Man of the Month

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Man of the Month Before – Paul Lambert

Friday, May 28th, 2010

May’s Man of the Month:

Paul Lambert

Here’s a little bit about him:

By day, Paul Lambert is a senior technical specialist working for a medium-sized insurance company. He has close to 20 years experience working in the information technology field and has always had a passion for systems, networks and the science surrounding them.

More recently, he began exploring the richness of Vancouver’s art community and has become highly interested in creating. Paul has been delving into the union of art and technology and is fascinated with the sciences of optics and astronomy. One experiment of creation was a costume suit of armor illuminated by LEDs and electroluminescent wire built for The Parade of Lost Souls.

Other recent projects include collaborations with his fiancee, Karin Vengshoel which involve embedding LEDs into paintings of stellar phenomena to create various lighting effects. Photography utilizing various unusual illumination methods is a more recent direction of exploration.

And here’s how he answered my 6 questions about creativity:

What does it mean to you to be creative?

To me, being creative is showing others what you see and visualize internally. There is something that’s unique about everyone and we are all creative beings. Making an effort to create something is simply exploring yourself.

It doesn’t have to be a piece of art or a thing of beauty – it can be a unique and engaging description of something or a strange science experiment that captivates kid and adults for an afternoon and is almost completely not dangerous. I spent years exploring the scientific and technical and assuming that’s what I was all about but occasionally some hint of creativity would appear in something I was doing. Eventually I actually listened to what others were telling me and started exploring that side of myself. The reactions to what I have done have been encouraging but I probably would continue to play in this space even if they weren’t. It’s fun.

What inspires your creativity?

That list is amazingly large and quite diverse. I couldn’t possibly pick a reasonable subset. It tends to be visual for me, generally. I see things and then get ideas for costumes, pictures, objects that throw and refract light – that sort of thing. I am absolutely a huge fan of the work being done by astronomers today and derive a lot of inspiration from the images they produce.

Armour

What keeps you moving forward in making things happen?

Encouragement from others is always helpful though it’s certainly not a given. It helps when people react positively to what you do but there is a certain pride in accomplishment as well. That pride in accomplishment is always balanced with “what can I do better next time?” which leads inevitably to the next project. I love learning and that’s got to be part of it as well. Life is a series of experiments, after all.

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?

The last 5 years would probably qualify. I don’t believe for a second that I have a particularly venturesome spirit or I would have started down this path a long time ago but I decided to listen to what my heart was telling me instead of living how others expected me to. I have learned some really startling things about myself, met and became engaged to the woman of my dreams and created some things purely for the sake of creating as opposed to slipping in a little creativity on a project I was already working on. It doesn’t sound particularly venturesome but I am the happiest I’ve ever been and there have been some pretty wild moments.

Armour Dancing

What’s the boldest, most provocative statement you are willing to make about yourself, your business or the industry that you are in?

My day job and the industry it serves is certainly challenging and enjoyable but not really provocative in any way. Also, I am pretty sure I signed an agreement that if I did say something publicly that was provocative, I’d be on an exciting quest to find new employment. I suppose that leaves a bold, provocative statement about me – something I’ve never been good at. There was a turning point in my life that was extremely important to me so I’ll go with that.

It seems to me that our society attempts to condition us from an early age to believe we should have certain things as we get older. We go to school, get our career started, start a family, buy a house and car and then fill the house with stuff we don’t need. Certainly my life seemed to follow that script and finally realized my error – I didn’t have a clue who I was or what I wanted from life. I was following someone else’s script, it wasn’t well-written and it wasn’t finished. The next 40 years were missing. What a moment that was. I felt like the victim of a cosmic practical joke. Everything changed for me at that moment.

What’s next for you?

My heart will probably let me know soon. I have a lot of pictures I want to take, an array of lighting projects I want to see people’s reactions to and a whole host of other ideas fighting for runtime. I want to travel and explore history. I want to learn and grow. Probably something from that list.

And here’s a link to Astromony Picture of the Day, that inspires his creativity:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060109.html

Thanks Paul, may your voyage take you to the brightest spots.

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Tags: creativity, Inspiration, Man of the Month, Paul Lambert

Man of the Month Before – Irwin Oostindie

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

April’s Man of the Month was:

Irwin Oostindie

Here’s a little bit about him:

Irwin is the Executive Director of W2, helping build Canada’s first crossmedia centre opening at the Woodward’s redevelopment in September 2010. A cultural change maker and parent living in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side (DTES), Irwin has 25 years experience leading local and international media, culture and social justice projects. He has founded community radio, TV, print, web, festival, and space projects, including the Annual Under the Volcano Festival.

W2 Event - Abandon Normal Devices - COMPETE: Faster, Higher, Strongerphoto by Jason Levis

He was Communications Coordinator for the Roundhouse Community Centre, Executive Director/President of the North Vancouver Community Arts Council, Co-Coordinator of Mayworks Festival, and has produced more than 500 events in BC.

In recent years he has worked in Vancouver’s inner-city as Executive Director of Gallery Gachet, an artist-run centre providing cultural services for artists with mental health, sexual abuse, and trauma survivor issues. Irwin worked for the City of Vancouver as Senior DTES Community Organizer working for the Office of the City Manager, and consulted for the three levels of government helping prepare a DTES Arts & Culture Strategic Framework and Investment Plan promoting economic revitalization for the inner-city through investments in cultural industries.

Irwin received an Honour’s Post-Graduate Certificate in Media Arts from Capilano University. In May 2009, Irwin was nominated for a POPVOX Visionary Leadership Award.

And here’s how he answered my 6 questions about creativity:

What does it mean to you to be creative?
For BC artists, the short answer is living in poverty. Being creative can be schooled, can be trained, but I suspect creativity is more a form that needs to be released. A desire to express and reflect form, ritual and ideas into the commons. To see the way water flows, to see what is revealed in the forest at dusk. Creativity is about codesigning with the world around us.

What inspires your creativity?
I have had the privilege of being around inspiring individuals and mentors – free thinkers and progressives who are fighting the dark side. It is these people who have throughout my life been there and I have learned about the markers, the fences, the open spaces.

What keeps you moving forward in making things happen?
Perseverance is definitely something I am known for amongst my peers and for me it’s the difference between ideas and delivery. I rely on deep feelings and memories of witnessing other people work to at manifesting, expressing, and defending their rights.

People’s actions are often fundamentally creative when overcoming overwhelming odds faced in their daily experience. As a white male, I could be fuelled by guilt or embarrassment, or frozen by the inequity in our society—$6 Billion for the Games, and BC is still #1 in Canada with the highest child poverty rates—or the national public health crisis in my neighbourhood—but I prefer to stay focused and connected with people who are committed to making change. Standing side by side with people who witness or experience these oppressions around us and chose to do something about it—in their own defense or in the defense of their allies.

I see Artists as having a fundamental obligation to express and reflect upon the world around us. I am encouraged by the wealth of engagement artists forge in the world. Its a deep pool of cultural survival that artists manifest and keep me inspired to make things happen. Look at what Awaken 100 does inspired by Louis Riel’s direction: “My people will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who bring back our culture.” This is energy that can cut through the distractions of consumer and market-based culture.

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
Twenty years ago I worked as a photojournalist with solidarity campaigns and traveled quite a lot. These were the most intense experiences in my life as I witnessed brutality and hardship. In 1988 photographing Sandinista troops fighting Contra forces at the border with Honduras, in 1989 wrestling to keep my camera in martial law Beijing, in 1990 meeting with a student army inside Burma, and photographing both sides of the DMZ in Korea.

Many of these tipped the scale, and introduced me to people putting their lives on the line against injustice. Through the 1990s I coordinated a human rights project creating linkages between young Canadians and movements in East Asia, so lots of journeys. Coming back to Vancouver, I started the Under the Volcano Festival (now 20 year old) and as a community effort it was a journey. I learned that I enjoy fusing cross-cultural negotiation and community arts practice, and have been able to do that involving the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations – whose unceded land I was born on.

What’s the boldest, most provocative statement you are willing to make about yourself, your business or the industry that you are in?
Critiquing the arts cuts from the provincial government needs to be part of a sustained movement of working artists fighting for their collective interests, and for a healthy society. We are best served by building a movement of artists that cuts across disciplines.

The arts cuts are a sideshow to the more egregious move away from public subsidy of cultural production as governments slide towards market-based determinants for arts funding. Yes, progressive artists and arts administrators need to fight the cuts, but we also have to strengthen relationships to communities for long-term sustainability or we face complete marginalization.

What’s next for you?
Right now our organization, W2, is operating the 31,000 sq ft W2 Storyeum space at 151 West Cordova as a festival and conference venue. This fall, W2 is opening a 8,800 sq ft community media arts centre at Woodward’s.

There we are building a cafe, community FM radio station, cable TV station, fibre optic streaming web channels, printing press, media labs, performance space, open web, mobile and networked culture projects. W2 is all about breaking the digital divide, creating a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and redress, and using creative technology for social inclusion. Lots of room to create community in all that.

And here’s something that inspires his creativity:

The Rock - my favourite place as a kid growing up in North Vancouver.

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Thank you Irwin! Your perseverance is an inspiration!

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Tags: creativity, Inspiration, Irwin Oostindie, Man of the Month

Man of the Month Before – Fred Penner

Friday, March 26th, 2010

March’s Man of the Month was:

Fred Penner

Here’s a little bit about him:

Fred Penner

A gentle giant with an undeniable ability to make you feel good about yourself. This musical master brings 30 years of commitment, consistency and depth to a career that blends the many genres of performing and communication. From delivering 12 prolific CD’s to families across North America to countless energetically live shows for eager audiences; to 13 seasons of Fred Penner’s Place – CBC Canada’s TV series and Nick. Jr. (in the US), to composing the music for YTV’s Tipi Tales, as well as keynote presenter at numerous early childhood conferences, he has, without a doubt, established himself as a fundamental part of the North American family entertainment scene.

Fred’s visibility has allowed him the privilege and joy of using his voice to support organizations like UNESCO, World Vision, UNICEF and the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. In 2005, Fred journeyed to Zambia, Africa with World Vision to host a program for Child Sponsorship in the Western World.

Whether it’s through cd’s, concerts, videos, books or television, his cornerstone philosophy remains the same: ” Never underestimate your ability to make a difference in the life of a child.”

And here’s how he answered my 6 questions about creativity:

What inspires your creativity?

Inspiration is constant. I am an observer, I see and hear and am very aware of others in this world. Using my creative nature allows me to write and perform songs that are enjoyed by my audience on many levels. I try to create material that takes the listener to sensitive part of their spirit. This is for entertainment and fun, but more importantly it is to follow my philosophy of trying to make a difference.

How have you reinvented yourself thru your creativity?

Steinbach Pioneer Days

I feel that I have been very consistent over the years, again holding strong to the awareness of the value and responsibility of creating for children. Over the years I believe I have learned to be a better song writer and a better musician, but the essence of my spirit has been clear.

Based on response to your creativity, how do you involve others?

I am an actor as well as a musician and one of the keys I learned through my training on the stage is that the person in the back of the theatre should feel as connected to the performance as the person in front. When I am on stage I move around constantly, looking into the faces of the audience members. My songs have choruses that I encourage the audience to sing. I see what I do as a 3 way dialogue, from me to the child, from me to the parent/grandparent/caregiver, and then from the parent/grandparent/caregiver to the child as they head home. I hope that the topics of my songs opens up communication for the family.

What is the wildest journey your creativity has taken you on?

I wrote music for Tipi Tales, a TV series on YTV and APTN (The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network ) and the foundation of the series was the 7 spiritual laws of Aboriginal teachings, really human laws and values, e.g. Love, Truth, Honesty, Courage, Respect, Wisdom and Humility.

Three seasons were created and I wrote approximately 200 plus songs. When I was in “The Zone” of writing I believe I was close to automatic writing where the flow from the creative source to words and music was direct. There was one day when I wrote about 50 songs in a 12 hour period.

Fred's Pumpkin

What is your most memorable moment in the act of being creative?

Moonlight Express was a very gentle CD we recorded many years ago, and one of the more sensitive tunes I have written was called Tears. To this day I love the lyric and the chord progression, they fit together so perfectly. The creative moment in question happened when we were actually recording the song in the studio. It was just me and my guitar and voice. The engineer gave me the signal to ‘go’ when I was ready, so I took a moment to focus and played the song. It was a One take song. I could not have done it better! It felt as though I had drifted away for a moment and the song had carried me, not the other way around.

What’s next for you?

The foundation of my career is established. I have many sides to my abilities, the only challenge is to stay healthy and creative and be open to the opportunities. Every few years I take on an acting role, the last one being Captain Hook in Peter Pan at MTYP the Manitoba Theatre for Young People. This was a while ago and I am looking for the next project in that direction. There is talk of another TV series, just talk, but I would love to pursue that. I have been thinking of writing something a little more autobiographical. I continue to write lots of songs. I hope to produce a new CD this year as well.

Fred and Dolly!

You can find Fred here:

www.fredpenner.com facebook – fred penner

And here’s something that inspires his creativity:

Fred Penner’s Recipe: Ugandan Peanut Butter Stew
Years ago we were given a cook book that included recipes from around the world. It is wonderful to read about other cultures and the foods they like. One recipe that caught our eye ( and our taste buds) was Ugandan Peanut Butter Stew. Other than having peanut butter and banana sandwiches and peanut butter cookies when I was younger, I don’t remember ever eating a cooked dish with peanut butter. That made this all the more intriguing. I quickly became a family favourite because it was very easy to make and tasted great!, especially with some spicy cornbread. So here it is.

Ugandan Peanut Butter Stew
Ingredients:
One whole cauliflower
5 or 6 large carrots
One large can of tomatoes ( diced or whole )
One large onion
3 Cloves of garlic
One half cup of peanut butter
Vegetable or olive oil – 3 or 4 tablespoons
Salt – one teaspoon
Cayenne – one half teaspoon or more to taste

Heat the oil in a large pot on the stove – ( medium/high ) .
Saute onions – cut into pieces, after a minute or so add the garlic pieces. Cook for 3 minutes.
Add large can of tomatoes and one can of water- stir and cook
Add Carrots and Cauliflower cuts into bite size pieces
Bring mixture to a boil add salt and cayenne then reduce heat to Medium/low – cook for 20 minutes

Mix half a cup of peanut butter with half a cup of the liquid in the pot, and then add that to the pot.
Reduce heat to low and simmer until you serve it.
It is especially wonderful with a Mexican Jalapeno Bread
Mmmmm, Goood. Enjoy!

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Thank you Fred! Life is so much fun with you in it!

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Tags: Children's musician, creativity, Fred Penner, Inspiration, Man of the Month, Musician, Ugandan peanut butter stew