Wow. I think that our busy week paid off. The opening of Phyllis Grant's Contemporary Observations in Photos, Drawings, and Music Inspired by Patterns, Forces, and Beats in Nature, Heather Goodchild's From Some Wilderness Place, and the AGSM Instructor's Show in the Main Gallery, as well as the celebration of Amber Andersen's exhibibition of Homesick in the Community Gallery, was a huge success. Well, I had fun at least. Heather showed up on Thursday with what must be the most lovely group of friends a girl could ask for. All four of them (that includes Heather) flew to Winnipeg from Toronto and braved March driving conditions from Winnipeg to Brandon in order to help Heather with the install. They were happy to pitch in with the show and asked only for a good milkshake in return. Once the installation was complete, Heather jumped right into action by meeting with Steve Gouthro's BU class on Thursday night and giving an awesome presentation. When she was done we pulled Amber Andersen out of the class she was teaching in the Drawing Studio and had her talk about the Community Gallery exhibition. A busy night, but a good way to start off the fun.On Friday morning Jimmy and I got to the gallery early and set up Phyllis' work which had just arrived from New Brunswick. Then we were off to the races. The opening reception started at 7:30 on Friday night and sometime after 8pm we got the artists to speak about their work. Heather went first and she brought in her friend, musi
cian Doug Paisley, to help. Doug sang some of the traditional folk songs that had inspired the work while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. It was great! Then we moved everyone over to the other side of the gallery to hear Phyllis' talk. She spoke eloquently about her life and work, allowing the audience to ask questions before wrapping up with an original poem. After that everyone milled around enjoying these two exhibitions and the exceptional work of the Instructor's Show.Next it was off to the Brandon Friendship Centre Bingo Hall for musical performances by Richard MacKay, MO3 (Phyllis), and Bo Schowz (Jimmy). Jimmy was already down there so Phyllis and I hustled over just in time to miss Richard's set. So we dimmed the lights and I gave the most awkard-bespectacled-curator-introduction-to-a-rap-performance-schpiel ever. But Phyllis picked up the slack and performed beautifully, even getting Jimmy up to do a number with her. Ji
mmy took over after that and blew us all away. Then we we gave out some stellar door prizes donated by the Manitoba Metis Federation and still had time for Richard to play another set! Folks, if you ever get the chance to hear Richard MacKay perform, do so. Especially if Gerald Thunderbird is on lead guitar. Good stuff indeed.Anyway, this goodness trickled over into the next day. On Saturday afternoon Phyllis and I headed back to the AGSM for a screening of her children's film "MAQ and the Spirit of the Woods." I had figured that we would get a small crowd of youngsters and Phyllis could give a little talk about the movie and that would be it. But in the end we wound up having two small groups of kids joining us, which was great because it let Phyllis talk with them rather than at them. She was amazing at it too. No wonder she's MO3 (Mother of Three!). Much fun. Big thanks to everyone who came out and helped in any way, including all the AGSM staff, Vanna Evans with food, Jason at the MMF, and John from the Brandon Friendship Centre. We'll have to do it again sometime...
2 comments:
"Back from my inspiring trip to Manitoba, where I met a real-life Mi'gmwesu over frozen prairie fields; rapped in front of a live audience all by myself like some country gal, sweetheart-of-the-rodeo in tights, with the exception of a song called Up Risin' which was accompanied by a passionate poet who had his life saved by Graffiti; Soul-voiced, mannerly, shining men; Families, free-lancers and fresh hearts; Shared a sanctuary of a gallery with an intriguing henna-red long haired damsel of infallible style who travelled with her very own angel-ensemble of talented folk --summer, winter, fall and spring all-in-one; a fiery, gorgeous lady who knew exactly which song I meant when I said "...it was a very simple melody, it went something like...", a Daisy of immense heart with both strong and fragile beauty -just like the flower -resilient yet delicate, born of rich soil and reaching, basking, towards the sunlight; Children, quiet but interested -subtle and happy. A mother who talked with her eyes. A father who spoke with a son's voice, and a son who spoke like the father, with hands that matched musical prowess; proud-parent couples and a Celtic tattoo; a homesick splash of pink underneath brain patterns I could watch forever; Pink punctuation, too; A lady with joyful eyes and soul, with a warm, understanding hug and real handshake -compact, pretty and true; Dark beauty -momentary -intense, as brief analysis studied and welcomed me, while the hotel I called home beamed of Good Morning's and great coffee and handsome Have a Nice Day's.
And just so ya know, the most beautiful girl in Canada lives in Brandon, Manitoba. Her name is Jenny Western. Don't tell her that though, 'cause she doesn't seem to notice, and anyway she'd be more interested in what you had to say about art and music than anything else, 'cause this woman is making our world a better place one exhibit at a time. She's the curator of art, and art is the curator of her...
And that was my trip."
xo Phyll
It comes to no surprise that Phyllis was extraordinary from her artwork, to her film. She is truly an eceptional being and I love so much how she makes a room shine when she walks into it.
I wish I could have been in Manitoba to share this wonderful experience.
One of your biggest fans and sister-in-law!!
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