For the love of Sarasvati, None and Brigid!

I've been so crazed, busy and the like that I haven't got a chance to review the Business of Arts Workshops that happened not this past weekend but the weekend before but know that IwillIwillIwill get to it. It's not just words but video to edit and photos to prettify but as soon as I do, I will post it whole. I wouldn't want to jip you. :( ;) My attentions have been assigned elsewhere for the moment here at the BAC so that's been my first concern.

In other news...
BAC and I are on Facebook, in case you didn't know. Add me. If you have any questions, just ask me there. I know sometimes Facebook is much more the medium people use to communicate than... email, IM and the like. I'm more often than not signed in on Mondays from 10 am to 4 pm so don't be shy. Say hello, chat, ask me who Brigid is, whatevs.

DIY!!!

One thing I'm surprised that I love doing is helping people with their arts community questions. (Why so surprised, Kelly? I don't know. I'm introverted not introspective! :P) Mayhaps it's the thrill of digging for information, using my smarts to piece together a whackamole game [1] of info or contacting and talking to new people. I had to do quite a bit of research to come up with my last post and Brampton's open. Perhaps the spirit of DIY (Do it Yourself) is not as dead as I thought. People out there are getting it done and my thoughts have been re-ignited by the self-sufficient acronym and staple of punk subculture. Is there something you wish Brampton had in the way of arts entertainment and community? Stop wishing. Start doing!

What I didn't write about was another young man's initiative to put together a Brampton Indie Music Festival, asking me where to begin. I've decided to leave an extremely mini version of the tips I gave him on handling such a feat that could easily be used by anyone to put together any event.

1. Start with WHY and WHAT. Get a clear idea in your head of what it is you intend to do and the goals you want to accomplish whether it's fundraising, fostering community, promotions, awareness, etc. If you can't figure that out try beginning with what you don't want and it might become clearer. Contact those who have experience setting up similar events and see if they’re willing to advise from past experiences. A smaller but still significant WHAT to consider is what you need. Do you need a sound system? How much will it cost? Will your venue supply one? Will they supply the sound guy with one?
2. Once that's done, the real fun begins. Start with WHEN because you're going to need to book dates for venues (sometimes WHEN and WHERE work together) and a stop date for community involvement/applicants. Decide/estimate how long your event will be. Research other events around your time that could divide your audience
3. Location, location, location! WHERE will you hold your event. Consider the audience and previous events/shows at the your possible venue. Is it a good fit? Can you promote at nearby businesses?
4. WHO: Not just who is performing or displaying their work but WHO is working for you. VOLUNTEERS. Depending on how big your event is, you will need dependable, have-your-back help.
5. Never ever forget COST though: how much will things be. Keep a running tally and start to put together a budget. You might need community help through sponsors or charging attendees. Don't forget to give them proper accolades for doing so, whether it's through advertising their name on a banner and/or flyers, or spoken thanks your event.
6. Last (you thought I was done but I was not!) but certainly not least is the HOW. Our site has a list of media for anyone to use to get word out on events they're planning and of course you know about Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as promotional devices but also try the more obscure or local websites to get things abuzzing (NOW, the City of Brampton website, Snap Brampton, Brampton Guardian, etc.). Don't forget the power of in person meetings. Get out there, promote and talk up your audience.

Hopefully this was a helpful outline, peeps. Comments, questions, suggestions? Hit me up: kelly@artsbrampton.ca.

1. A whackamole game as in every time you think I'm done I pop back up with new info.

For real?! What the?

I had a guy, Kurt Arruda of the rap group Diablos Rejects, ask me this week where to go for open mics locally. When you live in Brampton and you want to perform, it's a bit of a hassle to get your butt down to Toronto all the time, especially when you don't have wheels. While I'm not sure if the rap they do would be entirely cohesive to the open mics, I had heard of one place down on Queen to perform but I didn't quite know where or the details. So I asked some local artists what was up and where to go. I was shocked because there are at least six places locally to go:

Monday Night:
9:30 pm - ?
The Harp - JAM NIGHT. A little farther out than the other places but it's the first in the series.
55 Lakeshore Road East
Port Credit, ON
(905) 274-3277

Wednesday Night:
9:30 pm - 12 am
Tracks BrewPub
60 Queen Street East
Brampton, ON
(905) 453-3063‎

9:00 pm - 1, 2 am
Brewsters Roadhouse & Restaurant
400 Steeles Avenue East
Brampton, ON
(905) 456-2093‎

Thursday Night:
9-10 pm - 1, 2 am
Allstars Bar & Grill
73 Bramalea Road
Brampton, ON
(905) 791-2315‎

9:30 pm - 1 am
Apple Jacks Restaurant
2225 Erin Mills Parkway
Mississauga, Ontario
(905) 403 0700

Last but not least an Open Mic night on October 20th, 2009. (Tuesday) at Metalworks Institute of Sound and Music Sign up begins at 6:30 but you should get there early to sign up for the night that starts @ 7 because the spots go fast. :)

The sad thing is that most of these performance opportuninties are not tailored for youth. Only Apple Jacks and Metalworks cater to an all ages audience. The rest are bars so legally speaking no one under 19 is allowed after 9.

Special accolades to Gayle for the newsworthy info. You can catch Gayle Ackroyd and Laura Thomas performing at St.Paul's Church for the Brampton Folk Club Concert Series on October 30th in Sanderson Hall.

Did you know...

Today's Brampton Day!

Check out the community booths, surprises and the going ons in Downtown Brampton. Swing by the BAC booth and say hi to me. :)

Currently listening to: Don't Do Anything - Sam Phillips

Back to School...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Or your school year. Or your work week. Or something.

For a lot of you out there, today's back to school. Back to drudergy and books and absorbing all that good information your teachers or professors give to you and until last year around this time I was one of you. Dragging my feet and cursing that month of September for rolling around, but now...

Now I'm kinda strangely wistful. I'm happy that it's over. I'm not the most scholastic person, but there was an easiness to life and knowing what one is to do. Wake up. Go to classes. Study. Do the best you can to get the good marks. Enjoy it while it lasts but plan for once it's over. :)

For now I wish the readers an awesome school/work year. Good luck and hard workings to you.

Rock Against Cancer...

Yeah, no creative title this time. I went to Rock Against Cancer this weekend. Brampton Arts Council was one of the sponsors of the event so I went there to collect some props. I could sit here and tell you all about it but I think pictures and video could tell the story much better. Words will just be the accent to colour the visuals this time but before I begin let's talk a little about what Rock Against Cancer is.

It's an event that Brampton's Rock School and Express Your Music Foundation hosts to fundraise for the cause, provide their students an opportunity to perform while recognizing peers for their musicianship, and “learn[ing] about the power of positive social change, how the small acts of a few can change the lives of many”1 according to co-owner Andrea Gavrilovic, which to me makes it compelling. You can't help but do good just by attending the event, but by attending the event you also get to have fun and enjoy some music and a community. Win win? Woot! :)

Okay, so this entry I decided to try something a little different. I posted all my pictures, some artsy, most pretty “normal” on the Picasa album and I've identified whoever I could from the event. Hopefully by the end of the week. Everyone who wants to be identified will be done.

Props:

The Karaoke Tent (donated by Pace Marathon) at the other end of the parking lot from the main stage. I'm a sucker for karaoke. It's oodles of fun no matter what fuddy duddys say! :) Clever idea: charging singers a $1 a song. :) Just the right amount.

Vendors: Tamami ko bag. Not only are the bags and note books pretty to look at – made from old kimono cloth, chic – but the lady who sells them is pretty sweet and awesome. How do I know this? Kelly, are you just plugging random people? No, I know that when I fell she came over to make sure I was okay. That doesn't sound like much, but it is.

Music: Everything was enjoyable. I think it's just good that there was, in this instance, a place for youth to perform and it wasn't all rock for the haters. :) Music is music is music.

EVERybody: for being patient, composed and toughing it out in the rain for an hour halfway through the event.

Enjoy the pictures, comments and videos! :)

1. http://rockagainstcancer.therockschool.ca/about.html

Listening to: Regina Spektor – Edit; Louis XIV - Finding out True Love is Blind; Joel Plaskett - Nowhere with You

Just... beautiful

Latinfest was awesome! I got to Garden Square probably about 5:30 p.m. and it, my friend, was PACKED. I have never seen it so full in my life. This is me going to Garden Square almost every Saturday last year, a few Saturdays this year and some Sundays too. I said what's up to Karen Clouter. She was there painting the kiddies for free. Check out the little bumblebeee on her arm. Can you see the bumblebee? No? Trust me, it's there and pretty

Latinfest was a sensory feast if I ever saw one. Crafters and vendors selling colourful Latin goods and works. Churros made on-site with the chocolate goodness! Tacos, burritos and other familiar salivating yumminess. I wasn't there for long but I wished I was able to stay longer. If only for the dancing.

The thing that got me, or gets me rather, the most is the dancing. I'm not going to pretend I can tell the cha cha from the salsa from a meringue or a paso doble – though wait. I think I could tell the paso doble from the others. You have to catch the foot work from the couple demoing the dance moves. They weren't the only ones dancing though, couples were showing their smooth moves all over the place. You can catch more of them from the youtube vids I posted.

The band that provided the music for a lot of the couples while I was there was called Salsotika. Their sound and particularly distinct rhythm section was also caught by me on the video.

Here's my facebook photo album of the event. :) Let me know if it doesn't show up. :)

You can catch me next at Rock Against Cancer on the 22nd. Come out and support the fight against cancer. It's a good fight.

My first attempt at a panoramic shot...

Currently listening to: Paolo Nutini – Keep Rolling; The Streets – Your Song; Streetlight Manifesto – We Are the Few; Regina Spektor – Samson; Kathleen Edwards – Sweet Lil Duck

different locale, different spirit

Well, that was quite a trip. Just got home from Chinguacousy Park. It was Communities in Bloom's Community Showcase. A really good place to see some of the services Brampton holds. BAC had their own booth, or should I say... a stage. We had our annual graphic novel of the arts in which some of our member groups perform. Last year's attendance had a longer list of performers but we did what we do at the council and kept on.

The set up was ideal and perfect this year. We were uphill with a small picnic house was the stage while some rafter benches were arranged in a slight 'V'. From the Brampton Library's reading of "Tacky and the Winter Games", by Bonnie-Kay Norman, Emily Norman Rebecca Norman and Sarah D'Cunha, to pump the public up for the upcoming Olympics to the lovely Sonia's artists from her Synergy Performing Arts Academy , like her hip hop dancers Samani and Anjan Puri, pianist Kristy Isidro and Omega Mighty performing her own single "Tainted". Later Anjan even performed a Charlie Brown monologue for the audience.

*said like a hokey game show host* AND THAT'S NOT ALL, folks!

Peel Panto Players' Joe Rose and Rose Brown parodied that television show Antique Roadshow, making the audience at least crack a smile with their antics.

Elizabeth demoed the art and discipline of the beautiful dance-form Nia to our audience. Janella and intern Therese joined in from the audience.

Yours truly even sang a few times. Again me with the nervous but mayhaps a good way to promote. I wish though I got to see the Rock School do their thing. They along with a couple of other local talents, Minus One and Bottoms Up were at the other side of the park. I will get to check them out next Saturday though at Rock Against Cancer . I better see you! Say hi to I!

Currently listening to: Mirah – Archipelago; The Clash – The Prisoner; Danko Jones – Something Better; Alicia Keys & Usher – My Boo (Reggae Remix!)

Let's have a little chat...

So it's been two weeks almost and I've written nothing. Doesn't mean I don't have anything to say, just got a little busier working on the new website BAC is putting together. It's so pretty. :) I'm quite pleased with it's look and the modifications we're making to make it a little better.

I had an interview with Ashley Goodfellow this past Tuesday. ANXIETY! I'm not the most verbose, eloquent speaker. Something about speaking on the spot usually tackles me, but I touched on points as my mind raced with information in circles. If that metaphor even makes sense. Anyhow, I particularly liked Ashley's question: “What can the community do to help you in your position?”. At the time I said participate. Go to concerts. Be about plays. Come out to events but on second thought, I think there's more. Participation is where it begins but actually becoming involved is where it's at. But my version of participation suggests an almost passive quality. sitting, watching and clapping for a performance – or hollering if it's particularly moving and/or sublime, but involvement like volunteering at your local favoured organization: the Rose(for the dramatic and observant), Brampton Library (for the thoughtful bookworm), Our Place Peel (for the social revolutionary), or maybe, dare I say it? The Brampton Arts Council (for the creative and organized). Those are just off the top of my head. For the younger types, it provides awesome experience and resume material. For the other types it gets you involved and meeting people in your community and connecting. 'Who does this woman think she is?' Wait a sec, before I lecture the public on what should be done or how I'd ideally like it, I should reveal a bit about me or at least what this youth liaison bit is about?

I will, just keep reading.

Currently listening to: Mirah – Archipelago; The Clash – The Prisoner; Danko Jones – Something Better; Alicia Keys & Usher – My Boo (Reggae Remix!)

Brampton's Best Kept Secret?

Brampton has a lot of “best kept secrets” and I'm not sure if it works out as well as it should. A woman asked me at the Street Festival last week if there were any local galleries to take her niece to. She asked me if! A little pain went through my heart because she was going to head down to the Royal Ontario Museum or the Art Gallery of Ontario.

There are at least three galleries I could list off the top of my head running around in Brampton. Immediately the Peel Heritage Complex sprang to mind. Only because that's one of the first cultural spaces I remember visiting in my life. The Complex is a gallery, museum and archives with history framing and supporting it all since the public building is a former jail house. If you're not into history, the arts or archaeology, visit the Complex simply because of its architecture. I don't think I've seen buildings with this thick, heavy stone and how that stone is used in the building creates new spaces out of the old.

I was lucky enough yesterday to be led on a tour by one Diane Allengame, the current curator of the triple threat complex, to learn about changes and tidbits of Complex information. The most surprising face to me was that Complex is currently showing .03 % of their gallery collection and 1% of their museum collection. For those not in the know most museums usually present 10 % of their collections at a time allowing for material they can cycle and freshen displays with. Thankfully, the Complex is pursuing a much-needed expansion for more display and storage space. It will be closing its door sometime in the future in order to phase into this. Hopefully, I'll remember to remind everyone to pop in before they well, can't for a bit.

Another thing the expansion is looking to do is make the side of the complex that faces Gage Park a little more inviting, inclusive. Who can't enjoy that? No one. :)

The thing I liked about the tour was midpoint when I got to hear bursts of kids acting in the Museum from the Complex's summer program. There are young artists running amuck around this city of ours. I just gotta find 'em.

Peel Heritage Complex
9 Wellington Street East
Brampton, Ontario L6W 1Y1
Phone: 905-791-4055 Fax: 905-451-4931

Other galleries you can enjoy around town are:

Visual Arts Brampton
1 Bartley Bull Parkway, Suite 10
Brampton ON L6W 3T7
Phone: (905) 453-9142
E-mail: visualartsbrampton@gmail.com

and

Beaux Arts Brampton (which is just down the street from the Heritage Complex in Downtown Brampton)
70-74 Main Street North
Brampton, ON L6V 1N7
Tel: (905) 454-5677
Toll Free: 1-866-339-7779
Email: beauxart1@bellnet.ca

Last but not least there are a couple of Visual Arts groups you can check with that I haven't listed here but are on our website at: http://www.artsbrampton.ca/directory.htm

All of the galleries connect to the youth in different ways, whether through tours, lessons or courses. Check 'em out.

Have you ever been to the Peel Heritage Complex or any of our little galleries around town? What did you love? Do you want to go? Make plans!

Picture used with permission of Diane Allengame.

Currently listening to Hawsley Workman - Silent Night; Blue October - She's My Ride Home; Balkan Beat Box – Balcasio; Ella Fitzgerald's – A Night in Tunisa

Where were *you* on the night of July 23rd, 2009?

I didn't get a chance to explore Brampton's 3rd annual Communities in Bloom Downtown Street Festival as much as I would have liked but from my spot on the first floor, my senses told me that there was quite a bit to do, watch, taste, listen and buy. The tinkling of steel drums, the clap of clogs upstairs made me a little envious of those visiting and not boothed. Unusually - and thankfully - the booths weren't on the street this year because of the “inclement weather conditions” and tents were removed as tables were positioned in Rose Theatre.

I saw Dale O'Hara there. Well, more than a glimpse. She was directly across from me so I could wave at her lots. Dale was there promoting Acres of Glass, which is a company biography of the Dale Estate and how it intersects with Brampton's history. It's interesting to watch older people walk by her booth, stop in their tracks and chat with her about the Brampton they remember growing up, a kind of compare and contrast. A place and its memories can anchor people like that.

Another one of my neighbours was the Brampton Clean City Committee. Joey and Vince, manning their table were awesome, especially with the theatrical way they appealed to kids with their waterless tattoo's. I'm glad that Brampton is putting money into educating kids about the environment and their role in conservation, especially with events like the Peel Children's Water Festival, which I learned about from Christina, another booth neighbour with the Region of Peel.

I'm learning a lot from this job so far. I thought a booth would be better but I like approaching people and talking to them, but I'm still not hearing from anyone. Mayhaps, I'll connect more with people at the next Communities in Bloom event, which is the Community Showcase on August the 13th at Chinguacousy Park. Things kick off at 6 p.m! I'm hoping to see peeps there. It's music, food and people. What's not to love?

If you see me, don't be afraid to come up and say hey. :)

The calm before the storm of people that afternoon.

While you were sleeping....

Savannah Festival of Rhythms was quite the event this past Sunday. The beautiful shiny weather was a bit reluctant to show but I'm guessing the sun couldn't help but beam once it heard the Latin rhythms that started the concert with a bang.

Those rhythms belonged to Anacaona, a 14 piece, all- lady Cuban band that rocked it out. The sun wasn't the only one unable to resist the beats as smatterings of the crowd took to their feet.

Next on stage was rhythm and blue singer Virgil Scott. If you don't know, he will undoubtedly tell you he's been in the entertainment business for 44 years and now you do know.

Last, but never least, Canada's diva Jackie Richardson and the utterly cool jazz sounds of Kollage came together to impress the crowd.

You know, I didn't know Brampton had events like this. This is Savannah's 7th year and that kind of shocks me. It's a well-run event. Not only were the performers top notch, but there were local artisans with various items from semi-precious jewellery to friend voodoo dolls to stain glass creations and not to mention the Service Canada Centre for Youth's booth. Oh! There were fantabulous visual artists displaying their work from abstract to realism and everything in between and if all that's not enough to set you going every year. The Savannah Festival is in support of sickle cell awareness. In a city of almost half a million, I would have expected - or dreamed of - seeing more people. How *does* one get the word out in this town?

This is the part where I talk about youth, being a youth liaison and all because I didn't get a strong feeling of youth there. Don't get me wrong. I saw youth there: kids running and shouting around, tweens and teenagers chillaxing on whatever was handy and young adults checking out the booths. Hey Kelly! It wasn't a youth event though maybe a family event, but not solely for the young 'uns. Perhaps the mysterious interjection is right, which is why I didn't get the young, bright vibe but some of the kids I did see, seemed taken aback or aloof and that worries me. I don't want to sound old but "when I was a kid everything was new, exciting and fresh!" Okay, you gotta imagine me shaking my finger and saying that in a voice like that old neighbour man from Family Guy - perks it right up.

I don't know. Anyone agree? Disagree? What makes you less aloof? What events would you like to see Brampton putting out there?

Catch more video clips on youtube.

Or become a fan of Brampton Arts Council on Facebook.

Here we go!

Hey folks! I’m back. I’m quite excited about the Youth Liaison position that I've been generously offered by the Brampton Arts Council. For those of you who might not know, I’m Kelly Lewars. I interned at the council last summer and had an awesome time doing it. I must have done something well because now I'm here. I’m looking forward to hearing from all of you, especially the younger folks, and their ideas about the path of arts in Brampton. I’ve got a small arsenal of my own thoughts that I will hope will colour delight in this city of ours. One of my ideas that I'll need *your* help with is this blog. Kids and young adults, teens and tweens speak up! I want to hear your questions, concerns or thoughts about arts in Brampton and formally issue you an invite to contact me. What do you think about local events, happenings or the urban playground movement? Holler at me: kelly@artsbrampton.ca