"Bringing Artists Together " Press release from Linda Arkelian:

Can dancers, artists and musicians inspire each other? Linda Arkelian has literally been "Bringing Artists Together" this summer in her ballet classes at Dance on the Drive. Throughout the summer she has invited artists, photographers and musicians to collaborate and co-exist while practicing the disciplines they love in the same space.

Linda's multi disciplinary project, "Bringing Artists Together" lives up to its title. As dancers arabesque to live musicians, artists wander freely amongst them to observe, photograph and paint the interaction. The inspiration has flow both ways: from the dancers to the artists and then back again to the dancers. Yvonne Chew, a local photographer, muses "at Ballet on the Drive I hope to capture a bit of the energy of dancers in motion...in space and time...in and out of chaos." I personally have a fascination with human movement as an artist and a kinesiologist--movement frozen in a photo or painting is still dynamic in its beauty. It was amazing to experience the energy of the class: to photograph the dancers responding to the music and Linda's passionate and entertaining presence. All I wanted to do was paint canvases of physical expressionism when I got home. This project also has allowed for artists, musicians and dancers to share the creative wealth. At Drive Dance Studio, I met Masha Levene, an artist who melds traditional illustration with digital media such as the iPad, and Laura Baiani, a dancer, who gamely volunteered to model/dance in a photoshoot for me.

Mixed media artist Joy Ann Kirkwood took the words "Bring Artists Together" to heart and used her guest appearance to draw inspiration for her upcoming exhibition at Place des Arts.
"I seek to bring something of [the dancers'] energy, passion and grace to the sketches that I’ll be making." She plans to "create mixed media, figurative pieces to symbolize the qualities distilled from the experience" to exhibit in two upcoming shows. Linda Arkelian is a former professional dancer who has danced with internationally recognized companies such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. She is the resident ballet instructor of a weekly drop in class, "Ballet on the Drive", at Vancouver’s Drive Dance Centre on Commercial Drive. Linda is also a visual artist: she tours an innovative creative artists in schools focusing on endangered species. (UNSURE what this sentence means??)
Hundreds of banners with her salmon design hang from the light poles throughout Port Moody.

Together with David Cooper, an acclaimed dance photographer and arts advocate, Linda initiated the series, "Bringing Artists Together." There are not enough opportunities for like-minded creative people to inspire each other. Why cannot artists learn from dancers, or even scientists? David is known for his images that capture the inner strength of dancers, be it in action or through an impressionistic glass. They have seen how this event inspires and fosters chances to share, and they are committed to continue to pursue other artists.

Other guest artists throughout the summer have included:

Afro Cuban percussionist, Russell Shumsky who guest accompanied her contemporary class. He shares 24 years of professional expertise playing marimba, djembé, dunduns, bodhran, and congas.

Yvonne Chew, Vancouver dance photographer captured an event featuring guest artist Andrea Taylor, painter and prolific printmaker from Dundarave Print Workshop on Granville Island. She also documented a collaboration between photographer and artist Josan Pinon and Ballet on the Drive dancers where the dancers were immersed underwater.

Karen Chan and Jon Snow photographed a contemporary class featuring SFU's Ron Stelting on percussion whilst digital artist Masha Levine sketched the dancers on her iPad.

Coming this fall to Drive Dance Studio are Redgy Blackout Band members Scott Perrie and Jeremy Breaks. They plan to introduce the class to music from their recently launched CD "The Leap".

I am very thankful to Arkelian and Cooper for the chance to fulfill my goal of capturing the grace and strength of dance in art and envision a collective exhibit to show the fruits of the collaboration of creative minds from this summer. "Bringing Artists Together" at Drive Dance Studio, is a wonderful concept that breaks down barriers separating individuals in different disciplines. I was surprised myself when I told Linda that I would love to try one of her classes. Who knows, perhaps we will have dancers borrow our photographers camera's and artist's brushes next!


Article by Linda Arkelian and Karen Chan for the Vancouver Observer

final proofs

short and tall

short ones are first. I don't think the composition is as strong.

skis! final-ish

Hi... I'm not to happy about where it it crops when I use the smaller skis.
-I'm thinking of putting a white crown logo that spans both skis but am unsure if that will be too busy
-I think I like the black ones best.

ski design drafts

Olympics cartoons

What will happen with all those employed for the Olympics?

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/olympics/2010/03/01/miga-collect-employment-insurance

Art Site! Check it out :)
http://visualkin.carbonmade.com

:) Good times in Alaska etc.

S. O. ttawa S....A/P

Chronic pain is disabling, frustrating, ugly, humiliating and difficult to understand at the very least. I didn't ask for this. I often wonder why and how a kinesiologist, formerly active competitive badminton player and sporty arty nerd, could become this skinny, pale and weak woman.

ME. roar

I look in the mirror and
What do I see?
Someone who stares back differently.
Strength begone and weak knees
Feet and worms of worry eating
Into an apple-bottomed soul,
Who's in control?

Not I
Not my nerves
Not my brain but a power yet unseen
I walk, I preen and I ween
Myself from drugs, hugs, mugs o' tea

S.ubjective: more +, walking upright, no muscle guarding, apparently healthy ' O. bjective: C2-3 discomfort 3/10, L. SI joint pain and inflammation tingling and pain radiating down L. leg to MLA in food A/P: chill right out, get a dumb sucky job. I miss my funny, my cowboy and my Vancity lights. xo KC

Photography by Karen Chan (c) with exception of E.Broadway by Dawid Spamer.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! The Dalai Lama and Rev. Naomi Tutu are Rockstars!

Dear Editor:

I photographed the Vancouver Peace Summit: Nobel Laureates in Dialogue for the Ubyssey, the student newspaper at UBC today, and am still overwhelmed and exhilarated from my brief chat with Desmond Tutu (affectionately known as Arch)’s daughter, Rev. Naomi Tutu. He unfortunately threw out his back due to his desire to dance like teenage rockstar!

I am an artist and kinesiologist who is offering my help and referring a friend (Dr. Stuart McGill of University of Waterloo Spine Lab). He will hopefully kindly phone you will advice! backfitpro@...a

“I have a dream that one day…” artists of all colours, shapes, tones and magnitudes of talent will collaborate to start a charity called “ART. (eye). SANS ---------à frontières (borders).

All the compassion, wisdom and caring in the room moved me to act on my feelings in my heart: because just a feeling is powerless, if complacent—in the words of Ms. Tutu. I heard repeatedly of examples of brave women, such as Ms. Betty Williams and Ms. Maguire, Nobel Prize Laureate, who gave from their hearts in the face of challenges and adversity. I am inspired. I am alive. I am selfless occasionally. Occassionally a practicer of “random acts of KINDness. HELPfulness. (Humanity)\ is beauty and givers in humankind is beautiful.

Ms. Tutu, who is an advocate for AIDS awareness and rape survivors spoke of the disservice of inaction, as previously mentioned: feeling (LOVE) but not acting on it—when a second can make a difference is powerless. A random act of kindness and empathy is POWERful.

I ask myself this everyday….Who not to help? Myself? Others? Why should I not help? People are often –VE (Negative), but

- (+) -

=

____I_(CAN HELP!)

/ \

BADNESS!

(COWARDS ARE YELLA)

+ (+) +

=

UPLIFTING

(RED IS THE BLOOD OF LIFE. LUCK)

Positivity uplifts our spirits. Let me tell you about two gentlemen I know: Bill and Chopper. They reside and are a fixture @ Water Skytrain Station: two gentle giants—a man and his 100lb Karen-sized baby boy (German Shepherd). He is full of sadness and suffering, and at times I feel that he has given up in the face of adversity BUT I believe in him!

It opens my (EYES), having volunteered a little with Vancouver Coastal Health in “Sketchy-city downtown Vancity.” I strongly believe that my family support and middle class circumstances protect me and give me the strength to “LIVE.STRONG”. (Lance Armstrong). To carry on. To . TAKE CARE. Before I GO !! GIVE-r! It has been a difficult year for my family with two close dances with death—my father and grandma both sustained a brain injury—accident and stroke respectively. Watching them recover with strength and determination is inspiring. I suppose I am inspiring as well.

I have chronic pain and have sustained 3 minor concussions! B ANGGG! I still recall the day Mr. Moffat, my Computer Studies prof @ Sheridan College …

Douglas Park, Henna, Sold Painting and little peeps galore!

" Dolls are little miniature notions of humans that children carry with them, they create fake souls for them." ---Andrew Markle (2009).

Fly away from this pain.
There's no point commiserating with a friend who sees
Nothing to gain.
RE C O I L. ACt. reACT.
CAREfully. avoidOBSTACLES
Step around them and
Follow virtue to heal and
To Self CARE if I

D. A. R. E.
Do A Real-Good Effort (Dudette).

-----------------------------by Karen "old 27 yr artsci nerdy yogalicious goofball" Chan :P

JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE KAREN !!!-Lloyd (Plaster-Judoka-Man de Paris)
"Sorry, I had a lot to do tonight with overseas contracts. I have to be on the phone from 7pm onwards because that is when the Asian markets open. Happy Birthday and I hope your art show was a success. I was very impressed with your work."

Thanks Charles

"Happy Birthday Karen! Thanks so much for the invite.
Hope you have a great birthday and enjoy yourself with loved ones."
Yvonne Chew--photographer

Ice pick dans les yeux.

Ca marche? Non, pas vraiment!

S.O.A/P 2

homeless man and dog: Bill & Chopper @ Water Stn.

Two Indian pals @ Water Station

Drawn on the new Canada Line (skinny dude turned into a cyborg)

Old man with kyphosis and dowager's hump @ VAG

Flapper Pointer/Hippie 4A Cure/
Ballet Flat (below, sculpture wood & ribbon)

SOA/P note 2: pain and Fall down or up?

Down or up? Pain or none? Is it a choice? Some days. Some times it is easier to submit to it but pain is in my control. MINDset to challenge patiently or DEADset against change..rolling in misery. It's a choice. I make it everyday. Be patient. Accept my limits. Some days I'm woozy and boozy (not an alcoholic) and foggy and groggy but I choose to rest, get up, be SMART about my goals, careful about my influences and positive that I will my abilities and strength regain.

Leave one. My t spine aches. I barely feel my hands. I should jump in a vat of ice. Numb my pain in my mind and body. Freeze my thoughts. Quiet my mind, my turmoil in my belly. ---Karen Chan

Photography by Yvonne Chew

Photo by Pouya Bastani

Beauty in Pain: SOA/P notes

I am still overcoming chronic pain issues and have been living a difficult but joyful year full of stress, change, emotional turmoil and incredible anticipation.

Leave one and smile :)

Some old, some new

Just for Fun

Concussion Days Drawings

Wash your sin away

Beauty in Pain
Smoking Red Hot = Dead Rot