Running With the Artists
August 15, 2009 by Irene Duma · Leave a Comment
Bronze statue commemorating musicians is set on George Street, summer 2008.
One of the reasons I moved to Newfoundland is because I have a strong romantic notion based on an idealized version of Paris in the twenties – one where artists run amok from salon to salon, breaking boundaries, blowing minds and spreading ideas of freedom with wild and productive abandon. I even moved to Prague during the summer of ‘95 looking for it, as the rumour was at the time that it was the Paris of the twenties.
It wasn’t. I didn’t find what I was looking for in Prague, namely great or at least heartfelt art (exception here for the Misery Loves Company which produced an astounding clown theatre piece,) but I did find it here in St. John’s.
I love the arts scene. I have been told my many that there are more artists living in te A1x xxx area code then anywhere else in Canada. I have heard it said that everyone and their uncle is in a band in St. John’s. I have run with the filmmakers, theatre artists, clowns and painters – all at once because they run together – not fractured or splintered or divided. And that’s the way I like it.
On a feminist note, I have seen girls running down water street with guitars slung on their back in place of $10,000 designer bags, and it makes my heart swell. Go sing it loud!
Today an article in the Globe and Mail talks about the burgeoning music scene here in St. John’s,
With Hey Rosetta! nominated for the national award, St. John’s may be on its way to becoming Canada’s next indie rock capital.
Not only is St. John’s abounding with artists, it has the highest percentage of arts appreciators too. The audiences love the music. The performers can’t help but pick up on the love and send it right back out to the crowd. The result is electrifying.
Jud Haynes, formerly of Wintersleep, has moved back home and formed Mightypop.ca, a booking company responsible for bringing in some wonderful bands to play.
“Almost every band that rolls through,” Haynes says, “someone always says they could picture moving here. What’s funny is when someone does.”
Funny, that’s what I did.
