A blend of science, art and activism
This month, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre presents Sea Sick, written and performed by Alanna Mitchell, as part of the second annual The Bridge: A Festival of Ideas.
Arts & Culture
The Weather Station, ‘How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars’ — 5/5 stars
How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars is indeed a more nocturnal, wistful record than the danceable, brooding Ignorance. The arrangements for these songs float, unmoored by time, carried largely by spare piano work adorned with pillowy ribbons of woodwinds and warm upright bass. This ethereal, minimal production establishes a very direct emotional connection with the listener, highlighting Lindeman’s voice.
Sheila North — ‘My Privilege, My Responsibility’
If there was ever a local example of how hard work pays off, CBC journalist Sheila North’s memoir is proof. My Privilege, My Responsibility documents the hard work North put into her own education growing up in Bunibonibee Cree Nation — known in English as Oxford House — that contributed to her rise from a journalist at CTV News Channel (CTV) and CBC to becoming the first female grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO).
A tribute to Dallas Good and the Sadies
Dallas Good, singer and guitarist of Toronto-based band the Sadies, passed away on Feb. 17. As described in the announcement, it was a sudden death of natural causes at the tragically young age of 48.
A gravitational pull, or lack thereof
Orrery consists of 24 ceramic vessels which are arranged on a mechanized platform that rotates the various rows of sculptures and imitates the movement of celestial bodies. More specifically, the WAG’s website explains its title “references the popular astronomic mechanical model used to represent the positions, motions and phases of the solar system.”
OMBIIGIZI, ‘Sewn Back Together’ — 4/5 stars
OMBIIGIZI, a new collaborative project from artists Zoon and Status/Non-Status, is about searching. Sewn Back Together, as the title implies, establishes that the pair has been broken apart somehow, left looking for their place in history, their identity, trying to mend themselves.
Basia Bulat, ‘The Garden’ — 3.5/5 stars
Basia Bulat, like many of us, spent the pandemic slowing down. She describes spending time in the garden, putting down roots and waiting for melodies and songs from her past to come back to her. The title track of her new record, The Garden, served as a guiding light for this process.
A view to a new world through painting
World Discovered Under Other Skies is comprised of large-scale paintings, unconventional ceramic tiles and drawings which address a wide variety of topics. Curated by Amin Alsaden, the exhibit is sure to intrigue those who are interested in the expansion of painting into multimedia installations that speak to identity, politics, history and the common links that unite us all.
Hé Ho! Festival du Voyageur is a go!
Tie on a ceinture fléchée, pull on a toque and head down to Whittier Park — Festival du Voyageur is semi-virtual this year.
Vivek Shraya — ‘People Change’
Multidisciplinary artist Vivek Shraya’s latest book People Change emphasizes that the mask itself brings out the inner truth of an individual.