Friday, March 6, 2009

Looking Back at 2008

As this year's Festival planning is well underway, we thought that we would take a look back at some of the 2008 events held by Headwaters Arts...



Headwaters Arts Music Seminar
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

"People don't know what they missed!" This statement was made by a Sheridan student as she was leaving the day-long professional development workshop presented by Headwaters Arts. The quality of the speakers was top notch. Music industry experts, such as, Jeff Burns (Prism Music), Linda Dawe (Music Solutions Inc), Alex Andronache (Metalworks) and representatives from various schools, Bob Roper (Harris Institute), Jeff Wright (Trebas Institute) and Geoff Warder ( Fanshawe College), as well as Larry Kurtz of the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, and recording artist,Skye Sweetnam, each discussed their life experiences and areas of expertise and answered questions from the audience. The seminar also included four musical performances by Justin McDonald, Matt Marinelli (from the band, Borealis), Lisa Watson and Larry Kurtz. Thank you to all of our guest speakers who generously donated their time and expertise.



Advice from two of our speakers

In conversation with Bob Roper:
Bob Roper has 38 years in the business. He is a Juno Award winner, former National Production Director at Capital/EMI, Tour Manager of Supertramp, A&R Director at Warner Music, Marketing Director for CPI and Executive Producer of the Juno Awards.

He began his presentation by speaking about some of the largest Canadian musicians today: Celine Dion, Shanya Tawain, Avril Lavagne, Diana Krawl, Nickleback. Many of these are solo Canadian musicians however there are between 150-250 people working under them (manager, lawyer, producer, tour manager, song
writers, musicians, road crews, promotion rep, consultant, etc.). There is an enormous opportunity to work in the industry. If you are able – move to get the job you want. There is a lot of demand for audio engineers. Look at television for example; there are 14 music channels. Move to India, China... It is not easy but there are lots of opportunities in recording, marketing, and publishing.

What are record companies looking for? Good songs, a unique live performance, and a focus. Start building your career early. Even if you have all of these things it is still a struggle. Independent labels do give artists more time to grow. Have fun with it and realize you can’t do it alone.


How do you protect your song? Record it on a CD or sheet music, or notes and mail it to yourself by registered mail. Turn intellectual property into physical property.


Skye Sweetnam discusses life in the industry: At only 20 years old, Skye has already toured 25 countries, performed for 2 million people and shared the stage with artists such as Britney Spears, Avril Lavinge, Hillary Duff and Ashlee Simpson and has appeared on the Tonight Show and was the voice for Barbie Diaries. Skye signed with Capital Records at age 14 and released her first CD Noise from the Basement. She was nominated for a Juno Award in 2006 and in 2007 released her second album Sound Soldier. She shared some of her experiences with the audience including some of her professional music videos, online (self directed) videos, and personal videos of visiting Capital Records in Hollywood, live performances and interacting with fans.

I create what I feel and what I like. I write, draw, act, do web design, videos and find it all very rewarding. My first break came at age 12. After doing talent shows and flogging a CD, my big break came when my CD made its way from a Bolton hair salon to EMI records through Sanderson Taylor. Zack Werner became my manager. James Robertson, age 20, became my song writer.

Skye discussed creating an EPK – Electronic Press Kit. It is an important tool that lets record companies understand more about you, your lifestyle and personality. Skye stated that her press kit was sent to Hollywood EMI at age 14 and shared a portion of it with the audience.

Skye's advice: The web is a great way to keep fans interested and excited. I have made videos, contests, keep an online journal. On the internet, you have complete artistic control which is fantastic. Always do what you can to keep the fans interested. I have a large fan base in Japan and released my album with a cover just for Japanese fans. That old saying – you’re only as good as your last hit. You can’t relax. You can have fun and it is great being creative all the time. Never be afraid of having rejection. Give them more than what they expect.


Check out some of Skye's online presence:

http://www.skyesweetnam.com/beta/
http://www.youtube.com/user/SkyeSweetnamVideo
http://www.myspace.com/skyesweetnam



Thank you:


The support of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Culture is gratefully acknowledged.

Thank you to Theatre Orangeville and Taco Time (Orangeville) for their support, and to the Headwaters Arts Music Committee.

Thursday, November 20, 2008


Headwaters Arts Professional Development Workshop

SATURDAY, NOV. 29, 2008 9:30AM - 3PM
Theatre Orangeville
87 Broadway, Orangeville

Tickets:
$20 for Members $30 for Non-Members

A Light lunch provided.


Call 519 943 1149 to purchase your tickets. Limited number available!

To help us confirm numbers for catering Please RSVP by N
ov.26

Applying to a juried exhibition?
Want to improve your marketability?
Every artist should attend this workshop!


Fabulous Line Up of Speakers!
Ted Fullerton (artist/teacher), John Hartman (artist), Sarah Beveridge (Curator, MacLaren Art Centre), Emma Quin (General Manager, Ontario Crafts Council), Joan Hope (Dragonfly Arts on Broadway), and local artists/photographers: Pete Paterson, Pete Herlihy, Rosemary Hasner

Discussion topics:
- Responding to a Call for Entry
- Photography - documenting/presenting your work professionally
- Juried Exhibitions - demystifying the process
- Curating and public galleries
- Best practices for artists working with galleries

The support of the Government of Ontario through the
Ministry of Culture is
acknowledged.


RBC Orangeville Branches
& RBC Mortgage Specialist Wendy Poletek

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Opening Night Success!

The Headwaters Arts Festival is underway and celebrated its opening with its most successful Launch Party yet! Friday evening saw 350 people celebrate the arts season in the Hills of Headwaters. An art show that featured 40 local artists was the focal point around which these people came together to admire their creative talents and enjoy the music, special awards, good conversation and an abundance of great food that made it a most memorable evening.

Robert Bateman spoke most eloquently about his friend Paul Burdette as he presented Paul with a special Lifetime Achievement Award for the contributions Burdette has made to the arts in Canada and in the Headwaters region throughout his long career. In addition to Paul Burdette the launch party also included a memorial tribute to Ken Danby. The audience applauded enthusiastically when Gillian Danby spoke about her late husband and the pride she and his family took in participating in the naming of a local elementary school in his honour.

The jurors did an admirable job of selecting the following recipients for this year’s awards. Pavel Charousek won the Helen Gardner Memorial Award for pottery and ceramics, and jurors’ awards sponsored by SGI Canada went to Monica O’Halloran-Schut, Ron Pitts, Jim Reid, Jim Stewart, and Nancy Turner. Because they had so much talent to choose from the jurors also gave honourable mentions to Rosalinde Baumgartner, Sue Powell, Anne-Marie Warburton and Barry Young. John Ashbourne received the Artists’ Choice Award sponsored by Navis Pack & Ship. To round out the celebration of arts in the region visitors, enjoyed the award-winning art of the Student Art Show that was held in May.

No party is complete without refreshments and this year the q
uests enjoyed a stand-up gourmet dinner by Gourmandissimo Fine Foods & Catering in Caledon East and Orangeville’s One99 Restaurant with refreshments provided by the Wine Coaches and Mill Street Brewery. The musical entertainment was provided by Rusty Ephemeris and Susan Lind who offered beautiful Celtic music. Thank you to RBC Dominion Securities for sponsoring this event.

If you couldn’t join
in the launch festivities you can still enjoy the remarkable Art Show & Sale. It will be open next weekend at the SGI Centre for Education and Culture in Alton, Saturday and Sunday, 4 and 5 October, from 11am to 5pm both days and admission is free.



Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Ken Danby Tribute at the SGI Centre

KEN DANBY (1940-2007)

Danby was one of only a few contemporary artists who have created paintings that make the transition from artwork to cultural icon. His outstanding and timeless images earned him international recognition as one of the world’s foremost realist artists. Danby’s original works have been acquired by many major museums and corporate collections, including The National Gallery of Canada, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Vancouver Art Gallery, the Art Institute of Chicago, to name only a few. Ken Danby was an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Among the many awards he received are the Jessie Dow Prize, the 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of Canada, and spanning twenty-five years of recognition, both the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals. He was invested in the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada, the province’s and country’s highest and most prestigious honours.

The Headwaters Arts Festival Art Show & Sale is pleased to exhibit a selection of works courtesy of Ken Danby Studios, Odon Wagner Gallery and Gallery Moos.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Headwaters Arts Lifetime Achievement Award for Paul Burdette

(Image: Robert Bateman, Paul Burdette)

Biography

Paul met his wife Dolly in 1953 and they were married in 1954. They have three sons, Glenn, Brett and Mark.

Paul has led a rich and varied life, which has encompassed many different careers. After leaving school he went into the elevator business and became superintendent of new construction for the Otis Elevator Co. where he worked on many of the skyscrapers in Toronto. It was during those years that he went back to his love for Arts and started into Wildfowl Sculpting.

Having a love for the outdoors, this was a natural subject matter. It wasn't too long before his Art endeavours were recognized and his works were being exhibited in some of the most prestigious Galleries and Museums.

Some of these include the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute - Washington, Carnegie Mellon Museum - Pittsburgh, The Cleveland Museum of Art - Ohio, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum - Wisconsin, The Royal Ontario Museum - Toronto and The Gairdner Gallery - Toronto, to name a few. His pieces are also in the collections of The Los Angeles Museum - California, The Denver Museum - Colorado, The Wildlife World Museum - Colorado and The Ward Foundation Museum in Salisbury, Maryland. In 1974 Paul won the World Decoy Pairs Championship and in 1976 he came 2nd in the World in the Lifesize Decorative class. In 1976 Paul was also voted by his peers to Master of the Wildfowl Sculptors Guild.

In 1977 Paul started to build the Burdette Gallery and in 1979 Paul and his wife Dolly retired from their jobs in Toronto and opened the gallery in 1980. The success of the Gallery required them to have two of their sons, Glenn and Mark come to work for them. Having their help freed up enough of Paul's time to open the first school in North America to teach Wildfowl Sculpting. In the ensuing years, Paul taught over five thousand students, some of them in large seminars that he did throughout Canada and the USA.

He also started a catalogue mail order business selling supplies to the Artists in this field. As well, they could purchase them at the Gallery.

One of Paul's passions was helping to promote other Artists and their work. In 1981 Paul held the first show of its kind promoting an Artist at the Gallery and having the Artist there to meet the patrons. He knew full well that the people wanted to meet the Artists and those type of shows became immediate successes.

The next venture was High Country Press starting him into the publishing business. Because he felt it was so hard for Artists to get with an established company, he saw the value of promoting and helping them with their careers through that venue.

Because of the demand for Paul's work, he went into the Art Statuary casting business and produced over twenty Limited Edition Castings in bronze and resin for many corporations.

We look forward to presenting Paul with this Award.

FESTIVAL LAUNCH PARTY & ART SHOW PREVIEW
Fri Sept 26, 5:30pm Awards at 6:45pm
SGI Canada Caledon Centre, 20490 Porterfield Rd, Caledon
Refreshments provided by Gourmandissimo Catering & Fine Food Shop, One99 Restaurant, The Wine Coaches and Mill Street Brewery.
Sponsored by RBC Dominion Securities

Special features:
• Stand-up gourmet dinner with beer and wine
• Sneak preview of the art show and sale
• Celtic music by Rusty Ephemeris and Susan Lind
• Award presentations including the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to Paul Burdette presented by long-time friend, Robert Bateman
• 2008 Student Art Show winners
• A special tribute honouring Ken Danby


Tickets: $50 - Call 519 943 1149

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Small Towns: Big Impact

Interesting reading... the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s research into grantmaking in small Ontario communities 2007.

The Foundation's research found that many small towns are rallying to address local challenges with innovation, energy and optimistic commitment. These are exemplified by strong leadership and committed volunteers. They’re reclaiming and rejuvenating their communities and building them with a new resilience and adaptability. In the process, small towns are learning to trust their own abilities, embrace new opportunities, and find promise for the future.

http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/cms/en/sm_towns_grantmaking07.aspx

Thanks again to all our volunteers!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Artist Party and Information Session

Thank you to the juried artists that attended the Artist Party and Info Session on Saturday, July 26 at Sally and Jefferson Mappin's. The event was a great success. Thank you also to all those that brought the delicious food for the potluck.

Thanks to the artists for volunteering your time to help make this year's festival a fantastic show. We've never had so many volunteers before and it's a HUGE help.

If you are interesting in helping the festival with brochure distribution or invitation mailing please contact the office at 519 943 1149.

And a BIG thank you to Sally and Jefferson for being such generous hosts!