Will Ottawa youth miss out on this year’s Folk Festival?

Centretown News, Winter 2006

It may seem early to start thinking about summer, but the days are growing longer and organizers of the CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival are already enthusiastically making plans for this year’s event in August.

Organized almost exclusively by volunteers, the Ottawa Folk Festival brings together performers year round, culminating in the summer festival when fans can gather under the warm summer sun and enjoy the diverse sounds of traditional and contemporary folk music.

This year, festival organizers plan to isolate acts that attract a young audience, after complaints arose last year when acts such as Calgary singer-songwriter Feist and Winnipeg’s The Weakerthans attracted excited, young audiences who stood at the front of the stage, blocking the views of the audience members behind them. This year, to settle anxieties of other concert-goers, such acts are expected to play at the newly-opened Capital Music Hall on York Street, the community centre at Britannia Park and the Beachcomber Room at the Travelodge Ottawa West Hotel.

Festival organizers must start brainstorming on how to keep acts appealling to both audiences in the same venue in the future. By separating acts, young audiences may not stumble across the raw experience of a traditional folk song that they otherwise might not seek out.

At the same time, older festival attendees, who would never find themselves at a Feist or Weakerthans show, will miss out on the stimulating new acts that are bubbling in the underground of contemporary folk rock.

A folk festival is a unique experience. Dozens of artisans gather together to share their craft, singing raw and honest songs, some of which have been around for hundreds of years. With a guitar — acoustic or electric —strapped over their shoulder, folk musicians are part of a constantly evolving art, which the Ottawa Folk Festival celebrates to its fullest year after year. This is the atmosphere that some young crowds may miss at this year’s festival.

The change in venue comes only a year after the festival made another controversial decision, in order to entice a younger audience. It came under fire after it booked Canadian Idol winner and pop star Kalan Porter as one of the weekend’s headliners, causing skepticism among many folk-enthusiasts.

It is no surprise, however, that Porter, who is adored by young fans across the country, would attract an ovation at the front of the stage. But what organizers need to do instead of choosing acts simply to capture youth ticket sales is bridge the gap between younger and older audiences by choosing artists — young and old —who are grounded in the roots of folk music.

While, unfortunately, it is not in the festival’s budget to create numerous large stages every year to accommodate all types of acts, the Ottawa Folk Festival must strive to find a better solution that brings audiences together — such as, for example, a standing-room only section toward the side of the stage.

For now, at least, it’s good news that festival organizers have created a youth committee, to address some of these issues and to keep youth engaged in the decision-making process, as well as fundraising efforts to bring the festival some well-deserved revenue.
Regardless of location, the festival is bound to bring some exhilarating acts to the nation’s capital, for audiences of every age. However, it will be disappointing for many fans of folk music to miss out on some of the diversity of acts that the Ottawa Folk Festival offers year after year.

MySpace offers Internet exposure to unknown artists

Centretown News, Winter 2006

With a quick click of the mouse, MySpace, an interactive blogging website, connects users to thousands of artists of every genre across the world.

Since it was first launched in January 2004, American-based MySpace has grown to include more than 50 million registered profiles, 25 per cent of which are maintained by users under the age of 18.

Users create their own “space,” essentially an alter-ego, where they can cultivate their persona through blogs and photography. They can share their thoughts about everything from last week’s episode of The OC, upcoming concert tours and fashion, to more heavy hitting topics such as suicide, drugs and divorce. At the same time, users are able to post their favourite songs or music they have created themselves.

MySpace is a breeding ground for countless young artists to showcase music, photography, poetry and visual art, while serving as a network with both a vast artistic community and their friends and fans, without geographical boundaries. For artists who fear they may be deemed too edgy, MySpace acts as a direct link to their fans, without pressures from a label, production company or a distribution team.

An estimated 550,000 musical artists have posted songs on their personal MySpace sites and this number is expected to keep growing. Each day, 170,000 new spaces are created by users across the globe.

MySpace is not limited to small, unsigned artists trying to break into the industry. Well-known musical acts including Weezer, Madonna, Black Eyed Peas, Billy Corgan and and even Neil Diamond have premiered songs and full albums on the site. This has created a sense of intimacy with their fans through blogs, web stores and in response some receive thousands of messages from MySpace visitors.

For Canadian musicians, such as Broken Social Scene, Emm Gryner and Wintersleep, MySpace provides an opportunity to be heard by music lovers on an international level, without the hassle for fans to have to seek obscure downloads. This is also true for local Ottawa acts, including Million Dollar Marxists and The Architects, who have a large following on their MySpace sites.

The social network is showing few signs of quieting down in the near future. In 2005 Rupert Murdoch, the chief executive of the News Corporation, paid $580 million to purchase MySpace’s parent company Intermix Media Inc. A recent deal with Interscope Records plans to use MySpace as a launching ground for record deals for unsigned artists, as well as sponsoring international tours.

Critics of this web community, including many weary parents, fear that it is a mere cyber hangout, where teens can push the limits of MySpace censors with scantily-clad pictures and an array of four-letter words.

The March issue of Vanity Fair calls it “a virtual city of sex and youth culture.” However, despite what anxious parents may believe, thousands of youth are logging on and exploring uncharted music.

Through a few simple keyword searches, MySpace allows the community to connect with lesser-known artists. The website acts as more than just an online dating service for teens. Rather, MySpace is a breeding ground for thousands of unknown bands hoping to get their foot in the door.

People are Turning to Spas to Escape Hectic Daily Life

Centretown News, Winter 2006

As cell phones, laptops and demanding schedules are diminishing personal time, more people than ever are visiting spas and making sure that they take the time to put their feet up and relax.

Most recent statistics from the International Spa Association (ISPA) are revealing that spa revenue is increasing. In Canada, it has far exceeded $1 billion annually.

In 2004, there were 2,063 spas operating in Canada, a number that has risen dramatically from 1,300 in 2002. This translates into 62-per-cent growth in two years.

“People are looking for a retreat within their own community,” says Doug Coburn, director of aesthetics at Bodé Spa, which caters to Ottawa men.

“When we’re busy with families and with our jobs, we’re looking for a tiny escape to shut off the noise of the world,” he says.

Donna Holtom is the owner of Holtz Spa in downtown Ottawa. She says in today’s high-paced society, people have less personal time than ever before, drawing them to spas for an opportunity to relax and to reflect.

“Everybody is living a faster-paced life,” she says.

Both Coburn and Holtom agree that the desire to diminish stress is related to an overall increasingly health-conscious community.

“The baby boomers are getting older,” says Jack Morrison, president of Leading Spas of Canada, which is a national organization focused on supporting development within the spa industry.

“If we’re going to live longer and work longer people must be more (health) conscious,” he says.

Holtom says the spa experience has gone beyond simple pampering.

Many clients are also visiting spas looking for advice on nutrition and services such as holistic treatments and skin care.

“Spas have become more accessible and mainstream, especially for preventative health reasons,” she says.

ISPA reports that 46 per cent of spa users are new consumers who are experiencing what the industry has to offer for the first time.

This includes an influx of health-conscious and active men, who make up 29 per cent of spa-goers.

Bodé Spa, located in Sandy Hill, is aimed at professional, urban men.

“We call our class of client the metrosexual,” says Coburn.

He defines the term metrosexual as a man who is very modern and is looking to take good care of himself.

Bodé is located in the basement of a former Italian embassy building. The spa combines modern décor with the unique architectural characteristics that the embassy has left behind.

This includes the renovation of a former vault into a massage parlour, where bare stone walls are dimly lit by candles.

This creates a refuge for men — and occasionally women — to relax.

It also includes a stream of soothing classical music in the background.

“A lot of the barriers that were there for men are coming down,” says Holtom.

She says she believes that most men have been hesitant to visit spas in the past. Holtom says she thinks that this is due to primarily feminine décor and the negative social stigma that surrounds the ‘vanity’ of spa use.

She says she has found that more men are learning that the spa experience is less about feeling beautiful and more about feeling healthy.

“Women are very in touch with their bodies,” says Coburn. “For men, it’s a learning curve.”

Coburn calls spa visits a very social experience for women. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to prefer quietly enjoying a body massage or facial in silence.

Coburn says that most of his regular clients are men who visit Bodé for various services. These services include waxing, pedicures and various skin treatments.

“There are all these things women are looking for and men are realizing that they’re important,” he says.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Coburn says couples massages are becoming increasingly popular at Bodé Spa.

He says they allow couples to enjoy a retreat together that falls within their own community. Coburn is optimistic that increased spa usage is not a shortlived trend, in particularly for men. He predicts new and returning consumers will continue to support the growing spa industry.

Local Merchants Report Strong Holiday Sales

Centretown News, Winter 2006

Ottawa businesses have disassembled their Christmas trees and packed their colourful lights into storage for another year. Though official reports analyzing the revenue for December have yet to be released, the community’s retailers are optimistic, hoping it is followed by a steady January, as consumers redeem gift cards.

Lori Mellor, executive director for the Preston Street Business Improvement Association says Little Italy was “catching fire” this year with many excited shoppers lining the streets.

She says it was the street pageantry and decorating that reflected the season that drew customers to the area’s restaurants and shops this December.

“Our store was definitely busier than last year,” says Jean-Richard Dextras, store manager of Elgin Sports on Bank Street. “Our December was very good,” he added, saying that sales figures reflected a lively buying season.

Dextras says customers brave finding a parking space downtown during the year’s busiest season to visit shops that offer gifts that can’t be found at local superstores.

“We try to have products that people will go out of their way to come find,” he says. Canadian shopping patterns are heavily monitored by Statistics Canada, creating a buyer profile of what shoppers are looking for, where they find them and how much they spend.
In December 2004, Canadian shoppers spent a total of $34.5 billion in retail stores, a 6.9 per cent increase from 2003, reported Statistics Canada.

Mellor is optimistic that sales will continue to rise.

“I’m getting positive reports back from businesses,” she says, calling 2005 a very good year for some of the city’s smaller, independently owned shops.

These small stores must secure a niche offering for consumers, who otherwise may visit large department stores or big box chains, where statistics show the average consumer spends the most.

During 2004’s holiday season department stores ranked number one in dollar sales, bringing in a total of $3.2 billion, according to Statistics Canada.

“It’s a challenge (to compete), but we attract people who are willing to pay a little more for the experience,” says Mellor.

She adds that Christmas shoppers benefited from the more intimate relationship they can have with the business owners of smaller, specialty shops, especially when it comes to receiving more advice and customer service.

Amina Akhtar, owner and manager of the Boutique Le Papillon on Bank Street, agrees. She says that most of her shoppers keep coming back because of her customer service.

While the streets have grown quieter since last-minute shoppers rushed to purchase their final gifts and ornaments, Mellor is surprised to see that restaurants and shops still seem to be flourishing.

“I think gift cards have something to do with it,” she says.

In 2004, 68 per cent of stores offered gift cards during the Christmas season, considerably higher than the 53 per cent of retailers offering them in 2003, according to Statistics Canada.

Most businesses do not record gift card sales upon purchase during the holidays, rather they count towards a store’s sales when they are redeemed, energizing January results.

Eyes Drawn to Artguise Exhibit

Centretown News, March 2005

German painter Florian Fiebig says he is enthralled with the “social twilight zone” of public transportation.

In 2003 he would sit on subway trains in Germany and sketch the faces of passengers, inspired by the neutral expressions of everyday people. Now Fiebig has transformed these caricatures into colourful and mysterious portraits that explore the veiled human emotions behind everyday life.

His figurative series, called Faces and Figures, is showcased at Artguise, a gallery on Bank St. from March 4 to 30. Fiebig draws from his love of animation and oil painting to create characters that seem to jump from the canvas, expressing layers of emotion and mood.

“I am very interested in capturing movement. I like to show that in my paintings,” says Fiebig, stressing the importance of creating personality and depth in his characters. Faces and Figures is one of 11 solo series that Artguise is sponsoring this year.

The gallery prides itself on the intimate dynamic of doing a show for one artist at a time, says Brandon McVittie, co-owner of Artguise. “We’re excited because this is his first Canadian show,” he adds. Fiebig was born in Berlin, where he cultivated his love for art.

After travelling to Canada in 1997 and creating a studio in Montreal, Fiebig hit what he calls the peak of his animation career: animating the character of Bruno in the acclaimed film the Triplets of Belleville. The film broke new grounds for Canadian animation, garnering recognition at both the Academy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival.

“The Triplets of Belleville has expanded the horizons of Canadian animation for viewers who grew up with Disney films,” says Chris Robinson, artistic director for the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Though he says the bar for animated feature film in Canada is relatively low, the film’s story and animation is worthy of the attention it has received.

“The artist combines elements of both animation and his painting background,” says McVittie, who praises Faces and Figures as unique, compelling and often humourous.

“All of the arts, whether it is dancing or music, are connected,” says Fiebig. “This is the same with animation and painting,” he adds. Fiebig’s creativity has led to work at both Dynomight Cartoons and Disney.

“Art work is how he makes his bread and butter,” says McVittie.

Fiebig’s work is a part of the Artguise mandate to make visual art approachable and affordable to members of the community, while opening them up to varying subject matters and flow, says McVittie. Artguise opened in 1997 as a way to bring something to the Ottawa art community that had not existed before. The gallery is both a retail store that caters to professional artists and a venue to present new and emerging artists.

“We look for bodies of work that are a little bit different,” says McVittie. He adds Fiebig’s work is appealing because it dares to be edgier and more flavourful than what viewers might be used to. “We’re trying to expose people to what they might not have seen in a commercial gallery,” adds McVittie.

The series employs a wide range of emotion, from dramatic themes exuding raw energy to clever glimpses into the silent thoughts of strangers.

“So far the reaction has been tremendous,” says McVittie, who says he is very pleased with both the sales and the response. “It has gone very well,” says Fiebig.

He says that the chance to speak to students about his work and to inspire people has been more overwhelming then expected. He is pleased that the sketches he drew two years ago in Germany have transformed into inspiration for others. Fiebig’s artistic work has brought him all over the world, but he says Canada has always treated him well along the way.

“Who knows where my art will take me,” says Fiebig, who anticipates a long career ahead in capturing aspects of beauty, insight and the strength of human emotion.

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