Wolfe Island
SEPT 2020
3rd VISIT
In the Fall of 2019, Jamii visited Wolfe Island and invited locals to create visual portraits of fellow neighbours, friends or family member.In September 2020, Jamii came back to Wolfe Island to exhibit this collection of portraits made throughout the province. Along with this beautiful exhibit, Jamii invited local artists to bring a selection of these portraits to life through music, dance, storytelling, and drumming; A whirlwind of stories.Artists Teilhard Frost, Jason Mercer, Robert Douglas, Terri-Lynn Brennan, Sue Croweagle, Sukruti Tirupattur, Nancy Steele, and Lucas Sherwood, host Heather Kushum Sheedy and tech Cohen Samson treated the audience to a very rich performance with dance, drumming, storytelling, music, and a mix of genres and styles together. We only had one rehearsal the day before the public performance to create this series of short pieces. Watching artists coming together, creating in the moment, exchanging ideas, trying things, developing a structure with room for improvisation and then sharing with an audience is such a beautiful process.
A beautiful spirit by the water.
A project directed by Isorine Marc
On-site coordination: Sharon Zarita.
Thank you to photographer Susan Bowers, for capturing the performances.
Videos: Isorine Marc
Supported by Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.
NOV 20-24 & DEC 5-8 2019
2nd VISIT
More than 55 people are participating in "Wind Stories" on Wolfe Island, and together, we are creating about 20 portraits of fellow members of the community.
Some of the people involved in the project include (but not limited to): Barb Halladay, Chris Brown, Clara Lovalt, Don Chisholm, Eddie Calnan, Emilie Steele, Georgia Wroe, Hank, Janette Haase, Kathy Rothermel, Kerryn Graham, Kim Smith, Lily De Bruin, Linda Thomas, Liz Crothers, Lucas Sherwood, Lyda-Rose Eves, Marjorie Bousfield, Nancy Steele, Robert, Scarlett Graham, Susan Bowers, Terri-Lynn Brennan, Tom Wroe, Trudy de Ruiter, Wyatt Pyke.
The students of Marysville Public School invited Danny Mosiers, James Kirkham, Ken White, Phoenix and Tara Broeders to have their portraits done in the school and they generously accepted. The students' artworks were very creative and we feel very proud of them. A special thank you goes to the teaching body of the school for their support through the creative process with the students.
This project would not be possible without the support of the WIG (Wolfe Island Gallery) and Marysville Public School.
Oct 5-9 & Oct 30-Nov 1 2018
1st VISIT
2018 JOURNAL (Nov 1st, 2018):
During our journey to Wolfe Island in 2018, not only we were overwhelmed by a warm welcome but also discovered a community full of talented people, tons of stories to share, and breathtaking landscapes.
Nancy Steele and Sus Bowers connected us to the community at large and gave us a special tour of the Wolfe Island Gallery (WIG); Pamela Miedema and her husband shared with us the history of the light house on Simcoe Island, which we reached via cable ferry; Tara Beers and Jennifer Lawless gave us a tour of Marysville Public School; Denis Doyle and Darlene Plumley told us about Frontenac Council; Kayo Murakami-Wood and Heather Kushum Sheedy shared with us insights on the life in the community; We met with Chris Brown who told us about the arts scene in the community; And we were humbled to meet beautiful people such as Pete Bowers, Bruce Mellon, Carolyn & Tom Wiens, Rocky Roberts, Leanne, Gail Kennie, and many more wonderful people. We got to learn about the history of the 89 windmills on the islands, as well as the different families who have been living on the islands for about 7 generations. Finally, many thanks to Terri-lynn Brenan who shared with us some insights on Indigenous burial grounds on the islands.
It was also a pleasure to share with the community a special screening of Jamii's documentary FEETPRINT. Thank you to the WIG for organizing it.
