open studio

open studio...

is a like a blank canvas waiting for you to arrive bringing ideas trapped in your mind that only you can imagine and bring to life. It's a space to come together with other artists, share ideas, witness each other's practices, overcome writers block, take that first step, brush stroke or roll out some clay.

Tues & Thurs 4-6:30pm
April 9-May 16

come as you are, bring your materials, bring an idea, there'll probably be tea
More information and registration link on the website:
https://freeartist.my.canva.site/workshops-and-openstudio

mîcêt tipiskâwi-pîsimak - "Many Moons" presents MAADA'OOKII/To Share

s/he distributes something, distributes gifts, shares something with others.

One of the values within Indigenous ways of knowing is sharing, reciprocity, which resulted with the name for this group’s exhibition.

The artworks shared and displayed are composed by five women sharing their stories together. Through art, these five women have contributed stories, art techniques, traditions and enthusiasm using the theme of feminine landscape as a means of exposing their artistic expression.

Kristy Janvier, Annie Courchene, Frances Cooper, Tess Houston under the tutelage of Lita Fontaine, are pleased to present their gifts and artistry with you through sharing,

maada’ookii, an oral tradition, that has in the past and in the present creates a sense of belonging and relationship among one another.

Mitakuye Oyasin,
All My Relations

Part of the Rural Artist Mentorship program, which is co-programmed by the Manitoba Arts Network and Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art.

"From Within" my offerings

I shared video of “Down by the River” (2017) which can be viewed if you scroll down in Life Documentation.

mîcêt tipiskâwi-pîsimak - "Many Moons" presents "From Within"

Swampy Cree-Ininew
mîcet is many tipiskâw is night or dark out pîsim is sun or moon ak at the end is plural for this word
Phonics: me-chet tip-piss-cow-we pea-sim-muck

Opening reception Saturday May 28, 2022 1pm

"From Within" is an exhibition of works by artists Frances Cooper (metis), Annie Courchene (Anishinaabe), Tess Ray Houston (Metis) and Kristy Janvier (Dene), under mentorship with Lita Fontaine, whose artwork reflects the Land as a foundational base within their own creative processes. Each art piece will deliver Indigenous perspectives through dance, beadwork, photography, and environmental assemblages that reflect their connection with Land and “From Within”. Facilitated by Yvette Cenerini (née Lagimodière).

link to event and gallery

Hide at FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE

My solo work will be travelling across Turtle Island once again, this time without me.

lisa nevada, a collaborator from Hungry Mothers will be stepping into this performance for one evening, Friday May 27 at Unexpected Path which is a collaborative program between Montreal’s Festival Accès Asie and Dance West Network, based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

What Whispers

one year since this project debuted (Oct 2020). research began March 2020.

What Whispers by Kristy Janvier In Project 686km, artists from two different locations were meant to come together in the studio to exchange ideas for creation. A give and take. While we were restricted to working alone in our own studios doing solo work, I chose to focus on a give and take exchange like the trees. Trees which have been here longer than our own lifetimes who witness humanities changes. I receive and transform all that is around me, there is something out there that can be compared to a sickness. “We are only as sick as our secrets” an elder posted before I went into the studio to explore. In the soundtrack you can hear various thoughts of the other artists which was one way I could find to include them in the piece. The chatter as clutter that overwhelms the system. I will let the piece speak for itself and whatever whispers to your heart.

Performers: Kristy Janvier, Marcus Merasty
Music: Shamanic DJ, whisper recordings from 686km artists
Lighting tech (onstage footage): Mike Spencer
Videographer (onstage footage): Dorian Kent
Video: Kristy Janvier
Space donated by: Flin Flon Community Hall and the Community Wellness Collective

Made with the support of: Made in BC-Dance on Tour Springboard Performance Fluid Festival CanDance Network Presented in part of: Configurations in Motion: Performance Curation and Communities of Colour, 4th iteration, presented in partnership with SLIPPAGE: PERFORMANCE | CULTURE | TECHNOLOGY@Duke University, and SFU Woodward's Cultural Programs.

From Darkness into a Dancing Light

From Darkness into a Dancing Light Music, Dance, and Birch Bark Biting: Reflecting on a Year's Pandemic.

A celebration of Birch Bark Biting through music, images and dance. Enjoy Janelle Hacault's performance sharing her love of red dragonflies, Kristy Janvier's interpretation of Annabel Eyre's Eagles, and Marcus Merasty's dance on resiliency. We'll enjoy stories from Elders, beautiful photography by Hilary McDonald, all to honour these impressive First Nations Artists. In this production you will see works from birch bark biters June Gareau, Pat Bruderer, Angelique Merasty and Annabel Eyres. All original music by Mark Kolt, Doug McGregor and Agnes Morin Pranteau.

Manitoba Yellow Pages

A SCOREBOOK FOR MOVEMENT AND SOUND

CO-PRESENTED BY CLUSTER: NEW MUSIC + INTEGRATED ARTS FESTIVAL AND YOUNG LUNGS DANCE EXCHANGE 
GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY SAFE AT HOME MB AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MANITOBA

TELEPHONE GAME D
Video Editor: Rowan Gray 
Contributing Artists (in game order): 
Kristy Janvier | Andrea Oliver Roberts | Maritel Centurion | Kevin Waters | Carol-Ann Borhn | Rayannah | Emma Beech 
Graphic Design: Faith Robert

Web of Stories

IMG_2304.JPG

“Combined with Mark's (Kolt) music it was very eerie and mystical and earthy. Absolutely spellbinding.” Audience member

A one night only performance at “Art in the Wild” a socially distanced art, theatre and music event. My project based on various stories of Grandmother Spider, bringing light to this side of the world.

the return

“We hold the memories of our ancestors
We call on the memories of our mothers
We call on the memories of our fathers
our grandmothers
our grandfathers
We call on our old people
The ancient ones
We dream in our descendants, the rising ones
we rest, we work, we wait for…

The Return.
We work to heal-we wait for the return
We prepare the waters and the lands
This is the return.

We’re never alone…
in times when we’re carrying a lot,
we don’t have to carry it alone
In the shakiness, in vulnerability, in love and fear…
I open myself and receive.”

photography by: David Sweeney
International Indigenous Choreography Creation Lab at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (2019)
led by Alejandro Ronceria.
Choreographer: Jacob Boehme
Dancers: Asalia Arellano, Bella Waru, Nimikii Couchie, Kristy Janvier
Composer: Edgardo Moreno
Lighting: David Sweeney
Costuming: Jolane Houle
Art work: Sally Gabori

remember

About 100 hours of focused meditation (my cushion now has a hole) on ideas of peace to everyone who has been at war to create these 30 poppies. The first one was gifted to a woman who is over 100 years old who told me her husband left her with 4 children under the age of 6 to fight. I was able to donate $145 to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 73 for their poppy fund. Thank-you for all the support.

Forest Floor-Nocturne, Halifax

“Join Janvier as the spruce roots of her home land take a journey above ground, allowing the audience to make a connection with the artist as each viewer relates to the spruce roots from their own lived experience.”

photos by: Kylee Nunn