Art is What You Make of It

ARTSCO presents, in association with OSIF, Art is What You Make of It

Recorded at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Kirsteen McCulloch is the Executive Director for ARTSCO Kelowna. Please enjoy this brief introduction to the Art Is What You Make Of It Series highlighting local talent throughout the Okanagan.

ARTSCO presents, in association with OSIF, Art is What You Make of It, Episode 1. This episode features Artist Emily Jayne May Myatt and is presented by Karen Close.

A project by Artsco (Art Council of the Central Okanagan) showcasing and sharing local talent. “Supporting our diverse, vibrant Arts Community in the time of COVID-19”

Emily Jayne May Myatt (they/them) is a non-binary contemporary visual artist currently based in Kelowna, BC on unceded syilx territory. https://www.emilyjaynemaymyatt.com/

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Many thanks to James Alton

Film Director & Commercial Video Producer

ARTSCO presents, in association with OSIF, Art is What You Make of It, Episode 2. This episode features Author and Artist Danielle Krysa and is presented by Kirsteen McCulloch.

A project by Artsco (Art Council of the Central Okanagan) showcasing and sharing local talent. “Supporting our diverse, vibrant Arts Community in the time of COVID-19”

Danielle Krysa has a BFA in Visual Arts, and a post-grad in graphic design. She is the writer/curator behind the contemporary art site, The Jealous Curator (est.2009), and has curated art shows from Washington DC to Los Angeles, San Francisco to Toronto. Danielle creates her own artwork as well – mixed media collages which combine found images, paint, and as much humor as she can pack into each title. When she’s not in the studio, Danielle is writing books : “Creative Block”, “Collage”, and “Your Inner Critic Is A Big Jerk” were the first three, and her fourth book, “A Big Important Art Book – Now with Women”, was released in October of 2018. Danielle has also had the great pleasure of speaking at TEDx, PIXAR, Creative Mornings, CreativeLive, and was interviewed for several video segments on oprah.com.

https://www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/

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Many thanks to James Alton

Film Director & Commercial Video Producer

ARTSCO presents, in association with OSIF, Art is What You Make of It, Episode 3. This episode features John Lent and Jude Clarke, and is presented by Karen Close.

A project by Artsco (Art Council of the Central Okanagan) showcasing and sharing local talent. “Supporting our diverse, vibrant Arts Community in the time of COVID-19”

John Lent is a professional writer, editor, and singer/songwriter who lives in the ridiculously beautiful Okanagan valley. Each of his 10 books of poetry, short fiction, and novels has received acclaim. As a former professor at Okanagan College, he has been a mentor to many emerging writers. John is also a singer/songwriter who performs with Lent/Fraser/Wall and Strange Ground.

https://johnlent.ca/

Jude Clarke is an artist living in Vernon, BC. She has previously worked as the Art Education Coordinator at the Vernon Public Art Gallery, taught art and creative writing workshops to children, teens, and adults, and has exhibited her work in art galleries in Vernon, Vancouver, and Strasbourg. Her book about being an artist while living with systemic lupus, The language of Water was published by Thistledown Press in 2002.

Clarke is featured in the publication Creative Aging:

https://www.sage-ing.com/Sage-ing34.pdf

https://www.facebook.com/jude.clarke.35

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Many thanks to James Alton

Film Director & Commercial Video Producer

John Lent is a professional writer, editor, and singer/songwriter who lives in the ridiculously beautiful Okanagan valley. Each of his 10 books of poetry, short fiction, and novels has received acclaim. As a former professor at Okanagan College, he has been a mentor to many emerging writers. John is also a singer/songwriter who performs with Lent/Fraser/Wall and Strange Ground.

https://johnlent.ca/

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Many thanks to James Alton

Film Director & Commercial Video Producer

Richard Brodeur is remembered by many Canadians as King Richard, the exceptional goalie for the Vancouver Canucks. Yet, what they may not know is that Richard is also the force behind the popular: "My Childhood Hockey Memories" paintings.

Richard uses many mediums including acrylics, oil and watercolour.

https://brodeurartist.com/

Susan LeBlanc initially trained as a nurse, completing her BScN at the University of British Columbia in 1986 and a Master of Health Sciences at McMaster University in 1990.

Susan formed her own consulting business specializing in visioning, strategic planning, and implementation of health services. In parallel to this work, she began an ongoing exploration into her own creativity through the art of intuitive painting or what Susan now calls, “The Art of Becoming”. https://leblancwellness.com/intuitive-painting/

Rose Sexsmith, the former owner of Roses Pub, has a long time reputation and history in Kelowna and is grateful to be able to have been at our city's heart and pulse. "I've always loved most kinds of music and I've always loved to sing. Music truly is a universal language that connects people. -”

Rose’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/peacerose)

Rawle James (Rawle Iam James)

Deeply engaged in the arts and culture community since making Kelowna his home, Rawle is a poet, life coach, and community advocate. Diving into difficult topics head-on, he asks everyone to reflect and determine, “Is there truth?” and not shy away from open dialogue.

Motivated by the power of the spoken and written word, Rawle created Inspired Word Cafe Society which "provides accessible performance poetry and literary arts events, training, and workshops for professional and amateur writers and performers across the Okanagan."

Embracing the local art community, whether it’s live music, street vendors, or visual artists, supporting creatives in the city are important to him. http://www.inspiredwordcafe.com/

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Many thanks to James Alton

Film Director & Commercial Video Producer

Leila Neverland has not let her passion be deterred during the time of COVID-19. She is a force to be reckoned with and has captured our hearts with her message of love.

A mother, artist, and storyteller, Leila Neverland is an Okanagan-based collaborative community activist who facilitates the creation of original narratives through song, theatre, and film. Her art is as much the ambiance she creates in live performance as it is in her narratives themselves. Her powerful voice soars over her music as she offers audiences timely poetry, futurist paradigms, and compelling emotive expression.

http://www.leilaneverland.com

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Many thanks to James Alton

Film Director & Commercial Video Producer

Straight from St Lucia to the Okanagan, Nakita Edwards brings a new voice to the arts and culture scene. One may not automatically think of steel or pan drums and accounting, but Nakita is a unique talent! By day, she is an Accounting Professor at Okanagan College and in her spare time, an active steel or "pan" drum player.

The COVID-19 pandemic re-ignited Nakita's passion for music. Feeling the need to connect with others, Nakita posted a Facebook video of her playing which resulted in an outpouring of support. Her message to those that may have put down their instruments to focus on career etc. is, "Pick them up, play, and bring joy into the world whenever you can."

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Many thanks to James Alton

Film Director & Commercial Video Producer