‘A big art love fest’
Winnipeg artists celebrate International Women’s Day
KERRI WOLOSZYN STAFF
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated every year on March 8. It was started in 1977 by the United Nations in order to celebrate the progress made for women’s rights and to look at the challenges that still remain. So if you are a woman, or just think they are cool, mark the date on your calendar.
Winnipeg’s art community is putting on a number of events meant to celebrate women during International Women’s Week, which started on Sunday, March 4. The Vault gallery, 2181 Portage Avenue, will be opening a show called Epiphany on March 8, which runs until April 7 and promises an array of Manitoba Women artists, including Connie Bart-Hamel, Sheila Spence and Stephanie Walker. The show includes 15 Manitoba artists in all who use a variety of media in their work.
Also on March 8, Cinematheque will be screening Killer’s Paradise, a film which focuses on the thousands of murders of women in Guatemala being ignored by officials. The film will be screened across Canada on International Women’s Day in partnership with Amnesty International.
The University of Manitoba’s Womyn’s Centre will also be holding a series of events and workshops as part of “A Big Fat Revolution” in honour of IWD. The events will run on campus throughout the week.
To end the week there will be a gala event at the Gas Station Theatre called “Girls, Girls, Girls — The Black Velvet Show” on Sunday, March 11 at 6 p.m.. The show is a combination visual art show and cabaret. Tickets are $20 and include complimentary wine.
Andrea von Wichert, one of the event organizers, explained that there will be as many as 29 performing or showcasing their work during the evening. The performers include many notable local artists such as modern dancer Jolene Baillie, comedian Trisha Cooper and actor Lisa Martin. And what would a cabaret be without a topless accordion player and a bottomless cello player?
von Wichert explained that as part of International Women’s Week, “the Winnipeg arts community, particularly Winnipeg women in the arts community, are coming together on a yearly basis . . . and celebrating the incredible diversity and wealth of talent in the performing and visual arts here.”
von Wichert said that the idea for the show, which has been running annually for three years, came from simply talking to other women in the arts community and recognizing the talent that exists right here in Winnipeg. She added that many people feel that there are plenty of talented artists in Winnipeg that go unrecognized by both outsiders and people in their own city.
She said that the show also came from the recent scare that the Gas Station Theatre might turn into a Giant Tiger. The show served a number of purposes and turned into a success.
von Wichert also explained that the show serves a number of purposes for women artists. “Not only does it give them permission to do something new, or to experiment, or to premiere new work, or to focus on whatever artistic idea or obsession they have right now, it encourages them to do that. It allows them to showcase themselves in a way that they want to be seen.”
von Wichert noted that the show is a “sampler” and is a great way for theatregoers to find out what is going on in their city within that artistic community. She explained that it is also a way to find out about new work being showcased around town and simply become excited about what is going on in the city.
“It’s a big art love fest,” said von Wichert.
