Media Release: June 23, 2022  AKA / PAVED Arts announce new window gallery and updated accessibility renovations Saskatoon, Canada — AKA and PAVED Arts are happy to announce major renovations in an effort to bring greater accessibility and visibility to our building. Throughout the pandemic, AKA and PAVED opened our building up to meet artist needs, experimenting with project forms and providing studio and gathering spaces. It is with gratitude to these artists and communities for their input into our activities and facility that we announce that we have been granted $100,750 from the Canadian Heritage Cultural Spaces Fund, City of Saskatoon Cultural Capital Grant, Affinity Credit Union, and Business / Arts arts mentoring program, ArtsVest. These funds will provide: ● A new store front window gallery that will expand artist project space while creating a friendlier street presence ● New lighting and sound treatment in the shared event space, creating a brighter, more functional space for community groups and artists to utilize.  ● Kitchen and bathroom accessibility renovations ● Rick Hansen Foundation Rating & Certification In 2005, PAVED Arts and AKA Artist-Run jointly purchased and extensively renovated the former Toon’s Kitchen restaurant in the Riversdale neighborhood. The organizations’ galleries, event space, and PAVED’s production centre serve Saskatoon with free public projects and member services to local artists. Their 9000 sq/ft building is also home to BlackFlash magazine, and a multi-function event space used by numerous community and cultural organizations throughout the year.  “Since I started at AKA we’ve discussed the possibility of opening up the front of the building, understanding the benefits it could have for both the organizations and the community. As our focus has been shifting towards community engagement, creating a more welcoming and visible space has been a priority and through the generous support of Heritage Canada it is now becoming a reality,” said Derek Sandbeck (AKA). “The window gallery will not only rejuvenate the facade of our building but will also create a programming space for AKA and PAVED that will host multiple artist projects each year.” “Over the years, our shared event space has become a well-known, creative community gathering space and arts hub in Saskatoon. From board meetings to youth camps to sound art performances, the event space continues to shift and adapt to the creative needs of our community. This project allows us to continue to grow and build the space based on the needs of our community to have a safe and welcome place to create, present and celebrate art,” said Lenore Maier (PAVED Arts).  “We are extremely grateful to our many funding partners who have recognized the hard work of PAVED Arts and AKA Artist-Run to establish an important cultural hub in Saskatoon,” said PAVED Executive Director Travis Cole. “By addressing accessibility issues that this building poses, and having our building updated to achieve a Rick Hansen Foundation Rating & Certification, our goal has always been to invest in a creative space that supports all artists.”  The upgrades to the building will be completed by Fall 2022.  Banner Image: Window Rendering (Billboard: Magic Eyes, Chris Morin, 2022.) -30- Canada Cultural Spaces Fund  The Government of Canada’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports the improvement of physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation through the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities, as well as the acquisition of specialized equipment. By supporting improvements to our country’s cultural spaces, the fund increases access for Canadians to performing arts, visual arts, media arts, museum collections and heritage displays.  City of Saskatoon Cultural Capital Grant  The purpose of the Culture Grant Program is to provide funding support to cultural organizations in Saskatoon in recognition of their role in providing cultural activities for Saskatoon residents and visitors, and the contribution they make to the quality of life and economic prosperity of the city. Affinity Credit Union  Affinity Credit Union is a different kind of financial institution. A member-owned and democratically-operated co-operative, Affinity is firmly rooted in community, and committed to serving the needs of our members across Saskatchewan.  ArtsVest / Business / Arts  Business / Arts is a national charitable organization that shows the power of partnership between business and arts. Their national mentorship training program artsvest has created nearly 5,000 partnerships between business and arts organizations, raising over $21M in new private sector investment. Combined with matching funds, this has led to an overall impact is $29.25M to Canada’s cultural sector. Our arts & business exchange initiative is focused on cultivating and inspiring the next generation of business leaders to partnership with the arts.  Rick Hansen Foundation Certification  In Canada, almost 50% of adults have or have experienced a permanent or temporary physical disability or live with someone who has. Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM(RHFAC) is a national rating system that measures and certifies the level of meaningful access of buildings and sites. Getting an RHFAC rating allows better understanding of your physical accessibility, how you can improve, and can identify barriers for your community, customers, or employees.  PAVED Arts PAVED Arts is a non-profit, artist-run centre for production, presentation, research and dissemination of contemporary media arts. The word PAVED is an acronym signifying the integration of media art forms the organization serves: photographic, audio, video, electronic, digital. Through public programs and outreach as well as equipment and production support for members, PAVED Arts continues in the legacy of its predecessors The Photographer’s Gallery and Video Verité.  AKA AKA artist-run supports the creation and development of artist driven initiatives and emerging practices that speak to, reflect and encourage dialogue in our culturally diverse communities. This includes work in all media by local, national and international artists. Our venues consist of a street-level gallery, billboard and multi-use screening and performance event space; we also source off-site locations for site-specific projects. PAVED Arts and AKA are grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts, Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskCulture and Sask Lotteries for their continuous support.

For more information, please contact:  Travis Cole, Executive Director, PAVED Arts  executive@pavedarts.ca Derek Sandbeck, Gallery Coordinator, AKA artist-run  gallerycoordinator@akaartistrun.com

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Sarah Hollands
Sarah studied fine art at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, majoring in Painting and Photography. Working seasonally in the forestry industry throughout the summer months, Sarah spends her winters producing bodies of work in both mediums. Her work has featured publically in Halifax, Hamilton, and Saskatoon. While managing to paint from home in Bradwell, Saskatchewan, her photography work is currently made possible by the generous support of a  PAVED ARTS micro-grant, which facilitates access to a darkroom and film & photo printing. 

With heartfelt gratitude Sarah is currently working on a photo series titled, For Richard Avedon, which, once completed, will show as a public exhibit in Saskatoon.

The post Congrats 2022 Microgrant Recipients! first appeared on PAVED Arts.

Marjorie Beaucage is a Two-Spirit Métis Auntie, filmmaker, art-ivist and educator, a land protector and a water walker. Born in Vassar, Manitoba, to a large Métis family, Marjorie’s life’s work has been about creating social change, working to give people the tools for creating possibilities and right relations. Whether in the classroom, community, campsite or the arts, Marjorie’s goal has been to pass on the stories, knowledge and skills that will make a difference for the future. For Marjorie, story is medicine. 

As a Two-Spirit Métis Elder, Marjorie takes on the tough topics that need to be discussed. Her work is focused on giving voice to, and creating safe cultural spaces for, traditionally silenced or excluded groups. Marjorie is known on the local, regional and national levels as one who speaks truth to power, and who holds space for difference. She has been a Grandmother for Walking With Our Sisters; the Elder for OUT Saskatoon; and the Elder-In-Residence for the University of Saskatchewan Student Union. She has also been called on for national research initiatives that focus on Indigenous women living with HIV, Indigenous Harm Reduction, Indigenous youth who experience sexual and gender-based violence, and posttraumatic stress. In all of these, Marjorie returns to story as medicine, to art as medicine. Marjorie says of her work, “creation is a powerful thing; whether you’re making a baby or a loaf of bread or a movie, it comes from the same place. To get people to tap into that energy, that creates possibilities, so they don’t get stuck in this craziness that we’re in is transformative.”

And in Summer 2021 she completed a 1090 Km Water Walk to protect the Saskatchewan River, starting at the headwaters (Saskatchewan Crossing) near the Columbia Icefields in the Rocky Mountains to the Forks near Prince Albert, SK. 

As a current Board Member of Chokecherry Studios, she is giving back to future art-ivists as they stand up for themselves and their community through creating art, music, and writing.


SCREENINGS, RESIDENCIES, ARTIST TALKS, AWARDS

My work has been screened in bingo halls and at City Hall, from Northern Labrador to New York. Some videos are passed around the community; some are in public libraries and collections at University Film Schools and Art Departments. They have a life of their own. Some work has been screened on specialty channels—WTN, APTN, Knowledge Network, Pride Vision and Global.  It has been programmed in film festivals and gallery shows from Berlin to Edmonton, in a variety of contexts. Viewings on my Vimeo site reached over 2000 hits in 39 countries over the past year.

Selected awards, screenings, residencies, and artist talks include:

2021 CFMDC Superwomen series

2018 Saskatchewan Arts Board Artistic Excellence Award2018  Retrospective of my work at imaginative film festival . Toronto 2018 Uber Gurlz Exhibition and Performance, Regina Public Library. 2018  Listen Witness Transmit  Keynote Speaker IMFA Conference Saskatoon.2017- 2018 Carrying It Forward,   Dunlop Art Gallery. Rodham Art Gallery,Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (touring exhibition)1995 Re Viewing the Mosaic: Canadian Video Artists speaking through RACE, Mendel Art Gallery   

1994 Self-Government Talk About It, Museum of Modern Art, NY 

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Submission Deadline: Friday, January 28th, 2022, 6pm

The production centre at PAVED Arts is excited to support the artistic projects of our members through our Members Micro Grant.

Producing members in good standing can submit their project to receive up to $625 cash and $750 production centre credit.

Guidelines:
1. Only PAVED Arts members in good standing can apply to the production fund.
2. Members who have already received a Members Production Fund Award are ineligible.
3. Projects will be assessed by a jury of 1 staff member and 2 artists/previous microgrant recipients from the community.
4. Selected artist must provide proof of double vaccination for Covid-19 in order to access PAVED’s resources
5. Artists must publicly acknowledge the support of PAVED Arts on social media, and elsewhere, if applicable.
6. All projects must operate within current guidelines of the provincial government and Saskatchewan Health    Authority as they pertain to COVID -19.

Proposal MUST include:
• Current artistic CV.
• One page project outline, including how your project will ensure public health guidelines will be followed
• Production schedule (must be completed by June 1, 2022)
• Equipment budget explaining both the production centre credit and cash elements of the grant (using the current PAVED Arts equipment/production centre price list listed: Production Suites Prices, Mobile Equipment Prices)
• Examples of previous work or examples of the proposed project, if already in progress. Digital support can also be shared using Dropbox or WeTransfer.

How to Apply:
Please send submissions by email, or drop off your proposal at the PAVED Production Centre.
Email or WeTransfer proposals to technical@pavedarts.ca.

If you have any questions, please email or call the Technical Director, Lenore Maier at technical@pavedarts.ca or 306 652 5502 ext 3.

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A PAVED Arts At Home – Online Distance Workshop:

Introduction to AfterEffects: How to make a Found Footage Music Video w/ Stephanie Kuse
Tuesday, June 9th, at 7pm

FREE to everyone in the community

In this introductory workshop video, artist Stephanie Kuse will cover the basics of Adobe AfterEffects with the goal of providing attendees with the foundation to create a found footage music video.

Topics that will be addressed will include:
-Opening a new project and setting up a composition
-Importing and organizing source files
-Navigating the workspace
-Using adjustment, shape, solid, text and content aware fill layers
-Tips to help develop an efficient workflow
-Blend modes
-Creating masks
-Keyframes and basic animation
-How to create a seamless loop
-Time remapping and time-stretching
-Exporting a finished video
-And more!

Stephanie Kuse is a video artist who works with digitally manipulated video footage of natural textures to create painterly abstract video art. She uses video editing software to amplify and distort details pulled from patterns and textures found in nature to produce vibrant synthetic compositions that maintain the organic energy and movement derived from the source material. The resulting work is gentle and soft with occasional digital grit.

Stephanie has worked collaboratively with musicians, audio artists and arts based organizations in a visual capacity since 2013. Since incorporating video art into her practice in 2016 she has produced interactive audio/video installations, created projections for music videos and theatre productions and performed live projections on several tours throughout Canada in addition to a tour of Germany in the fall of 2019. Her work can be viewed at www.sckuse.net and on instagram, @sckuse.

No experience necessary! Participants will need a personal computer (laptop, tablet, and desktop are all fine, access to the internet, and either a subscription or trial version of Adobe AfterEffects.

To register for this workshop, email technical@pavedarts.ca

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Members: FREE

Non-Members: FREE

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The PAVED Arts Gallery and Production Centre is closed to the public until further notice due to COVID-19, and PAVED Arts staff are working remotely. In the meantime, PAVED Arts At Home free-for-everyone programming is our response to these current events, as a way to stay connected, support artists, and bring our community closer together, virtually.

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