"You have to create culture... create your own roadshow.... If you're worrying about (celebrities and media personalities), then you are disempowered; you're giving it all away to icons, icons that are maintained solely for...(commercial gain). This is shit-brained, this kind of thinking. That is all cultural diversion, and what is real is you and your friends and your associations, your highs, your orgasms, your hopes, your plans, your fears... So reclaim your mind and get it out of the hands of the cultural engineers who want to turn you into a half-baked moron consuming all this trash that's being manufactured out of the bones of a dying world."
- Philosopher/Author Terence McKenna
It's a pretty big deal. You know, the Whistler arts scene. Painters, potters, filmmakers, sculptors, actors, poets, writers, musicians... deep breath.... costume makers, set designers, make-up artists, producers, directors, curators, storytellers, comedians, clowns, dancers. I mean, it's about as uniquely colorful a tapestry of artistic expression as you'll find anywhere. Still, until recently I really didn't appreciate just how vital to Whistler's social health this particular segment of the community has become.
I mean, for a jock-town this place sure puts out a lot of good art. It's not always appreciated — and it's been woefully underfunded for years — but the local art scene has a heck of an impressive track record.
That particular reality was illustrated for me once again at this year's World Ski And Snowboard Festival. With its increasing focus on "off-mountain" events, the festival's management depends to a great degree on Whistler-based artists, performers and musicians to entertain the thousands of guests drawn to the resort each year for the ten-day extravaganza. And the Valley's creatives rarely disappoint. Year after year, hundreds of artsy characters (and no, I'm not exaggerating numbers to make a point) devote thousands of work hours to making the season-ending bash a success.
From the 72hr. Filmmaker Showdown to the Chairlift Review, from art shows to fashion shows (and everything in between), Whistler artists regularly step up and deliver the kind of high-quality content that's now become synonymous with the WSSF. Indeed, the festival's sterling reputation is in large part due to the inspired work of our local artistes.
And yet... few (if any) of these performers are paid for their work. Say what? It's true — a majority of those involved in these productions are doing it for "the love of the game." And please, let's drop the "it's good exposure for your art" canard. That's the biggest line of bull puckies going...
I mean, c'mon. We're all big kids here. Local artists aren't being paid for their work at events like the WSSF because they're the easiest group to exploit. The thinking among business folk goes something like: "Artists are so naïve (i.e. so passionate about their art) that they can easily be persuaded to work for free. So why pay them? They'll complain, sure, but when push comes to shove, heck, they'll literally line up to perform."
Seems to me that attitude needs a bit of a tweak... especially here in Whistler.
It was all brought home to me again a couple of weeks back when two very different art "events" occurred within a few days of each other. The first, amid great fanfare and pomp, was the public announcement in Vancouver that the new Audain Museum had already ballooned to twice its original size — and proudly claimed its eponymous donor — would become the largest in the province... after the Vancouver Art Gallery of course.
Mayor Nancy, usually such a cool, grounded individual, was gushing like a schoolgirl over the news. "Unbelievable," she was quoted as saying. "... such a fabulous gift for the Whistler community."
Hmm. If I were Madame Mayor, I might want to act more cautiously around strangers bearing gifts. But I digress...
OK. So on to the next event. This one, not surprisingly, was a more low-key affair. The annual fundraiser for The Point Artist Run Centre, this happy, unpretentious gathering was held at Creekside's Creekbread Restaurant. And all the usual suspects were in attendance. You know, the citizens you can usually count on. There was music and painting and prizes and a silent auction... and lots and lots of smiles.
It was a wonderful evening — a rare opportunity to reconnect with similar-minded people — a chance, too, to push a "local" arts agenda for once. And an agenda that could have such a positive impact on the overall community.
The only thing missing alas, were Whistler's "power people." Mayor Nancy didn't show. Nor did any of her councillors. Whistler Tourism didn't have much of a presence either. As for the Whistler-Blackcomb brass, they too were notable by their absence. In fact, the great irony of the evening was that (with a few notable exceptions) the ones actually opening their wallets were the very artists who were already doing everything they could to move The Point project forward.
You don't know about The Point yet? Here's a quick description from the website: "The Point is a grassroots-based, artist-run centre that focuses on developing and connecting Whistler's working artists. It provides a much-needed central hub to help foster the local arts scene." And the three-year old project is gaining traction... fast.
The Point's proposed home is located on a beautiful piece of lakeside property. One of the valley's early homesteads — and the site of the former youth hostel — it offers stunning views of both Whistler and Blackcomb. There are few places in the region, in fact, that deliver a more inspiring panorama. And the good news is that the property is owned (like the Audain Museum land) by the RMOW.
But can Whistler Council be convinced that arts and culture programs are appropriate activities for public lands and facilities? It's a process, say its backers.
"We've been renting the site on an event-by-event basis," explains The Point's indefatigable president, Stephen Vogler. "Sharing the ground with the sailing association is working well, and we've had wonderful things happen there already." He's like a proud papa when he talks about The Point. Each event — each and every artist-driven undertaking — is presented with the kind of enthusiasm born from true passion. This guy believes.
Maybe you caught the first annual Flagstop Theatre and Arts Festival there last August? Maybe you attended one of the Whistler Readers and Writers Festival workshops in October? Or took the two-day actors course with acclaimed American director Neil Schell last February? Maybe you're planning to attend The Point's Open House program this summer — you know, the regular Saturday "drop-in," with its live music and open-air café and bookshop and art show...
Whatever. You get the gist. The Point is about you. It's about your culture.
Which is why Vogler is so excited about the possibilities there. "Whistler has just gone through 40 years of building the physical structures of this town. That's mostly in place. Now we need to develop our culture, or rather, let our culture develop. And that begins with the creative community. Places that create conditions for their artists to thrive not only end up with healthy cultures, but healthy economies. It's been proven in city after city around the world. And Whistler's own plans and studies all point to the same need to support the artists."
And that dovetails nicely with his next observation. "We've got a really active board of directors... both as local artists and Point advocates. I mean, there's a lot of experience on our ten-member board — people like Binty Massey, Angie Nolan Christina Nick and Steve Andrews." Still, Vogler is very much the project's front man. And it's been that way since the non-profit society was launched in the fall of 2009. "I try to keep Point business to under 20 per cent of my overall workload," he tells me. And sighs. "But sometimes it has a life of its own. I mean it's off the ground now. But we still need official community status."
A lifelong artist — writer, musician, storyteller — Stephen knows first hand just how difficult it is for creative types to make ends meet in Whistler. He shrugs. "All we're trying to do," he concludes, "is establish an affordable space in this valley where artistic people can work, collaborate, teach, learn and interact with our community."
Hmm... sounds reasonable enough to me. Remains to be seen whether Whistler's politicos will be as forthcoming in supporting the grassroots as they've been in acquiring our new big-name gallery. But I have hope. Stay tuned...
