Stardale Pop Up Art in the Park Series for Canada 150 sponsored by Alberta Government
Stardale was presented with an opportunity through the Canada 150 grant to showcase the talent of many young Indigenous girls. From our experience, we have learned that these young girls often slip through the cracks and rarely are recognized for their talents. This Stardale project generated enthusiasm from the girls, the artists and the volunteer mentors, thus creating new paths of hopes and dreams for each girl. The direct hands-on approach worked! The girls thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors and in settings that they rarely get to be. Additionally, art is something they love. Therefore, in highlighting the youth's talents, it is a natural fit for creating optimism and it is a win-win situation.
Art is an integral component of the Indigenous culture and is implemented with the framework of the Stardale programming model. The public had the opportunity to experience the First Person narrative by interacting with these young urban Indigenous girls who were painting their own stories. The girls' creative processes were directed by the talented Cree-Metis artist Barbara La Pointe and First Nations artist Ken Bourassa.
Stardale Women's Group over the summer months engaged in a series of five very different Live Plein Air Painting Pop Up Art with our Indigenous girls.
July 1 at the Millennium Peace Bridge
July 12 on the Stephen Ave Mall for Stampede
July 26 at the East Village Riverfront Ave
Aug 9 at Tompkins Park on 17 Ave SW
Aug 23 at Edworthy Park NW
At each art session, curators came out to meet with the group and to critique their work. This was a new experience for the girls and a beneficial opportunity.
Cody & Sioux with Stardale
The Pop Up Art in the Park Series for Canada 150 culminated with an exhibition and reception on September 14th. A lovely reception was held at Cody & Sioux in Inglewood. It was a splendid event. We are thankful to Ingrid Schultz who had a vision that we could be part of. The girls who designed the art were present, meeting the guests as well as talking about their art concepts and designs. Artist Ken Bourassa took a blank canvas at the beginning of the evening and while he listened to Suzanne de Bussac performing, he painted a picture of a horse. This was a work of wonder and art. The painting was a silent auction bid. The highest bidder was thrilled to have one.
To capture the heart of Stardale, the talented musician and artist Suzanne de Bussac sang a variety of the songs that she wrote. Additionally, we got to hear some of her new songs which will be released on an album next spring (www.suzannedebussac.com/). Suzanne is a huge supporter of children with mental illness and is closely connected with Stardale.
In addition, but on a different perspective of "art," Eugene Stickland (www.eugenestickland.com/), with three of the Stardale girls, did a performance piece entitled, "Committing," that was co-created by the Calgary playwright and a group of Stardale girls. The hope was to raise awareness of mental illnesses and suicide, which more than often directly relates to violence and abuse. The performance piece was extremely well received with comments such as, "riveting, enlightening, chilling and staggering." The heart of Stardale was exposed and laid open for the public to see and to hear that these were real stories by girls who live the story.
We are grateful for all who attended the Pop Up Art in the Park reception. It was memorable and that is what we wanted to create.
