| February 2007 - Issue 10 |
eleventh.transmission
arts, culture, media, activism
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the respective
owner. Nothing
may be reproduced
without consent.
ARTICLE
Governor General Promotes Art to Youth and Unites Local Artists
by Kirk Ramdath
Photos by Leor Rotchild
The cobwebs and dust bunnies in the public perception of the GG were completely cleared during Jean’s 2006 trip to
several African countries, where she was feted by tens of thousands of people. The energy of the crowds was that of
a rock concert, complete with adoring banners and chants. During her time in Africa, Mme Jean praised Islamic
women for being “builders and doers,” and said that Westerners should “look beyond the veil.”
At home in Canada, Mme Jean has been using her role to promote awareness of issues facing women and youth,
and one example of that is the evening she organized in Calgary on January 25. Roughly 40 Calgary artists and arts
administrators from disciplines as varied as spoken word poetry and ballet were invited to the screening room of the
Quickdraw Animation Society.
After the standing and applause that greeted her entry, Mme Jean made it clear that the event was not at all about
her. The audience had a chance to meet Cassidy Dobson, a Calgarian who went to Haiti to work on an arts project
with locals there. After that a screening from a member of the Youth Animation Project was shown, and after that
came the meat of the evening, a free and open discussion.
The comments reflected the diversity of the audience. There were testimonials from artists about how art has helped
them to overcome challenges in their lives and how it has given them a sense of, not just self worth, but complete
fulfillment. Teachers and administrators told their stories of what it has been like to see the change that art can have
in a young person’s life. The more that people talked, the more a positive buzz built through the room that artists
collaborating together for a good cause could accomplish almost anything.
This was not idealism without pragmatism, however. The problems specific to the Calgary arts community were
fleshed out. Problems such as the lack of spaces for artists to do and show their art, the lack of funding, and the
“exodus”; the latter being the tendency for artists to leave Calgary to go to other cities where they feel they have a
better chance of making their living as an artist, cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
One passionate explication of Calgary’s arts problems came from a local graffiti artist who decried the city’s
corporate-friendly attitude that is restricting the ability of graffiti artists to make even a legitimate living. After listening
patiently, Mme Jean surprised all in attendance by immediately seeking a response from Madeleine King, Ward 8
Alderman, who was in attendance. Obviously caught off guard, King made unconvincing protestations that the
consensus of her constituents, some of whom were in attendance, was that graffiti was unwanted. To this Mme
Jean added, “So there are still a lot of people who just don’t like colour?” The question was rhetorical, but King
seemed to miss that, offering a weak, “Yes.”
After the discussion, to further encourage collaboration among Calgarians, the audience was rewarded to ample
selections of finger food and beverages. Everyone who had shared the energy of the room had a chance to mingle
with others who had similar ideas. Many connections were made, and most of all, everyone left with a feeling of
hope. Stay tuned to the local arts scene for the spectacular events that will be the offspring of this evening with the
Governor General of Canada.
Related Links
Citizenvoices.gg.ca
Quickdraw Animation Society
Madeline King
Biography
Kirk Ramdath is the Editor-in-Chief of
Eleventh Transmission.
Governor General Promotes Art to Youth and Unites Local Artists
by Kirk Ramdath
Photos by Leor Rotchild
The cobwebs and dust bunnies in the public perception of the GG were completely cleared during Jean’s 2006 trip to
several African countries, where she was feted by tens of thousands of people. The energy of the crowds was that of
a rock concert, complete with adoring banners and chants. During her time in Africa, Mme Jean praised Islamic
women for being “builders and doers,” and said that Westerners should “look beyond the veil.”
At home in Canada, Mme Jean has been using her role to promote awareness of issues facing women and youth,
and one example of that is the evening she organized in Calgary on January 25. Roughly 40 Calgary artists and arts
administrators from disciplines as varied as spoken word poetry and ballet were invited to the screening room of the
Quickdraw Animation Society.
After the standing and applause that greeted her entry, Mme Jean made it clear that the event was not at all about
her. The audience had a chance to meet Cassidy Dobson, a Calgarian who went to Haiti to work on an arts project
with locals there. After that a screening from a member of the Youth Animation Project was shown, and after that
came the meat of the evening, a free and open discussion.
The comments reflected the diversity of the audience. There were testimonials from artists about how art has helped
them to overcome challenges in their lives and how it has given them a sense of, not just self worth, but complete
fulfillment. Teachers and administrators told their stories of what it has been like to see the change that art can have
in a young person’s life. The more that people talked, the more a positive buzz built through the room that artists
collaborating together for a good cause could accomplish almost anything.
This was not idealism without pragmatism, however. The problems specific to the Calgary arts community were
fleshed out. Problems such as the lack of spaces for artists to do and show their art, the lack of funding, and the
“exodus”; the latter being the tendency for artists to leave Calgary to go to other cities where they feel they have a
better chance of making their living as an artist, cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
One passionate explication of Calgary’s arts problems came from a local graffiti artist who decried the city’s
corporate-friendly attitude that is restricting the ability of graffiti artists to make even a legitimate living. After listening
patiently, Mme Jean surprised all in attendance by immediately seeking a response from Madeleine King, Ward 8
Alderman, who was in attendance. Obviously caught off guard, King made unconvincing protestations that the
consensus of her constituents, some of whom were in attendance, was that graffiti was unwanted. To this Mme
Jean added, “So there are still a lot of people who just don’t like colour?” The question was rhetorical, but King
seemed to miss that, offering a weak, “Yes.”
After the discussion, to further encourage collaboration among Calgarians, the audience was rewarded to ample
selections of finger food and beverages. Everyone who had shared the energy of the room had a chance to mingle
with others who had similar ideas. Many connections were made, and most of all, everyone left with a feeling of
hope. Stay tuned to the local arts scene for the spectacular events that will be the offspring of this evening with the
Governor General of Canada.
Related Links
Citizenvoices.gg.ca
Quickdraw Animation Society
Madeline King
Biography
Kirk Ramdath is the Editor-in-Chief of
Eleventh Transmission.
On Thursday, January 25, 2007, Her Excellency the Right Honourable
Michaëlle Jean, the Governor General of Canada, organized the first of what
she plans to be a series of nation-wide forums that bring together diverse
individuals of the local arts communities to meet and discuss how we can
empower art to give a voice to the voiceless, and especially to marginalized
youth.
The position of Governor General (GG) is the oldest public institution in
Canada and while officially the Canadian Head of State, the role of the GG
is largely a ceremonial one with very little direct political power. As the
official head of state of one of the world’s major nations however, what the
GG lacks in political power is balanced by the potential influence he or she
can have via the relationship with the citizens of Canada. It just depends on
how the resources of that public office are used. So whereas previous
Governor Generals have made headlines for taking expensive and
unnecessary flights and holidays, it does not take long to notice that Her
Excellency Michaëlle Jean is using the resources she has been given in a
different way from those who preceded her.
Michaëlle Jean, the Governor General of Canada, organized the first of what
she plans to be a series of nation-wide forums that bring together diverse
individuals of the local arts communities to meet and discuss how we can
empower art to give a voice to the voiceless, and especially to marginalized
youth.
The position of Governor General (GG) is the oldest public institution in
Canada and while officially the Canadian Head of State, the role of the GG
is largely a ceremonial one with very little direct political power. As the
official head of state of one of the world’s major nations however, what the
GG lacks in political power is balanced by the potential influence he or she
can have via the relationship with the citizens of Canada. It just depends on
how the resources of that public office are used. So whereas previous
Governor Generals have made headlines for taking expensive and
unnecessary flights and holidays, it does not take long to notice that Her
Excellency Michaëlle Jean is using the resources she has been given in a
different way from those who preceded her.
| Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean |
| Group Photo |