This monthly interview highlights some really amazing women who are shaking things up and making a difference through creativity and bold endeavors. They have been chosen because I’m inspired by their powerfully persuasive spirit and their tenacity to make things happen. They are sisters in their creative ingenuity, building a legacy for others through their actions and venturesome spirit. If you haven’t already checked out previous women featured, like Ella Simon, click on the Woman of the Month link in the side bar and scroll down through the pages to check them out.

There’s also the fabulous men featured on my Man of the Month blog.

Presenting:

Alison Therriault

Here’s a little bit about her:
Alison is an artist, actor, musician, gardener, wife, home-maker and stitch witch. She has a Bachelor in Art History from the University of Victoria and a diploma in Physical Theatre from Tooba Physical Theatre Centre. Some favourite adventures so far: touring Europe as a singing mermaid, seeing eagles swarm the beach in Massett, picking nettles in Agassiz, taking the train to San Francisco, and showing work at the East Side Culture Crawl. For the last several years she has been a costume and props maker and designer in the Vancouver arts community and is now strenuously exercising her left brain as a secretary for the BCGEU. Born and raised in Kitsilano, she lives in East Van with her husband, Chris-a-riffic, and two cats, Pajama and Doug.

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

What does it mean to you to be creative?
To be creative is to realize that beauty is free and is always an option. And then to take advantage of that fact and have the courage to make something beautiful; whether it is an artwork, an outfit, a relationship, or a moment in time.

What triggers your creativity?
When I see other people being truly themselves I feel inspired to be creative. In terms of my artwork, I am inspired by so many different things – myths, music, a line from a novel, a piece of lace – it is fascinating what things catch my fancy. We are all completely unique in the things that fascinate us and move us to some sort of response. Also, collaborating with others can be extremely inspiring and fun – a rare treat when it works.

What hinders your creativity?
Fear in all its many forms is the enemy of creativity. My resistance usually shows up in the form of “I don’t have enough time today to work on …”. But whenever I carve out even half an hour, I am always gladdened and fulfilled.

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
Right now I am expecting my first child, and that has been a pretty wild journey so far. I get most excited about raising a child when I think about all the arts and crafts we will do together! And all the costumes I will make for him or her, and all the festivals we will go to, and making music together. I want to fight against our society’s assumption that the arts are not a necessity for health, that imagination is not important, by emphasizing those things in my child’s life. At least giving him or her a choice, whether that will be important or not.

What does being bold and provocative mean to you?
Wearing big earrings. Not shaving my legs. Singing in public (ie. while walking down the street).

What’s next for you?
Having a baby! Trying to sustain my creative life in balance with my family life – what a challenge. I think it can be done. I’ve seen other people do it. But it makes me a bit nervous I confess.

And here’s something that inspires her creativity:

Baker the Midwife, by Adian Baker

Be sure to check out Alison’s website: MAKESHIFTMOON

Thank you Alison, for sharing your creativity and the public singing!

To hear about the next Woman of the Month, follow DollyFaye on Twitter!

Here’s the next posting of my Man of the Month series on the brilliant Stefano Giulianetti.

These interviews highlight some really amazing men who are making a difference and using their creative edge to do what they do best. They have been chosen because I’m impressed by their contagious spirit, creative thinking, and the opportunities they bring to the world, plus how they reflect infinite possibilities back to the rest of us. If you haven’t already checked out previous men featured, like François Trudel, click on the Man of the Month link in the side bar and scroll down through the pages to check them out.

There’s also the fabulous women featured on my Woman of the Month blog.

May’s Man of the Month is:

Stefano Giulianetti

Here’s a little bit about him:
Stefano has been working in the entertainment industry as an actor, teacher and producer for over 15 years. He recently finished work on Disney’s “Girl vs Monster” (in the role of ‘Scarecrow’ on his 3’ stilts!) and co-produced and performed in the world premiere of BellaLuna’s play “FRESCO” about the Italian Canadians in Vancouver during WWII.

Earning his reputation as “Above Average In The Funny Department”, Stefano has starred on TV’s least-watched comedy reality show “Sketch Troop”, guest starred on the sit-com ‘Always a Bridesmaid’, and has had over 100,000 children across Canada laugh at him in various theatre for young audience plays. His personal highlights include being accepted into Cirque du Soleil’s casting bank as a physical performer and touring Axis Theatre’s renowned play ‘The Number 14’ which will again be on the schedule this coming fall.

This summer, his contract on Vancouver Island performing in ‘Animal Tales’ at the Chemainus Theatre Festival will coincide well with his passion for surfing and riding his Vespa scooter.

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

What does it mean to you to be creative?
Being creative to me means being honest and not limiting ideas. As kids, we played make believe and our world had no limits; as adults, we often stop ourselves when it’s no longer safe, or socially acceptable. We cringe with embarrassment if our child asks ‘Is that man pregnant?’ but on a TV show, it’s hilarious. While many people think that saying or doing something zany is creativity, the most valuable element of creativity, and often the hardest to conjure, is the obvious. One is never moved to tears or laughter as much as when genuine emotion is expressed. And my job as an actor is to find that and share it with the audience.

What triggers your creativity?
I do my best work in the bathroom. Ok, get your mind out of the gutter! But seriously, if I’m stuck on an idea, I often find the most surprising answers while brushing my teeth, in the shower or yes, even sitting on the porcelain throne. It may be because the WC is a place where nobody can interrupt my thoughts, or maybe, like Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’, it’s just the best position for creativity and thought!

What hinders your creativity?
Nothing, I’m perfect.

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
Over the past several years I’ve toured shows to seemingly every nook and cranny across Canada. While many actors loathe the idea of small town tours, I really enjoy the ‘road trip’ element. Sure, I’ve had to choose between a hotel that reeks of either moldy smoke or empty beer cans, but I’ve also seen some of the most spectacular views and sights this country has to offer. This includes taking a dip in Liard Hot Springs, viewing ancient totem poles on Haida Gwaii, skating Winnipeg’s Assiniboine River and taking a piss in the Atlantic Ocean at Peggy’s Cove.

What does being bold and provocative mean to you?
Some artists try to be provocative for the sake of political agendas. I like getting people unsettled to rattle the mundane (and sometimes just for my twisted enjoyment). It’s so easy to get used to seeing our world in the pattern we’ve built, so if I can play a practical joke or offer someone a show that makes them laugh and cry and think, I get a kick out of it, and they get a fresh look at themselves and the world around them. My favorite example is in BellaLuna’s play ‘Futuristi’: after over an hour of avant-garde experimental, material, we made the second act only 30 seconds long. Some people expected act 2 to run long and left (those IDIOTS!), while some audience members stayed well after the curtain call…just in case!

What’s next for you?
I have a year of work in theatre that will take me to Vancouver Island (Chemainus Theatre’s ‘Animal Tales’), and across Canada from Whitehorse to Montreal (‘The Number 14’ twentieth anniversary tour), but I’m most excited about spending three weeks this summer with my girlfriend Ella Simon (featured as April’s Woman of the Month) in my family’s hometown of Lucca in Tuscany, Italy.

And here’s a play that inspires Stefano’s creativity:

Did you know that during WWII, 44 Italian-Canadian men in Vancouver were sent to internment camps without trial? Read about BellaLuna’s FRESCO to learn more.

Thank you for unsettling the mundane Mr Perfect!

To hear about the next Man of the Month, follow DollyFaye on Twitter!

Here’s a little bit about her:
Ella has worked as an actress in theatre, film & television, and has an extensive background in improv. She is currently performing in the Importance of Being Earnest at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver, and has worked with companies such as Ground Zero Theatre, Carousel, Green Thumb, Chemainus Theatre Festival and the Magnetic North Theatre Festival. Her performance career started as a teenager in Calgary with the Loose Moose Theatre Company where she studied and worked with improv guru Keith Johnstone. She enjoys surfing, playing ukulele and has recently started taking Italian lessons. Ella is the only 5’1 Polish professional actress in Vancouver and hopes it stays that way.

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

What does it mean to you to be creative?
As an Actor I am always creating, it’s 99% of my job. I think that people learn how to be creative when they are children. It’s about being curious, discovering the world, not knowing the right answers and most importantly playing! As an actor I get to play and tap into my inner child who is not afraid of making mistakes. Children are amazing storytellers. I think that as adults we try too hard to get the right answer and sometimes that hinders our ability to explore. I get the license to be creative and I’m encouraged to make mistakes and take risks. For example, when I have an audition, I need to be spontaneous and offer my creativity to the director – it’s my job to help him find what he doesn’t know he’s looking for by creating something different, and hopefully memorable. In rehearsing a play, I’m given a script, and I get to create a character, their world and tell their story. When I’m doing roving theatre work, (improvising with kids and the public) they’re my scene partners without even knowing it and they always give me the best ideas!

What triggers your creativity?
Working with other people. What others offer me is what inspires my creativity. But it’s not a one-way street, I also need to be available to give that back. Working with my scene partner to create something that we will in turn communicate it to an audience. That is what theatre is. Even for a one woman show, I always use a collaborator whether it’s a director, musician, stage manager, for me it’s all about collaboration.

What hinders your creativity?
There can be many obstacles in creation that one can be faced with. Sometimes when creating, you come to an impass because there are two different ideas and you come to a crossroads. A road must be chosen and there's never one correct answer in the creative process. That’s what the director is for…to make the final decision! Some personality types work better together than others, and sometimes clashes can create rifts in the creative process, but overcoming them can be as simple as respecting the other person’s ideas. I think that’s true with any job, life situation or human connection. Even friends agree to disagree!

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
My job involves taking risks and seeing what comes from them. My acting career recently took me into a job as a part time science facilitator with Science World; bringing science shows to kids across BC. It is a job that I wasn’t sure I would be suited for. I knew I could do the performance aspect, but was terrified of the science. The risk paid off, as I now get to travel to remote areas of the province, and give children exciting and educational performances that they wouldn’t necessarily have access to. An added benefit, is that I get to see parts of BC that are rarely visited. The job requires me to be creative in a new way: problem solving. For example: science demos not working, logistics of going to small towns & villages, scaling down our equipment to fit on float planes or speed boats, maneuvering down logging roads, etc.

On a personal note, another risk I took recently was learning to surf, and the two came together this past February when I was performing in Ucluelet, Bamfield and Ahousat.  On my afternoon off, I took my surfboard into the ocean (By myself! In Winter!) and had a great surf session. This was something I never would have imagined I could do a year ago.

What does being bold and provocative mean to you?
I’ve often been told I’m a bold person many times, and I usually don’t realize it.  I think it’s because I speak my mind.  Sometimes the simplest, most straightforward, honest answer is unexpected and so it seems provocative. I think being bold means not being afraid of saying what you think.  

What’s next for you?
I’m currently playing the role of Cecily in the Arts Club Theatre’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest’ which will continue for the next few weeks. Then I’m off on a couple trips with Science World to Deas Lake and Telegraph creek in Northern BC.  The movie I filmed last summer Locked In a Garage Band is due to be released this spring, so I’m looking forward to seeing myself on the big screen. Then I’m off to Italy for a 3 week vacation and come back to start work on The Chemainus Theatre Festival’s children’s show called “Animal Tales” with my handsome boyfriend.  So I’m looking forward to an exciting next couple of months.

And here’s two things that inspires Ella’s creativity:

Sherry Lu, another inspiring woman and a great self taught photographer, who also works at Science World with Ella. Check out Sherry on her website.

And here’s an article Ella finds particularly interesting.

How Theater for Young People Could Save the World. By Lauren Gunderson

Thank you Ella for always being on the job!

To hear about the next Woman of the Month, follow DollyFaye on Twitter!