Living Prairie City

Why We Love the Core Neighbourhood

The west and downtown areas of Saskatoon are often overlooked due to a misconception that they are undesirable areas to live and play.   These areas however offer a wide array of activities, cultural venues and local hotspots.  SCYAP worked with several at-risk youth living in this area to develop a list of  reasons why they love the core neighbourhood!  Here is what they had to say!

~*~I like that the Farmer’s Market and the Market Square on 19th is open to everyone.  It's a nice place for kids to enjoy the area, the river and the view. I also like that there are more art and culture centers coming into the neighbourhood too.  - Di 

~*~I love that the stores in the area are locally owned and operated.  There are some really cool stores like bike shops, yoga places, art galleries and a couple restaurants that are super good!   - Christina

~*~It is easy to find people who are similar to each other in the core neighbourhood and it is easy and fast to make friends.  There are only a few people who commit crimes, everyone else is pretty much just here to find others like them. – Justin

~*~I like the Roxy Theatre because it is one of the last atmosphere theatres in the province, has awesome staff, awesome deals and shows really good art films. - Nate

~*~I like the Farmer’s Market. I like the fresh foods, the entertainment, the unique finds and the art.  I also like that it is close to the river in a really nice area.  - Skye

~*~I’ve been hanging out in the downtown area for about 6 years now and what attracted me, and what I think attracts most kids to the area, is the anonymity of the crowd.  There are always new people and the busselling never sleeps.  You never feel alone downtown and I think this is what attracts youth who have no one to turn to for support. - Kyla

    ~*~This part of the community is always encouraging the  arts by having   different sculptures, art  pieces and murals around the neighbourhoods. - Shane

~*~All of my favorite places are within three blocks of each other.  I like that everything you need is here and you don’t need a car to get to where you want to go. - Adam

 

~*~Summer in the downtown/Broadway area is so lovely – there are so many festivals and lots of art and music. - Emily

 

~*~I like having SCYAP downtown because they support the arts and the talented kids in   Saskatoon. The drop-in is important to meeting up with others who like art like me.  - Mel

 ~*~Living on the west side is great even though it has a bad reputation.  People think it is sketchy and call it the hood but I think it is a very interesting place to live.  There are some really cute and funny things that happen and I like seeing how all the kids of all ages get along. – Shar

 

  ~*~I love my neighbourhood! (Riversdale).  We have affordable housing, accessibility to everything except grocery stores and it is really original.  I like the Riversdale pool, the skate park, the  hot yoga studio and Park Café!  I also think it’s pretty cool that I live   really close to the ex-premier of theprovince. - Nadalie 

  ~*~The west side isn’t bad people, it’s just poverty.  There is affordable housing and things to do for people who aren’t so well off and I think that is important. - Sean

   

~*~I appreciate the river.  I look at it as the artery of  Saskatoon.  It is the life of the city and keeps us Saskatonians active! -  Tannis

  ~*~I really like the riversdale community garden.  I spent a lot of time the re this summer with my auntie and think it is cool that we can grow our vegetables and flowers somewhere because we don’t have a garden at home. - Jenny

Breaking Stereotypes

   
There is a common misconception when people speak of the homeless, particularly those that panhandle.  They are often thought of as being lazy and not wanting to work which is the furthest from the truth.

A number of individuals and organizations within the city of Saskatoon have taken it upon themselves to develop a project called Homelessness Stories to break this stereotype.  The project will include photo-visual and literal depictions of homelessness in Saskatoon through the lens and voices of the homeless.

The pictures and stories of the homeless by the homeless will be combined in video form later this year.   

Inevitably the group working on the project would like to provide stakeholders, decision makers, government and business leaders an opportunity to view the film which will present how homeless individuals actual live and how they feel about the situation. 

Check back for an update on the project progress next month! -- As the project has just kicked off all photos posted are Courtesy of Change Blog.

Exciting News for Saskatoon

Everyday individuals are denied access to the most basic of rights and services because they cannot provide proof of identification.  Many of the youth who frequent the SCYAP Art Center do not have ID because they either cannot afford it, they’ve lost it or they are from a reservation and have never had it. Three years ago, SCYAP met with local MLA, David Forbes, to bring the government’s attention to the difficulties that young people go through in order to obtain legal identification.   

Mr. Forbes was able to take action on this issue earlier this year by forming a committee  who will work toward trying to right this issue in Saskatoon .  The committee is made up of several influential community members who have been working together to make this project a reality. The process is not cost free, but for the interim the committee will be able to cover the costs through the Saskatoon Regional Intersectoral Committee.  It is the committee’s hope that the Provincial and Federal Government will continue to work toward alleviating this issue after project completion.

Project ID is made up of a ground-level coordinator who will help the individuals through the process and a granting agency who will help by covering the cost. One-on-one support  is offered to anyone affected by this issue through their offices at the Saskatoon Food Bank.  

As of this week, Project ID is open in Saskatoon!!

 

Mixed Media Metropolis - The Movie

Mixed Media Metropolis from Art City on Vimeo.  Filmed By Art City Participants.

Mixed Media Metropolis

From August 9 to 13 guest artist Adrian Williams was at Art City. Using his painting practice as a guide, he collaborated with over 40 community children, teens and adults to create an 8' by 8' multimedia panel painting in response to their urban environment. Through a partnership with the University of Winnipeg's Institute of Urban Studies, this mural will be installed in the new Richardson College for the Environment.

"The mural is finished and, though it is awesome, we are all sad that it's over.  This workshop was so much fun, it managed to include everybody and every contribution is awesome.  We focused on tiny things today, kittens, birds, shoes and giraffes... Everyone was blown-away; Adrian said he never expected it to turn out this great!"

 - Aaron (workshop facilitator)

Digital Art @ Art City

For over 3 years, Art City's digital arts program has been empowering kids and grown-ups alike with the ability to create new media art on state-of-the-art equipment.  Featured below is but a small sample of some of the fine work produced every Wednesday night.  For more information visit http://artcityinc.com/programs/.

 

 

Joy-to-the-world

Perdido

Talia and BobbiSocks

Thoughts REMIX

I'm singing, We're the best

Lego from Art City on Vimeo.

Planet of the Plant People Parade makes West Broadway Come Alive!

On Saturday, June 26, Art City was joined by hundreds of people of all ages for our Planet of the Plant People Parade, the grandest spectacle of plant appreciation West Broadway has ever seen. The Art City parade and picnic is a summer time tradition in the West Broadway neighbourhood that has involved thousands of creative, community-minded people over the course of it’s nine year history.
Working with the theme Planet of the Plant People required an early start to the parade preparations. In April, we began by planting and nurturing hundreds of plants in the Art City studio to later be incorporated into floats, costumes and decorations. By late May, and all through June, local gardeners were lending their knowledge, and plant and puppet focused guest artists led our staff, volunteers and participants in the creation of costumes, food wheels (a visual guide to planting and harvesting in Manitoba) and giant walking, talking, plant people puppets.
One overwhelming success of the process was the creation of our Seed Sown Civilizations: scrap wood cities filled with plants grown in the studio. Participants hammered and glued together hundreds of off-cut pieces of wood of all types, shapes and sizes to make buildings, houses, and shops, which were then installed together to create densely composed urban centres. A combination of art, carpentry, and gardening, Seed Sown Civilizations was one of our most successful group projects to date. On the day of the parade, the Civilizations, overgrown with plants, were pulled through the procession on platforms with wheels.

Frequent Art City Participant, Hussein, reflected on what he liked most about the Planet of the Plant People Parade: “I didn’t know there were so many people around the neighbourhood. I got to see people come outside of their houses, and I met lots of new people. The group I was walking in had more than one hundred people. It’s better when we’re all together, walking and supporting Art City. The marching band (the Flaming Trolleys Marching Band) reminded me of Africa, when we would celebrate a holiday and play instruments. It makes me feel good.”

“And the Art City Van! I’ve never seen it look so good!”                              

Freedom Through Art - Urban Canvas IX

The SCYAP Urban Canvas Project is a 39-week intensive program of arts training for youth facing multiple barriers to employment.  Throughout the program, training in art skills is accompanied by workshop sessions on personal and professional development, job skills, health and literacy.  Participants also contribute to large works of public art conceived in collaboration with community organizations.  

In May, the graduating participants of the ninth instalment of the Urban Canvas (UCIX) project celebrated the completion of their program by showcasing a series of art pieces at the Mendel Art Gallery.  Each graduate had his or her art displayed at the prominent Saskatchewan Art Gallery from May 3^rd – May 31^st under the exhibit title Freedom. 

Some other cool projects completed by the participants included 20 4x8 mural boards that will decorate the City of Saskatoon throughout the many  festivals, celebrations and events this summer.  The group also completed a full-wall mural at the inner city food bank and took part in a project to beautify waste containers that are used throughout the city at various events.   

On May 31^st, UCIX participants and SCYAP staff were joined by members of the community, family and friends to celebrate the graduation.  Greetings were brought from the Prime Minister, the Premier of Saskatchewan and the Mayor of Saskatoon.

Over 120 attendees gathered for the event which included congratulatory messages to the participants on their successes and a slideshow which showcased the artists’ journeys over the past nine months. 

Each graduate was also provided the opportunity to speak to the audience about the program, their art and/or their personal and professional growth.

For the Month of July, several of the Urban Canvas IX pieces will be displayed for public viewing and sale at the SCYAP Art Gallery.

 

 

Planet of the Plant People Parade

Every year, Art City holds a spectacular parade in the West Broadway neighbourhood. The goal of this special event is to foster a sense of pride, accomplishment and fellowship in the community by showcasing and promoting neighbourhood spirit, creativity and talent.

This year's parade, the Planet of the Plant People People Parade will be celebrating the plant world and our relationship with it. Community participants will work with Art City staff, volunteers, community gardeners and  guest artists to cultivate “floating” gardens (living garden parade floats) and produce colourful, whimsical, nature/garden-themed costumes and props for the big day. After the parade, the community will gather for entertainment, refreshments, and games at the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre greenspace.

For the week of June 7-11 Art City participants built seed-sown civilizations; scrap wood cities overgrown with  real plants. The week of June 14 - 18 guest artist Curtis Wiebe is helping us prepare for the parade by working with our participants to create giant walking, talking plant people puppets and costumes.

The big day is Saturday June 26, starting with bike decorating at 1:00, parade at 2:00 and community picnic at 3:00. Stay tuned for more pics.  

West End March for Peace

On June 1st, Art City joined the residents of Winnipeg's West End in a march for peace.  We brought face paint, hat making and some gorgeous flags to add a splash of colour to the evening.