The audio version of this story opens with a clip from Laura Balducci’s art installation “The Other-Side Presents That Wall,” which was at the Old School House Art Gallery on Cortes Island in the summer of 2016. The video of another of her multi-media performances, “Sense That Sin” was part of a show last month. Laura is a film maker, promoter, curator, painter, doll-maker, hair dresser, make-up artist and the former lead singer of a female punk band. She promotes the Old School House Art Gallery through her website and Facebook page and is curating the annual member’s show, SPACE, which opens at 6 PM on Friday, July 27, 2018. This morning’s interview is devoted to Laura Balducci’s art.
Continue reading Laura Balducci’s ArtTag Archives: Radio
The Arborglyph That Survived
Originally published on Cortes Radio.ca, as part of the Deep Roots Initiative, Season Two
British Columbia is known for its totem poles. Examples of a less known artwork have surfaced in more recent years. Aborglyphs are carved into living trees. One was discovered a few years ago, two hundred kilometres north of Vancouver in the midst of a clearcut in Toba Inlet. The Klahoose Arborglyh has been moved to the band’s multipurpose building in Squirrel Cove, Cortes Island. Deep Roots story producer Roy L Hales interviewed Michelle Robinson and Ken Hanuse, from the Klahoose First Nation, and local historian Judith Williams about the arborglyph that survived into modern times.
Continue reading The Arborglyph That SurvivedRick Bockner: Paths of Beauty

His musical roots go back to the McCarthy era, when the United States was purging itself of anything that could be labelled communist. Pete Seeger gave him tips on how to play the guitar. He was a member of the psychedelic rock band Mad River, which released two albums in San Francisco before it disbanded in 1969. On Cortes Island, he is somewhat of a musical icon. In addition to being a songwriter, he is one of the key organizers of Lovefest and the face of CKTZ’s Lip Syncs for the past decade. In this morning’s interview, Rick Bockner talks about paths of beauty.
Continue reading Rick Bockner: Paths of BeautyReclaiming Culture
Reclaiming Culture is a look into Culture nights with Michelle Robinson. What is shared over a meal? More than food, teachings are passed along through generations. Gathering to celebrate identity inspires drum making, and new songs are sung. Songs were lost as a direct result of intentional oppression [eg. residential school]. When Klahoose writes new songs to Welcome people to their lands, we are witnessing a profound moment of living culture, of cutting edge language work and a powerful pivot point in history. We also hear the voice of Jessie Louie, Drew Blaney drumming and song workshop, Cortes Museum and Archives work recording school children learning a new public song. Hands up to Jessie Louie, Michelle Robinson, CIMAS’s Brittany Baxter and Drew Blaney.
Continue reading Reclaiming CultureBehind Every Good Man Are Strong Women
Originally published on Cortes Radio.ca, as part of the Deep Roots Initiative, Season Two.
In this episode Deep Roots producer Jacqueline Mathieu takes us on a journey through one woman’s determination to reclaim a piece of her culture, through a coming of age ceremony and her son’s journey to claiming his identity.
Continue reading Behind Every Good Man Are Strong Women

