geoff johnson - Shift:my first pandemic

shIft is an ongoing series of long form interviews discussing how people respond to dramatic changes and upheavals in themselves, their lives and the world at large. Inspired in part by the global COVID 19 pandemic the intention is to help people understand that many crisis are both incredibly unique and surprisingly universal.

This special segment was made as part of the Tofino Arts Council's "My First Pandemic" Project: In November 2020 Tofino Arts Council sent out a call to support projects, creations or performances that reflected this unique moment in Tofino’s history. Accepted art forms included visual arts, literary arts, dance, drama, sculpture, music and photography. Consideration was given to project ideas that were genuine, thoughtful, innovative and reflective of the pandemic in this community. www.tofinoartscouncil.com

The main panelists are Tofino residents Myles Beeby and Erin Kostashuk. Both contributed pieces to the My First Pandemic project and offer insights into the way these creations reflect their pandemic experience. Joining them is Alexandrea Bjola-Desilet, a film industry professional who used her creative nature to help navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hosted by Ucluelet's Geoff Johnson. A one time radio host and professional musician he has picked up other multimedia production to fill the gap left by so many cancelled gigs and hopes to carry it forward.

In addition to the shIft series and other videos on this channel Geoff and Alex collaborate on a web comedy show Trust Me? that can be found, here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn98...

Recorded over Zoom on April 1, 2021, edited with Davinci Resolve c2021 www.ballisticpig.com

Erin Kostashuk - Pandemic Tonquin Sweater

I created this project in response to a call for proposals presented by the Tofino Arts Council, for pieces representing individual experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic.  My proposal included a strong feminist statement inspired by generations of First Nations women who inhabited the unceded Tla-o-qui-aht Territory upon which I reside and make my living. These women, and many others the world over, developed skill and artistry in fibercrafts and needlework as a way to generate livelihood and nurturing for their families from the natural resources in their environments.  I would also venture to say that these pastimes evolved as a way to alleviate the mind-numbing boredom of quotidian existence. 

Restrictions of pandemic life have imposed harsher consequences on women, including myself, by stripping us of the freedoms our mothers and grandmothers fought hard to earn.  I found solace by exploring and expanding the darker corners of my mind.  These issues and ideas and dark corners are brought to light through the creation of the Tonquin Pandemic Sweater.  I wish to share my process experience as a conceptual statement, as well as exhibit the final piece as a metaphorical tribute to threads that connect us laterally to community and longitudinally to our matrilineal heritages.  

This particular piece is part of series of Tonquin Pullovers I designed.  Each one shares the same circular yoke, top-down construction and two rows of arrows travelling in opposite directions.  Some pieces are made in different weights, and some play with different techniques or stitch patterns at the collar.  Each one has its own colour work motif below the arrows.  In this piece, I explore the (sometimes literal) tension between comfort and restriction of masking.  

I do not make a living as an artist, but the exercise of lateral thinking and using multiple layers of expressive communication to stimulate and connect ideas has been the common thread across my evolving professional and academic career, from classical pianist, to elementary school teacher, to doctoral student of psychology.

Ana Udovicki - A Disturbance of Normality

Artist Ana Udovicki is an Ucluelet Secondary student who illustrated her experience of the pandemic in this drawing, A Disturbance of Normality.  Her title reflects what she sees, but Ana wishes the viewer to have their own interpretation of her work, since, as she points out, everyone’s experience during this pandemic is unique. 

Myles Beeby - Isolation Nation

The Animals of Tofino is an ongoing series that is still evolving. In this most recent adventure The Animals of Tofino return to battle their first pandemic. .

Artist Myles Beeby believes art sustains and makes sense of life, lest we remain bobbing about in facts, utterly bereft of hope. Good memories, bad luck, happenstance—a shifting mix of stories we navigate as life reveals itself. How could we consolidate the modern world without art? Bright colours and bold lines reveal the passion and perseverance of the human spirit. Myles takes whimsical liberties with reality as subjects reveal themselves in exaggerated forms. He beckons the viewer to step back and reconsider subjects in a new light. While echoes of the truth are apparent in his work, there is a feeling of the proverbial wool being pulled over our eyes. A mix of Chagall-like dream-imagery dances with a Mondrian style of Modernism, each piece interrogating the beauty and the contradictions of la folie humaine.

Myles studied Studio Arts at Concordia University and spent two years creating designs for t-shirts and painting beautiful murals in Montreal; the proverbial starving artist. A degree in graphic design launched him into the fast-paced world of marketing in which he twice rose to the level of Creative Director. During this time his passion for painting never ceased and he held several one man shows in galleries, cafés and the occasional club. Always well received Myles’ paintings dress the walls of dozens of houses across North America and one in Scotland.

Sophie L’Homme and The Tofino Treble Sparrows - It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The Tofino Treble Sparrows wished us a very merry Christmas with this sweet song produced by choir director and accomplished musician Sophie L'Homme. The singers recorded their performance social distancing at home but were together at heart.

During the pandemic Sophie worked as choirmaster of the Tofino Treble Sparrows. When the weather was nice they settled in the field behind the school and sang there, and if it wasn’t nice the rehearsed inside the school with masks. “The children are very resilient and willing to sing masked,” says Sophie. “It brings a lot of joy to the kids and to me.” In addition Sophie has launched a quartet and participated in a project of the Cultural Workshop a virtual Solo Ensemble en chorus.

Seven Embury - ABC

Raised in Tofino BC, Seven Embury has a diploma in Visual Arts from Camosun College, Victoria BC. He is presently living in Tofino again, creating art, where he is inspired by local culture and natural beauty. 

Seven believes humour is a great source of medicine and that is why he chose to create a pandemic alphabet that represented Tofino’s struggle over the course of 2020. Not to be taken too seriously, the book aims to bring a humorous reflection of our town’s pandemic experience. He hopes this will be a good opportunity for you to reflect and laugh about events in our community over the past year.

helen mavoa - COVID 19: LEARNING ACROSS THE AGES IN CLAYOQUOT SOUND

Helen Mavoa is from Aotearoa, New Zealand. She discovered Clayoquot Sound in 2012. Spending much of her time in this unceded Tla-o-qui-aht territory since 2012 has allowed her to pursue her passions for photography (helenmavoaimages.com) and writing in a place of exceptional spirit and beauty, and in a warm and embracing community.