futures unfolding
July of 2022, we gathered in Thunder Bay | Anemki Wekwedong to share and explore our creative practices.
Multidisciplinary artist and playwright, Eleanor Albanese, led Lorrina Belluz, Tuija Hansen, and Natalie Hotson through a series of explorations in sound, movement, choral speaking, and visual art.
The time spent together provided an opportunity for the artists to reach deep into their practices and consider new ways of working.
Then, based on their explorations together, they collaboratively designed a workshop that brought community together around our guiding theme of Futures Unfolding.
The workshop was held at Willow Springs Creative Centre, a location with the boreal forest surrounding us—along with the smell of fresh baked goods.
The facilitators wove a storyline and theme throughout; creating depth and meaning —rather than solely focussing on transfer of artistic skill.
We felt at ease, having multiple people carry the workshop forward, rather than the burden of holding it all together on our own.
We felt comfort and joy in revealing next steps together, and as a result created an experiential journey for our community!
We hope you enjoy this 6 minute video, created by Carol, celebrating our time together!
“Journeying through the woods fed the workshop —cleansed the pallet before layering other activities,” one artist stated.
Another mentioned they got a lot of out the movement and music components, activities they don't typically participate in, saying that they brought “so much more into the creative space” and that it “opens them up creatively, almost like shedding the world and going into your creative brain."
We were grateful to have the wonder of nature as a backdrop, and to have so many join our adventure.
Everyone had the surprise of brining two things they created home: a collaged postcard and a plant dyed silk scarf. A gift such as this felt important to include—good for the heart and soul of all involved.
We knew of around 20 artist facilitators interested in the opportunity, with 15 applying —showing a need and interest for these kinds of professional development opportunities in the region.
We can’t wait to grow more opportunities like this in our future!
About the selection process:
Expression of Interests were due May 14, 2022 seeking four artist facilitators interested in this professional development opportunity. Selected artists were experienced as arts facilitators and represented a range in age, background, art forms and creative processes. Ten artists showed interest, with four being selected by our committee, comprised of ElizaBeth Hill and Tamara Rose, who participated in our first inter-arts workshop in the winter of 2020. Due to changes in the projected timeline, unfortunately selected artists Betty Carpick and Janelle Wawia were no longer available. We then called Natalie Hotson, who was on the waitlist, to join us.
Why?
Engaging with and promoting multi-inter arts has numerous benefits —like fostering collaboration!
The process of working together clarifies identity, reinforces belief in ourselves, and physicalizes stories we hold as individuals and communities. Collaboration and guided explorations offer arts facilitators a chance to dig into our own arts practice and drive, to diversify our approach to the story while exploring artistic processes.
Opportunities such as this offer chances for: exciting new discoveries; revisiting and being vulnerable; and (re)connection. They create a chance to be part of a creative process, to create without forethought, explanations and justifications. And, of course, also to develop facilitation and workshop planning skills!
Paid professional development opportunities for artists in Northwest Ontario are rare. With funding from the Ontario Arts Council, we are grateful to build relationships among arts facilitators involved with the Collective - hopefully fostering new ideas and collaborative projects in our future.
THANK YOU
Futures Unfolding was made possible with support from the Ontario Arts Council and our community partners:
Catalysts X | Northern Lights Collaborative,
Lakehead University's Visual Arts Department, and
Willow Springs Creative Centre.
photo credit: Caroline Kajorinne Krievin