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Saint John stories go national
Culture Artists represent Port City at Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa
Telegraph Journal
July 1, 2010
By: Hilary Paige Smith

Ottawa - Three of Saint John's young yet established artists will be sharing their "Original City" stories in a big way in Canada's capital today.

Jessica Rhaye, a songstress and graphic designer, Philip Savage, a sculptor, and Sarah Jones, a painter and gallery owner, were selected by the Saint John 225 committee to represent the city in Ottawa's Canada Day celebrations.

Saint John was selected last August as a Cultural Capital for 2010, along with Saguenay, Que., and Winnipeg, Man. Each city will be sending artists who best exemplify their area.

Art, the Saint John 225 mascot, will also be accompanying the group.

"They're all young artists. They represent that emerging artistic scene in Saint John...They want people who could talk and talk about their art with the public as the public streams by," Lisa Hrabluk, executive director of Saint John 225, said. "They wanted representitives who were not just wonderful artists, but very good at presenting themselves and representing their city."

Canada Day in Ottawa attracts a crowd in the tens of thousands. Major's Hill Park in the downtown core alone is expected to attract more than 50,000 people today. This is where Rhaye will be performing in a songwriter's circle in the late afternoon, and where Jones and Savage will be demonstrating their work in a tent on the Avenue of Cultural Capitals.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. It really is, I mean, we'll only be a cultural capital once in my lifetime, so this is a real honour to be involved," Jones said. The young artist and owner of Jones Gallery on Germain Street will be painting and telling her Saint John story to passing visitors, as well as displaying several pieces of work she has made depicting scenes of the Prot City.

"My art is very interconnected to Saint John...The city itself and the feeling of the city and the character of the city is so fundamental for what I do and who I am as an artist," Jones said, adding that she may paint a scene of historic King Street East during her demonstration. "I love Saint John on a personal level, but on an artistic level, it's made me into what I am."

Savage left for Ottawa early Monday morning bringing with him a burl of New Brunswick birch to chip away for spectators in the Saint John tent this afternoon. Savage said this particular piece is abstract, but several of his works representing the maritimes will be on display, including a whale-shaped sculpture that brings the Bay of Fundy to mind. He plans to tell passerbys about the architectural and natural beauty of Saint John. "It's an interesting spot, the character of it. I think it stands out as far as cities go in Canada," the young sculptor said, also mentioning the city's strong arts community.

Rhaye's melodic voice will be heard in both Gatineau and Major's Hill Park on Canada Day. She will be singing in two different songwriter's circles with artists from across the country. The songstress plans to sing from her latest album, Good Things, including a soulful piece about Saint John weather. Today will be Rhaye's first time celebrating Canada Day in the capital. She's excited to share her stories through song. "Anywhere I go, I always say that I'm from Saint John, New Brunswick and, you know, especially being from the Esst Coast, you always get a good reception. People really enjoy music from the East Coast and the personalities of people from the East Coast."