Man of the Month – Jeffrey Boone

Written by Dolly on November 1st, 2011

Hi all!

Here’s the next posting of my Man of the Month series on the brilliant Jeffrey Boone.

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 Like Detheridge, 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.

November’s Man of the Month is:

Jeffrey Boone

Here’s a little bit about him:
Originally from Newfoundland, Jeffrey Boone moved Vancouver in 1999, and has worked with a number of arts festivals and organizations including the Vancouver Fringe Festival, the International Writers Festival, Axis Theatre and Ballet BC; and between 2006 and 2010 ran a commercial art gallery representing emerging artists locally and internationally.

He has volunteered on the Boards of non-profit arts organizations in Vancouver and in his native Newfoundland including the Contemporary Arts Society of Vancouver (www.casv.ca) where he has served as Programming Chair and then Board Chair.

Jeffrey is the Executive Director of the Eastside Culture Crawl: an annual 3 day free event, now in it’s 15th year, during which more than 300 artists, designers, craft-makers, potters, jewelers and furniture-makers open their studios to the public. It’s a rare opportunity to see the spaces where so much is made by hand in East Van.

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

What does it mean to you to be creative?
Being creative for me is finding solutions that engage others to achieve common goals.

What triggers your creativity?
I get excited by problems to which I can see sustainable solutions that could result in realizing potential on an ongoing basis.

What hinders your creativity?
Sloth, avarice and a lack of imagination.

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
I’m finding planning toward developing a nonprofit artist studio building to be a really wild ride with a steep learning curve! So exciting!

What does being bold and provocative mean to you?
Thinking beyond the scope of you own life – if you want to have an impact you have to think of something that will go on beyond you, something that will have benefit beyond your own lifetime.

What’s next for you?
Sleep. It’s 11:30PM and I’m going to the gym at 6:00AM

And here’s two things Jeffrey is inspired by:

I’m inspired by selfless contribution to community minded initiatives….. oh, and the backside of Blackcomb mountain on a powder day!

Thank you Jeffrey for going beyond!

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

Making A Scene

Written by Dolly on October 16th, 2011

A popular arts conference where you get to decide the agenda.

Be Engaged

Be Empowered

Be Part of the Discussion

hosted by the GVPTA.

Click here for full details.

Man of the Month Before – Luke Detheridge

Written by Dolly on October 1st, 2011

October’s Man of the Month is:

'Inner Clown' - Nelson, BC Photo by: Erin Leigh Pasternak

Luke Detheridge

Here’s a little bit about him:
Luke Detheridge is a performance/interactive media based artist, currently living in Vancouver, BC. Raised in St. Catharines, Ontario and fueled by his love of motion picture, he journeyed west after high school for film education. After graduating Capilano University for set decoration he re-immersed himself into education focusing on his BFA from Emily Carr University. Since then he has explored his craft of various types, earning him noted roles as a set decorator, costume designer, performer, interactive media artist and child educator/entertainer.

His contributions include: regularly teaming up with Holopath Productions, setting up interactive installations at the ‘Shambhala Music Festivals’ Aug, 2007-2011.

Child education with ‘A Bright Red Crayon’ in combination with Vancouver Science World and Maker Faire focusing on alternative energy installations and recycled craft workshops 2009-2011.

Event organization, stage design and installation, performance and open learning workshops with ‘Gropp’s Gallery’ 2009-2011.

Luke continues to maintain a practice of interactive costuming and sculpture for the past 8 years, which have attributed to numerous awards, scholarships and public swarming and enjoyment.

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

What does it mean to you to be creative?
We create, everyday of our lives, our story, our journey. To be creative is to act upon that which inspires you to create. To allow our perspective of reality to diversify, expanding and encompass alternative ways of living and our relation to others. Co-creation is something to strive for, it brings out the best in us and asks us to rise to the occasion of something far greater then just our own creative ideals.

What triggers your creativity?
Smiley and excited faces. When I see wonder in people’s eyes and their minds churning, it stokes my fire! I love to energize the public and enhance community with my art, while inspiring the individual with their own acts of creation. It’s a cycle that I am happy to take part in, which influences the focus of my art towards illumination and celebration. I also dream big, especially with costuming, pushing my own physical and creative limits. I find that costumes have a considerable way of bringing out what I like to call ‘child eyes’. I feel especially happy providing a dynamic and visual stimulating touch to this city.

What hinders your creativity?
Social constraint is right up there, I see more laws being passed restricting personal freedom, irresponsible forestry and oil expansion, and the condition of the earth changing. That tends to bum me out a bit. In those disempowering moments I try my best to except the state in which everything is and in turn, deepen my purpose within it. I hold courage and love, for the future, and I feel privileged to share my journey with so many beautiful people.

YouTube Preview Image
Ork Costume debut at Aedan Gallery’s opening night of “Aliens and Monsters” October, 2009

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
Burning Man. To any burner, that statement sums it up. To everyone else I invite you to take part in the experience and find out for yourself.

I traveled down to Burning Man for the first time in 2007. Blake Shaulhauser and I, as well as a few others from the Cosmic Elves camp, designed and built a 3 story tetrahedral hammock village. A week in Black Rock City, Nevada Dessert, truly changed what I thought of as a possibility for interactive installation. As well as giving me overwhelming examples, left, right and centre of the beauty of a loving community and positive social change. I left with something to reach for, in life, in art.

What does being bold and provocative mean to you?
Having the balls to stand up for what you truly believe in, alone if necessary.

YouTube Preview Image
Video of a 16′ Snake-Creature made from 50 milk jugs…’Illuminatus Draco’ as part of the Maker Faire, June 2011

What’s next for you?
I plan to continue working with fellow artists and community groups, as well as expanding upon installation and costume productions into festivals, art, theatre and film. I will continue to explore and to challenge myself where ever my journey takes me.

And here’s a video that inspires Luke’s creativity:

Terence McKenna – Free Your Mind

Check out Luke’s website.

Many smiley face thank yous Luke, you are a social positive!

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