Deborah Barndt’s recently published book, Community Arts and Popular Education in the Americas (Between the Lines Press), includes a chapter by Jumblies’ Artistic Director, Ruth Howard, about the Bridge of One Hair project and production in Etobicoke, as well as chapters about other interesting projects in North and South America. Read more about it here: VIVA Book Promo

Thursday, February 16,   5:30 to 8:00 pm

4205 Lawrence (Morningside Apartments) Common Room

Vegetarian dinner by Yo Utano

Free, but any donations towards the meal gratefully accepted

-       Reunite with other cast and community members

-       Share your reflections about the project, Like An Old Tale, and where we’re going next

-       See photos and share a meal

-       Rehearse for the theatrical parade at MABELLEarts on February 18:

 MABELLEarts: The Tethered Heart

http://midwinter.mabellearts.ca/

Bus departs Cedar Ridge: 3:00 pm, Parade: 6:00 pm, Feast: 7:45 pm, Leave Etobicoke: 9:00 pm

We’ll play the part of sea monsters, fear statues and lantern bearers in the parade. Bring family and friends on the bus and enjoy a beautiful outdoor performance, bonfires, video and art installations, live music, and an indoor feast hosted by MABELLEarts.

Call 416-203-8428 to find out more or sign up for these events, or email info@jumbliestheatre.org

Winter Feast, 4205 Lawrence, March 2011, Photo: K. Fleitas

Our 2010-11 Annual Report is now available. To view or download it, click here: AnnualReportFinal2010:11 .

First JUMBLIES SEMINAR of 2012

co-hosted by Making Room Community Arts

Special Guest: Noah Kenneally presenting his work in Nunavik.

Location: Parc Activity Recreation Centre, 1499 Queen Street West

Date: Thursday January 19th

Agenda: 6:30: meet, greet, refreshments, 7:00: presentation, 8:00: questions, discussion, mingling, 9:00 end.

Cost: PWYC donations gratefully accepted

Solo Chicken Productions, led by Lisa Anne Ross, has coordinated the Nunavik Theatre Arts Program in Northern Quebec for nine years, working in schools in remote Inuit villages to develop community arts projects. In 2010 and 2011, Noah Kenneally joined the team as coordinator of the Innalik Mask and Puppet Project, in Inukjuak, Nunavik. Using masks, puppets and other visual theatre elements, the children of Innalik Public School tell stories about their experiences, their ideas and their community.

Noah Kenneally worked for several years as a community artist, primarily in visual theatre and performance. He was an associate artist with Jumblies Theatre for eight years. In 2008, he began undergraduate studies in Early Childhood Education at Ryerson University, and still did small community arts projects here and there. Noah plans to continue in academia for a while, and his graduate studies involve an inquiry into children’s autonomous spaces for play.

Stephanie Kroone was in the cast of Jumblies Like An Old Tale and is a member of Jumblies’ youth theatre troupe. Following the production she wrote the following  poem about her experience:

Beginning Anew

Together we are bound by love of art

The end is near, so is the beginning

This beginning comes anon, so we start

The memory we leave behind is glistening

With beauty, pride, and sadness, we now part.

Together we made magic and saw light

In mind we keep: the moon in all its might

With all its glory, shall not shine alone

We will now let those without speech be known

Through movements, songs, shadows and light we’ve grown.

The flower wilts, dies, but its spirit lives

Through all of us, happiness its life gives

If you understand not, do not now fret

The coming stories be not written yet.

Stephanie Kroone in Like An Old Tale, Photo: Katherine Fleitas

We’re delighted to announce and welcome Alexandra Draghici and Esther Maloney to Jumblies, thanks to funding from the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation’s Performing Arts Internship Program and Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP). Both Alex and Esther bring strong and exciting theatre, performance and participatory arts backgrounds. Both will have a primary placement with one of Jumblies’ Offshoots: Esther with Arts4All and Alex with MABELLEarts. They will also both take part in core Jumblies activities and events, such as Like An Old Tale and Arts For All Essentials.

Both the Metcalf Foundation and Theatre Ontario have been ongoing supporters of our internships over the past decade. All of the former interns they funded have gone on to exciting leadership and artistic roles with Jumblies and/or out in the world at large. Both these funders, through their dedication to hands-on learning, have helped our field to propagate and flourish into a new generation. Many thanks!

Alex performing at MABELLEarts & Esther with Iole at Arts4All

Our February Arts For All Essentials is currently full up. We are, however, keeping a waiting list, in case places open up. Also we will offer it again in December 2012. And so please do still get in touch if you are interested.

Arts For All Essentials
·       An intensive workshop on the principles, practices and underpinnings of art that engages with and creates community,
·       Everything (or many things!) you need to know to start your own project,
·       A prelude to future work or internships with Jumblies,

Feb. 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26,  10am – 6pm
plus a final celebration, and early option to take part in MABELLEarts Festival on Feb. 18th
taking place at Jumblies project & partner venues

Cost: $300 (with some subsidized and work-trade spaces available).
Accommodation: For out of town participants, we can help you find billets
For more info. or to Register: Please contact info@jumbliestheatre.org.

Like An Old Tale completed its 2-week run on December 18th, with 12 performances, a cast of over 100, and a national symposium on Community arts in its midst. You can read more about it all on our production website: www.jumbliestheatre.org/upcoming.

Now we move into the Legacy Phase of our Scarborough residency. There will be photo sharing, video screening, reflections on the process, collaborations across the city, new projects by the Community Arts Guild with Beth Helmers and other artists and staff.  Stay tuned!

Full company, Like An Old Tale, Photo: K. Fleitas