Christopher Pratt

Thursday, May 20th
Event: An Evening with “Christopher Pratt”
Location: Cupids Community Centre

As part of the Visiting Author Series,  Cupids 400 is pleased to welcome the renowned Canadian artist and author, Christopher Pratt, who is one of Canada’s most prominent painters and printmakers.   He was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland on December 9, 1935 to John Kerr and Emily Christina (Dawe) Pratt. 

He has close ties to the Conception Bay North Area.  His mother, Emily Christina Dawe was born and grew up in Bay Roberts.  The Bay Roberts art gallery, which is located in the Cable Building National Historic Site, is the “Christopher Pratt Art Gallery.”  In addition, the Pratt family has an interesting connection to Cupids since Christopher Pratt’s great uncle Canadian Literary giant E. J. Pratt lived in Cupids and started his first day of school there.  As a result,  Mr. Pratt has graciously agreed to share the Pratt Family Bible during his visit.

In spite of his national and international fame,  Christopher Pratt chosen to live in rural, outport Newfoundland.  He lives in St Mary’s Bay along the Salmonier River.  His identity as a Newfoundlander has had a strong impact on his work. His works are filled “with memories of people, places and events that have been filtered and clarified through his search for order and simplicity. In this way, they are situated between reality and fiction.  His paintings have a timeless and idealized quality to them.”

He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973 and was made a Companion of the Order in 1983. The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour bestowed on Canadian citizens. Pratt has also been the recipient of several honourary doctorates from Canadian universities: Mount Allison University, Doctor of Literature, 1972; Memorial University, Doctor of Laws, 1972; Dalhousie University, Doctor of Laws, 1986. Throughout his career, Pratt has received many other honours as well. He has served on many committees and councils, including the Mount Carmel Town Council in St. Mary’s Bay (1969-1975), the Federal government’s Stamp Design Advisory Committee (1972-1975) and the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts (1975-1981).

While his artwork is the source of most of his honours, the ideas that inspire his visual art are reflected in his poetry and prose.  He is the author of 5 books, the most recent being Ordinary Things, which was published in September, 2009 by Breakwater Books.

Ordinary Things

Ordinary Things

Ordinary Things is comprised of journal entries which were written from the 1950s to 2007.   The entries deal with the creative process, art, life, and Newfoundland and Labrador.  The book title is well suited to his artistic vision since “the dynamic world of the ordinary” is the inspiration for so much of his work.  Breakwater Books, the publisher writes: “Ordinary Things paints with words an evocative self-portrait of a renowned Canadian artist. It is laced with astute observations that summarize the artistic process, and the motivations and contemplations of not only an artist, but any man. It contains slices of truth about life and Newfoundland itself, and the dynamic world of the ordinary, of which Pratt has drawn so heavily on in his work. These passages have an obvious appeal to anyone in the arts, though they will have a deep resonance with a broader audience as well. ”

The Newfoundland Flag – 30th Anniversary

In 1980, at the request of an all-party committee of the legislature,  he designed the Provincial flag of Newfoundland and Labrador. The flag, with its blue and red triangles and its golden arrow on a white background for some people has become a  symbol of the Province’s relationship with Canada and will mark its 30th Anniversary on May 28th.  In Ordinary Things,  in an entry from 1997, his thoughts on the relationship between art and politics.  “I don’t believe art has much political clout in any positive sense,”  he says.  He was not paid for the design, “despite rumours to the contrary.”

The flag was approved by the House of Assembly  of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, on May 28, 1980. It was flown for the first time on Discovery Day; June 24, 1980.  The design was chosen due to its broad symbolism. The blue colour represents the sea, the white colour represents snow and ice of winter, the red colour represents the effort and struggle of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and the gold colour symbolizes the confidence Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have in themselves and for the future.  The blue triangles are meant as a tribute to the Union Flag, and stand for the British heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. The two red triangles are meant to represent the two areas of the province — the mainland and the island. The gold arrow, according to Pratt, points towards a “brighter future”; the arrow becomes a sword, honouring the sacrifices of Newfoundlanders in military service when the flag is draped as a vertical banner. The red triangles and the gold arrow form a trident, symbolizing the province’s dependence on its fisheries and the resources of the sea.

Newfoundland Flag

From  June 15th to September 10th , 2010, the Wooden Boat Museum in Winterton will be engaged in an exciting project. Winterton Master Boat Builder, Jerome Canning, using the tools, techniques, and skills of the 17th century settlers will build a reconstruction of the Indeavour, the 34-ft. bark that John Guy and the colonists built in Cupids to sail to Trinity Bay to attempt to meet and trade with the Beothuk.

Visitors are invited to  be part of the project.  Reaching back in time to 1610 – the visitor can work side by side with John Guy, as he builds the “Indeavour”, a 34-ft. bark, for the historic voyage from Cupids to Trinity Bay. Come spend a day or two working along our Exhibit Builder, as he brings to life the skills & tools of the 17th century. Help erect the keel, stem, counter and main frames of this full sized exhibit. Leave your mark in history by etching your initials on the keel.

Indeavour - 12 ton bark for exploring the island

Then relive the thrill for years to come as you lift the lid of your unique cedar box filled with wood shavings taken from the experience….. The cost is $150.00 per person (Snacks, Lunch & Keepsake Box Included.)

For more information, see the  Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland & Labrador > >

About the Voyage of the Indeavour

Having completed building the Indeavour, in the Fall of 1612, the colonists set sail to explore Trinity Bay to try to make contact with the Beothuk   people and begin a profitable fur trade with them. Beaver furs were extremely valuable in Europe at that time and the settlers wanted to trade with the Beothuk for these furs.

They used two boats they had constructed in Cupids Cove (Cupers Cove). The larger of the two boats, the Indeavour, was a 12 ton vessel. The smaller was a 5 ton shallop. We know a great deal about this voyage because John Guy and Henry Crout describe it in their journals. Henry also talked about the trip in a letter he wrote to Sir Percival Willoughby in England.

On October 7^th 1612, the two boats left Cupers Cove  around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The Indeavour carried John Guy, Henry Crout, and 12 other men. The shallop carried another five men on board, for a total of 19 men.

At 11 o’clock that night, they arrived at Harbour Grace and anchored their boats close to the pirates’ fort that the notorious pirate, Peter Easton, had built. There they found a 120 ton French ship full of salt. In those days, salt was very important for preserving fish and meat and the settlers spent the next nine days storing the salt in a safe, dry place.

They continued on their journey, reaching the bottom of Bull Arm, where the town of Sunnyside is today, on November 4 and finding  a number of Beothuk houses and a Beothuk canoe hauled up on the beach.  Finally, after more exploration of the region, on November 6th, the colonists met and shared a meal with a group of Beothuk somewhere in Bull Arm.

After a successful meeting with the Beothuk, John Guy and his men began their return trip to Cupers Cove. On the way back, the shallop overturned near Bay de Verde, throwing the men overboard. Fortunately, they were able to get to shore safely. For the next ten days, the men from the shallop walked from Bay de Verde to Carbonear. According to a letter written by one of the men, Bartholomew Pearson, the lives of the explorers were in great danger as they were faced with “great famine and much hunger”. He also stated that they were “like to be starved”. Upon arrival at Carbonear, the men found some “rotten, stinking fish” and “moulix made of mussels” .  Not a great dinner, but it kept them alive long enough to return home. At Carbonear, the men were also lucky enough to find an abandoned boat in which they were able to sail back to the colony at Cupids Cove (Cupers Cove.)

For a complete account of the journey, see Baccalieu: Crossroads for Cultures, “The Journey of the Indeavour”

Voyage of the Indeavour to Meet the Beothuk

Community, A Visual Celebration of Cupids and the Baccalieu Trail with photos by Dennis Minty and music by Gerry Strong

Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 8:00pm

Cupids Community Centre, Seaforest Drive

Admission $7.00

Sponsored by Cupids 400, Inc. and the Northern Avalon Tourism Association.

International photographer and environmental educator Dennis Minty, and NL folk musician Gerry Strong pair up to present a poignant tour of communities around the historic Baccalieu Trail.

Cupids from Spectacle Head. Photo: Dennis Minty

Dennis Minty

Dennis Minty

Dennis is the author of both Educational and photographic books and electronic media.  Dennis’s photography is a powerful tool of communication through the eye to the heart and brings new awareness and respect for our amazing world.

Dennis’ path from his small island roots in Twillingate, Newfoundland to his current career as a photographer and eco-tour leader has taken him through more than 30 years of both local and international work. He has been an award winning wildlife biologist and environmental educator as well as author of both educational and photographic books and CD-ROMs.

One of his environmental education projects was given official endorsement by the United Nations. Dennis has been awarded the Living Rivers Conservation Award from the Quebec Labrador Foundation and the Canadian Governor General’s Medal for his work in Environmental Education.

While working in the Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Division for more than 20 years, he designed and managed a nature education and wildlife rehabilitation centre; he trained over 600 teachers in environmental education; supervised the operation of the province’s seabird sanctuaries and helped lead the Newfoundland/Labrador in the protection of its most important natural areas.

On his Newfoundland home he says, ‘It roots me. After half a lifetime in the Newfoundland outdoors, I am still overwhelmed by its visual richness.’

From Shelagh Rogers (broadcaster)
‘You could be forgiven for thinking photographer Dennis Minty is an eagle.
The facts: Dennis Minty and eagles see things in the distance in sharp focus. Most humans see three basic colours; Dennis Minty and eagles see five. Whereas most humans have 200,000 light-sensitive cells in their eyes, eagles and Dennis Minty have a million.
What this means: Dennis sees things that most of us don’t. His photographs hold the heart and soul of a place. And they contain a narrative fit for a novel. You don’t look at photographs by Dennis Minty. You enter them. And whole new worlds.’

From his website:  The Human Nature Company

Gerry Strong

Gerry Strong

Gerry Strong was born in Little Bay Islands, and currently lives in Carbonear. He is a highly respected traditional Newfoundland musician, playing the whistle and flute, as well as contributing vocals.

He was a member of the acclaimed  Traditional Newfoundland Band “Tickle Harbour” for more than 25 years. Presently, he is a member of the band “A Crowd of Bold Sharemen.”

At a press conference at Cupids Haven  in Cupids on April 7th, 2010, plans for the New World Theatre Project were revealed. The 
New
 World
 Theatre 
Project is 
a 
classically 
based
 theatre 
project 
created
 by
 Rabbittown 
Theatre
 Company,
 launching 
in
 the 
summer
 of 
2010.
 Its 
first season
 will 
contribute 
to 
the
 Cupids
 400 
celebrations, 
an 
event 
marking
 the founding
 of 
the 
first 
English 
settlement 
in 
Canada
in
 1610. The New World Theatre Project will explore, present and celebrate John Guy’s England, particularly what settlers may have seen, heard, or written in the London of 1610. Through ongoing dialogue and consultation with institutions such as Shakespeare’s  Globe (UK) and Shakespeare’s Globe Centre of Canada, the project will provide unprecedented artistic opportunities for Newfoundland theatre artists and provide the community with a new and unique cultural experience.

See photos from the press conference > >

For 
its
 inaugural 
season, 
the
 New
 World 
Theatre
 Project
 will 
design
 and 
build
 a 
portable 
interpretation 
of 
an 
Elizabethan 
stage. 
It 
will
 be 
called 
The
 Indeavour (after the 12 ton vessel that the colonists built to sail into Trinity Bay to meet the Beothuk.) 
 This
 summer,
 The
 Indeavour will
 remain 
in
 Cupids;  
however,
 in
 years 
to 
come 
it 
will 
tour 
Provincially,
 Nationally
 and
 Internationally.
  The company
 will 
produce 
two
 plays 
from
 the
 Shakespearian 
catalogue:  
A Midsummer
Night’s
Dream and
 Julius
Caesar,
 and 
three 
original Newfoundland
 pieces: Colony
of
 the
 Heart, 
The
 Tiring
 House and
 Feast
 of
 the Sword.
  These 
plays 
fulfill 
the 
company 
mandate
 to 
produce 
classical 
work 
and
 new
 work
 inspired
 by
 the
 investigation
 of 
this 
work.

The Producers

Aiden Flynn

Aiden Flynn – General Director

Aiden Flynn is a respected and well-rounded theatre professional currently living in St. John’s. He is an actor, director, producer and writer of note in Newfoundland and is also the owner and operator of Rabbittown Theatre Company in St. John’s.  Aiden moved back to St. John’s in 2001, and shortly after, founded Rabbittown Theatre Company, a venue and production company dedicated to the emerging artist and new work from established professionals. In 2008, he received the Patron of The Arts Award from The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council for his ongoing efforts to promote and produce theatre and its practice in the province.  Aiden also sits on numerous arts-focused boards including the St. John’s Municipal Arts Infrastructure Committee, the board of directors for ACTRA in Newfoundland, and the St. John’s Metto Theatre Alliance – an initiative started by Flynn.

Brad Hodder

Brad Hodder – Artistic Associate

Brad Hodder is a native of St. John’s and a founding Artistic Associate of c2c theatre, which has produced over 20 productions since 2003.  A graduate of the University of Alberta (BFA Acting), his work as an actor, director, writer and producer has taken him across the country.  Along with c2c theatre, Brad co-founded Bill’s Bad Dance Production Company with Sara Tilley, has sat on the Board of Directors for Resource Centre for the Arts and served as an Artistic Associate for the Shakespeare By The Sea Festival. He has worked with a number of companies, including CBC, Global, Pope Productions, The Grand Theatre, Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, Rising Tide Theatre, Resource Centre for the Arts, Shakespeare By The Sea Festival, Rabbittown Theatre She Said Yes! and New Curtain Theatre Company.

Geoff Adams

Geoffrey Adams – Artistic Associate

Geoffrey Adams is the Artistic Managing Director of The New Curtain Theatre Company in Clarenville, Newfoundland.  Prior to this he worked in Vancouver in the film and television industry, as well as the theatre as an actor, director, designer and producer. He also served on the board of Workshops for the Performing Artists. Geoff has worked with a number of Vancouver theatre companies including Presentation House Theatre, North Vancouver Theatre Savage God Productions, Apple Core Productions, Highland Leads Cc-operative, and Down East Productions (of which he was the founder). Geoff was also one of the founding company members of The Norstead Theatre Festival in L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. Having started in the theatre industry as a set designer and actor, Geoffs experience has led him to work as production and set designer in film as well, originating from his architectural background where he holds a Bachelor and Masters degree in Architecture from the Technical University of Nova Scotia.

The New World Theatre Project Productions

The Indeavour Stage

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

June 19 – July 4, 2010

The Indeavour Stage

“Are you not mov’d when all the sway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm”’ An assassination plunges the world into violence and instability, thrusting democracy and tyranny into a bloody conflict. Set on the high seas, this fast-paced and dynamic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar explores the complexities of power while upturning the notion of “the ship of state”. What would it take for you to act? What would it take for you to challenge a tyrant?

Feast of the Sword

June 23 – August 21, 2010

Cupids Community Hall

In 1610 it was recorded that John Guy, along with a group of 39 settlers departed from Bristol, England, to make their way across the Atlantic to the New World. Thirty days into the journey as per a secret naval custom, three ships meet in the middle of the harsh Atlantic to engage in Feast of the Sword. What begins as a simple exhibition of swordplay quickly devolves into a dangerous battle for life and death. Laden with exhilarating stage combat, Feast of the Sword is an historical re-imagining of one man’s journey to the New World.

Tbe Tiring House by Chris Driedzic

June 19 – August 22, 2010

The Indeavour Stage

On June 29th 1613, the Globe Theatre in London, England went up in flames during a performance of Henry VllI.  A theatrical cannon, set off during the performance, misfired igniting the wooden beams and thatching. According to one of the few surviving documents of the event, no one was hurt except a man whose burning breeches were put out with a bottle of ale. An interactive comedy for the entire family, The Tiring House will use the newly built Indeavour as its stage.

Colony of the Heart by Ben Pittman

July 8 – July 30, 2010

Cupids Legacy Centre

Drawing lines between the lives of the Englishmen and women who settled in Cuper’s Cove in 1610 and the present day Newfoundlanders moving to Alberta, Colony of the Heart is an innovative narrative history of the last 400 years. From who we were yesterday to who we are today.

Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

August 5 – 22, 2010

The Indeavour Stage

“The course of true love never did run smooth ” One of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream celebrates the ecstasies and jealousies of being in love. Four young lovers chase each other into a forest, where they ate caught up in the quarrels and games of the King and Queen of faeries.

Well known local performer Andy Jones will be starring as Bottom

Debut Atlantic

Cupids 400 Inc. welcomes Opera Superstar Wendy Nielsen for Debut Atlantic’s 30th Anniversary Tour.  Cupids 400 Inc and the Cantare Youth Choir have partnered to host the Debut Atlantic Concert in Cupids.  The concert features the world premiere of new work titled  A Bunch of Nonsense for choir and soprano by Peter Tiefenbach.  The Cantare Choir will share the stage with Ms Nielsen and Peter Tiefenbach to premier the work.

Update: Photos from Debut Atlantic Concert which was held on April 26, 2010 > >

Cupids United Church
Monday, April 26, 2010
7:30pm
General Admission: $15.00.
Tickets available at the door.

Award winning Cantare Youth Choir from Conception Bay with special guests international soprano, Wendy Nielsen and pianist/composer Peter Tiefenbach. Join us for the Debut Atlantic Tour, Cupids concert and the world premier of commissioned work by Peter Tiefenbach entitled A Bunch of Nonsense.

The Cantare Youth Choir performing for Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at Cupids United Church

The Cantare Youth Choir

The Cantare Youth Choir is conducted by Deanne Delahunty Hiscock accompanied on piano by Gordon King. For 2009-10, the Cantare Youth Choir has over 80 members! 2010 is an exciting year the Choir. One  of the highlights of their year will be the workshop and performance with Wendy Nielson.  Other highlights include: singing for  Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, and Premier Danny Williams during their November 3rd, 2009 visit to Cupids, performing in Carnegie Hall in New York, and  being part of various Cupids 400 Celebrations yet to come.

Wendy Nielsen, Soprano

Wendy Nielsen, soprano

Whether in concert, opera or recital, Canadian soprano Wendy Nielsen enchants audiences with her sumptuous voice and engaging presence. Born in New Brunswick, Miss Nielsen has been described as possessing an extraordinarily rich and vibrant voice. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice from the University of Lethbridge, Alberta in 1984 and her Master of Music degree in Opera from the University of British Columbia in 1987. She is a recipient of the Order of New Brunswick.

Recent highlights include a critically acclaimed role debut as the title role in Calgary Opera’s Ariadne auf Naxos; a return to the Metropolitan Opera for the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro; Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at Opera Lyra Ottawa; performances of Handel’s Messiah with the Edmonton Symphony; Christmas concerts with the Symphony New Brunswick; concert appearances in Alberta and elsewhere.

Peter Tiefenbach – Piano

Peter Tiefenbach, Piano

Peter Tiefenbach enjoys an extraordinarily varied career as a performer, composer and teacher. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, he studied music in Canada, the United States and England, before settling in Toronto in 1986. His unique combination of talents has established his reputation as a gifted pianist, mentor and creator. A Juno Award-nominated composer, Mr. Tiefenbach’s recent commissions include works for the Borealis String Quartet (2006), the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (2006), the Canadian Brass and the Elmer Iseler Singers (2005), the Saskatoon Children’s Choir (2005), and the Elora Festival Singers (2003). Mr. Tiefenbach’s recordings include arrangements for Les Chemins de l’amour and Kabarett, with Jean Stilwell (CBC Records); for the Juno Award-winning Azul‹o, with Isabel Bayrakdarian (CBC Records), and for People of Faith, with The Canadian Brass and Elmer Iseler Singers.