Just Artists

Artist Next Door TV Series

During the 2004 federal election, Rik Leaf approached Judy Wasylycia-Leis, the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North, with a cultural initiative designed specifically to engage the emerging electorate. It was an ambitious initiative in scope and imagination that in the end never managed to get the necessary traction to get off the ground. But it was that initial conversation that ultimately led to Judy inviting a group of artists from the North End to her home for an informal meeting to discuss what possible role the cultural community could have in addressing some of the social concerns and interests of the neighborhood. The evening was full of potential and numerous possibilities were presented. As an artist Rik has performed and hosted many house concerts over the years, and he decided to initiate a series of concerts in and around the north end in non traditional venues including homes and local businesses. Unafraid of a humble beginning it seemed the perfect place to begin; where we are and who we are when we get together.

That is how the Artist Next Door Concert Series began, and it has continued for well over a year now and has featured an array of singers, songwriters, published authors, photographers, illustrators, painters and poets, all from Winnipeg’s North End.

Inspired by the ongoing success and an engaged group of area residents, Rik approached Derek Eidse, a local filmmaker with a proposal to produce a series of these concerts to celebrate Winnipeg’s rich cultural history and diversity. In late 2007 Rik and Derek pitched the Artist Next Door series as a pilot project to MTS Allstream for their Winnipeg On Demand programming. They accepted.

The Artist Next Door TV Series is one of a number of ongoing JUST Artist projects initiated by an emerging category of socially active performers and producers committed to improving the world through their artistic contributions.

We will be taping the first show Friday night, April 18, 2008 at the Flatlanders Inn, 782 Main St. Winnipeg, Manitoba. All are welcome. Contact Rik Leaf at info@justartists.org for more information.

Tied Together by the Future

As power, resources and ensuing privilege are increasingly concentrated in the hands of fewer individuals and organizations, it is inevitable that more and more people are going to be marginalized, and left feeling voiceless, hopeless and helpless. What is not so clear is how to overcome this inevitability.
How does one engage the latent, unrealized imagination of a potato-person rooting the discovery of the world in reality TV? How does one go about empowering the subservient masses sitting passively in their pews to begin to seek God for themselves? How does one educate a generation who has never learned to learn for themselves? I mean, they might believe what you say, but that’s actually the problem…they believe anything anyone says.
For this very reason it is vital we reclaim a strong sense of our identity as individuals and as a nation, which is again much easier to say than to do. It is not only advisable, but possibly integral for our survival that those of us with a voice use it to champion those without. This is not only a great place to start and morally the right thing to do; it’s actually in our own best interest to do so.
Many of the challenges and difficulties we face right now in securing a future of peace and hope are man made; we got ourselves into this mess, we can get ourselves out. But only by working together, all of us…working together, recognizing the common ground and shared interests that draw us together, without minimizing or ignoring our differences. We have to learn that empowering someone who has different views and opinions and holds beliefs and values from our own is not a threat to us; that their empowerment does not come at our expense. It is a gross misconception of equality to believe that someone has to lose for someone else to gain; that equality is somehow an unfavorable or unattainable goal. There are countless examples of partnerships, treaties, marriages and organizations where giving up a degree of personal independence increases productivity, freedom and personal fulfillment.
In times of struggle, oppression and tragedy it is rarely government or big business that provides enduring comfort and lasting solutions. It always comes down to people helping people, combining their resources, their talents and abilities and drawing on their combined strengths to survive and overcome adversity together. Our success is tied together as closely as our future.

Actively Living Where We Live

‘Culture is the essence of national identity, the bedrock of national sovereignty and pride.’
(Canadian Government)

Culture creates and identifies our values as a society, yet we don’t seem to be connecting the effects of culture on our families, our parenting, our health, our environment, our lack of understanding key issues and complex world events. The role of culture is vitally important, not only to what we are investing in now, but how these values will affect our future.
Our understanding of fairly straightforward information, like the connection between the epidemic onset of type 2-childhood diabetes/childhood obesity and diet is dismal. We stare blindly at each other in confusion wondering what’s happening amazed and utterly confused by the logical outcome of our actions.
I believe the quote from the Canadian government reflects an era many of us have never known. In our lifetime mass-produced pop culture has become the predominant cultural force shaping our values and beliefs, here at home and around the world. It’s everywhere and comes from nowhere.
If we’re nothing more than passengers on the ship of popular opinion, who is steering…or are we simply blown to and fro by the winds of change? At a conference at the U. of W. media representatives claimed to be playing no active role in the oversimplification of complex issues facing Canadians. They responded to queries from the audience by saying they are simply reflecting the wants and desires of their viewers and readership. But if the readers and viewers can’t choose a 10-minute news story over a 30 second story, the media can’t honestly say they’re reflecting our values…we’ve never had an opportunity to express them.
If we have created a culture where our educators, entertainers, politicians, writers and reporters all play to the lowest common denominator, who will challenge the citizenry to reach higher, or dig deeper…pop singers and movie stars? God help us all.
We are faced with increasingly complex issues that are affecting our future whether we understand them or not. From the impact of genetically modified foods on the environment and the physiological affects on our bodies, to stem cell research and the protection of human rights and freedoms around the world. Opportunities for meaningful dialogue and discussion have to be reclaimed and rediscovered; this is within reach of each and every one of us. We’ve got to start actively living where we live, take responsibility for the foreseeable consequences of our actions and encourage others around us to do the same.
It can be as revolutionary as choosing to eat a healthy meal or having a conversation with your kid, getting to know your neighbor or volunteering in your community. If your primary consideration is “what’s the return; what do I get out of it?” Consider it an investment in your future and the future of those you love. Many investments…specifically those with the biggest returns, don’t actually pay out for 10, 20 or 30 years.