Arte & Movement 2023 Part 4: Ibe Ananaba, Multidisciplinary Artist
Art Pays Me
Multidisciplinary artist describes getting early inspiration from his older brother, exploring different mediums and why his approach to painting is similar to carving. He also takes us on a deep dive into the thinking behind one of his paintings and a lesson he helped me learn from my first experience as a curator.
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Arte & Movement 2023 Part 3: Gloire (John) Aelfaz, Multi-disciplinary artist
Art Pays Me
In this throwback to my chats with the participants in our 2023 collaborative exhibition with – Arte & Movement, I spoke with about his multi-disciplinary practice. Despite being relatively new to the Halifax art scene at the time, Gloire managed to find diverse ways to get his work seen while also exploring multiple mediums of expression. I also reveal the start of a new era for .
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Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, 2024 Creative Community Impact Award
Art Pays Me
Welcome to a special series of Art Pays Me interviews with the winners of the . Presented annually by and the , these awards celebrate artistic excellence across Mi'kma'ki. In this episode I interviewed Oriana Duinker, Executive Director of the about the amazing ways that they support Nova Scotia's writing community. We also talked about the significance of winning the Creative Community Impact Award and I came away from the chat feeling inspired to write the book I've had in my head for a few years! This special edition series would not be possible without the...
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Jennifer O’Connell, Artist
Art Pays Me
is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. We talk about Jennifer's approach to making art, why it brings meaning to her life and how an unexpected Instagram co-sign from art critic, impacted her art practice. Jennifer also talks about fear and the double standards applied to women in the art world.
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Marissa Sean Cruz, 2023 Emerging Artist Recognition Award
Art Pays Me
is a digital multimedia and video performance artist from Kjipuktuk (so-called Halifax). Cruz’s topics of interest are related to labour, power and surveillance as seen through digital platforms and pop culture. Their experimental videos comprise found footage, 3D modelling, sound design and costumed performances to look at value systems with critical sensibility. These satirical works aim to capture a fast-paced contemporary present and envision possible, liberatory futures. Presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards...
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Lydia Zimmer, 2023 Emerging Artist Recognition Award
Art Pays Me
Lydia Zimmer, a graduate of The Boston Conservatory (BFA ’11), is a dancer and choreographer in Halifax, NS. Lydia has created several works supported by Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Nova Scotia. These include 'Bonne Nuit,' Live Art Dance (2016); 'Embankment,' Votive Dance (2017, 2021); 'Sonderlings,' Nostos Collectives (2018), 'Sonderling,' Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal (2019) & 'Extremophile,' FODAR (2021). Recent creations include 'Mercurials' commissioned by Mocean Dance (2022), a work for The Boston Conservatory's First-year students (2023), and 'Xenofauna', which...
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Nancy E. Oakley, 2023 Indigenous Artist Recognition Award
Art Pays Me
Nancy E. Oakley is a Mi'kmaq/Wampanoag artist who was raised in Mashpee, Massachuttes but now lives and works on the Eskasoni First Nation Reserve in NS She is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian arts in Santa Fe, NM and studied for a year at NSCAD, taking courses in Photography, ceramics, weaving and jewellery making. Through softly curved pottery forms created by hand or by the wheel. Nancy creates culturally significant pieces that imbue her spiritual and traditional knowledge and honor her role as a mother. Her process is a collaboration with the land. Clay harvested from mother...
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Juanita Peters, 2023 Portia White Prize
Art Pays Me
Juanita Peters is known by many people, as many things. She is an actor, journalist, news anchor and playwright, film and theatre director. As a writer and director some of her films include: I Made a Vow Hannah’s Story Africville Can’t stop Now 8:37 Rebirth…which has picked up multiple awards in Canada, New York, London and Paris. Juanita Peters directed two seasons of the Film Nova Scotia Award winning dramatic series “Studio Black” and the multiaward-winning television series DIGGSTOWN. As a playwright she has given us: The San Family The Mother Club I M Possible The Green Book...
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Jah'Mila, 2023 Black Artist Recognition Award
Art Pays Me
Jah'Mila is a reggae singer from Kingston, Jamaica, now based in Atlantic Canada. With a deep-rooted love for traditional roots reggae, her music blends the vibrant spirit of Jamaican roots music with elements of jazz and modern soul. She has been blessed to share stages with renowned acts like The Wailers, Black Uhuru, and Groundation, which has enriched her journey as a reggae artist and cultural ambassador. Jah’Mila is passionate about social justice and uses her music as a platform for both a form of entertainment and activism, advocating for community, inclusion, and...
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Garry Williams, 2023 Established Artist Recognition Award
Art Pays Me
is an actor, director, singer, writer, musical director, and composer-lyricist. He received a Merritt Award for his performance as Polonius/Gravedigger in Hamlet, and for his original score for KAMP. Previous nominations include Gloucester in King Lear, Ambrose in The Miracle Man, and Isaac in A Tournament of Lies. His Merritt-nominated scores include Pinocchio, as well as Crypthand, Twelfth Night, Peter Pan and Eduard II/The Jew of Malta. He has written over a dozen additional scores, scripts, and appeared in countless productions in Nova Scotia, and across Canada. He has...
info_outlineGarry Williams is an actor, director, singer, writer, musical director, and composer-lyricist.
He received a Merritt Award for his performance as Polonius/Gravedigger in Hamlet, and for his original score for KAMP. Previous nominations include Gloucester in King Lear, Ambrose in The Miracle Man, and Isaac in A Tournament of Lies. His Merritt-nominated scores include Pinocchio, as well as Crypthand, Twelfth Night, Peter Pan and Eduard II/The Jew of Malta.
He has written over a dozen additional scores, scripts, and appeared in countless productions in Nova Scotia, and across Canada. He has co-created experimental works including Café DaPoPo and DaPoPo’s The Drinking Game as DaPoPo Theatre’s Artistic Director, and curated the Live-In Festival for ten years.
Most recently, he wrote music & lyrics for Rain on the Parade, musically directed the River Clyde Pageant: A Windfall in the Hollow, and directed A Beginner’s Guide to the Night Sky.
Presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards celebrate excellence in artistic achievement.
Award categories are as follows:
- Creative Community Impact
- Prix Grand-Pré
- Established Artist
- Emerging Artist
- Black Artist
- Indigenous Artist
- And finally, The Portia White Prize that is given to a person who has made outstanding and significant contributions to Nova Scotia’s creative community over a sustained career – much like the incredible woman that the award is named after. The winner will also choose an emerging artist or cultural organization that they feel deserve recognition.
Collectively, the awards are worth $75,000! Visit artsns.ca to nominate your favourite Nova Scotian artist or be a boss and nominate your self!
This series would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.