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Saint John celebrates its Originals
Telegraph Journal
June 9, 2010
By Hilary Paige Smith

Arts: Gala awards show will honour artists, musicians and organizations

SAINT JOHN - It's not every day a post-punk band takes the Imperial Theatre stage. It's even less often they share it with a troupe of child actors. The Originals is all about collaboration, however unpredictable.

The first Saint John arts awards gala is named for Canada's original city and the unique performers it showcases. The Originals takes place Thursday at 7 p.m. on the Imperial Theatre stage.

The awards are a celebration of every aspect of the arts in Saint John, from visual art and music to dance and theatre. There are even awards for individuals and businesses who support the arts.

In addition to the presentation of the awards are collaborative performances by local artists.

Jessica Rhaye, a city songstress and nominee in the popular music artist category, is paired up with the Saint John String Quartet. Hospital Grade, a post-punk and indie band, perform its song Soviet while young actors from the Interaction Children's Theatre Company do a theatrical interpretation.

Many of the performers are also award nominees.
"One thing I really wanted to do was to put unique and unusual or unpredictable performers together on the stage that had never worked together before," Judith Mackin, artistic director of the awards, said.
"Everyone that's performing on stage has never actually performed together before. And in some instances, they'd never even met before."

Hosts for the The Originals are CBC radio personality and Saint John native Brent Bambury, and Christiane Vaillancourt, a former CBC and National Public Radio reporter who lives in Rothesay and heads up public affairs and communications for Rogers in Atlantic Canada.

Mackin said The Originals is a great opportunity to showcase the Port City's artistic talents. "Your city is only as creative as those that you highlight and honour within your artistic community. I think we're all striving to be in a creative city and this is one way to really highlight it," she said. The instant audience members enter the theatre they will be met with entertainment. Tradition, a local group nominated for the popular music award, will perform before the awards begin. "It's going to be this constant motion of one thing after another," Mackin said. The Richard Kidd Jazz Trio, a nominee for the classical music award, will play music in the foyer throughout intermission, "to keep the hype going."

"(Audiences are) engaged and celebrating the arts at every single stage of the evening."

When The Originals was first conceived, it had only $19,000 in funding. But local businesses got interested, enriching the pot to $80,000.
Each award has its own sponsor and will be presented by a representative from that business. When event organizers issued a call for nominations several months ago, they received a flood of names. A jury narrowed the group down to a handful of nominees in 11 different categories.

Three to four artists were selected for each category. They include everyone from veteran organizations, such as the Saint John Theatre Company, to newcomers, such as emerging Hampton painter Jack Bishop. Fred Ross, one of Saint John's most prominent artists, and his late wife, Sheila, a ballet teacher and gallery owner, will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

The awards given themselves are originals. Paul Mathieson, a well-known local painter who has exhibited across the country, hand-painted carved wooden sculptures. "Visual arts would have the visual artists on the front, in front of the Imperial. Those who are to receive the award for music would have the musicians in front of the Imperial. I've tried to make it interesting from all angles," Mathieson said, describing his designs. "I hope they enjoy receiving them "Judy (Mackin) wanted something original for the recipients and hopefully they will think that they got something along those lines."

The night doesn't stop when the red curtain falls. Gala-goers are invited to an after-party at the Saint John Ale House on the Market Square Boardwalk, where executive chef Jesse Vergen will prepare complementary appetizers.

Though this year's awards are presented as part of the Saint John 225 celebrations, Mackin said there are hopes the event will become an annual or biennial celebration. "What's important about this event is that it puts all of the arts community in the same place together and sort of says 'Look at our strength in numbers. Who knew that we had such powerhouses?'" Mackin said.

Tickets for The Originals are $25 for general admission and $20 for students and seniors. Organizers say tickets are selling fast. Contact the Imperial Theatre box office at 674-4100, www.imperialtheatre.nb.ca.