GRAFFITI ABATEMENT MURAL PROGRAM 2016

The Bob Lamb Bandstand at Borealis Park will be featured as the host location of the Graffiti Abatement Mural Program (GAMP) this year.  The program was launched in 2012, and aims at exploring urban art in a legal and respectful way and while deterring graffiti. To date, there are 4 murals around the urban service centre of Fort McMurray.  

The 2016 Call for Artist is posted here: www.rmwb.ca/murals

Previous murals include:

The 2012 mural was installed behind Composite High School, by artist Wil Yee (with the help of Composite High students)

The 2013 mural was painted by Toronto artist Uber5000, at Father Turcotte O.M.I School

The 2014 mural was painted by Daniel Kirk and Ivan Ostapenko, it is located on the Beacon Hill pump house.

The 2014 mural was painted by Daniel Kirk and Ivan Ostapenko, it is located at Lions Park.

Artist Daniel J. Kirk States “There are different intents behind different acts of expression, some are rooted in creative forces rather than destructive forces. And, for me, I try to find within myself the ability to create instead of destroy.” While being interviewed during the installation of the 2015 mural at Lions Park.

It’s the creative forces that the RMWB wants to foster in its citizens and residents. The 2016 Graffiti Abatement Mural Program will feature a new Mural & Mentorship Project.  This new project offers a local emerging artist the opportunity to build their portfolio and provides peer learning.  For more details on this program or to view the 2016 Call for Artist – Mentor please check out the RMWB’s Graffiti Abatement Program webpage at www.rmwb.ca/mural  For more information on the Mentee Program, or to view the 2016 Call for Artist – Mentee please visit the Arts Council Wood Buffalo website at http://www.artscouncilwb.ca/call-mentee-applications-graffiti-abatement-mural-mentorship-program/. 

Rising Star. Artist. Ruddy Tuneeko

Ruddy Tuneeko is not your ordinary site worker. Underneath his worn coveralls and dirty gloves there is a talented artist. Strongly rooted in his Namibian culture, Ruddy proudly represents his African country through his beautiful works of art.

Ruddy is one of four artists recently accepted into the 2015 Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Artist in Residency Program.

The Wood Buffalo Artist in Residency program provides opportunities for a blend of emergent and mid-career artists, to create, explore, learn, and exchange ideas and insights within a multi-disciplinary environment. The residency provides artists with short-term working space, $500 in materials, a $2,000 honourarium, and the opportunity to participate in a group exhibition.

This year, the Artist in Residency studio is at the Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre. During the program, artists will host Open Houses, Artist Talks, and Community Engagement opportunities for citizens and visitors of Wood Buffalo. Upon completion of the program, the artists’ final works will be showcased in a group exhibition within the MacDonald Island 

Community Art Gallery presented by Kirschner Family Corporation, opening August 27^th to October 2^nd.

Community Strategies Coordinator, Michael Beamish, recently had the opportunity to interview, Ruddy, about his art, life and inspirations.

Michael Beamish: Thank you for meeting with me today Ruddy.

Ruddy Tuneeko: My pleasure.

Michael Beamish: So how long have you lived in Canada?

Ruddy Tuneeko: In October it will be five years. I lived in Toronto for three years then moved to Timmins, Ontario to work as a labourer in a Detour mine (gold mine). After the contract ended I moved to Calgary where I worked as a painter doing renovations. Then I moved to Fort McMurray last August to work at CNRL. I call it home here.    

MB: What made you come up to Fort McMurray, was it just for the work or do you have friends up here?

RT: I had a friend here, working in camp, and he said “Hey man move up” so I did. I was in McMurray for two months till I got this job. I love it.

MB: You work with a good group of people?

RT: Oh yeah. I meet different people from different countries, different cultures. We come together as family, it’s nice.

MB: So you are originally from Namibia, Africa?

RT: Yes, it is in the south part of Africa.

MB: What is life like in Namibia?

RT: Life in Namibia is good if you have money. It’s a good country, peaceful, nice people, different cultures, nice weather.

MB: Did you grow up in the countryside or the city?

RT: Half, half. I was in a village then the city.

MB: What is life like in the village?

RT: Village life is okay. You don’t have electricity but you get used to it. Life there is about the natural environment and it’s nice there because you are surrounded by nature. The woods are there, you get water from the well. In the village we would make sculptures out of recycled wire and clay. Back home we do not have a lot so we have to be creative and find our materials. Back home I was the best and tourists would buy my work. In the village there is not a lot to do but look after the cows so in my free time I would create art.

MB: So you would create a lot of wire sculptures, did you do paintings as well?

RT: Yeah, yeah.

MB: What kind of paints did you work with?

RT: I used acrylics, spray paint, oils, and mix media. I love mixing materials. I love creativity and they say you cannot do art without creativity. So everyone should support creativity. I love to mix stuff my own way. They use to call me back home the “crazy boy” because I use to do my own thing. One day I wanted to charge my car battery so I created a windmill and connected it to the alternator. When the windmill was blowing it turned the alternator and gave power to the battery. Everyone thought that I was crazy but it worked.

MB: What was the windmill made out of?

RT: Paper.

MB: Who inspired you or taught you to do art? Or were you just always creative?

RT: I do not know how art came to me. It’s something that I was born with. Whenever I was around somebody who was creating art or even just working with their hands I would stop and watch them and it would inspire me. Also people would tell me that I had talent and that would motivate me. Most of the time I was drawing but if you can draw you can paint too. My family and friends supported me and encourage me to go to school for art so I went. I studied for three years and graduated with a diploma. My family supported me in many ways, they would come and buy some of my pieces. Whether they liked it or not I do not know but it encouraged me to keep doing it. After school I wanted to give back to the children of my community, plus I love kids, so in my free time I would show children how to draw and paint. Often we would draw using charcoal because we didn’t have much in materials. Sometimes we would collect wood or boxes then we would paint or draw on them or create sculptures, it was nice.

MB: Is your father artistic as well?

RT: No my father was a builder, he built houses. He used to be a house painter too. I use to work with him and I would mix his paints.

MB: Do you have a favourite piece that you have created?

RT: Oh yeah, which one now… My painting, How Much Can I Pay to Live Life, I love that one.

MB: Does each painting you create have a story attached to them?

RT: Yeah, because most of the paintings I do are inspired from my background. The thing is I know where I come from but I don’t know where I am going, but no matter what happens I always want to keep my culture and my heritage.

MB: What is the story behind How Much Can I Pay to Live Life?

RT: That painting represents me. No matter where you go you have to pay to live. I support my family back home and that painting gives me the courage to work hard to provide for my family. When I work hard I pay for the life of my family. So that is why it’s called How Much Do I Have to Pay to Live.

MB: That is a big responsibility.

RT: Exactly. The thing is when I was growing up I did not have that much in life. So when I had my son he inspired me to work hard. I changed my friends and I changed my life. At that time my money was my money and I did not care about anybody else but when my son was born I had to buy milk and diapers. One day I said, “Come on Ruddy, you have to take responsibility for your son”. He is the reason I wake up every morning and go to work, to support him, and my family. I have to pay for my life and his life too.

MB: With each painting does the story come first then the painting follows?

RT: Yes.

MB: So every painting is an expression of something you have experienced in your life?

RT: Yes exactly. Sometimes you can draw anything you want but then you come to a point where you want to create something that makes you happy so I paint a story or anything that had happened to me. Also I love nature, it makes me feel at home which is why I like to depict nature in my work.

MB: Besides your family what else do you miss about home?

RT: The community. I miss the children I use to give classes to. My friends. The animals.

MB: What is your goal for the Residency?

RT: I want to bring something different.

MB: Like showcasing a piece of Namibia

RT: Exactly. I was looking for this opportunity for so long. I want to expose myself. I am not only going to represent myself but I also want to represent my country as well. I want to do something different, it is going to be a surprise. I want to say thank you to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the AIR Program for giving me this opportunity to show myself and my country to the Fort McMurray community. I want to make a connection between Africa and Wood Buffalo.  

MB: What do you enjoy most about life in Canada?

RT: Especially here in Fort McMurray I enjoy the opportunity to make a living. For me I have two lives: my life here and my life back home. Life is what you make it, you can make a good life here.

MB: Do you want to bring your son here?

RT: Yes one day but first I want him to grow-up in his culture so he knows too where he comes from.

MB: Thank very much for the interview and I am excited to see your work.

RT: Thank you.

If you would like to meet Ruddy and see his work please visit the AIR Open Houses:

June 20^th, July 4^th, 25^th, August 8^th and 22^nd, 2pm-6pm, at Keyano Theatre and Art Centre, Studio AC132. 

For a schedule of AIR events please visit the AIR Webpage. To view or order any of Ruddy’s artistic works please like his Facebook Page, The Crazy Ruddy’s Art.   

Alberta Energy History

Last month, the Alberta Government and Fort McMurray Tourism announced a new partnership to offer tourism information at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre. Under the agreement, Fort McMurray Tourism will provide tourism information services as well as oversee and manage operations and programming at the Centre.

In celebration of this new partnership, the Alberta Culture launched the new website: Alberta's Energy Resources Heritage 

This website features tons of information about the history of the oil sands in the region. It's a great way to learn more about the region's history! Check it out!

Is Your Organization Hosting an Event?

From multicultural dance shows to museum exhibits, Alberta's Culture Calendar is your guide to upcoming cultural events across the province.

If you want to advertise your cultural event on the Alberta Culture Calendar, submit the event information here:  http://culture.alberta.ca/events/default.aspx. 

Are you a dancer? Dance teacher? Choreographer?

Are you a dancer? Dance teacher? Choreographer? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then I encourage you to fill out the survey Yes I dance/Oui je danse, produced for the Canada Dance Mapping Study.

The study, launched by the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council and already well underway, has made a host of discoveries about diverse aspects of dance and incited us to create an interactive, searchable map of dance in Canada. Your answers to the survey will enable us to draw a more complete picture of this map.

Count yourself in! Fill out the Yes I Dance/Oui je danse survey! It’s easy, it’s quick (about 10 minutes) and it will let us know who dances in Canada, and where, and why. Help us build everyone’s knowledge of dance in Canada. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #yesIdance.

For more information please visit http://culturedays.ca/blog/2014/01/08/do-you-dance-in-canada/

Alberta Culture Hiring Grants Administrator

Are you passionate about Alberta's arts community and looking for a career where you can apply your administrative skills in support of the growth and development of the arts industry in Alberta?

 If yes, Alberta Culture has an exciting opportunity for you!

 Reporting to the Team Lead, Grants and Financial Administration, this position is responsible for the administration of several Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) grant streams. This involves keeping apprised of grant guidelines, Ministry policy, Treasury Board directives and relevant legislation. The successful candidate will be tasked with reviewing grant applications for eligibility, completeness and compliance with program requirements. This position is also responsible for entering data into the Grant Management Information System (GMIS), creating mailing lists, preparing board approval documents and other correspondence. Grant recommendations for some AFA grant streams are made by expert panels. This position coordinates these panels, preparing contracts and pre-meeting material for panel members and coordinating logistics for the panel meetings.

 The successful candidate will serve as a liaison between panel members and the Arts Branch, attending panel meetings to answer questions and providing information on the parameters of panel decisions and the program budget. Other AFA grant streams are administered using formulas and this position will work closely with Arts Development Consultants to apply the formulas and calculate grant amounts. The Grants Administrator is responsible for monitoring the completion of the grant file once the amount is approved. This involves ensuring that commitments and reporting timelines are met and that funds were spent according to guidelines. This position also involves a significant amount of work liaising with and assisting program applicants by answering questions and providing additional information. The successful candidate will participate in the collection and distribution of grant related statistical information that assists the Arts Branch in delivering on its mandate. Attention to detail and the ability to think critically are essential skills for success in this role. The successful candidate must also have superior oral and written communication skills and be able to develop relationships with a varied group of stakeholders. Finally, the ability to work independently as well as part of a team is essential. 

Qualifications: Two years of related, progressively responsible experience is required. Experience in grant administration is preferred. Experience using IMAGIS, MyAgent, ARTS, ExClaim and EPS will be considered assets. A related 2-year post-secondary diploma (i.e. office administration, business administration) will also be considered an asset. Equivalency will be considered. 

To read more or apply, visit https://jobs.alberta.ca and look for Competition # 1021586. 

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/Alberta-Culture-Hiring-Grants-Administrator

Alberta Culture Seeking Manager, Art Collections

Alberta Culture is looking for a passionate and talented leader to provide strategic direction to the management of this collection and 15 other provincial art collections. If you’re a proven leader who’s looking to contribute to Alberta’s arts community then this may be the job for you.

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Arts Branch, the Manager, Art Collections is responsible for the management of all government art collections including the AFA art collection. This includes providing support to the AFA Collections Committee and developing and administering the AFA Collections Framework and Policy. Significant advisory work with the AFA board also exists in the areas of acquisition, curatorial assessment and deaccession. The successful candidate will also oversee the physical care of the collection which regularly has approximately 30% of its pieces in circulation. This includes overseeing the digitization of the collection, damage and loss claims and maintaining standards for storage and collections management. 

The position is responsible for ensuring that the AFA art collection is accessible to people across Alberta, nationally and internationally and therefore, is responsible for developing and implementing all art placement policies. This includes lending works to stakeholders within the Government of Alberta, to Alberta not-for-profit organizations and to public galleries and institutions. Additionally, the successful candidate will oversee the administration of contracts for the AFA's Traveling Exhibition Program (TREX).

Finally, the successful candidate will have responsibilities in the areas of financial and human resource management. This includes operational planning, contract management, preparing briefings, directing and supervising staff and budget management.  

Qualifications: Completion of a related university degree (e.g. Fine Arts, Art History, Museum Studies) and at least three years of related, progressively responsible experience is required. Experience supervising staff and managing and working with an art collection is preferred. A related master’s degree is considered an asset. Equivalencies will be considered.

Salary Range:     $2,936.39 - $3,951.53 bi-weekly ($76,640 - copy03,135 annually)

Competition No:  1020199                                                                                                          

Closing Date: November 12, 2013

Online applications are preferred. To apply online, please visit https://www.jobs.alberta.ca/.  If you are unable to submit an electronic version of your resume, please submit your resume, quoting the Job ID, to: Mechelle Silveira or Lindsey Tribe by e-mail: ctpr.jobpostings@gov.ab.ca ; by mail Alberta Culture, 7^th floor Standard Life Centre 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4R7. Fax: (780) 422-3142.
If you require any further information on this job posting, please contact Mechelle Silveira or Lindsey Tribe at ctpr.jobpostings@gov.ab.ca  .