CreekWorks

2011-01-05T14:20:00.006-04:00

Who are the People at Ross Creek? Carrie McKellar

Volunteer Artist in Residence, coming from Vancouver to be at Ross Creek till March 31. Please welcome her to our community!

Name:

Carrie McKellar

Current occupation

at the moment, professional volunteer

What are you Doing at Ross Creek?

Sounds like a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

What book are you reading now?

The Birth House - a present from my dad in anticipation of heading to Ross Creek

Favourite music on your MP3 player?

Depends on my mood - I often listen to CBC

Favourite website/ podcast?

I like Design Sponge - but also many online newspapers/journals

Which Living Person do you most admire?

Hard to say! so many amazing people: Wade Davis/ Maude Barlow/ Vandana Shiva? I wish mainstream media paid more attention to such people!

What is your current obsession?

Hmmm - currently it is turning socks into monkeys- but I think this is just a phase.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

I've been lucky with a great family.

When and where were you happiest?

Probably at ECUAD or wwoofing at an arts centre in New Zealand. Or grade 3 - it was a good year.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

To have more faith. (in a non religious sense)

What quality do you most value in your friends?

Honesty

Who is your hero of Fiction?

Indiana Jones? Ha, I don't know ...

Who is your hero in real life?

Wade Davis is pretty amazing - I don't know about being a "hero" though?

Which living person do you most despise?

I don't despise anyone I know personally - but have certainly read/heard about too many despicable acts by people I don't know.

If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it?

Mushaboom, Feist
Life is a Highway, Tom Cochrane
Revolution, Beatles
All you need is Love, Beatles
Non, Je ne regrette rien, Edith Piaf
Society, Eddie Vedder
What's Going On, Marvin Gaye

Your favourite qualities in a man

Compassion, integrity, strength

Your favourite qualities in a woman

Integrity, strength, compassion

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

lack of faith?

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

lack of openness?

What is your greatest extravagance?

Travel.

On what occasion do you lie?

to hide surprises.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?

ha - hmm - perfect skin and hair and eyes would be nice ... but i appreciate "imperfections" in other people and I hope they do likewise.

What talent would you most like to have?

Being musically inclined would be great - and being an amazing host (dinner parties/ guests)

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

That they lived closer/ we saw each other more often

What is your most treasured possession?

My health? Also having a bike/camera/computer are nice.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

A perpetually conflicted ascetic aesthetic?

What is your motto?

Always be prepared? This too shall pass?

Who are the People at Ross Creek? Chris O'Neill

2010-12-28T09:31:00.003-04:00

Name Chris O’Neill

Current occupation Executive Director

What are you doing at Ross Creek? Executive Directing

What book are you reading now? Cleopatra, A life, by Stacy Schiff

Favourite music on your MP3 player? Sarah Harmer, Josh Ritter

Favourite website/ podcast? Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, Wiretap

Which living person do you most admire? Bishop Desmond Tutu

What is your current obsession? Gardening

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family

When and where were you happiest?
A moment with my children and husband around me having breakfast and laughing.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My need to say everything that comes across my mind and work things out verbally.

Who is your hero of fiction?
Oskar Schell from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathon Safran Foer

Who is your hero in real life? Thoreau

Which living person do you most despise?
Anyone who intentionally, knowingly does harm to another living being, especially if they have political power. Also, people who design, market and sell violent esp. first person shooter video games.

If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it?
Desperado by the Eagles;
Vienna by Billy Joel;
Jack and Dianne, John Cougar;
Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves by Cher;
What have they done to my song, Ma by Melanie;
Nellie the Elephant by the Toy Dolls;
You Don't Own Me/Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It) by Klaus Nomi;
If I had a Rocket Launcher by Bruce Cockburn;
The Jeweller by This Mortal Coil;
Talkin’ bout a revolution by Tracy Chapman;
No frontiers by Mary Black;
Dirty Old Town by the Pogues;
Memories of East Texas by Michelle Shocked;
Kids are gonna be alright by Wyckham Porteous;
I am a mountain by Sarah Harmer.

Your favourite qualities in a man
Curiosity, intelligence, humour, kindness

Your favourite qualities in a woman
Humour, kindness, intelligence

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Needing a close deadline to be motivated.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Terrible eating habits. I wish I didn’t care but it drives me crazy!

What is your greatest extravagance? Kitchen tools and gourmet cheese

On what occasion do you lie? To make someone feel better.

What do you dislike most about your appearance? Sigh.

Which talent would you most like to have? Novel writing, sewing or woodworking instinctively

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
To be slightly less inclined to talk over each other.

What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t have one.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A willow tree – cut it down, it keeps coming back.

What is your motto?
Yeah, yeah, yeah (said enthusiastically, not sarcastically)

Who are the People at Ross Creek? Melisa Szeto!

2010-07-06T13:00:00.004-03:00

Who are the People at Ross Creek?
1. Name: Melisa Szeto Age: 19

2. Art form: Writing, Storytelling, & Acting

3. What are you doing at Ross Creek?

Public Relations Co-op placement

4. What book are you reading now? None

5. What is your current favourite music on your IPOD? My current favourite music on my IPOD is Chinese hip-hop/pop music or any type of relaxing/soothing songs.

6. What is your current favourite website/ podcast? My current favourite website is www.renren.com (xiaonei) because it’s the Chinese version of facebook and it connects me to all the Chinese media around the world.

7. Which living artist (of any kind) do you most admire? Jay Chou

8. If marooned on a desert island, what

a. Book : At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

b. Movie : A Walk to Remember (All-time favourite)

c. Music : any type of modern Asian music

d. Artwork: the first drawing I received from one of my piano students.

9. What is your obsession? Always finding new and innovative ways to have fun or create fun in whatever I’m doing.

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family is the greatest love of my life.

11. When and where were you happiest? Montreal, summer 09’ for five weeks from July-August learning French. I met some of the most amazing people and had the time of my life there.

12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Being able to fluently speak in most dialects of Chinese.

13. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? I would want to come back as a well-known Asian celebrity.

14. What is your most treasured possession? The first stuffed animal tiger I received from my dad when I was a child.

15. What is your most annoying habit? Procrastinating to last minute.

16. What quality do you most value in your friends? Truth and honesty

17. Who are your favourite writers? Nicholas Sparks, E.B White

18. Who is your hero of fiction? Sailor Moon

19. Who are your current or historical heroes?

20. If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it?

21. What is it that you most dislike?

22. What is your motto? Live like there is no tomorrow. Laugh at the silliest things. Love endlessly and learn from your mistakes.

23. What’s your earliest memory of Ross Creek? The first day of work

24. What the most significant thing you’ve achieved (so far) at Ross Creek? Enjoying my first day of work and extremely looking forward to this summer at Ross Creek!

25. What is your happiest memory of Ross Creek? Not sure yet but I’m definitely happy that it’s so easily to get along with my co-workers! I’ll have to answer in 4 months after my placement is over.

Who are the People at Ross Creek

2009-08-17T14:28:00.003-03:00

1. Name: Shannon Richardson Age: 26

2. Art form: Metal/Jewellery/Mixed Media

3. What are you doing at Ross Creek? A little bit of this a little bit of that :) Admin.

4. What book are you reading now? I’ve started many…Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Power of Intention, Complete Works of Lewis Carroll

5. What is your current favourite music on your IPOD? Don’t have an IPod. But I’d say “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” (Otis Redding), Run Around Sue, or anything by S Club 7 :)

6. What is your current favourite website/ podcast? Don’t have a favourite.

7. Which living artist (of any kind) do you most admire? Patrick Perry-metal artist, conceptual artist, and a former teacher of mine

8. If marooned on a desert island, what
a. Book : Wind in the Willows-it’s a classic!
b. Movie : Would I have a TV and DVD player? Probably the Ice Age movies, or Police Academy series or anything with Bill Murray
c. Music : 50’s and 60’s music, DISCO!! (Boogie, Oogie, Oogie til you can’t Boogie no more!)
d. Artwork: Egon Schielle, Dali or a blank canvas & supplies

9. What is your obsession? Hmmm…there are so many it’s hard to choose :) I guess I’d have to say Hannah Montana, she makes me laugh, hehe…it really is the best of both worlds!

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Oooh, toughy. I’d have to say the greatest love of my life would have to be myself as my mom used to say that you can’t expect someone to love you if you don’t love yourself first

11. When and where were you happiest? I want to say when I was 8, riding my bike down a quiet road at dusk on a warm summer night with the crickets chirping.

12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Why would I when I’m so gosh darn perfect? Haha, I guess I’d like to be a little less shy and more comfortable in crowds.

13. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? According to my spirit guide, I was a medic during the Vietnam war… so I guess I’d like to come back as whatever being will help me to reach the next stage of my soul

14. What is your most treasured possession? A stuffed dog that was waiting for me in my crib when they brought me home from the hospital. Moving around a lot, he was the most consistent friend I had and is very comforting when I am upset

15. What is your most annoying habit? I have a fixation on sticky things such as tape. My friends say that when I continuously roll a piece of tape between my fingers for hours, it’s annoying. But what do they know?

16. What quality do you most value in your friends? A sense of humour. Laughter truly is the greatest medicine and can do wonders when you are glum.

17. Who are your favourite writers? Bob Dylan and Alex Garland

18. Who is your hero of fiction? Indiana Jones. OH! The chest hair!

19. Who are your current or historical heroes? Bob Dylan, Patrick Swayze, Romeo Dalaire

20. If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it? Disco, 50’s & 60’s rock & roll, a power ballad or two, maybe one slow, sweet song, but mostly up-beat and rockin’ just like me! Oh, and “Easy like Sunday Morning” my theme song :)

21. What is it that you most dislike? Being misunderstood; there’s nothing more frustrating

22. What is your motto? “Fake it ‘til you make it!” Carol Leighton

23. What’s your earliest memory of Ross Creek? Getting lost on my way for the interview. My favourite first memory is the Jerome performance I saw.

24. What the most significant thing you’ve achieved (so far) at Ross Creek? Probably Black & White, everything leading up to it, and the event itself. Although Canada Day was a lot of fun, too…they’ve all been happy memories :)

25. What is your happiest memory of Ross Creek? Running and watching what we’ve created on the last day

Who are the People at Ross Creek?

2009-08-11T10:34:00.003-03:00

1. Name: Josh Rodney Age: 19

2. Art form: Music

3. What are you doing at Ross Creek? Recreation Director & Boys Counselor

4. What book are you reading now? Arthus, Rise of the Lich King

5. What is your current favourite music on your IPOD? Savior by Rise Against

6. What is your current favourite website/ podcast? Facebook

7. Which living artist (of any kind) do you most admire? Kenny G.

8. If marooned on a desert island, what

a. Book : Dark Portal
b. Movie : Transformers
c. Music : Rise Against
d. Artwork: music

9. What is your obsession? Computers

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family and GF

11. When and where were you happiest? Ross Creek last year

12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? How tall I am

13. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
An actor

14. What is your most treasured possession? My ring

15. What is your most annoying habit? Tapping my fingers

16. What quality do you most value in your friends? Humour

17. Who are your current or historical heroes? Hancock

18. What is it that you most dislike? People underestimating me

19. What is your motto? Everything happens for a reason

20. What the most significant thing you’ve achieved (so far) at Ross Creek? Leadership

21. What is your happiest memory of Ross Creek? Cabin 1 during academy my first year

2009-08-06T10:45:00.002-03:00

Who are the People at Ross Creek?

1. Name: Mauralea Austin

2. Art form: Writing, Acting

3. What are you doing at Ross Creek? Leading the writing workshop

4. What book are you reading now? Pale Criminal by Philip Kerr

5. What is your current favourite music on your IPOD? Don’t have an IPod- pretty pitiful I know

6. What is your current favourite website/podcast? Uh…none

7. Which living artist (of any kind) do you most admire? Meryl Streep

8. If marooned on a desert island, what

a. book : Shakespeare’s collected works-endless things to discover AND the Oxford Dictionary because I like words
b. Movie :
c. Music : Wind, waves, bird calls would be just fine with me
d. Artwork: Blank canvases and art materials to create my own

9. What is your obsession? Reading EVERYWHERE

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My son Shayler

11. When and where were you happiest? Backpacking around Europe oh so many years ago

12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wish I could play a musical instrument really well

13. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? An artisan in a studio overlooking the ocean; with a sail boat moored at the peer

14. What is your most treasured possession? My photo albums

15. What is your most annoying habit? Chewing gum in the car

16. What quality do you most value in your friends? Sense of humour

17. Who are your favourite writers? So many!

18. Who are your current or historical heroes? My mom

19. If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it? A little bit of rock, a little bit of Celtic, a little bit of classical and, believe it or not, a bit of opera

20. What is it that you most dislike? Quite a few things, actually, but that makes me sound really cranky so nevermind…

21. What is your motto? Problems can always be overcome to become opportunities (Not that I’m able to put this into action—sigh)

Who are the People at Ross Creek?

2009-08-03T16:40:00.003-03:00

1. Name: Sobaz Benjamin Age: 41

2. Art form: Film 3 Video Production

3. What are you doing at Ross Creek? Film Academy

4. What book are you reading now? The Third Jesus

5. What is your current favourite music on your IPOD? Don’t have an IPod. I’m listening to a lot of Kanaan, Clutch and Mary Mary.

6. What is your current favourite website/ podcast? Don’t have a favourite.

7. Which living artist (of any kind) do you most admire? I’m very interested, currently, in a British filmmaker named Steve McQueen. He did a film called hunger.

8. If marooned on a desert island, what

a. book : I don’t know- Not really inspired to that extent by books I’ve read.
b. Movie : Run Lola Run- Great filmmaking and entertaining.
c. Music : Can’t give up now by Mary Mary-it’s inspirational.
d. Artwork: I don’t know-a photograph of my wife, kids, & me.

9. What is your obsession? What it means…what it’s like to be human.

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family.

11. When and where were you happiest? Childhood, England.

12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? nothing

13. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? Shark

14. What is your most treasured possession? The ability to think for myself. It’s an ongoing struggle though.

15. What is your most annoying habit? Allowing myself to get overwhelmed

16. What quality do you most value in your friends? Honesty

17. Who are your favourite writers? Shakespeare, Toni Morrison, Freud

18. Who is your hero of fiction? Edward in King Lear

19. Who are your current or historical heroes? Malcolm X

20. If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it? Lots of Public Enemy,
Mary Mary “ Can’t Give up Now”, Metal hip hop punk rock fusion

21. What is it that you most dislike? Liars

22. What is your motto? Don’t give up

23. What’s your earliest memory of Ross Creek? 2006 the drive up the mountain

24. What the most significant thing you’ve achieved (so far) at Ross Creek? I leave that for others to decide

25. What is your happiest memory of Ross Creek? Running and watching what we’ve created on the last day

Who are the People at Ross Creek - Roxy Peterson

2009-08-01T21:42:00.004-03:00

Who are the People at Ross Creek?

1.Name: Roxy Peterson

Age: 31

2.Art form: Graphic Design

3.What are you doing at Ross Creek?
Education Director (de facto Camp Director)

4. What book are you reading now?
None…too busy. I read e-mails every day. Does that count?

5. What is your current favourite music on your IPOD?
IPOD? I would never own rubbish like an IPOD. I am a Sony Walkman guy. I am digging some Drum ‘n’ Bass by “London Elektricity”.

6. What is your current favourite website/ podcast?
BBC News! If you want real news done properly you got to go to the BBC!

7. Which living artist (of any kind) do you most admire?
Damien Hirst and Banksy.

8. If marooned on a desert island, what would you like to have?

a.book : British Army Survival guide

b.Movie : Kung Pow!

c.Music : Ave Maria and Elgar’s Nimrod!

d.Artwork: Temptation of Saint Anthony - Dali

Would you like to have and why?

9.What is your obsession? My new Sony Vaio laptop.

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My family and Friends!

11.When and where were you happiest?
Camp Lohikan, Pocono Mountains, PA.

12.If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Nothing! I am happy with who I am!

13.If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing,what would it be?
A social worker!!

14.What is your most treasured possession?
My Teddy Bear. He is a Winnie the Pooh bear but he goes by “Ted”. Had him since I was 5. If he could talk I’d be in deep trouble!

15.What is your most annoying habit?
Switching off lights!

16.What quality do you most value in your friends?
Honesty, compassion and open mindedness.

17. Who are your favourite writers? Terry Goodkind, William Blake, Lord Tennyson

18.Who is your hero of fiction?
Richard Rahl – Terry Goodkind.

19. Who are your current or historical heroes?
My Mum, Duke of Wellington, the Queen.

20.If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it?
Every song by the Streets!

21.What is it that you most dislike?
People that don’t signal and people who smoke while walking in front of you!

22.What is your motto?
You got to live it to love it!

23.What’s your earliest memory of Ross Creek?
Yarmouth, NS, 2007!

24.What the most significant thing you’ve achieved (so far)
at Ross Creek? Friendships and some other stuff.

25.What is your happiest memory of Ross Creek?
The last day of Summer Camp 2008. What a rush of emotion to have begun and completed something from scratch? Does not get any better then that!!

Who are the people at Ross Creek? Brianne Williams

2009-07-31T18:12:00.004-03:00

Who are the People at Ross Creek?
A survey of stuff and nonsense about people at the creek!

Today: Brianne Williams, Visitor's Services Coordinator
(Summer Student from NSCADU)

Brianne was a student at Ross Creek with her school and then at our teen academies. She came back this summer after her first year at the NS College of Art and Design to be our visitor's services and box office coordinator in between art projects.

1. Age: 19

2. Art Form: What ever works! But I do like to draw and paint

3. What are you doing at Ross Creek:
Visitor's Surveys / Camp registrations/ box office / being awesome

4. What book are you reading now?
Rockbound, actually, LOL

5. What is your current favourite music on your IPOD?
Beyonce - I just can't get enough of Halo.

6. What is your current favourite website/ podcast?
Well, the Ross Creek website, of course!

7. Which living artist (of any kind) do you most admire?
Chuck Close

8. If marooned on a desert island, what would you bring and why?
a. book : an Atlas
b. Movie: A movie shaped like an oar
c. Music: A CD shaped and with the function of a compass
d. Artwork: An inflatable artwork

9. What is your obsession?
My car, a red lebaron convertible.

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Well, that would be my car

11. When and where were you happiest?
In my car

12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would get my 6 pack back and have a permanent 6 pack.

13. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A Lebaron or Lebaron Transformer

14. What is your most treasured possession? My Lebaron and a watch.

15. What is your most annoying habit? hand tapping

16. What quality do you most value in your friends? niceness :-)

17. Who are your favourite writers? Tamora Pierce

18. Who is your hero of fiction? Allanah the Lioness

19. Who are your current or historical heroes? Superman

20. If your life were a mix tape, what songs would be on it?
Halo, Anything, Led Zeppelin, Rush

21. What is it that you most dislike?
Lazy People and people who go through stop signs

22. What is your motto?
1. Hands are for helping, not hurting 2. It's all good!

23. What’s your earliest memory of Ross Creek?
Going for a drawing class with Alan Bateman with my school.

24. What the most significant thing you’ve achieved (so far) at Ross Creek?
hmmm. My red binders [for camp registration]

25. What is your happiest memory of Ross Creek?
Every day I'm here! But drawing with Alan Bateman and Painting with Holly Carr are also up there!

The world is catching up

2009-07-13T07:22:00.004-03:00

I always hated when people would say "oh like field of dreams" disdainfully as if I had no more to go on but a supernatural superficial feeling that the Ross Creek Centre would work, while in a way, that is of course exactly what I did have - albeit also with a lot of research and years of thinking about it.

When dealing with banks and funders, sometimes this disdain would be even clearer - "you didn't have that many campers or audience members last year, why do you think you will now?" It's hard to explain that it is because we hadn't yet reached our potential - still of course have not, but each year we feel like we have turned another corner. I am still needed, but each year I am able to step back a bit more and let other people do their most excellent work and have it work out better than if I had been trying to be there every step of the way.

Last night we opened Rockbound and it is artistically so exciting, so fully realised. We were able to host a beautiful reception at the same time as a few acres away, we have our largest overnight camp ever, and I could be comfortable in the knowledge that everything was getting done, every one was doing their jobs very well and I could be where I was supposed to be.

Of course I still run like crazy: we need more staff and I have lots more work to do - fundraising, making the dining hall, etc. but for a moment last night I did feel a bit like Costner in Field of Dreams. I looked out over the centre's fields and at the hundreds of people there to experience art either as spectators or participants and thought how lucky I am that enough people thought I wasn't crazy to give me room and support to build this bizarre and lovely thing.

As it continues to develop I can't wait to see where it will go, while maintaining its really special feel. It has to live beyond me and Ken, but for right now, I am so filled up with being part of it, and seeing more of what I really have dreamed about for 20 years come to life...

Speaking of other people doing things to make my life easier as well as more enjoyable, our volunteers of the year for last year are: Youth: Caitlin Peace-Williams and Adult Volunteer was a shared honour this year: Daniel Vethamony and Mike Holmes...Thanks to all.

Camps, kitchens and characters

2009-07-07T23:04:00.003-03:00

Princess Leah!

We held a fire drill yesterday that saw all campers, camp and admin staff and most actors (they hadn't yet started rehearsal for the day) converging on the centre main parking lot and we realised just how many people there are at the centre these days! A huge change from winter where days may go by with only the resident artists and admin staff. I love that time too, with its time to plan, but this is so exciting and such an amazing community being created.

I do occasionally feel removed from it all, as though it isn't really Ken and me responsible for the whole damn thing. The lovely thing now is that it is much more than us now. With the staff we have, they are stepping into the roles far beyond what we'd hoped and exactly the way we need at this moment. It feels right...

Off to buy groceries for camp and the reception tomorrow night...The kitchen is working really well, with Alanna a fabulous and funny presence, and Hannah and Grace doing wonders with breakfasts and keeping the whole place on track. We had two birthdays yesterday, one on staff and one at camp. Leah (our Pr Intern) wore the Centre's Tiara for her birthday. My favourite thing right now (aside from all the art being created all around us!) is that the actors, the camp, the admin all eat here! It seems like a small thing from the outside, but the fact that we have a big garden providing salads, we're buying local produce and fresh meat and that we are feeding sometimes 70-100 people mostly with food within a 20 km radius makes me very happy. Is that the maternal in me? Is this whole enterprise a way to make a bigger family? If so, I'm okay with that.

Later...new tablecloths for the dining hall and listening to a camper describing the joys of trying to create a slug sandwich...Maybe that wasn't quite what I was thinking for local food...

2009-06-10T19:18:00.005-03:00

(Ken in front of staff cabin)

So we have a new lovely person in the office. Julie Glaser, lately of ViewFinders Film Festival, is our new General Manager, bringing her great ideas, intelligence (and great sense of style) to both Ross Creek and Two Planks. She is already a font of great networks and carrying her ideas out immediately, much to my relief.

I love the people who are working with us. It is an exciting time, and everyone is up for the challenge and brings such a positive energy. I know we'll have our moments in the middle of the chaos, but we're starting from a great place.

Work starts now on the cabins and the set for Rockbound...So exciting! Mike and Roxy are working incredibly hard around the clock to get everything ready for the summer, including new digs for the camp staff. Roxy is also sweet, planting flowers around the cabins. The cabins will have brand new decks this year, and he's put clotheslines on the outside so no smelly towels go inside. THAT will be nice :-).

Who Are the People at Ross Creek?

2009-06-03T15:40:00.007-03:00

Grand Sass

Only at Ross Creek can you be sitting at your desk drafting an important document to deadline and suddenly hear the sweet sounds of Bluegrass playing in the lobby below you! What a special treat to be serenaded by Grand Sass, an “old-timey” band based out of Halifax. Grand Sass participated in a work exchange here at Ross Creek, and stayed in the farmhouse for four days in order to create their music, while also getting the chance to execute another of their passions; gardening.

I must admit that I was taken aback when I received the phone call from Louise. “You wanna do what?” I thought, but I politely fielded her query to Chris. The Bluegrass trio wanted to come to the farm and offer their gardening services, while potentially getting the opportunity to work on their music in tandem. As I have quickly learned since beginning my summer internship here at the Creek, you never know what quirky, exciting things will happen next!

The band consists of Tanya Groundwater (Vocals, Bass,) Jessica Herdman (Vocals, Fiddle,) and Louise Hanavan (Vocals, Banjo.) After hearing them perform, you would never know that they had only been together for a little over a year. They love to sing traditional music, but each contributes to writing original material, as well.

The girls arrived on a Sunday evening ready to work, but their plans were quickly thwarted when Lucy, their mischievous hound, instigated an encounter with a porcupine! Both Lucy and another of their dogs were covered with quills and had to be rushed to the veterinarian’s office in Wolfville.

The next morning the dogs were a little lethargic, but feeling better. The sun was shining and Grand Sass could not wait to get their hands dirty but, alas, the stubborn dogs got into it again!!! And this time, it was all three. Our property manager Mike kindly assisted in removing some of the quills with pliers, but the dogs had to be brought to the vet again. Rumba and Luna were not amused, but I laughed to myself as Lucy sat there like a triumphant soldier returning from battle.

Once the animals were taken care of, the girls planted marigolds, harvested and re-planted strawberries, and harvested and cut rhubarb. I’m no expert, but the garden looks great to me.

The girls planted lots of seeds while they were here, but not only in our garden. Jess, the last gal to join the group, said that creating music is like planting a seed. It takes time; you nurture it, water it, and watch it grow.

The band felt so grateful to have this time together on the farm. Louise told me that they only get to rehearse for a few hours a couple of evenings a week, so it’s great to have a chunk of time to create. She also said that the farmhouse created a “family” atmosphere.

We were sad to see them go, but they said that four days was way too short. If they were to do it again, they would love to stay for two weeks. AND, they've agreed to perform here for our Canada Day Celebration. It's going to be such an amazing day and they will be such an exciting addition to the festivities!

They are currently preparing for the Full Circle Festival, a Bluegrass festival they created in collaboration with The Smokin’ Contraband and The Strange Boys. According to Louise there are lots of young string bands “poppin’ up,” and they hope to build a community within Nova Scotia. I’m sure we will be seeing lots more of Grand Sass in the near future!

*Leah

Brave and fearless Creekster Hunters

2009-05-30T22:55:00.007-03:00

We have lost one of our intrepid creekster hunters for the moment. Dashing Daniel Vethamony has been called to Dartmouth where he will be taking up work at a historic aid agency: the Home for Coloured Children (yes, the name is a throwback - started in 1921 - not mine to wonder why they maybe don't update it). It is great for him to use his talents on a more reglar basis, though we'll miss him at the Creek.

Dan joined in the hunt last week along with Roxy and Brianne (who is a darling - up for any new adventure) for the grade 3-4 classes from West Northfield. On this last hurrah for Dan, the creekster hunters had some luck. They saw lots of footprints, certainly not made by any regular bird, which led to this strange formation. We are wondering if it might even have been the nest - full of chocolate when they found it - but unlike good scientists the hunters all ate the chocolate they found in the pile. They'll never become geographic explorer that way!

We wish Dan the best of luck in his new job and thank him for all the volunteering hours he's put in over the past year. If we ever capture a picture of the elusive creekster, we will of course publish it along with an homage toDan's influence and wily tracking.

Grand Sass at the Creek

2009-05-26T18:59:00.005-03:00

It was a day of impromptu music in the lobby as the women of Grand Sass treated us to some of the work they have been developing at Ross Creek this past few days. They were a joy to have around, not only for their happy and insightful presence, but for their fabulous music and for their work in our new garden! Work went even better after Leonard North brought us his private stock of prime mushroom compost for the garden...

More on the Sassy trio coming soon from Leah in this space... In the meantime, check out their music on My Space...click here.

I am thrilled that the book I have been looking for around the world, Marilyn Abbott's Garden's of Plenty: the Art of the Potager will be soon in my eager hands!

2009-05-25T20:58:00.006-03:00

First meeting with the new youth council tonight. Pretty cool. It is exciting to have the energy and great ideas coming from this group of teens. Especially since they know Ross Creek better than anyone other than me, and I think they've got as much ownership over it, which is really gratifying. I am so hopeful about the world sitting and talking to this group of intelligent, curious and engaged teens and so grateful that they want to share their passion and their energy with the Creek.

We meet again in a month, but already they have given us new program ideas, and new ways of thinking about how the Creek should work with teens - the promises we need to make and how we need to keep them to their peers. I was stunned that they are so willing to go out and speak to other people - to be ambassadors - I was sheepish about proposing it, but they all seized on it and understand how important peer to peer is.

On another note, I am like a silly fool in love every time I look at the garden. We have started a potager, and I have designed it to be like an expanded Mi'kmaq star so it reflects not only French and English tradition but honours the first people here. Brad Wilkinson has been working like a fiend in the garden and putting up with my meanderings - I find it therapeutic to go out and walk the paths, even though some beds still aren't planted. I keep picking up transplants, putting them first here, then there, trying to find the right balance of colour and height, along with what will grow best. The days have been hot and the nights strangely cold with the wind and we've lost a few veggies, but nothing too major. Strawberries have been rescued from the ditches and replanted as borders, and the peas are coming up.

Right now the lovely ladies from bluegrass group Grand Sass are in residence along with visual artist Ella Tetrault and Toronto writer Anne Theriault. Anne and Grand Sass have been weeding and planting, and Ella has been teaching for us at Kingston Elementary along with working in her studio.

Unfortunate thing about the creek if you have dogs - PORCUPINES! Poor Tanya of Grand Sass has spent way too much time and money at the vets taking her beautiful dogs to have quills removed - last night and then again this morning...

2009-03-24T17:08:00.004-03:00

Feeling hopeful these days, after a pretty dismal winter - too many snow days, recession hitting our donors hard.

Last week went so well, with an increase in March Break registration, and our final funding from the RBC Foundation arriving in the nick of time.

Now we need to find a general manager who can positively and expertly take on some of the responsibility and things will really be wonderful.Planning is much further ahead, recognition and new board members and feeling good about our ability to weather the recession.

I am so proud of Ken and the team for the theatre awards!

2009-01-22T18:48:00.000-04:00

Unbelievable sunset tonight, full of huge clouds, every shade of orange and pink and portent.

A day of filing and stuff that makes an artist who is also an administrator crazy.

Roxy is off to Halifax to meet with our partner Dance Nova Scotia's Executive Director, Dianne Milligan, to prepare for our three combined dance programs this summer. For the first time Dianne is really working hard to bring boys into the summer dance programs by offering a B-Boy Bootcamp (girls welcome) at the same time as the Ballet bootcamp. That should be lots of fun and will happen last week in August. Our daughter is already gearing up for that week and hasn't burnt out from dancing all year long yet. We're trying to gently encourage our boys, and now wondering where they'll want to be - they take ballet throughout the year, but will it be too weird for them while all the other boys are in the other program?

Heather has been working incredibly hard with our two artists in residence, Mackenzie Burke and Natalie Howard to develop a great program for our local middle school's grade six classes. The teachers at NKEC have been very open and we are really thrilled with our relationship so far with Jeff Newberry, the new middle school VP. He's been extremely friendly and open to the idea of bringing artists into the classroom...We're so happy that Holly Carr and Alan Bateman pioneered this program for us last year. We are really hoping this will be a successful program that will lead to more interaction with all the grade levels in both Glooscap and NKEC. It is a very clear way we can bring the work of these innovative international artists to our local community and is a particular passion of mine. We're hosting a full gallery of the work the kids create in the RBC Community gallery, so the kids get to see their work the way it should be shown - with pride of place.

Driveway is icy, but centre is toasty warm and I am looking forward to starting to snowshoe around the grounds soon...I just need someone to go with and keep me motivated!

January 18th storm day full of warmth and art

2009-01-20T15:29:00.000-04:00

It was a wet and wooly afternoon at Ros Creek on Sunday, January 18 but that didn't stop two diverse groups from coming out. First were the families who came out for Family Arts Sunday, a lovely event called the Explorers, well organised by Heather Cosidetto, community and outreach director. With a great and varied group of activities, we had many people who focused only on one or two activities and then looked at the new work in the galleries by Shirley Moorhouse and Sojo Truth. I love having everyone from adults to teens to babes in arms at these events celebrating the creative spirit and enjoying new work created by community artists. I also love our volunteers, awesome teens and adults who come back again and again to help out - this time we had Stefan Morales, Lyndsay, Adrian, Caitlin, and our artists in residence Mackenzie and Natalie and of course our own British bear, Roxy.

The second round was a group of community members who came up for a trial run of an art film night - and by art film I mean artistic films - short animations, avant garde pieces, etc. all curated by Stefan Morales and Heather C. Our guests braved the winter storm to enjoy our pilot project and there was popcorn and cupcakes for all! I'll let you know when the next one will be coming up and this time it won't be so secret...

Friday Evening

2009-01-16T17:30:00.000-04:00

The weather is still cold on the north mountain as the sun sets. We're waiting for two of our artists-in-residence to come back up as we said goodbye to a third. Sojo Truth, an artist who has been living and creating work at Ross Creek for the past four months now takes off for Toronto and Berlin to keep exploring her own work while Natalie Howard and Mackenzie Burke begin their artistic process at Ross Creek now.

We are hosting an exhibit of Sojo's new work, all created at Ross Creek this Sunday as well as new works perfectly timed for the cold winter, by Inuit artist Shirley Moorhouse. Combined with Family Arts Sunday, this should warm the Centre up as we move into an exciting new year.