Posts from the ‘Workshops’ Category
Nov
11
You know that we love Alberta Ave, and we love opportunities to get involved in art and community here. There are plenty such opportunities coming up in the next couple of months. We wanted to share them here for you.
- Michael Germann will hold two felting workshops on Nov 12 and Dec 10, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. the focus will be Christmas ornaments (The Carrot 9351-118 Ave)
- Hand Drumming workshop is scheduled for Nov 12 from 2 – 4 p.m. People are to meet at The Carrot, then go out onto street corners to drum. Dress warm, (The Carrot 9351-118 Ave)
- Light Up the Ave – Nov 19 – 7pm – Illumine After Party – Eastwood Community League 8pm (86 St&118 Ave)
- Carrot Christmas Arts Bazaar – Nov 19, 9:30 – 4:30 p.m., (The Carrot 9351-118 Ave)
- Carrot Jingle Jammin’ Christmas Caroling – Dec 16, Friday 6:30pm (The Carrot 9351-118 Ave)
- African Christmas Concert – Saturday, Dec 17pm, Alberta Ave Choir, 6pm Community member’s ticket $10 purchase at the Carrot. (Concert is held at St Faith’s Church 117 Ave & 93 St) www.albertaavenuechoir.ca
- Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival – Jan 7 and 8, 92 St & 118 Ave - Surf’s Up at the Deep Freeze!! Volunteer for DeepFreeze by emailing deepfreezevolunteers@gmail.com. Find out more at www.deepfreeze.ca
Tags: Alberta Avenue, alberta avenue choir, arts on the ave, Christmas, Deep Freeze Festival, drumming, felting, festival, The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse, workshop
Posted in Arts Group, Events, Opportunities, Workshops | Comments Off
Jul
7
A few weeks ago, Mark Pierson, author of The Art of Curating Worship, was with us for our annual We Are Artists Workshop (a part of Bridge Songs). Below you can download the audio from Mark’s first session.
I really enjoyed our time with Mark, and listening back to his talk I can easily see why. Mark shared a plethora of visual examples of “installation/station based worship experiences” that were really inspiring to those of us exploring the fusion of worship and art. Those obviously don’t translate well to audio, and for that reason, at least a large portion (if not all) of the second session from Mark will not make it onto this site. Visuals aside, Mark’s words were also powerful, practical and pulled us forward into new frontiers. I look forward to seeing and experience the fruit that grows from those words, and have enjoyed listening to them a few times this past week. Mark shares his encouragements and struggles about incorporating the arts in our churches and what that means for pastors and for artists. It’s my great pleasure to share them with you here, with Mark’s permission.
Enjoy, and hopefully we see you in person at next year’s We Are Artists workshop.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
File Download - Mark Pierson on The Art of Curating Worship
By the way, if you have any requests for presenters next year or in future years, drop us a line at info@iloveartists.ca.
Tags: audio, download, mark pierson, the art of curating worship, worship curating
Posted in Bridge Songs: Progress, Creativity & Inspiration, Resources, Workshops | 1 Comment »
Jun
4
We are pleased as punch to announce Mark Pierson, author of The Art of Curating Worship, as our presenter for this year’s We Are Artists workshop, closing off the Bridge Songs 2011 weekend.
You can get all the juicy details on this workshop on our Workshop Page here.
Tags: mark pierson, the art of curating worship, we are artists, workshop, worship
Posted in Bridge Songs: Progress, Creativity & Inspiration, Events, Resources, Workshops, worship | Comments Off
Mar
26
Posted in Arts Group, Music, Workshops | Comments Off
Mar
23
Image Journal is visiting Canada in a series of four events this year. Their Calgary stop features a concert with Over The Rhine, followed by a panel discussion on art and faith. From their website;
A panel discussion after the concert on art, faith, and artistic integrity in the public square will feature: Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine, Gregory Wolfe, editor of Image, Val Lieske, Artistic Director/General Manager, Fire Exit Theatre, Karen Sudds, Artistic Director of Corps Bara Dance Theatre, and Sharon Graham Sargent, President, Emmaus Fine Art Group
It is free and again, from their website, here are the juicy details;
Calgary: An Evening with Over the Rhine
A Concert and Discussion
Wednesday, May 11, 7:00 PM
Engineered Air Theatre /
EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
205 Eighth Avenue SE, Calgary, AB
Free & Open to the Public
I plan to attend if at all possible. Anyone care to join me? ROAD TRIP! Seriously though, If you are interested in heading down for this, email info@iloveartists.ca.
Get more info on the event on their website at http://imagejournal.org/page/events/eikon/2011/calgary-may-11-2011
Tags: Calgary, Image Journal, Over the Rhine
Posted in Artist Interview, Events, Faith, Music, Workshops | Comments Off
Mar
16
Our friend Jim Robertson has organized a unique Creative Worship Retreat that began last summer called Half Speed. Here is some more information on the event;
Time: June 12, 2011 at 7pm to June 17, 2010 at 2pm
Location: King’s Fold Retreat & Renewal Centre, Alberta
Organized By: Jim Robertson
Event Description:
1/2 Speed is a five day spiritual retreat where we will dwell in community at the juncture of corporate worship, meditation, devotional exercises, theology and philosophy. This will occur through a carefully crafted blend of daily rhythm, stimulating teaching and time. Time for conversations, rest, renewal, spiritual exercises, conversation and personal creativity.
At 1/2 Speed, we create a space where worship artisans, curators and leaders; teachers, pastors and theologians can facilitate one another’s deep spiritual encounters, and so be renewed and inspired in their worship ministries.
Our numbers will be small (twenty to thirty); lines between faculty and attendees blurred; and the programming will be relaxed, participatory and interactive. We will worship, eat, pray and learn together through the week as we seek encounter with the Living God.
The faculty is a blend of contemporary worship curators, worship leaders, spiritual directors, theologians and philosophers, including: Mark Pierson (a twenty year + pioneer/veteran of alt. worship, guerrilla worship, worship curation), , Chad Sundin (music); Jim Robertson (alt. worship, new liturgies, rituals, devotional exercises & contemplation), Dr. David Williams (philosophy & theology), Dr. Myron Penner (philosophy & theology) and Dr. Oz Lorentzen (philosophy, theology & spiritual direction). Additional presenters will be confirmed soon.
1/2 Speed will be hosted by King’s Fold Retreat and Renewal Centre, located an hour from Calgary, Alberta on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. In addition to the mountain views and river valley, the 160 acre facility has two outdoor prayer walks, a labyrinth, two chapels, and a staff dedicated to hospitality and facilitating one’s retreat experience. Additional devotional exercises will be added to King’s Fold for the retreat.
Cost is $875 Canadian, and includes all meals (superb!) and accommodations. Rides from Calgary International airport can be arranged for a modest cost.
For further information: www.halfspeed.org.
It’s a big commitment, but that is part of the ethos of this event. I’ve heard great reports from last year.
Tags: jim robertson, kings fold retreat centre, retreat, spiritual formation, worship
Posted in Creativity & Inspiration, Events, Resources, Workshops, worship | Comments Off
Aug
6
There are two new essays from Edward Van Vliet’s We Are Artists workshop material available on this site.
Each of these essays in a series of four explores an essential question relating to living as an artist. We encourage you to read the essays and take a moment to respond in the comments section. Many of the issues presented run deep and conversation is a healthy way to work through them.
The latest essay, posted today, addresses The Question of Community. I feel community is essential for every artist for at least three reasons;
- Critique (artists sharpen each other’s skills and offer constructive criticism)
- Community (artists need the encouragement of one another and a sense of camaraderie in a sometimes solitary and lonely set of giftings)
- Accountability (self-discipline can take you far, but having others keep you accountable to projects launched, and those who keep you creating at all, is vital)
Of course, the lack of community has its effects as well. Here’s an provocative excerpt from Edward’s essay,
There is a reason so much contemporary creative work is alienating to people – it is alienated from community. At least, any community other than its own.
Do you find some contemporary work alienating? Do you struggle to connect your deeply personal vision with others? Do you have community on your artistic journey?
Read and respond to the essay, The Question of Community, here
Read and respond to the essay, The Question of Training, here
Tags: artists, community, Edward Van Vliet, essay, resources, training, we are artists, workshop
Posted in Creativity & Inspiration, Essays and Reflections, Resources, Workshops | Comments Off
Jul
19
The following is a guest post from Edward Van Vliet, our guide through an intensive afternoon of conversation on art, faith, calling and identity in July 2010 called “We Are Artists”. He has allowed us to share his “Questions of Calling”, in three parts here, in hopes that the conversation will continue. You can read more about Edward at the end of the essay.
The Question of Calling
I am an artist.
There. I’ve said it.
Being an artist is a calling. I was an artist before I became a christian, and I will continue to be one. Now by artist, I don’t simply mean someone who is creative. We all carry the Imago Dei, therefore we are all created in the image of God, and as such, are creative. The calling of the artist is for a very specific application of that creativity. It is purposeful.
READ THE FULL ESSAY ONLINE, AND RESPOND, IN OUR RESOURCE SECTION
Tags: calling, conversation, Edward Van Vliet, essay, identity, we are artists
Posted in Essays and Reflections, Resources, Workshops | Comments Off
Jul
19
A handful of attending artists, these ones smart enough to sit at the food table.
On July 4th, we held our first iloveartists workshop with professional artist and museum director Edward Van Vliet. “We Are Artists” dove into issues of art, faith, identity and calling. The conversations were deep and meaningful and the food was equally good. Hooray for Thai takeout!
A couple of weeks later, it’s time to look back at what we accomplished on that afternoon, and look ahead at how we can continue to work through issues far too vast for a single day, or even a weekend.
In Brief
Including Edward Van Vliet, myself (Dave Von Bieker) and co-organizer Cora McLachlan, the afternoon workshop brought 15 artists of various backgrounds in The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse. We are visual artists who exhibit regularly, songwriters and authors, photographers and more. Some show and perform professionally, some sell their work and some are just getting into their art. The ages ranged from the mid twenties to midde-age, with people from Edmonton and St.Albert. It was great to meet many new friends at We Are Artists, and I look forward to seeing them at future events. A survey completed at the end of the afternoon left a clear impression that there is a desire for more workshops like this one, as well as a hunger for resources and training for artists of faith in and around Edmonton. There is also a desire for continued community, so keep your ear to the ground.
Edward Van Vliet leads us through some tough questions.
The topics covered were broad, and to be honest we couldn’t delve deep enough into any of them. In summary, Edward talked about calling and identity, training, community and truth as they relate to artists of faith. Each of Edward’s four sections could easily take a day of their own, and offered the kind of reflective questions that take days if not months or years to fully consider and absorb. A surprisingly long chunk of the day was dedicated to the first section on calling and identity. Calling is a sticky term, full of baggage and multiple meanings, so it is understandable that we wanted to wrestle. There was certainly not agreement amongst all. Is a calling something that everyone has, or only certain people, like a DaVinci or a Billy Graham? Is your calling the same as your job, and if so, how do you reconcile working full time as an administrative assistant while painting in the evenings? Are you not living out your calling? Is calling related to your source of income? Is calling a responsibility? Can it become a burden? Are there multiple callings, beyond, say, the calling to follow Christ and love others as we would love ourselves? And, perhaps most resonant of questions, am I really called to be an artist? These are tough questions with no simple answers. While Edward’s sessions did not tie up loose ends, the day did provide launch points and directions for further engagement. We are hoping that engagement can continue here online, which is what you will find in the “In Depth” sections below.
Another highlight of the afternoon were the multiple resources referenced not only by Edward, but other artists as well. There were websites to look up, artists to follow and books to read. I did my best to capture those and you will find them in the “In Depth” sections below as well.
Even with all of this great material being explored, I’d say most of us appreciated the community above all. It is great to meet other artists with a strong faith who are working to live an integrated life where their faith, their art and their work (often not related without intention) thread harmoniously into a life-song worth singing, and hearing. Sharing a meal together was the perfect way to end the workshop, and as artists needed to leave one by one for babysitters or other commitments, the room shrunk until we were all huddled around one large family table,
In Depth
The Essays
Edward Van Vliet has graciously provided us with short essays to summarize each topic covered at We Are Artists. We will post them here over the next 3-4 weeks for consideration and discussion. These essays will cover The Questions of Calling and Identity, The Question of Training, The Question of Community and The Question of Truth. Links to each essay will be posted here as they arrive online. We encourage you to read through, think, reflect, pray and then engage others on the site in the comments section. The goal is not that you agree with everything (or even anything) Edward has to say, but that engage with it and work it through your own life. Simply click the title to read the short essay and engage the conversation in the comments section.
The Questions of Calling and Identity
The Question of Training (coming in week 2)
The Question of Community (coming in week 3)
The Question of Truth (coming in week 4)
The Resources
Many resources were referenced throughout the day, and you can find a full listing of those here …
(coming oh-so-soon)
Tags: calling, community, Edward Van Vliet, identity, resources, The Carrot, truth, we are artists, workshop
Posted in Art, Resources, Workshops | Comments Off
