising!

If you are making our community a better place, complete an application form!

The entry deadline is Friday, April 29, 2011.

Agents of Change Application Form, three easy steps

Name

Email

Tell us about yourself and what your are working on (100 words or less)

Links to your work – website or blog etc

What is the Change you want to see in the world and what do you need to do to make it happen? (100 words or Less)

STEP FOUR

Send it to us at hab@iotad.ca before April 29

And as the valiant ladies of Mardi Gras Jasper vacuumed and cleaned after the crowds had gone home I setup KIDSTUFF.  Kidstuff is a traveling exhibition of – well – kid stuff.  Vintage kid toys, etch-a-sketch, view master, spinning tops…  Woody Woodpecker, Charlie Brown, Grover and Cookie Monster emerged from their boxes to be remembered by adults more than children.  Putting out the Dr. Suess pieces I couldn’t help thinking of the Mardi Gras parade with its flags and minstrels – not unlike Suess’s flooflooblers and blumblookers.

The last thing to go up on display were the ‘Please do not touch the toys‘ signs, for which I got the immediate ‘What?  Why do you have a display of toys that no one can touch?’

Habitat is becoming known as a place for interactive art, a place where the public can be engaged in or experience art.  It has become home to several weekly sessions for children to paint and dance and be theatrical…but it is also home to exhibitions that engage the viewer.  For a true community presence Habitat is also home to visual displays that offer individual reflection on culture.  Most often these exhibits are artifacts or artworks presented from a collection for the simplistic interaction of just viewing.

Culture has been described as everything around us that defines us, what makes us human, products of human work and thought.  There is little chance that anyone can say that their childhood was void of cultural definition.  I know we were not allowed much of the candy that came with the PEZ dispensers but I sure remember the View Master and the Slinky.  And even though the sign said – ‘don’t touch’ – the etch-a-sketch got a few moments off the shelf with two young friends while no one was watching us!

That’s the great thing about the Arts too – the forgiving flexibility of discipline, the unexpected increase in appreciation for something when the rules are harmlessly bent even just a little.  The Elementary School kids came over for a walk through the Aaron Paquette exhibit this week.  Imagine the kind of limitations a ‘paintings on the wall’ exhibit must have for someone in Grade 2.  What was truly amazing was the interaction that these children had with the art – the conversation with the imagery – in grade school!

One of our intentions when conceiving of Habitat was to offer these kinds of missing opportunities for learning.  For 1/2 hour on a Friday afternoon Jasper students communicated with their teachers while sitting in a room of artwork from the Art Gallery of Alberta.  No lengthy bus ride, no expensive road trip – a two block stroll to Habitat and these youth got to see these beautiful paintings up close and personal.

Aaron Paquette hopes that his art acts as a catalyst for greater understanding.

Habitat hopes that provision of a space for the arts can do the same.

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Special thanks to the Creative Campus Edson and Tracy Templeton for the KIDSTUFF exhibit.

Creative Campus also hosted their SECOND ANNUAL Celtic Hour on March 17th.  The Peoples Gallery at Habitat was close to capacity thanks to the amazing talents of Lisa Riddell and Monika Schaefer.  If you didnt catch them this year – shame on you!!  Mark your calendar for next year, St Patricks Day 7pm at Habitat!