arts / 8

theotherpress.ca

New Westminster history strikes a
chord with Kickstarter campaign

» Trials and triumphs of fundraising for the arts

Cheryl Minns
Arts Editor
Marts
@theotherpress.ca

$

 

opular crowd-funding
website Kickstarter

to the site in 2013, and already

from fans. One such production
is Stump City Stories, a

musical collection of New
Westminster’s historical events
written by author/composer/

produced by City Stage New
West (CSNW). The musical
was commissioned in 2009
in response to the city’s 150th
anniversary and performed in
2010.

“The play is a series
of vignettes, telling in
chronological order the history
of the city of New Westminster
in words and music. The four
actors portray a large number of
characters, some actual persons
and some composite creations,
who have been part of the city
during its first 150 years,” Ryan
explained.

The production ran on
a very limited budget and

: performed mostly at schools,

: such as Douglas College, as a

: workshop. While audiences

: gave the musical high praise,

: and the play was nominated for
: an Ovation Award, there was

: not enough financial support to

welcomed Canadian campaigns : take the production further.

Now CSNW has turned to

the New Westminster arts scene : Kickstarter to raise funds fora

is turning towards it for funding : professional studio recording

: of the musical to reignite the

: interest in this production that
: captures the legacy of New

: Westminster.

“Kickstarter is not for the

music director George Ryan and : meek,” said Renée Bucciarelli,
: the artistic director of CSNW.

: “We had several delays getting
: it up and running, and that

: pushed the campaign into the
: holidays. It’s all or nothing—

: you have to make your goal or
: you don’t get funded—and it

: was pretty much a nail-biter

: throughout the Christmas

? season.”

The campaign finished on

December 24, 2013 with a grand
: total of $3,415—a little more
: than the initial goal of $3,000.

With funding in place,

: CSNW is getting the cast into
: the studio for recordings and
: designing the album artwork.
: They expect to release the

: recording in May.

“The songs are wonderful

: and unforgettable. Working

: on this show and knowing the

: songs and story like I do now

: has actually exposed me to the

: city’s history in a way I probably
: never would have encountered,”
: Bucciarelli said.

“The lyrics are often just

: hilariously clever, and the music
: covers a lot of historical styles

: as well as topics. Younger folks

: have actually said that seeing

: the show and hearing the songs
: has instilled a sense of pride

: in their city, and makes them

: think about the future of life

: here.”

Ryan added, “The 150th

: anniversary was an important
: milestone in the life of New

: Westminster. This play was a

: celebration of that history and
: it is fitting that a permanent

: record of it should exist.”

If you're interested in

: supporting the local arts,

: check out CSNW’’s latest

: production, Freud’s Last

: Session, at Galbraith House in
: New Westminster which starts
: January 29 (with a two-for-one
: preview on January 28) and

: runs until February 9.

For more information

: and tickets, check out www.
: citystagenewwest.org

Se

a =

City Stage New West presents

IT

A Workshop Performance of an Original Musical
Based on the History of New Westminster
Written & Directed by Goorge Ryan

Starring
Sean Allan, Dora Brooks, Damon Calderwood, and Jeremy Lowe

Bae ae rae eg al
eo Ey etl Tae eta)

Laure ©, Mule Performing Arte Theatre
PRD ee Ete A aa tit

Tickets: 423/320 students & Seniors, plus service charge
PPT eat Ce rT tee ey
ee a |

 

 

Art Battle offers instant artwork before your eyes

» Vancouver presents live painting competition

Julia Siedlanowska
. Staff Writer

 

rt Battle is an exciting

live painting competition
that happens all across the
country. There is no shortage
in entertainment as 12 artists
centred around an island of
easels paint live in front of a
crowded audience.

The artists are split into
two groups of six with an
opportunity to compete in
two rounds. In the first round,
the six artists have 20 minutes
to complete their work, after
which the crowd votes for their
favourites. The next group
does the same, and the top two

artists from each group compete : : : ‘
: do with the diversity of the

: painters. You get the older,
: more established artists, and

ina final round. The winner
gets $500 and a spot in the

:; Vancouver Finals in July.

“It was] just a bunch of

artists getting together and

: coming up with a good idea,”

: said Bill Higgins, the organizer
: for Art Battle Vancouver. “It’s a

: national competition. It started
: in Toronto, but now it’s spread

: all across the country.”

The fact that it was indeed a

: good idea is easily proved by the :
: turnout. Art Battle 86 was held
: on January 14 at the FanClub on
: Granville Street, and the venue

: was packed. The atmosphere

: was fantastic as a wide range of
: painters and patrons gathered

: to take part in the event.

“The turnout [has] always

: been amazing, but the thing I
: love about it is the diversity of
: the turnout. And the diversity

of the turnout has a lot to

: then you get the young and

: up-and-coming, and that puts
: a different spin on it,’ said

: Higgins.

The different demographics

certainly allowed for a fun and
: inviting atmosphere, and with
: a live commentator, watching
: someone paint couldn’t have

: been more exciting.

“You can really tell

: when someone's frozen up,”

: commented a regular spectator
: anticipating the show. “They’re
: not used to painting in front of
: people, so some of them have

: already practised what they are
: going to do.”

The event is also a great way

: for the artists to gain exposure

: of their work. It’s a fantastic

: opportunity for artists to sell

: their pieces, as all the paintings
: are available for auction at an

: affordable starting price of $50
: for an original piece. If you

: don’t get a piece, there’s always
: the memory of watching it be
: created before your eyes.

: runners-up, joined the
: competition because she

: who doesn't like to be watched
: while I paint. I thought, “This

: isa great way to face your fears
: and start the new year by doing
: things differently,”

: Woodward won the

: competition, with painters

: Annalee Kornelson and Olga
: Abeleva as runners-up. All

: finalists from this year’s Art

: Battles will compete in July.

: for early birds and $15 general
: admission, this is a great event
: for all occasions and ages.

Asiza, one of the four

“thought it would be exciting.”
“Tm one of those people

 

In the end, Alison

With tickets priced at $10

 

Art Battle //By Julia Siedlanowska