Scene PG | June 2015 by Prince George Citizen

Photo Credit: Christos Sagiorgis 2

JUNE2015

local events and music

CONTENTS14 POLE POSITION

Angel’s Aerial Fitness

NORTHERN FANCON Exclusive

RED LIGHT DISTRICT 6ixSigma

KASSANDRA NAGY Scene styler

WOOF STOCK Music Festival

PRIDE OF THE NORTH Pride Prince George

RAE WELY

Wely wails to Voice Champion

NANACY O’S Nanacy O’s

ARTSWELLS

Festival of all Things Art

DIGITAL MEDIA

Where Creativity and Business Intersect

RECORDING CONTRACTOR Cheslatta Records

17 26 29 30 32 36

AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT:

www.pgcitizen.ca or thescenepg.com General Inquiries ‹ 250-562-2441 Publisher ‹ Colleen Sparrow Editor ‹ Neil Godbout Reader Sales ‹ Alan Ramsay Director of Advertising ‹ Dave Smith Founder ‹ Norm Coyne Graphic Designer ‹ Candice Rosenbaum Director of Events ‹ James Matosevic Writer ‹ Charelle Evelyn Writer ‹ Frank Peebles Writer ‹ Mateusz Partyka Photographers ‹ Christos Sagiorgis Photographers ‹ James Doyle Make-up ‹ Mandy Paavola

04 06 10 14 16

06 30

We are only halfway through the year in Prince George and so many exciting things have happened! Between the Canada Winter Games, Northern FanCon and the ongoing efforts of our local A & E community, we have been witness to a line up of events which could have easily filled an entire year in our city. And what exciting range! From Tanya Tagaq to Marilyn Manson to William Shatner ...and beyond! Part of the truly exciting part of this wave of events in PG is watching these world class entertainers experiencing our city - dropping in at Two Rivers Gallery for an art opening, shopping at Pine Centre, dining at local restaurants, or enjoying PWB Fest bier! With each visit from these guests, Prince George gets a little more exposure as a great city and even more doors open. With all this growing buzz, I cannot wait to see who comes through those open doors next! - Norm Coyne Scene PG

THE SCENE PG IS A PRODUCT OF Please Recycle ON THE COVER: Cosplay Contest Masters Class Winner: MEI PHON, Megan Leppington - Photo Credit: Christos Sagiorgis

JUNE2015

| 3

Sure, plenty of people can claim their place of business is like a family.

POLE position By Charelle Evelyn

JUNE2015

But for Angel Stewart, it’s been proven beyond the cliché. For the past seven years, Stewart has been cultivating Angel’s Aerial Fitness (formerly Spinning Angels Pole Fitness) as not only a pole dance fitness studio, but also a place for herself and others to call home. Stewart still gets emotional when she recalls the surprise she received in the form of a $4,000 donation from a student-organized bottle drive in November 2013. In and of itself, that doesn’t sound like anything tear-worthy, but the money had been raised within a week to help Stewart save her business after a fire destroyed her studio. On Nov. 11, 2013, a mere handful of days before the muchanticipated annual competition at the Prince George Playhouse, a fire sparked inside the studio, taking with it the past three years worth of investment Stewart had placed in her business. A fitness buff for years, Stewart originally read about pole dancing as a means of exercise in Shape magazine. Before long, she had tried it, loved it and in 2007 had pinched enough pennies to install her own pole at home. It didn’t take much more time for word to spread among friends about this unique outlet and the following year Stewart had her teaching certification and was giving lessons out of her home. By 2010, it had become more than a side project and Spinning Angels moved to an outside studio, eventually growing to offering up to 50 classes per week. “I’m sitting in my friend’s truck, staring at my burning studio thinking ‘I’ve got to turn this show into a fundraiser or I’m never going to open my doors again,’” Stewart recalled of that fateful Monday morning.

Pole Position

Angel’s Aerial Fitness

By the time doors opened on the sixth annual competition that weekend, Stewart had been overwhelmed by the support had poured in from the Prince George community as well as pole dance studios worldwide. The final straw was after the winners had been announced and Stewart and her boyfriend were pulled onstage to receive the students’ donation, which they had organized without her knowledge. Spinning Angels reopened in its current 2173 Ogilvie St. location nearly two weeks to the day the flames struck. The workout at Angel’s Aerial Fitness is for anyone between the ages of 16 and 65. And they mean anyone. Stewart said the most common misconception is that people need to already be fit before they walk through her doors. Not true, she said, with pole classes ranging from beginner to advanced along

Pole Position

with weightlifting and stretching sessions. “It’s for all walks of life, all shapes and sizes,” said Stewart, adding that students learn at their own pace with the drop-in format. With no more than six to eight people per class, students benefit from their instructor’s attention as well as the camaraderie of their fellow classmates. “People look and see the advanced moves and think ‘I could never do that,’” said Stewart, who has become a popular performer around the city. “Neither could I, when I started.” Find Angel’s Aerial Fitness on Facebook or visit www. spinningangels.com for full class information.

Angel’s Aerial Fitness

Photo Credit: Submitted

JUNE2015

| 5

EXCLUSIVE Cosplay Contest Masters Class Winner: MEI PHON

Bio: Megan Leppington is the playable Siren class character in the Actual Real Life video game. She is the sixth playable character in the game and was revealed on December 30, 1986, in the Actual Real Life reveal trailer. She was released on May 14th, 2013 on Steam and PlayStation Network for $9.99, or 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live. Her skill tree includes; illustration, furniture restoration, house renovations, costume creation and fitness training. In 2004 Real Life added a dlc pack that included a Warrior class husband, 4 dogs and a cat that doesn’t like her.

1. What does cosplay mean to you?

Cosplay, to me, is an opportunity to transform myself into someone else for a day. It challenges me creatively in so many different ways, sewing, painting, sanding, 3d pattern making, designing etc. It’s an opportunity at conventions

to meet new people, enter competitions and have a ton of fun.

2. What is your dream cosplay?

There are so many! Probably Transformers Prime Starscream, an electronic opening hard suit from Bubblegum Crisis and Transformers MTMTE Chromedome. Lots of robotic things!

3. What do you do when not cosplaying?

My hubby and I renovate and flip houses, lots of renovations when we’re feeling inspired. I really love anything creative I can get my hands on. Makeup, illustration, furniture restoration etc. I adore fitness and hope this year I’ll be looking a bit more she-hulk.

4. What inspired you to cosplay?

Halloween, the internet and a lot of free time at home. I honestly adore the way most characters are dressed in video games, comics, movies and anime. But it’s not exactly feasible to wear armor while grocery shopping.

Cosplay at conventions gives me an opportunity to dress like an orc one day and an alien robot the next.

loved. I’m a big fan of District 9 and Chappie. Chronicle, AVP, Pacific rim, Berserk golden age arc are good.

5. How long does the process typically 9. Kirk or Solo? Sorry no, Commander Shepard. take? :3 Depends on the costume and how well rested and sustained I plan to be hahaha. I’ve finished costumes in as little as six days while others took me a year.

6. Comic Books or video games?

Both. Both is good. Also, comics based on video games. Giggity.

7. Favorite superhero?

Depends on your definition of a super hero. While I wouldn’t consider him “super” at it, my favorite spandex hero is Deadpool. He’s trying his best :)

8. Favorite movie?

Hard choice. I really like sci fi that bleeds away from the typical tropes you’d expect. Aliens that don’t want to destroy, robots that aren’t going to enslave the human race and monsters that just want to be

10. What advice do you have for beginner cosplayers?

YouTube tutorials! Throw away the cardboard, duct tape and tin foil and invest in craft foam and EVA foam. A cheap heat gun, dremel and hot glue gun will set you up with sturdy, flexible and durable costumes for years.

11. What was your favorite moment of Northern FanCon 2015

Helping out behind the scenes during the novice competition. Saving expensive lighting equipment that was falling to its death, helping calm nerves and organizing stage performance :D Also, can’t forget hearing I’d won first place! I could hardly contain myself! It’s my very first top prize I’ve won and I was ecstatic!

Photo Credit: Christos Sagiorgis 6

JUNE2015

Northern Fancon Exclusive

JUNE2015

| 7

JUNE2015

| 9

RED LIGHT DISTRICT By Charelle Evelyn

Jason Hamborg and Glenn King were lucky to find each other. Both action sport enthusiasts as well as video buffs, it was a match made in reciprocity heaven when they found someone else who was willing to take a turn behind the camera. “There are times it’s tough if you really want to go and do stuff and there are times when you bring the camera and the camera would just sit in the truck all day,” Jason said. “But I think that one of the things that drew Glenn and I together was we both had this passion for the filming and the passion for the sports, so it was a perfect combination of ‘Okay, now you hold the camera for a bit and let me do it.’” Since April 2013, Jason and Glenn have turned their joint passion

for making videos into a day job with 6ixSigma Productions. “We were doing odd jobs before that but then it started to get to a point where people were asking for invoices,” said Jason. The two met six years prior, discovering they had pretty similar origin stories. While Jason began with his parents’ old, clunky Hitachi, Glenn got his start with a camcorder he received as a gift and they both started documenting whatever they could capture, especially their friends biking and skateboarding. Now their portfolios have grown to include everything from corporate instructional videos to government requests to having clips appear on TSN. But despite upgrades in technology (“It doesn’t look like a potato filmed it”) and professional validation (6ixSigma

received the Prince George Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Micro Business of the Year Award), there’s an essence of what Jason and Glenn do that can’t be edited out. “There’s definitely still a lot of stuff we do now that is like a throwback right to the very start,” Jason said. “(Just like) filming sports and getting someone who isn’t 100 per cent sure on their trick that they’re going to do, you’re like, ‘you can do this, man.’ That’s the thing – as the video guy, you’ve got to also be the hype man, too, and get people stoked because you’re the one guy that’s not actually risking their body in any way.” In addition to knowing what works on camera, 6ixSigma is also backed by a degree (soon to be two) in business. If you want to see Jason nerd out, get him

talking about human resources and recruitment, but it’s that’s extra layer that has helped drive 6ixSigma’s success and helped move their clients out of the painfully cheesy corporate videos of the 1980s. “That’s a shift we’re promoting: let’s make real stories and tell real stories for companies,” Jason said. But that doesn’t come from reinventing the wheel, rather simply using what they’re already good at and constantly picking up new tools. “The number of YouTube and Vimeo videos I watch on a daily basis would make most people sick,” said Jason, “but a good portion of what we’re watching is action sport stuff and thinking ‘how can we incorporate that into a corporate video?’”

Photo Credit: Christos Sagiorgis 10

JUNE2015

Red Light District

6ixSigma

Red Light District

6ixSigma

JUNE2015

| 11

JUNE2015

| 13

Kassandra Nagy: Scene styler By Charelle Evelyn

In addition to lending her face in front of the camera, Kassandra Nagy has also taken on the mantle of helping everyone else look the part in the Scene PG.

Photo Credit: Christos Sagiorgis

So what makes the magazine’s stylist tick? Read on. Have you ever styled before working with Scene PG? KN: (Scene photographers) Christos and Trevor know I’m really into fashion, so they’d get me to pick out the clothes for the shoots and I’d do them as well. I’ve never styled before, but I’ve always been very passionate about fashion and the industry. I’ve read Vogue since I was 13 and … and I follow all the fashion shows. I follow a lot of blogs and I read a lot of fashion magazines, so it’s just my passion and I’ve been passionate for a really long time. I think from just growing and learning people end up seeing that you’re good at something and it just comes out. Where do you think your

love of fashion began? KN: When I was younger, my mom always let me dress how I wanted and she never said I needed to wear certain things. So I think I started learning at a young age how to put things together and just from that I really enjoyed it. (In addition to her job managing the boutique at The London Spa and Boutique, Nagy also sells It Works! health products.) When I was in university, I was always into health and fitness because I used to race motocross, so I had a trainer. I’ve always been into health and wellness and fashion – I guess they go hand in hand. How does it feel to see a shoot come together? KN: I get excited. It’s all of our hard work and our vision all put together and it’s really nice to see it all come together and it all working how you want it to. And I think that’s like the most exciting part. That, and the end result – seeing the photos and feeling like all the hard work and the vision all came to life and

it worked out. It feels really good when you see the end result. Who are some of your favourite designers right now? KN: Smythe: they’re Canadian designers and they make a lot of really cool blazers and jackets. (Duchess of Cambridge) Kate Middleton actually started wearing their blazers and that’s what made their big break. And they’re so nice, they’re really good quality blazers; Helmut Lange: I really like him. He has really nice leather leggings and he makes really nice blazers with a lot of leather accents; Michael Kors: a lot of his spring stuff was really nice this year; I really liked Fendi’s line this year for fall and Ralph Lauren makes really nice tweed blazers and I liked their prefall collection; Gucci: I like their stuff, too. They make really nice blazers and they make really nice hats and fedoras; Burberry makes great leather pants; and Givency: they make really cool, edgy things that I like.

THIS IS WHAT IT DOES!

BEFORE

AFTER 45 MIN.

TIGHTENS, TONES, AND FIRMS IN AS LITTLE AS 45 MINUTES REDUCES THE APPEARANCE OF CELLULITE GIVES YOU FAST & LASTING RESULTS FROM A BOTANICALLY BASED FORMULA

ASK ME H OW!

IT’S EASY IT’S AFFORDABLE IT’S FUN For more information contact

KASSANDRA NAGY 250.552.3185

kassnagy.itworksca.com Check out my Facebook!

Individual results can and will vary. These testimonials are not necessarily representative of all those who use our products. All participants giving testimonials utilized a complete health regimen that incorporates the Ultimate Body Applicator,TM It Works! dietary supplements, physical activity, and a reasonable diet. These testimonials are not intended to make claims that these products can be used to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. These claims have not been clinically proven or evaluated by the FDA.

JUNE2015

Kassandra Nagy

Scene Styler

JUNE2015

| 15

Woof Stock

A new festival is barking in the distance, calling out to Prince George that an arts and entertainment event is coming. Woof Stock plans are coming together northeast of the city, at the Shelley community and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation

JUNE2015

village. Organizers plan to build a stage for performing arts and set up display and demonstration areas for visual arts. It will be a cultural free-flow in the general spirit of the legendary Woodstock Festival, and, like that 1960s classic event, is built on good core intentions. Organizer Jordan

Corrigal said the main impetus of Woof Stock was to raise money for the SPCA and Humane Society. “We believe strongly in a society that makes animal treatment a priority and environmental awareness a priority, because that will affect all other aspects of society in a good way,” said

Corrigal. His hope is that Woof Stock also takes on a Shambala Festival feel, with full-spectrum arts expression interconnected with the music of the mainstage. “Workshops and demonstrations are going to be a massive part of Woof Stock,” Corrigal said. “Live painting is in the works - a sea continued on page 25

Woof Stock

Pride Prince George | Pride of the North

JUNE2015

| 17

JUNE2015

Pride Prince George | Pride of the North

JUNE2015

| 19

Schedule of Events Pride Flag Raising July 6 City Hall 12:30pm

Cosmic Pride Bowling July 8 Black Diamond Lanes 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Queen of the North Drag Show July 10 Doors Open @ 7:30 pm Show Starts @ 8:15 pm Ramada Plaza Tickets $15

Pride Parade & Festival July 11 City Hall Festival @ 10:30 am Parade @ 11:30 am

Pride Glitter Ball July 11 8:00pm - 1:30am Ramada Plaza $20/person

Phoenix Award & Brunch July 12 Ramada Plaza 12:00pm Tickets $15.00

Pride Swim

July 12 Four Seasons Pool 5:30 to 7:30pm Free - Everyone Welcome

3183235

JUNE2015

Pride Prince George | Pride of the North

Nearly 20 years ago, a small group of people created the very first Pride Parade in Northern British Columbia. This event met with visible resistance, and changed the face of the North and the direction of the LGBT community forever. It brought the community closer together to achieve the goals of safety and equality for Prince George. It also paved the way for other communities in the region to begin their own journeys, with the knowledge that they will be

supported. When Pride season approaches, we find we have to spend a lot of time reminding people why we have a Pride Parade. Sometimes these conversations end up in a place where we have to defend our existence and justify our actions, even to our own community, because we have won the right to marry and some believe we no longer have to be visible to fight for our rights. Yes, the world today is different from how it was in 1997. Many countries have legalized same-sex marriages, same-

sex adoption rights, same-sex partner benefits, Queer-Straight Alliances in schools, and so on. These are great achievements, but there is still more work to do! Young people are identifying as LGBT at younger ages, families are becoming more diverse, substance use and abuse is on the rise, and services and supports for the entire queer spectrum and their families are falling short. Regardless of how far we have come together, the challenges ahead of us run deep into the very being of our society and our

cultures. Change and evolution are part of life, and when we embrace them with courage and passion, we can continue to move the world together. As we celebrate Pride together, remember we cannot underestimate the impact that a Pride Parade has on every individual who encounters it, as it is the ultimate expression of self, freedom, and dignity. Happy Pride Everyone, Pride Prince George Board

Tickets available at:

Books & Co. • SHAGG • Topaz Bead Gallery • Black Sheep Gifts Online at: www.showclix.com/events/18392

Pride Prince George | Pride of the North

JUNE2015

| 21

JUNE2015

Pride Prince George | Pride of the North

JUNE2015

| 23

JUNE2015

Pride Prince George | Pride of the North

continued from page 16 of easels out there, so everyone who wants to can paint, with mentors available. We want to have experiences for pottery, sculpting, clay, carving, chainsaw carving, body art, airbrushing, instruments, but also meditation, spirituality, sustainable living... People who have said ‘oh, I’ve always wanted to try this or had an interest in something, we want to facilitate that growth - break down the barriers to

Woof Stock

creative expression.” The music acts and other live entertainers will be disclosed later in the summer as the plans come to fruition. Woof Stock is scheduled for August 27-31. Vendor space is available ($525 for a 10x10 space or $787.50 for 10x20), and ticket information is available at the Woof Stock website: www. woofstockmusicfestival.com.

JUNE2015

| 25

Wely wails to

Voice Champion By Charelle Evelyn

Photo Credit: James Doyle

Geographically, it’s not that far from Rae Wely’s childhood home on Kelly Road South to the Treasure Cove Casino’s show lounge. But the distance between hiding in a closet, singing Tiffany’s I Think We’re Alone Now, to earning a standing ovation and being crowned the Season 2 winner of 101.3 The River’s Voice competition may as well be measured in light years.

Wely, founding member of three-piece band Circadian Rhythm with Melody and Tony Tabora, walked away with the prize on April 17 after two rounds of online voting culminating in a live performance and vote by the audience and judging panel. As The River’s Voice, Wely took home more than $1,000 in prizes as well as a chance to record a song at Cheslatta Records, which will then be played during the radio station’s New Music Monday lineup.

“About six or seven months ago I was actually driving down the road and I heard (2014 winner) Lee-Wai’s song on the radio and I thought that would be so cool to have your song on the radio,” Wely said. “And now this happened.” Soured by previous bad experiences, Wely – who has no formal vocal training – wouldn’t have entered the competition if it weren’t for a promise she made to her grandmother. “She watches The Voice, she

watches American Idol and she’s always like ‘you can do this, you can do this,’” Wely said, shortly after hearing her name announced as the 2015 winner. Wely not only did it, she commanded it, with a voice that judge Rick Kelly – afternoon announcer on The River – said ran the gamut from raspy to sweet with “some naughty in there, too.” Fellow judges Elissa Meiklem from the Prince George Folkfest society and Coldsnap Music continued on page 28

JUNE2015

Wely wails to Voice Champion

Rae Wely

JUNE2015

| 27

continued from page 26 Festival, The River’s music director Jen Schluter, and station program director Ron Polillo were equally effusive about Wely’s performance. “Two words come to mind: power and passion,” Polillo told her. “I really feel that when you’re performing.” On the night of the finals, the top four contestants each performed three songs. By the end of Wely’s set of an original song, and covers of Sia’s Elastic Heart and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way (rearranged to sound more like a 90s acoustic chick rock anthem) – third in the lineup – she was the first to have earned a standing ovation. In its second year, The River’s Voice was more geared to listener input, said promotions director Khaira Black. “So instead of us picking the Top 8, we put it to a vote online.” And with the success of last year’s inaugural winner Lee-Wai Yu and his band Bright City Heights (who have two songs on The River and were featured prominently as part of the Canada Winter Games opening ceremony), interest had skyrocketed.

JUNE2015

“It definitely has opened up a big door to getting our band recognized in the B.C. music scene,” said Yu, who was on hand on the night of finale with his bandmates to serve as the night’s house entertainment. “It opened the doors in terms of just getting our name out there and the opportunity to play on the radio. Getting that experience is something I don’t think many people get to do. It really helps your chops.” Competition was so fierce this year, leading organizers to make the finale a Top 4 instead of a Top 3. Eventual runners up Demmy Hawkeye, Genevieve Tucker and Erika Callewaert all gave strong performances that filled the room. “There were only 13 votes between No. 1 and No. 4,” Black said of the margin. Tickets to the live finale sold out in minutes, she added. “We had people lined up outside the door before we even opened our doors in the morning.” Can’t wait to hear Rae Wely? Head to Circadian Rhythm’s Facebook page for upcoming performances.

Wely wails to Voice Champion

Rae Wely

By Chris Dias

NANCY O’S Nancy O’s is a culinary bouillabaisse of chaotic ideas. It’s a pub, a bistro, a café, a hipster hangout, and a theater, a place that, if it existed a half-century ago, would’ve seen the likes of Allen Ginsburg or Jack Kerouac. It has become evidently mandatory in this city for restaurants to feature a stage, even if said restaurant is smaller than a studio apartment in downtown Tokyo. Nancy O’s perfected that formula, and

Nanacy O’s

was for a while the only place successful at it, a restaurant with the gravity of a neutron star to attract every manner of individual, whether it was to dine or to perform. I won’t defend accusations of it being a hipster bar. If you dislike it for that reason, then ignore it; go to a boring sports pub and drink the last lingering shreds of your character away. Nancy O’s could be called a pub if said pub was located in Belfast, but here, I would call it a restaurant and one I frequent and support…just like everyone else does. It’s common

knowledge, like knowing that cats ignore people or that men slow down when walking with their girlfriends. Fifty years from now, the restaurant will be considered a landmark, listed alongside truss bridges and creepy steel mannequins made to resemble wood. This assumes, of course, it doesn’t suffer another fire. Yes, unfortunately, a year almost to the day after a blaze forced the temporary closure of another local restaurant, Nancy O’s (along with several other businesses) were struck by fire. Like the city’s proud century-old

ironworks, Nancy O’s refused to fall. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the city’s collective vigilance to prevent the loss of another landmark as the reason for Nancy O’s survival. For a while, it held the top spot on Trip Advisor, still holds the pinnacle on Yelp. Its Facebook page has more likes than the city’s own official page. We all know Nancy O’s is the culinary and cultural epicenter of Prince George, and if I ever committed to a pub-crawl, I would start and finish with that semi-hidden restaurant on 3rd avenue.

JUNE2015

| 29

The Myrtle Family animating historic Pooley Street in Wells at the 2014 festival. Photo Credit: Jodie Ponto

Artswells By Frank Peebles

Like the porridge and the mattress in Goldilocks, the ArtsWells Festival is one of those things in life that is juuuuuust right. It's not too hyped, not too dull, not too quirky - it's the perfect fit for the village of Wells and the nearby museum hamlet of Barkerville.

It is one of the longest lasting annual events in northern B.C., and it has tailored itself over those many years to be an ideal collaboration with the host town itself. It brings in just enough outside visitors to fill the local campsites and hotels, it has just the right recipe of classes and performances and demonstrations to excite the local residents of Wells, and the sparkling array of talented artists who've attended in the past tend to line up for a chance at coming back. "There is a community aspect that is so important, and that goes to the performers we bring in because they become a family too, and the festival has a reunion feel to it each year,"

said Julie Fowler, executive director of Island Mountain Arts, the full-service and year-round arts organization that operates ArtsWells. "If you look at someone like Scotty Dunbar, he started coming first as a festivalgoer who would show up with his guitar at the late-night jams, we would wonder 'who is this guy?,' and as you get to know him, you find out he's talented and interesting and loves music and loves people, and then he started to be invited to come as a performer, and we've been able to see his career blossom. We feel proud that we played a role in that, he's one of the area's most amazing musicians, and part of that continuity for the festival is having some of those performers come back time and again, mixed in with the ones who are new." Some of the bigger names coming to the festival this year are Stephen Fearing, who has led a bright solo career and also as one of the members of folkrock supergroup Blackie & The Rodeo Kings; and Linda MacRae who has been developing a solo

career after several years as a member of Spirit Of The West. But make no mistake, these star headliners are just the sharp end of the spear. ArtsWells is a buffet of arts and culture and all of those who bring their celebrity names are expected to teach, perform and interact with everyone as equals. It is part of the selection criteria, now that ArtsWells has more than a decade of reputation with the arts world. "It's a bit of a balancing act," said Fowler. "We're always wanting to integrate more art forms, but music is the big draw and the largest part of the festival. But we do want to expose people through other forms of art and interesting genres of music, so we work hard on those cross sections. We bring back people who have been a big part of building the festival, like Corwin Fox, this is his 11th year in a row at the festival. He helped us develop our children's festival along with Kia Kadiri who can't come this year but she recommended her friend Ndidi Cascade who'll be here this year instead."

The children's festival is one example of the layers ArtsWells slathers onto their home community. Almost every corner and every hour of the village is used up during the event, and the children's festival was built to include those younger people who found themselves in the midst of the event. The festival is tailored to young arts interests and interactivity. Almost every kid who lives in Wells is provided with a scholarship to attend the festival, where they get four days of learning rap, poetry, dance, song, stage presence and other skills. About half of the 25 kids enrolled are from the village, and the other half from all over the landscape, all here with family to enjoy ArtsWells. This year's festival runs July 31-August 3 with more than 300 artists and performers coming in to entertain, educate and drink in life. For more information (tickets, camping, volunteering, etc.), log on to the ArtsWells website or Facebook page.

Photo Credit: Submitted 30

JUNE2015

Artswells

Festival of all Things Art

Artswells

Festival of all Things Art

JUNE2015

| 31

Digital Media: Where Creativity and Business Intersect By Mateusz Partyka

Elisha Brown, Lakeysha O’Neill

In today’s fast-paced technology driven world, artists, designers and businesses are becoming increasingly dependent on each other. After all, innovation, style and creativity can translate into big money for those willing to take the risk. Businesses that are desperate to distinguish themselves in an increasingly crowded and competitive market know this. That is why they are looking to creative professionals for innovative solutions and approaches. As a result, digital media has become a burgeoning field for creative types and businesses alike. In fact, some of the most interesting things happening in pop culture right now come as a direct result of hard working creative professionals. Our writer sat down with a few locally-trained creative professionals to find out more about digital media and its opportunities. All of the interviewees were trained in the digital design program [now called the Web and Graphic Design program] at the College 32

JUNE2015

Cheryl Turcotte

of New Caledonia.

Lakeysha O’Neill and Elisha Brown, Digital Umbrella Creative (DUC) Q. How did you get into digital media and design? L. I had an elementary school teacher who got us into the old Macromedia [now Adobe] programs like Dreamweaver and Flash. So, when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to go to back to school for, I chose what I liked to do after hours. E. For me it was a mixture of passion and necessity. I have always been able to take on creative projects in my other jobs, so when I had the opportunity to be laid off - at least I consider it an opportunity - I decided to go back to school for new media and graphic design. Q. What do you value most about the time you spent in the program? E. The main thing was the one

on one time with instructors. Since there are less students in the program, you can really throw yourself into your work and if you have any questions the instructors are there to help you. Also the work placement was integral for both of us. The internship at the end of the program was a really awesome opportunity. L. Yeah. It really helps to be forced into those kind of real world applications, rather than just making a mock website and not having to deal with a client. The industry seminar course was fabulous as well. Experts from the industry came in to share their experience. Some of them had gone through the program while some had been in the industry for over 20 years. It was really helpful to see how the career can develop over time.

was placed at Northern Health Communications. I was a bit reluctant at first because I wanted to do graphic design, but my instructor, Sean Siddals, knew that my energy and experience would work well there. I ended up learning a ton and I got some really cool projects and valuable contacts out of it. L. Yeah, same. I got my first job out of the placement, but beyond that, Lakeysha and I met during the program. So, one of the doors that opened for me was the opportunity to work with a fellow classmate. E. Definitely. We got to know who we worked well with. Hence, when I thought that I needed to bring someone else on to my business, Lakeysha was the first person that came to mind.

Q. What kind of doors opened for you after you graduated?

Q. Tell me a little about your involvement with the Northern FanCon logo and website.

E. Quite a few of us got some really great job opportunities through the job placement. I

E. Well, it started off with both of us being interested in the event. I’m a major movie buff who loves

Digital Media: Where Creativity and Business Intersect

sci-fi and action, while Lakeysha loves comic books and gaming, so we were super excited. Then Lakeysha mentioned the logo contest. We ended up busting each other’s butts to make sure that we entered. Mine was super last minute. L. We spent a lot of time throwing ideas back and forth. E. Yeah. It was a really fun thing to do. My entry ended up winning, which was exciting. Once we started talking to organizers Norm Coyne and James Matosevic about how preparations were going, they started asking about websites. I told them I might be able to help them out. L. The website was a great project to work on. They were absolute dream clients. They were like, this is what we need and we will leave the creative aspects in your hands. It was fantastic. Q. Do you have any advice for aspiring creative professionals? L. Efficiency is the biggest part of this job.

Being able to do a lot and do it quickly is important. You don’t have time to work long hours late into the night. You need to know the software and your clients’ needs inside and out. E. We are constantly reinventing ourselves, often for the sake of efficiency. So, make sure you’re streamlining your work in order to get the most out of every hour. You go through a lot of hardships as you start out. You will screw up, but that’s how you learn. And the more you screw up the more it will pay off. It’s all about perspective. L. Which is why you should take as many opportunities as you can. We try not to say no. E. If you need to bring someone else on board, do it. You have to figure out how to make it work. For the stories of Cheryl Turcotte and Nathan Bolton of the CNC Web and Graphic Design program, see the full article on www.thescenepg.com

Digital Media: Where Creativity and Business Intersect

Nathan Bolton

JUNE2015

| 33

# R

D#30541

JUNE2015

Northern Fancon

JUNE2015

| 35

RECORDING CONTRACTOR By Charelle Evelyn

Photo Credit: Nick Tindale

Chris Holmes. Randy Staub. Jim Vallance. Rick Irvine had every intention of adding his name to the storied list of northern B.C. products who went on to influential careers in the recording industry. “I aspired to that when I went down to Vancouver and went to school. Then I realized I was going to get married and my wife wasn’t going to take care of me,” said Irvine. Cue the record scratch. Irvine returned to the north and got a job at a sawmill but never left music behind. For the past 20 years, he has quietly nurtured and helped local talent present the best versions of themselves at his home studio, Cheslatta Records. As producer and recording engineer, Irvine helps ensure musicians sound good, whether it’s by recommending the use

JUNE2015

of a different microphone or an entirely different arrangement. “It’s not the notes you play, it’s the notes you don’t play that can be super important,” Irvine said. But telling someone their work isn’t quite coming across isn’t always easy – even if it’s for the greater good. “If somebody’s high on their music and creation and you have to tell them it’s not really hitting the mark… that’s the last thing somebody wants to hear – that’s a crushing blow to their ego.” But that’s why Irvine said he charges by the song and not by the hour for studio time, because those who are willing to put in the time can go do the necessary work and come back to positive results. Out in the far reaches of the Hart, Cheslatta Records has an idyllic, cabin-in-the-woods feel that Irvine once imagined he’d create out on his family property in the

upper Nechako area. The studio, converted from a garage, has been the staging ground for local acts such as Black Spruce Bog and Bright City Heights, as well as a stopping point for people like Juno Award-winning guitarist Lester Quitzau. “It’s really all about the performers that showcase what you can do,” Irvine said of his calling card raw-production style. “You can’t put lipstick on a pig and you can’t soar with eagles when you’re flying with the turkeys.” Irvine isn’t interested in propping up anyone who can’t already stand on their own, musically. In fact, if someone approaches him who hasn’t made the leap from singing in front of their mirror, he’ll encourage them to get in touch with other musicians and play together before thinking about recording. Sure, the technology is available

for people to record at home with their computer, but for Irvine, the magic happens when artists get together and find the vibe and groove that makes a song a true experience. A metal head in his younger days, Irvine said he’s come to appreciate the elements of music that truly connect with an audience. “Nobody’s going to be impressed by how fast you play guitar – there’s always going to be somebody faster – or how fast you can play your drums – there’s always going to be somebody faster. What people are going to be impressed by is if they can get their body moving to your music,” he said. “And you can do that in two bars of a song – you can get people’s heads bobbing and feet tapping – if you can get that happening, you’ve really accomplished something right off the get go.”

Recording Contractor

Cheslatta Records

Recording Contractor

Cheslatta Records

JUNE2015

| 37

SCENESTYLE Photo Credit: Christos Sagiorgis 38

JUNE2015

Clothing available from Extreme

JUNE2015

| 39