Category Archives: Arts

Arts, History

George Sirk & the Cortes Film Festival

Cortes Island will be holding its very own film festival in Mansons Hall on Sunday, July 17, 2022.  George Sirk produced Cortes Cinema’s films, all but one of which was originally shown at either Mansons or Gorge Halls during the 1970s and early 80’s. The exception is a video of Ann Mortifee’s performance at Manson’s Hall on October 23, 1981. This has not previously been shown in public. Doug McCaffry came up with the idea of holding a film festival, when he was digitalising Sirk’s films for the Cortes Island Museum.  

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Arts, Indigenous Nations History

Beyond Beads

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Beading helps share knowledge, good laughs, and support for each other through hard times. That’s why beading is important to me, as both an art, and community-centred experience.”

So explains Klahoose and Tla’amin Nation member Emily White, who’s contemporary beading designs are pushing the boundaries of the traditional art form (see left). The 24-year-old Tla’amin Nation intergovernmental policy and fiscal analyst learned to bead in 2018 from the Elders in Residence at the University of Victoria – over many lunchtimes as she was completing her degree in Indigenous Studies and ethics. She especially credits Métis Elder Barb Hulme.

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Arts

Laura Balducci: An Artist supporting Artists

Laura Balduci calls herself an artist supporting artists

“I still make my own art. I’m doing a solo show in February 2023, but I also have a little bit of extra energy and I’m not shy. I’m on a mission. The mission is to get as many artists out there, either in person or on the walls to share with the world. I really enjoy working with the artists and trying to get their work out there so that they can maybe spend more time in their studios and make more art to inspire more people,” she explained.

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Arts

Travelling documentary filmmaker on Cortes Island looking to make videos on alternative dwellings

By Louis Belcourt, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

Forrest Stevens is a documentary filmmaker whose content is focused on van living, tiny houses, off-grid setups and more.

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Arts

Bringing ‘Ordinary Magic’ to the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery

Jane Newman calls her exhibition ‘Ordinary Magic.” It will be coming to the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery on Friday July 1.

“What I find that I’m trying to do, since I’ve been living on Cortes for the last five years, is express the energy of the land, or the energy of nature. I’m very much connected to the leaves and the birds and the ocean and even the underworld of the ocean. I’m trying to see it, feel it, hear it, sense it — in every way. I really try to re-express that. It’s  very challenging. I don’t feel like I’d ever express it as beautifully as it is,” she began. 

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