Nanaimo Arts Council

First 1/4 in Review

JANUARY - MARCH

(Image by)

our mission
Catalyst for Creative Community

our vision
Space for creative growth and expression.
Connected and engaged creative community.
Financial and organizational sustainability.

working groups
GALLERY

CREATIVE SPACE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rod Corraini
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Mcdonald
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Santics
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vi Wawrykow
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosemary Webster

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Murray
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy Nielsen
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vi Wawrykow

ARTWALK

ADMIN

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joanne Bagnall
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rod Corraini
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Harman
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Martin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Moore
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Roch
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leita Schade
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Smiley
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audrey Verhaar
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosemary Webster
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Easterbrook
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Easterbrook

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jude Kramer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donna Kreisl

SHOWCASE

SWAP-O-RAMA-RAMA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donna Addison
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donna Kreisl
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laurie Macmillan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christel Martin

3D GALLERY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Claudia Gray
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Santics

HANGING
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Collison-Baker
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ted Barnett
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sonja Billard
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ed Chan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Len Harrison
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pat Palmer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Culture Days
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Barfoot
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reta Beirnes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Fraser
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann Graham Walker
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Schmidt
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jennifer Seper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judy Stevenson

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Harman
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Don Olsen
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Smiley
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laurie Zuvich

COMMUNICATIONS/
SOCIAL MEDIA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reta Beirnes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laurie MacMillan

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Moore
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lena Rasmussen

MEMBERSHIPS

3D PORT THEATRE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Max Dowie
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bryan Faubert
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Claudia Gray

1/4 REVIEW EDITOR

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maureen Fatin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Roch

Inclusivity & Community

Responsibility & Accountability
Growth & Learning
Fun & Creativity

board of
directors
President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melanie Godel
Vice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vacant
Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arlan Smallwood
Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vacant
Directors at Large . . . . . . . . . . . . John Moore
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Roch
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Murray
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reta Beirnes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryan Faubert

staff
Executive Director. . . . . . . . . . Sarah Schmidt

contact info
Nanaimo North Town Centre
#259-4750 Rutherford Rd
Nanaimo, BC, V9T 4K6
admin@nanaimoartscouncil.ca

WEBSITE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Ansell
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosemary webster

FUNDRAISING/DEVELOPMENT

our values

(250) 729-3947

NanaimoArtsCouncil
www.nanaimoartscouncil.ca

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reta Beirnes
Nanaimo Arts Council
The Nanaimo Arts Council

Onging
Beading circle

UFO Day

LOOMBEADING

January 17, February 21 and March 21 - future events TBD

A traditional loom was made out of a green branch, two

pieces of leather, threads stretched from end to end of
the branch. A needle is used to attach the beads. When
complete the threads are cut and tied. The beaded piece
can be sewn onto articles of clothing or used to make a
bracelet.

You can come and work on your own; however, UFOs are
usually unfinished for a reason. Do you need some kind
of help or motivation to get going again? If so UFO Day
is for you. We can help and motivate each other or even
kick ourselves in the butt!

Today beadwork is most often found on the yokes and

cuffs of jackets or vests, gloves, mittens pouches and
moccasins.

Bring anything portable that you want to finish: sewing,

crafting, painting, drawing.. There is a sink, electrical
outlets, tables and chairs. If you can bring any of the
following that you would be willing for others to use let
us know:
Iron

Ironing board

Full length mirror

January
Peoples Choice

Roys Car by Gary Ansell

Members Only Exhibit

- Bling Before Spring Sidewalk Sale

February
ThemAll VIU
JUDGES
Yvonne Vander Kooi
Yvonne has lived and worked as artist and educator on
Vancouver Island for the past 20 years. Originally from
Ontario, she holds a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and
has continued her studies here and in Toronto. She served
on the board of directors at the Nanaimo Art Gallery
when she first came to the island and previously enjoyed
assistant curator positions, taught in the artist in schools
programs and worked in artist cooperatives in Toronto.
Her love for art, sharing the art process and working in
community continues to be an important part of her
work. She is currently the Education Coordinator at Art
Lab, N.A.G.
Aaram Robillard el Duende Studio
Aaram is a poet and printmaker. Since 2008, she has
operated el Duende Studio, a small home-based printmaking studio. Her colourful screen prints express a
joyful mysticism and love of the natural world, while her
etchings and hand-bound books are a spiritual contemplation of deeper Alchemical philosophies. El Duende, is
a Spanish term that speaks of the passion felt when we
communicate with art.
Titia Jetten
Titia Jetten got her Masters degree from the Royal
Academy of Visual Arts in The Netherlands in graphic
design, illustration, typography and photography. She
started her first business in graphic design and product
design. In 2000 she started Roberts Creative Inc., together
with her husband. She also opened a studio in Portland
OR, traveling across the Atlantic every month.
Since their immigration to Vancouver Island in 2009,
Titia and her family work on the promotion of their own
independent design brand and art label. Titia is also a
teacher, drawer and writer.

Peoples Choice
6

Ciro Di Ruocco holding his first prize winning piece

Swap-O-Rama-Rama Littercy Day

Bookmaking Event
Our third Swap-o-Rama-Rama (SORR) was another
success. People are starting to get the hang of things - not
only was attendance up from 75 to 100, but more people
were also creating and staying for the entire day.
This events stations included: ???? several stations
offering help in de and re-constructing items.
Mid Island Co-op sponsored the event with $300 and
Fabricland gave us $200 worth of notions and fabric.
Yours & Mine Consignment is now fully behind the event
and donated a huge amount of quality clothing that was
a large part of the success of the event. Starting with
quality fabric is inspiring.
We will let the pictures speak for themselves
For an excellent overview of the first SORR event
see Shaw TVs Go! Island segment at http://y2u.be/
UsVPSFOPOSQ
Laurie MacMillan and Sarah Schmidt
SORR Coordinators

There were about 20 kids and a number of parents helping the little ones make book marks. We supplied paper(I
picked up a bundle of paint strips)that would be suitable
for Valentines day bookmarks, fancy detailing , scissors,
markers and other embelishments. The library also had a
box of mixed supplies so the children had lots to choose
from. Lise Ferland and I helped with cutting and gluing.
There were other events going on at the same time in the
library so kids came at intervals.
All in all it was a busy day
Vi

VISFF

Loombeading
A traditional loom was made out of a green branch, two
pieces of leather, threads stretched from end to end of
the branch. A needle is used to attach the beads. When
complete the threads are cut and tied. The beaded piece
can be sewn onto articles of clothing or used to make a
bracelet.
Today beadwork is most often found on the yokes and
cuffs of jackets or vests, gloves, mittens pouches and
moccasins.
When you pick up a needle to learn beadwork, you are
picking up a thread that connects
you to generations of artists who came before you.
Wednesday February 25, 6-8 pm Downtown Public
Library (upstairs), Diana Krall Plaza
Cost: $15 (sliding scale) - Looms and Materials supplied
You are welcome to bring your own beads if you like to
work into your piece.
Register at: office.mimn@shaw.ca or 250 740-0223
Sponsored by the Nanaimo Beading Circle & Mid Island
Metis Nation

March
Community Cultural
Roundtables
Join The Conversation
Dear Cultural Community Colleague,
Introduction: At Arts Summit 2013 the arts, culture,
and heritage community of British Columbia began a
conversation about the need for a comprehensive and
sustainable cultural policy for our province. Out of
that gathering came an initiative titled BC Creative
Convergence: Towards a Cultural Policy Framework,
generating a series of meetings, presentations and roundtable events to collect input from all disciplines, sectors,
and communities of place, practice, and identity.
The first year of BC Creative Convergence activity
focused on identifying and documenting the themes and
policy needs discussed at Summit 13, widening the net

Festival of Banners

Peoples Choice
Crossroads by Bonnie Stebbings

Island Short Fiction

Contest
The winners and finalists in the 2015 islands Short Fiction
Contest were announced at an event in Nanaimo on
Thursday.
First-place winner in the Adult category was Judy LeBlanc
of Fanny Bay, BC for her story Senanus Island, of which
judge Robert Hilles remarked: This is a powerful story
that conveys the tragic repercussions of an argument
between a husband and wife during a kayak trip . . . It will
keep readers engageduntil its harrowing last sentence.
Second-place in the category went to Carol Gall of Heriot
Bay for her story Chicken Soup, while Craig Spence of
Victoria won third-prize for A State of Repose. Hilles
also awarded honourable mentions to Harold Macy of
Courtenay for Nightingale, Antony Stevens of Nanaimo
for 10:15 Departure, and Irene Wende of Nanaimo for
The Other Side.
In the Youth (ages 13 to 18) category, the first-place winner
was Taelon Pinto of Nanaimo for The Wilting Flower.
Second-place was awarded to Skylar Gruys of Nanaimo

for The Magician, and third-place to Rebecca Snow of

Parksville for Ethereal.
The Junior (12 and under category) was won by Sara Lewis
of Nanaimo with her story Rueben, Not Susanna. Uma
Lilly McIninch Terweil of Salt Spring Island won second-prize for her story The Whisperer, while third-place
was awarded to Isabela Martin of Salt Spring Island for
That Rooster.
All three first-place winners were present to read their
stories at the event, which was also attended by other
finalists and writing fans from throughout the region. A
record 122 entries were received this year, and over $2000
in cash and prizes was distributed.
The contest, open to writers on Vancouver Island and
the Gulf Islands, is co-sponsored by the Nanaimo Arts
Council, the Vancouver Island Regional Library, and the
Vancouver Island University Department of Creative
Writing and Journalism. It is made possible by financial
support from the Government of British Columbia and
The City of Nanaimo.
The winning entries will be posted on the websites of
both the Nanaimo Arts Council and the VIU Creative
Writing Department.

Become a member

upcoming NAC Events

Join a community that celebrates you and your work. Support cultural
development of Nanaimo. Exhibit in our gallery in the Nanaimo North Town
Centre. Discover others and share your ideas and inspiration.
Membership entitles you to discounts on show/workshop entry fees, free
listing in our directory, allows us to display your work around town in
pop-up displays and ongoing exhibits.
Your fees also allow us to support artistic development through our Bursary
and Achievement program.
Join now. Lets celebrate creativity together.

April 9
April
April 23
April
May
May
May
May 2
June
June

Youth Showcase (NAC Gallery)

Festival of Banners (Nanaimo North Town Centre)
Island Short Fiction Contest Award Ceremony
Exhibit Change, Volunteer Luncheon (Port Theatre)
Nanaimo Art Group (NAC Gallery)
Festival of Banners (Nanaimo North Town Centre)
Black Out Poetry (Cascadia Poetry Festival)
Bookfest Collaboration
2nd Annual Mid Island Photography Showcase
Achievement Award Ceremony

Ongoing:
Nanaimo Beading Circle, Wednesdays 6-8pm, VIRL Harbourfront
Monthly Board Meetings - everyone welcome - contact the NAC
office for dates, times, location

Annual Membership Fees

Individual (Direct). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
Youth (18 & under)/Student/Senior (65+) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20
Group/Business/Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50

Family of 3 or more (1 or 2 adults plus youth)
Individual (Indirect) - through Member Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10
Supporting Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10
Access to Art - for people with limited income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FREE

Full membership benefits & totally confidential

Apply via a brief letter with simple outline of your situation
Date:___________________ Name:____________________________
Organization (if applicable):____________________________________
Contact Person:_____________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________
City:______________________ Postal Code:_____________________
Home #:___________________ Cell #:__________________________
Work #:___________________ E-mail:_________________________
Interested in Volunteering? Yes____ No____ Maybe____

In Gallery_____ Other_____

All of our events need volunteers in order to continue. While experience is

great, it certainly isnt mandatory! We can train you. Volunteering with NAC
brings with it all sorts of benefits in addition to the satisfaction of a successful
event including: acquisition of skills and experience or the opportunity to share
your skills and experience, opportunities to meet other arts and culture minded
people and be inspired and energized, connection to your community and an
opportunity to contribute to it in a meaningful way.
If you are interested in a creative community and value inclusivity & community,
growth & learning, fun & creativity check us out.
If you have an idea for a creative event or activity and you are willing to work to
see it come to fruition, please contact us. Lets see if we can make it happen.

Many Thanks to our 2014 Sponsors & Donors

Bowen Road Farmers Market
Bravenet
CanvasPlus
Centre Stage Nanaimo
City of Nanaimo
Clare Singleton
Cobbs Bakery
Coby McDougall
Cory Hostetter
Crimson Coast Dance Co
Columbia Bakery
Country Grocer

Dave & Joan

Dixie Thrift
Fabricland
Fairway Market
Fast Time Grand Prix
Fred Pattje
Gio Creative
Haven Thrift Shop
Hospice Thrift Shoppe
Joan Murray
Julie Bevan
Laurelle Armet

London Drugs
Marjorie Driscoll
MatShop
Nanaimo Museum
Nanaimo Recycling Exchange
Pacific Gardens
Port Theatre
Print 3
Quality Foods
Romper Room
Saint Andrews United Church
Senini Graphics

Serge & Sew

Splitsville Bowling
Timothy Merrill
Theatre One
Vancouver Island Regional Library
Vancouver Island Thrift Store
Vancouver Island University
Volunteer Nanaimo
WalMart
Yellow Bird Arts

This list is as of December 2014. Every effort has been made to make this a comprehensive list and if we have inadvertently left
someones name off we offer sincere apologies and if you let us know, we will rectify the situation immediately.