You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Commentary’ category.
I have the amazing opportunity to speak about my experience with art and change.
My calling as an artist was not something that I had originally planned, I went to school, got a business degree and then by a series of events had a major shift in what I perceived as my self determined life.
My Art is personal and diverse; however many would feel that the mediums I work with are scattered and fragmented. However, I have found a way to acquire tools that can give the message the best and most meaningful impact. I believe that if you are trying to change the environment around you, then you need to start with the understanding of how you relate to them and communicate with them that gets their attention. That starts by listening.
Art can give you the power if handled correctly.
—
ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE PANEL DISCUSSION
Saturday Nov 13th,
10am – 1pm
Purpose: To create dialogue and discussion around issues related to art and mental health and the impact for social change.
Two panels and a discussion with experts and activists in the field of art for social change. Stimulating discussion exploring the role art has in making an impact on the world around us. Topics include: Art and Mental Health, Psycho-Geography and
Displacement, and Art and Social Activism.
FREE ADMISSION
Tea, coffee and food provided
ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
PANEL DISCUSSION
Sat Nov 13th, 10am – 1pm
10am - WELCOME AND INTRO
Moderator: Bernadine Fox, BFA
Fox hails from a place on this planet that is so flat you can see company coming over ten miles away. She raised two girls as a single parent and is now a single nana raising her granddaughter. She paints, draws, teaches, curates, writes, and organizes art events. Her work is created for and about the modern woman.
PANEL 1 – ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE – GLOBAL THINKING
This panel explores and expands on the idea of using art as a means to affect deep and lasting social change and how these ideas can be applied universally. Through art, we can challenge many of our society’s deepest assumptions, and each of these speakers has built upon the power of artistic creation and expression to spark creative thinking and elicit new actions in their communities.
10:10am
Keynote speaker: Judith Marcuse, International Centre of Art for Social Change
Judith Marcuse gives us an overview of “art for social change” and how she is furthering and helping to develop this significant field in her work.
Judith Marcuse’s career spans over 40 years as a dancer, choreographer, director, producer, teacher, writer and lecturer. She has created over 100 original works in dance, theatre and opera, for film and television, and has produced large-scale national and global festivals. Her repertory dance company toured Canada and internationally for over 15 years. Her work with and for young people has included multifaceted initiatives – workshops with thousands of young people, the creation and touring of live stage productions, and television and film projects.
A pioneer in the field of arts for social change, Judith teaches and presents in university and other settings in Canada and abroad, most recently in The Hague and in Durban. Recipient of many awards, including Canada’s major awards in choreography and an honorary doctorate from Simon Fraser University, she is the founder of the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), a global hub for learning, networking, research and training in the burgeoning field of arts for social change. www.icasc.ca
10.30am
Don Wright, Amnesty International
Don Wright is a regional development coordinator with Amnesty International Canada, with responsibility for BC/Yukon and Alberta. He works with Amnesty members and groups, as well as the public and media, to promote respect for human rights and end the violation of human rights around the world. Every year he organizes the annual Amnesty International Film Festival, which now includes an art exhibition, this year featuring protest art. Over the years he has also collaborated with theatre companies addressing social issues through performance. Prior to working with Amnesty International, Don had worked with visual artists to organize exhibitions on racism and violence against women.
10:40am
Jay Peachy, Producer, Sound Therapy Radio, CJSF 90.1fm
Jay is a self-proclaimed arts-based advocate for mental health who strives to demystify and eliminate stigma around these issues. His initiatives include being a collective member (2010) of Gallery Gachet and the Producer and Host of Sound Therapy Radio, a peer oriented mental wellness show on CJSF 90.1 FM.
10:50am
Quin Martins, Collective Member, Gallery Gachet
Quin Martins has been a Collective Member at Gallery Gachet for 4 years now. He believes in the role of artist run centres like Gallery Gachet and its mandate of furthering dialogue around mental health issues and giving a platform to Outsider/non-mainstream artists who believe that “art is a means for survival”.
11 – 11.20 BREAK - REFRESHMENTS
PANEL 2 – THE IMPACT OF ART IN THE DTES
Art and art activism has long been a part of life in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside - never more so than during the lead-up to the 2010 Olympics, from which our community is still recovering. It is not only the creative heart of the city, but also a place where art speaks most urgently to political and social concerns. Our presenters will speak of their experiences of using art as a way to provoke, organize, and create radical change in Canada’s Downtown Eastside.
11.20am
Earle Peach
Earle Peach is a local musician, composer, songwriter, conductor, teacher and activist, director of four choirs and member of three bands.
11.30am
Karen Ward, Collective Member, Gallery Gachet, and Editor-in-Chief, The Ear
Karen Ward is a writer, photographer, and builder: an artist and proponent of neurological diversity. She lives with a bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome and of course a cat.
11:40am
Terry Hunter, Moving Theatre Company
Terry is the director of Vancouver Moving Theatre which in recent years has shifted from touring towards producing large-scale community engaged cultural events including the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival, an annual event that celebrates the artists, history, culture, people and stories of the Downtown Eastside.
11:50am
Ali Lohan, Oppenheimer Park
As an artist and an art-based community organizer living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Ali’s practice involves working closely with residents, artists, and organizations, and creating projects that invite local collaboration while implementing a new framework for community engagement. Her interest comes from her experiential understanding of how community arts can be a powerful tool for fostering creativity, dialogue, empowerment, belonging, purpose, inspiration and celebration.
12 – 12.10 LUNCH BREAK
12.10 – 1pm
Open discussion forum moderated by Bernadine Fox
Q & A – from audience
Goal – to create 10 points of action for using art to bring about social change!
12.50
Closing remarks from Bernadine Fox
Thank you to the generous support of the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival!
Local Musician David Blair joins the Sound Therapy Radio team as the in-house Singer Songwriter and will help us explore themes of music, writing and how to make your song feel like a warm and friendly hug.
David Blair known within the music community as a ‘Serial Hugger’ will share stories about his healthy and creative life, including navigating the complexities of day to day relationships. Specifically, David tells us how he has been able to re-define a long term relationship as anything that lasts longer than 90 days.
Nothing but exciting times with Mr. Blair, a hug and a smile is guaranteed with every transaction.
October 12, 2010
The Sound Therapy Radio team is proud to announce they are winners of two CJSF Awards.
Best Remote Broadcast: ‘The Artist Lounge’
Volunteer Programmer of the Year: J Peachy, Creator of Sound Therapy Radio.
Our first year has definitely been an exciting one and an incredible learning experience. The culture at CJSF 90.1 FM has really allowed us to push the boundaries of traditional community radio and explore different ways to spread the message. This has given us the opportunity to bring people together who have different skills but a common interest in advocating for the arts and mental wellness.
The Artist Lounge remote broadcasts really can’t happen without the coordination between many people who are busy with their own projects. Without the support and commitment by Ryan Fletcher host of ‘Melodies in Mind’ the other half of ‘Tuesday Night Live’, we would have not been able to have as much fun and success that we have had to date. Undoubtedly, we expect that to continue.
Although the Volunteer of the Year is a personal award, it doesn’t come without people believing in your vision and trusting that I could follow through. Its definitely flattering and inspires me to continue and evolve the programming. There are many present and past contributors and guests who must share in the accolades in what at one time was merely a personal art project for me.
I think its an exciting time for community based media and am privileged to be associated with such a progressive station.
jp
There is a mental health crisis in Canada which must be addressed immediately. Often, when there is the perception of an urgent need, there is a grass roots movement to enact change from the bottom up. This is the story of a corporate giant looking to do something which makes good business sense as well as create a positive impetus on the human level.
On September 21, Bell announced the launch of an unprecedented, multi-year charitable program to support mental health across Canada. Practically addressing a pressing national health concern, Bell’s five-year, $50 million initiative supports an extensive range of programs to enhance mental health in every aspect of Canadian life.
Bell also announced Bell Let’s Talk Day, which will work to raise awareness about mental health across Canada each year. The first Bell Let’s Talk Day is set for February 9, 2011. For every text message sent and every long distance call made by Bell customers that day, Bell will donate 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health. Olympic hero Clara Hughes is the spokesperson for this venture.
“As someone who has come to know people of all kinds in every corner of the country, I have seen the prevalence and the dramatic impact of mental illness on Canadians. And I’ve seen how much access to mental health care and support means to those who suffer,” said Ms. Hughes, Canada’s six-time Olympic Medalist and an Officer of the Order of Canada. “I’m gratified at the chance to take a leading role in the Bell Let’s Talk campaign, which will bring the mental health discussion to the forefront. Talking about mental illness is the first and best step in ensuring improved mental health in Canada.”
Julie Smithers of Bell Media Relations shared thoughts from her personal experience at Bell. “We’ve all seen its impacts on either our families or our friends, perhaps without always recognizing what we’re seeing. That’s what makes this such an important issue, and one in which Bell can make a difference.”
Corporate Canada needs to address mental health issues with a clear, uniform policy. This is essential from a business standpoint, in terms of looking at people as a commodity, a resource. While those working for large corporations are contributing to record profits and a financial structure unimaginable 50 years ago, they are also people who deserve to have a quality of life. Bell’s initiatives appear to be very well thought out and responsible to Canadians in general and employees in particular. I hope other corporations follow suit and make this a successful model going forward.
why_it_matters.asp
We are excited to announce that Melanie Rose will be joining the Sound Therapy Radio team. Melanie is burning up the comedic world and will be helping add some lightness to our sometimes dark episodes. An Alumni of the Stand up for Mental Health program, Melanie attributes comedy for saving her from some pretty despair times.
Melanie has learned that laughter is always the best medicine. She has learned not to PANIC when she is MANIC.
Although, her love for tye dye shirts might be helping her get over the Ex.…it may also explain why she is still single.
She is a mother of 4 girls that don’t live with her (a long story).. but she is real…Anxiety and all…she tells jokes and stories of her life, and hopefully shows people it might just be OK to be “Crazy”.
So be on the lookout for Melanie on the airwaves of Sound Therapy Radio
‘Environmental Warnings’ is by Meera Sethi, a Canadian Artist of Indian origin who also has a strong background in design. She combines those mediums in this piece, displayed on four seperate windows.
“Inspired by the work of writers Vandana Shiva and Arundhati Roy, Environmental Warnings is a comment on the invisible, silent toxins we encounter everyday,” she explains in a press release. “Using the language of street signs, I have created symbols that raise our awareness of the many environmental threats that cross an urban space.
“Pesticides, toxic water, landfills, deforestation, nuclear testing, plastics, GMO seeds, gas spills, carbon emissions, water wastage/shortages, energy wastage/shortages, ozone reduction and the patenting of staple foods such as rice are some of the issues I explore. These signs are universal as the toxins are global. Although they impact us differently depending on our privilege, they impact us all. They make equal sense in Toronto or New Delhi, Bangkok or New York.
“The use of soft, pastel colours is deliberate. The colours and the messages are incongruous. The colours signal calm while the symbols signal danger. This irony is a comment on the food industry that uses pleasing packaging to sell us products that are toxic to our health, the environment and society. The childlike colours also reference the impact these invisible, silent toxins are having on children.”
Street signs connote warning if not outright danger, and are a simple, everyday, universally used way to get a point across. In this way, ‘Environmental Warnings’ becomes accessible to everybody.
Patrick Connors
Sound Therapy Radio will be doing a special live taping of ‘Art of the Mind’ at Mental Health Camp (http://mentalhealthcamp.org) on Saturday, July 10 2010. The workshop will run from 9:35-10:20 and will include a 25 minute sample episode of one of our broadcasts. Also included in this workshop is an expressive arts component where members of both the live in person and on-line audience can participate.
Sound Therapy Radio is a combination of two arts and mental health radio shows (https://soundtherapyradio.com). ‘Art of the Mind’ combines art, creativity and mental health topics in a relaxed and engaging environment. ‘The Artist Lounge’ brings together artists of all types to talk about their creativity and inspirations. Both programs have a live musical guest who perform and involve themselves in the dialogue.
Ashley Hunking
For this special episode we have artist, actor and Stand up Comic Ashley Hunking. Ashley is an advocate for those dealing with Anorexia and Bulemia, she will share her experience and how her creativity is part of her healing process.
Also playing live on our broadcast is Ranj Singh and the Discriminators.
Join us for our live internet stream
Our Facebook group is for you post your creative works from the episode.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136815819676920&ref=ts
After this special broadcast, host J Peachy will deconstruct the show and have some time for Question and Answer.
For more on J Peachy, go to http://jpeachygallery.com
I’m sorry Canada but this year I am finding it very difficult to celebrate your Birthday.
You likely know the reasons why, but I feel betrayed; what did we all do to deserve this. One would think that you get better with age.
I’ve known you for all my life, you’ve made mistakes in the past, but I’ve never seen this in you before. The look on your face, the evil in your eyes, the aggressiveness, the contempt, the lack of respect and dignity. However, its the anger, like a seething Pit Bull ready to attack at even a flinch of a feather. Its like I could feel your teeth plunging to the core of my heart, twisting and turning with the vengeance seemingly detached from any resemblance of me as a living being. How can I, or anyone trust you any longer? I don’t know where to start and its difficult to find the energy to do so.
How can I celebrate when there are mutual friends of ours in prison being held for unjust reasons. This looks like Martial Law! Even those who you have released are still in pain, they are traumatized, they are hurt, yet the worst part of all this is that they no longer believe in you. I see the anger in them towards you, its quite frightening. Will you even acknowledge what you have done has caused deep hurt? Our friends truly believe that they did nothing wrong. Are you choosing to sweep this under the rug and discount the emotion of your friends?
Oh Canada, what happened to the True Patriot Love? Today, I ask myself; how can I continue to stand on guard for thee?
This weekend, June 25-27, my city, Toronto, really became the centre of the universe. And I’m not sure if either of us will ever be the same.
I was supposed to attend the Toronto Poetry Slam on Saturday, as a reporter for News 4 You, and it would also have been a wonderful opportunity to catch up with some people I haven’t seen in far too long. I even wrote a somewhat out-of-character spoken word piece which I would have had fun performing, and I think the audience would have appreciated on some level.
However, early Saturday afternoon, the intersection of Queen and Spadina turned into a war zone. This is certainly closer to the Drake Hotel, where the slam took place, than to the intersection of Yonge and College, where there was also violent protest. Part of me wanted to go attempt to be a peacemaker, part of me wanted to cover it as a news story, part of me wanted to protest systemic poverty.
All of me stayed home. I will cover the slam another time. Valid protest is always available and a necessity in a democratic society. And I will always be a strong force for peace. But on Saturday, I stayed at home, horrified by the chaotic images portrayed on television for all the world to see.
Right now, the only one of my poems I would like to perform is the ironically titled, “Toronto The Good.”
Can anybody tell me that something useful, something meaningful, something positive, something which affects the real world, day-to-day life of Torontonians, was actually accomplished this weekend?
The loss of focus from real protest and real policing is something which will affect our city and our country for a long time.
Sadly the loss of our title of “Toronto the Good” may be permanent.
PTJC
As of Monday June 28th, 700 people remain detained. Judy Rebick addresses the Gathering at the Toronto Police Headquarters
According to Naomi Klein, Toronto Police we’re caught with their hands in the G20 Cookie Jar.
Social Change in Canada, with Harsha Walia and Naomi Klein
November 15, 2010 in Commentary | by J Peachy | 1 comment
We were able to speak with Naomi Klein and Harsha Walia two of Canada’s most visible social activists. In an interview at the 20th anniversary of Under the Volcano, we ask both Harsha and Naomi about the state of Social Activism in Canada in 2010 in light of the 2010 Olympics and the police actions during the G20 summit in Toronto.
Share this:
Like this: