Tom Froese

For September’s gathering we will explore creativity through the thematic lens of ‘DEPTH’ and are honoured to feature National Ballet of Canada principal dancer, published author, director, teacher, executive producer and entrepreneur, Chan Hon Goh.

Her accomplishments, with irrepressible devotion to the enhancement of the cultural life of Canada, have garnered several prestigious awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the New Pioneers Arts Award and the Best Teacher Award at the World Ballet Competition. In 2019, Ms. Goh was appointed as a member to the Order of Canada for her excellence in ballet as a principal dancer, artistic director and cultural ambassador. Most recently, Ms. Goh was recognized as the recipient of an honorary degree from the University of British Columbia for her significant contributions to society.

As usual, we asked Chan some probing questions to augment her biography as a glimpse into her life and relationship with creativity:

How do you define creativity and apply it in your life and career?

My life and career have always been intertwined and one feeds off another. Perhaps for me creativity is to be flexible & open with genuine intentions.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?

It comes to me at the oddest times, usually unexpected. Some may be fleeting but if it last, it’s usually the thing to do or to make happen. My environment whether real or imagined plays a part.

What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you’d known as a young person?

Don’t force it. And this is different than perseverance which we all should have.

Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak at CreativeMornings?

Walt Disney.

What’s your one guilty creative indulgence?

To watch as many live performances as possible in New York or London in a row.

What are you reading these days?

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke.

How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger

That’s a hard one.

What’s the most recent thing you learned (big or small)?

There is nothing that is definite.

If you could do anything now, what would you do?

Give myself time to figure it out.

Pennylane Shen, describes all of art history in less than 30 seconds.

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July’s global theme is ‘SPIRITUALITY’ and we are excited to showcase poet, people enthusiast, and public learner, Lance Odegard.

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Lance’s current work is with Unstucking, his coaching and facilitation practice centered on transformative conversation design. He is also the Director of Learning & Development at Versett (a design agency in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto) and continues to write poems after re-releasing his first collection in 2020 (At the Pool We’ve All Got Bodies).

People-centered work has been at the heart of his working life over the last twenty years, collaborating with people as an artist, college instructor, communications director, design facilitator and pastor. Throughout these multidisciplinary pursuits, Lance has held a singular focus on cultivating people potential. He loves to see people get unstuck, build their creative confidence, and take their next step. Lance lives in the Strathcona neighbourhood of Vancouver, BC.

How do you define creativity and apply it in your life and career?
Choosing curiosity over fear. That’s Elizabeth Gilbert’s line, but it’s my favourite definition. On the surface, my work has lots of creative components whether that’s in writing or in design education. But I think beneath that, much of my creativity is expressed through unlocking other people’s creativity. I think people are the most fascinating thing going. Which is why my favourite word is a made up one (unstucking). I love to create the conditions for people to be reunited with their creative confidence and to see them get unstuck and to fully unfurl their potential.

What does the theme mean to you through the lens of creativity?
I like Ron Rolheiser’s definition of spirituality, how it’s essentially what we do with our restlessness, our longings—both in the pain and the hope they bring us. I think spirituality is what we make of the human experience, which is ultimately a creative act.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?
The marginal moments of the day—a walk, a shower, a break, an in between space where the mind isn’t occupied.

What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you’d known as a young person?
Begin before you’re ready. The conditions will always be unfavorable, less than ideal, maybe impossible—you might as well just get going now. Your fears are lying to you. Keep moving even when scared. The act of finding your starting line is your greatest challenge and greatest priority. The cost of preserving the status quo is never worth it. Then I’d quote Ijeoma Umebinyuo, “Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just… start.”

Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak at CreativeMornings?
Lucille Clifton

What’s your one guilty creative indulgence?
Books. So many, but not too many, books.

What myths about creativity would you like to set straight?
That there are creative people and non-creative people. Creativity is a muscle. Some people use it and there are others who don’t. That’s the only difference. The more you use it, the more you have!

What are you reading these days?
Learn or Die by Edward D. Hess. Also Ada Limon’s new collection, The Hurting Kind

What are you proudest of in your life?
Who my kids are becoming.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?
My Dad is one of my favourite conversation topics. He’s an ongoing marvel. He has always been fluid, flowing in and out of different jobs, at times: a horticulturalist, recreational therapist at the nursing home, a baker and caterer, a flower arranger, a restaurant owner. Also, he rides an endless wave of creative pursuits: canary raising, stocking Japanese Koi fish in the pond he made in the garden, grooming and showing Shetland Sheep Dogs, starting restaurants, water-colour painting, acting in community plays, while dabbling in set-design, choir directing, antique hunting, and most recently, bonsai collecting (he joined Twitter and at this point he has one tweet: “interest in bonsai continues”).

I could tell you one hundred stories about him. In each of them, the same themes:
+ So much permission to pursue interests and to make the pursuit visible.
+ So little questioning—is this allowed? what are my peers doing? am I good enough? is this weird?
+ So little fear. What mattered was making the stuff, not how he looked in the making or what people thought.

Where does this kind of creative confidence come from? I’m asking because I’ve shared a postal code and even a genetic code with this man, yet share so little of the courage. I can honestly say that self-doubt has been my achilles heel. I’ve known a bit of the creativity, but often without the accompanying confidence to truly bring it forward. I’m still learning creative confidence and seeing my Dad’s ongoing commitment to a creative life is still helping me.

We are thrilled to kick off this event with a live musical performance by classical guitar virtuoso Anna Pietrzak.

🎵Anna Pietrzak is a versatile guitarist, pedagogue, adjudicator and founder of the Vancouver Guitar Orchestra. A highly sought after recording artist, Pietrzak frequently performs as a soloist with orchestras and giving recitals in North America, Europe and throughout Asia.

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Join us for June’s global theme is ‘WILDERNESS’. We’re grateful to be able to feature artistic director, playwright, 
author, performer, and educator Marcus Youssef.

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You might know Youssef as a regular contributor of drama, commentary, and documentary to numerous programs on CBC. Or maybe for his many contributions to Vancouver Magazine, Georgia Straight, Rice Paper, or This Magazine. For many years, Youssef has also dedicated himself to numerous community-based advocacy programs that aim at using writing and/or theatre as a tool for procuring political and social change.

Youssef’s fifteen or so plays have been produced in a dozen languages in in twenty countries across North America, Europe and Asia, from Seattle to New York to Reykjavik, London, Venice, Hong Kong, Vienna, Athens, Frankfurt and Berlin. He is the recipient of Canada’s largest theatre award, the $100,000 Siminovitch Prize for Theatre, for his body of work as a playwright, as well as Berlin, Germany’s Ikarus Prize, the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award, the Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award, the Chalmers’ Canadian Play Award, the Seattle Times Footlight award, the Vancouver Critics’ Innovation award (three times) and the Canada Council Staunch-Lynton Award. Marcus co-founded the artist-run production hub Progress Lab 1422 and was the inaugural chair of Vancouver’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. Marcus teaches regularly at the National Theatre School of Canada and Studio 58, implemented Canada’s first multi-institutional Bachelor of Performing Arts Degree, at Capilano University, and served as an Assistant Professor at Montreal’s Concordia University. He is currently International Artistic Associate at Farnham Maltings in the UK, Playwright in Residence at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre, and Artistic Associate at Neworld Theatre in Vancouver, which he led from 2005-2019. Marcus has an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC and graduated from the National Theatre School about a million years ago.

We are excited to present a live performance by none other than singer-songwriter, keyboardist and tenor guitar player Veda Hille.

🎵Veda Hille is a Vancouver musician, composer, theatre maker, and performer. She writes songs, makes records, co-writes musicals, collaborates in devised theatre, and fulfills other interesting assignments as they arise. Veda performs in a wide of array of places, alone or with bands, ensembles, symphonies, and casts. Her career spans 30 years of working in Canada and abroad, and shows no sign of flagging.🎵

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May’s global theme is ‘NOW’ and we are delighted to feature local artist, author, and mother Sandeep Johal.

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Sandeep Johal is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose practice engages drawing, collage, textiles, and large-scale mural painting. Through her distinct Indo-folk feminine aesthetic she confronts themes of bleakness, despair and ugliness with their dissonant opposites: brightness, hope and beauty. In particular, Johal sets out to continue a conversation about complex topics ranging from gender-based violence and femicide to identity and motherhood.

Johal has worked on notable projects with the Vancouver Art Gallery, Burrard Arts Foundation, Indian Summer Festival and Vancouver Mural Festival as well as with clients such as the Vancouver Whitecaps, Holt Renfrew, Lululemon and Earls Restaurant Group. Her work is in the permanent collection of Surrey Art Gallery. Johal lives and works in Vancouver, BC.

Q&A

How do you define Creativity?

Creativity is something that exists within all of us in many different forms. It’s truly the essence of who we are, but like anything worth preserving, it needs to be cared for and tended to on a regular basis otherwise it becomes stagnant and harder to access as we get older. I try my best to bring creative energy into whatever I’m doing, whether it’s related to my art practice or not.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?

I used to buy into the whole sit-around-and-wait-for-inspiration-to-strike myth, but I’ve since realized the more you flex your creative muscle, the larger it grows, and with that comes an unending well of ideas. My struggle lies in finding enough time to execute all of my ideas!

What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you’d known as a young person?

Make the work you want to make and the right people will find you.

Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak at CreativeMornings?

This is a tough one! But, I’d love to hear the remarkable story of Phoolan Devi, India’s Bandit Queen, from her own perspective. She’s a controversial figure for sure, but there’s something so extraordinary about a woman who lives by her own rules in a society that tries to control every aspect of her life.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

In the wee hours of the morning in my early 20s, I saw an older man get stabbed in an alleyway and I drunkenly chased after the assailant. We ended up getting the man to the hospital in time and thankfully, he survived. The police caught the assailant due to our description. A few months later, I was subpoenaed to testify in court. My Indian mother was not impressed with my heroic act at all. Ha ha.

What are you reading these days?

I’m super into short stories - currently reading Grand Union by Zadie Smith and just finished How To Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa. The next two books in my pile are The Best American Short Stories guest edited by Roxanne Gay and Under a Kabul Sky, short fiction by Afghan Women.

What fact about you would surprise people?

That I used to be a jock! One of my nicknames in high school was “Hoops”.

How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?

I’m a visual artist and muralist who uses my Indo-folk feminine aesthetic to tackle tough subject matter, like men’s violence against women, in an effort to promote awareness, encourage dialogue, and effect meaningful change.

What’s the most recent thing you learned (big or small)?

The only thing I can control in this world is myself.

What myths about creativity would you like to set straight?

That being an artist is a viable career path and you can absolutely make a good living from it. I’m so tired of the starving artist myth and am working hard to smash it.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?

One of the biggest influences in my life was my grade 7 teacher Stephen Russell. He was beloved by many and unfortunately passed away unexpectedly when I was in grade 10. I was crushed. With his background in theater, wild orange hair, and crazy pants, he was the essence of creativity. But most of all, he believed in me and pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I felt so seen and supported by him.

What are you proudest of in your life?

That I left my job in my 40’s as a new mom and worked through a huge amount of fear to build a successful thriving art practice/business. I never dreamed the life I have now was possible. I get up every morning knowing I get to do what I love. You can’t put a price on that.

If you could interview anyone living or dead, but not a celebrity, who would it be and why?

My paternal grandmother. My dad and her were very close but she died soon after he married. Relatives say we’re very similar in appearance and personality. I wish I could’ve known her and learned more about my family history.

What was the best surprise you’ve experienced so far in life?

How much I enjoy motherhood. I never really thought about marriage that much. I never knew if I would end up having kids either. But I got married and had my son, and even though motherhood has been the most physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging thing I’ve ever done, I love it. I love having my little buddy by my side day in and day out.

Where is your favourite place to escape?

Galleries! Seeing art in person, not in tiny perfectly curated squares on social media, does wonders for the soul. I love getting up close and getting lost in the details of the work.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

“Never Settle” from my late grade 12 Biology teacher Arnie Seigo.

If you had fifteen extra minutes each day, what would you do with them?

Probably sleep, or thinking about sleeping while procrastinating!

What is the one movie or book every creative must see/read?

The documentary Bones Brigade by Stacey Peralta. You don’t have to be a skater (I certainly wasn’t/am not), but to see the birth of legends and the creativity, DIY spirit, and grit that got them there is pretty inspirational. Achieving anything great in any discipline requires commitment, patience, belief, and good old fashioned hard work.

To kick off this event with style and flare we are thrilled to present a live performance by singer-songwriter Zach Kleisinger.

🎵Zach Kleisinger writes lyrically-driven songs in a contemporary, darkened-folk, singer-songwriter style often described as simple yet poetic intimacy, illustrating profound messages by magnifying the little things. His live performances have gathered him a loyal audience, where the comfort of his warm baritone voice and magnetic songs are often juxtaposed, oddly and satisfyingly, by dry, unrehearsed humour. In the deep sea of indie-folk songwriters, Zach Kleisinger is a true storyteller and entertainer, a narrator of raw emotions and real tales that will draw you into an intimate, familiar world.🎵

We are honoured to present the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau as our April keynote speaker. Thank you to the Liberal Party of Canada for being our generous presenting partner! (at Vancouver, British Columbia)
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In April we will explore creativity through the thematic lens of ‘kismet’ and are honoured to present digital storyteller, legacy documentarian, and founder of Human Biography, Sharad Kharé.REGISTER

Sharad holds a Masters degree in communications, where his academic research focused on personal and digital legacy. He uses his background in journalism to bring out the best conversations between individuals and the people they impact. He has spent the past several years travelling the world seeking out the most influential people in their fields in order to document their legacy for public and private consumption. He has documented personalities like His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Chip Wilson, Jack & Suzy Welch, and many more. When his cameras are off, you can find Sharad moderating dialogues on a TEDX stage or speaking globally on the subject of documenting the most interesting humans of our times. Sharad has spoken and conducted interviews at the United Nations on a number of occasions. He has been invited to create original content for many prominent families and organizations globally.

How do you define Creativity?

Creativity is the ability to live passionately without constraints or rules to way I create in any of my chosen projects.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?

I “daydream” at night. Some of my most inspiring ideas and most successful thoughts come from dreams. I literally wake up to get on my laptop to start the idea into motion.

What’s one piece of creative advice you wish you’d known as a young person?

Don’t wait to start. Go for it and don’t listen to anyone’s objections.

Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak about their relationship to creativity?

Quentin Tarantino

What’s your one guilty creative indulgence?

I love a scalp massage.

What fact about you would surprise people?

I once opened up for Russel Peters.

How does your life and career compare to what you envisioned for your future when you were a sixth grader?

I was a victim of being pushed to think about a future my parents wanted vs what I wanted. I was told that I would be an engineer like my dad and that was the way or nothing.

How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?

I am a story listener.

What’s the most recent thing you learned (big or small)?

That having a therapist / counsellor to talk to on a regular basis is a key to life.

If you could open a door and go anywhere, where would that be?

I would go to my mother’s home town, Allahbad.

What keeps you awake at night?

My next creative project.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and what lessons did that person teach you?

My wife. She taught me that it was ok to be an entrepreneur rather than trying to make my parents happy. I learned that I was a bigger than my surroundings.

What are you proudest of in your life?

My children and family.

If you could interview anyone living or dead, but not a celebrity, who would it be and why?

I would interview Elon Musk as I have interviewed his mother and I would love to see the comparison of their generation identities as I do with other families with my legacy work.

If you could do anything now, what would you do?

Travel

Where was the last place you travelled?

Edmonton

What music are you listening to these days?

80s, meditation mantras

What was the best surprise you’ve experienced so far in life?

Education matters

Where is your favourite place to escape?

India

What books made a difference in your life and why?

The Alchemist

What practises, rituals, or habits contribute to your creative work?

I have conversations with myself, and I am in constant prayer for good outcomes in life.

If you had fifteen extra minutes each day, what would you do with them?

Sleep

For our first in person live musician we are excited to welcome the mixed race, interdisciplinary Artist-Advocate, and singer-songwriter Kristina Lao!

🎵Passionate about socially-charged storytelling, Kristina’s softly articulated Brit-lilt vocals float pensive melodies over breath-catching choruses. Influenced by Paul Simon, Regina Spektor, and Tracy Chapman, Lao is a fierce advocate for positive social change and artivism. She is currently writing with engineer and producer Karl Dicaire (Big Wreck, Danko Jones, Mother Mother).🎵

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Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory
performance artist, poet, actor, curator, storyteller, and writer

Friday, Mar 4, 2022
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