Fw: Storytelling at Express April 7 in Kelowna----from---wes---
Wes Kmet
tea--please pass this on-----do not have to pre-register-------wes
----- Original Message -----
For a spiffy graphic version of this email - with images - please visit
http://www.okanaganinstitute.com/eventnews/apr0711.html
==
Next Thursday in Kelowna the Okanagan Institute Express presents:
THE HEALING ART OF STORY
Storytellers Cathyrn Wellner, Jean Montieth and Karen Close discuss the
power of the story to connect us to our essential natures, and share our
journeys of understanding and healing.
- Thursday 7 April 2011, 5 pm - Bohemian Cafe, 524 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna
- $2 at the door. Refreshments are available. Seating is limited, please
reserve in advance.
For information and to reserve your seat: http://www.okanaganinstitute.com
==
Artists Celebrate the Creative Spirit Through the Gift of Storytelling
Sharing together through the arts continually opens participants to new
surprises and authentic enriching exchanges. Quickly it is discovered each
of us has stories to tell. Connections are made and a story begins. Stories
are the gift of a life. Looking both backward and forward can produce ample
material for fruitful storytelling: memories on the one hand, creativity and
imagination on the other. Joseph Campbell asserted that this is an age-old
truth, and wisdom tales from every culture point to the importance of
storytelling as a way of making meaning and sense out of our lives. "We are
all made of stories. They are as fundamental to our soul and intellect as
flesh, bone and blood are to our bodies" and offer us a way to connect with
others. In Michael Novak's Ascent of the Mountains, Flight of the Dove, he
stated, "The completed lives of each trace out a story, whose implications
reveal what they took the world in which they lived to be, who they thought
they were, what in their actions they actually cared about".
On Thursday, April 7th at 5 pm the ongoing Okanagan Institute Express series
at the Bohemian Cafe, 524 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna presents The Healing Art
of Story.Join us as storytellers Cathyrn Wellner, Jean Montieth and Karen
Close discuss the power of the story to connect us to our essential natures,
and share our journeys of understanding and healing.
This event was conceived in a story that began about 5 years ago at the Life
and Arts Festival where Karen Close purchased a painting from Jean Montieth.
The painting was of the very popular Mexican art community of San Miguel de
Allende. Both had visited there many times and thus the exchange of memories
began. Ultimately they discovered another shared experience. Each of their
lives has been enricheded by writing the story of a significant friendship.
Cathryn Wellner continues the thread by sharing her love of storytelling.
Cathryn Wellner began her professional career as a French teacher and school
librarian in Idaho, Washington, and New York. Next came a decade of travel
as a storyteller, performing and offering workshops in the US, Europe, the
UK and Canada. When she followed her heart to Canada, she found herself
donning gumboots on an organic farm and then a more remote ranch. After
serving as the first Project Coordinator for HEAL (Healthy Eating and Active
Living in Northern British Columbia), she moved to Oakland, California to be
storytelling director for Stagebridge (America's oldest senior theatre
troupe). She returned to BC to take on the post of food and health manager
for Interior Health. She now lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley where
she continues to feed her passion by sharing stories on three blogs, writing
articles, and enthusiastically participating in social media.
Soon to be 86 Jean Montieth's life still vibrates with her enthusiasm for
creative expression. She was born and educated in Peterborough Ontario,
acquired Ontario teaching certificates and taught primary classes in
Peterborough and Secondary Art and adult art classes in Ottawa after
studying Art History and creative writing at Carleton University. Pursuit of
creative expression has directed her life's path. While in Peterborough she
was an active member of the Peterborough Drama Club where she was directed
by Robertson Davies. Success on the stage brought her an audition with CBC.
She was a Fellow in the Ottawa Watercolour Society, a long time exhibitor
with the Ottawa Art Lending Association, and the founding member of the
Bells Corners Art Association in Nepean and the Almonte and Area Art
Association. Both are still active and strong and Jean continues to show her
paintings with solo shows in galleries in Quebec and Ontario, and most
recently, in 2003, at the Philip Wood Gallery in Almonte. In 1998 Jean moved
to Westbank to be near family. Shortly after, her son moved but Jean stayed.
She became a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and has shown in
several exhibits in the Okanagan while also keeping active with her other
areas of creative expression. She started an Adult Play-reading Group with
Seniors living in Sun Village. They have presented one-act plays, and
several monologues. With exhilaration she exclaims, "I do hope I stay alive
long enough to finish my current passion. I am writing a creative fiction
based on a true story."
Another retired teacher who chose to move to the Okanagan, Karen Close is
the founder of the Okanagan Institute's ArtsCare program. Her dream is to
start a Creative Aging Centre in Kelowna. This dream was seeded in San
Miguel de Allende, Mexico where she saw the extraordinary vibrancy of a
community where people came from all over the world to share in creative
expression during their retirement years. In San Miguel, Karen's life was
forever impacted by sitting with 86 year old Reva Brooks, listening to her
story and that of her husband War Artist Leonard Brooks. The Brooks had
moved from Canada to San Miguel in 1947. Their efforts and reputations were
significant in developing the art community in San Miguel. Karen recorded
this experience in her book Unfinished Women: Seeds from My Friendship With
Reva Brooks. These are the seeds that continue to motivate her to advocate
for arts and the importance of Sage-ing With Creative Spirit. She is a
strong believer that the wealth of retirees is rich with stories that can
contribute to the cultural growth of the Okanagan. The arts allow us to
share with each other at the deepest levels.
The Healing Art of Story takes place at the Bohemian Cafe, 524 Bernard
Avenue, Kelowna. This marks the 195rd event the Okanagan Institute has held
since the Express series got underway in 2007. Express is presented in
association with the Okanagan Regional Library and Okanagan College. Express
is presented in association with the Okanagan Regional Library and Okanagan
College. The Okanagan Institute is a pan-Okanagan collaboratory that
promotes local creative engagement.
For more information and to register online, go to
http://www.okanaganinstitute.com
==
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that has
gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of
interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals,
organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and
social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative
action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We
invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
The Okanagan Institute is at 1473 Ethel Street, Kelowna BC V1Y 2X9. Our
website is at http://www.okanaganinstitute.com
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