Some of the city's leading female artists will be at the head of the class on Saturday for an interactive afternoon of creativity and inspiration.
As part of the Inspiring Women Among Us initiative hosted by UNBC, the Two Rivers Gallery will put four pivotal artists in the spotlight to talk about their artistic process, a little bit about their personal paths, and show how they do it.
"The gallery was approached and asked if we would be interested in holding one of the events, and we enthusiastically replied 'of course.' I wanted to gather a group of leading female artists, but not leaders just because of their art, but because of all the other elements of their community works and their lives," said Twyla Exner, the director of public programs at the Two Rivers Gallery.
She selected Cat Sivertsen, Mo Hamilton, Kathleen Angeleski and Audrey McKinnon for this motivational panel. Each one will get some time to introduce themselves, some time to talk about the kind of art they prefer adn the techniques they use, and then everyone gets to make some art of their own with the four panelists helping them along.
"I said yes, without a second thought, to this particular event because as an advocate for the arts it strikes all the right chords - I get to do show 'n' tell, I get to support my friends at the gallery and UNBC, I get to make stuff and inspire others to do the same around my own methods and materials practice," said Sivertsen, a longtime participant in Inspiring Women events over the years.
"I was really flattered to be asked to participate... this year and I love how much Prince George embraces the whole thing," said McKinnon, who will be live-painting while the Khast'an Drummers make music on Sunday at the Omineca Arts Centre.
"I really want to take advantage of this opportunity by making sure I'm contributing in a meaningful way on both days. I think we're in a really interesting place right now where it's okay to question how we're contributing as individuals to systems of oppression in order to correct course and do better. And I feel like that's very much where I'm at as an artist right now as well. I want to know how I can do better, serve better and be more honest, more skilled and more purposeful as an artist. So I'm excited to explore and share that next Saturday and Sunday."
Hamilton confessed that she was confused by the invitation. She said she was so immersed in her artistic process, a daily endeavour, that she hardly considered herself inspiring.
"I am very intimate with my own shortcomings, insecurities and daily struggles in believing in my artistic voice and yet regardless of this, I tenaciously carry on. I suppose this could be considered inspiring," she said.
"I do find inspiration in creative women's stories and who, despite the odds, keep going in a genuine and committed way. Women's stories have guided me when I have had challenges so if I can be of service to other women and help them to believe in the importance of their creative voices then I am happy to help out in any way I can."
Sivertsen added, "The best bit is the women artists I'm presenting with are all at varying stages in their careers, we all work in different media and come from different perspectives. For instance I am going to focus on a project I did in the U.K. and Australia a number of years ago about laundry. The imagery is an obvious symbol of women's work and, in this instance, it is a metaphor for my studio practice."
McKinnon said her presentation would focus "on the value and responsibility of artists to contribute to the conversations we're all having through our art, my own experiences with adversity and how that shapes the art I make now, and how colour, form and skill are wonderful vessels of communication. And then I'm teaching a short workshop on how to find contours in the face."
Hamilton said her presentation would come from her current personal arts challenge she called The 100 House Project which, when finished, "will be a compilation of 100 block-prints depicting houses in different scenarios that relate the full realm of human experience. This project records the uncertainty of our times with climate change, political instability, emotional upheaval and psychological disruptions. Some of the prints are based on very personal experiences such as moving from one community to another and general life uncertainties. While some block-prints are based on actual current events such as wildfires, evacuations, refugees, floods, war and homelessness other prints depict the importance of joy, family and community."
This ranging debate-and-create event is free of charge to attend. It is open to all genders, ages and walks of life.
It starts at 1 p.m. and is expected to run until 4 p.m. at the Two Rivers Gallery located downtown by the Civic Centre.
