Jan
Andrews - Inspired Storytelling
By Sally Hansen
The
upcoming 2002 Inspiration Tour in picturesque Lanark Highlands
on September 21st and 22nd provides a perfect opportunity
to meet this month's featured artist, Jan Andrews. A renowned
author and storyteller, Jan will be telling some of the
stories from her most recent book - Out Of The Everywhere.
New Tales For Canada - on Saturday, September 21st, at 1:20PM.
Richly illustrated by Simon Ng, the book is Andrews' response
to the young listener in Ottawa who kept imploring, "Tell
us more stories from here". In her foreword Jan writes,
"Following in the footsteps of those long-ago tellers,
I have taken tales that have come to us through the heritage
of our various cultural communities. I have reset those
tales in our own landscape, hoping they will become part
of our own folk culture in their time."
That same great Canadian landscape forms an integral part
of the third annual Inspiration Tour. Conceived and cultivated
by Adrianna and Dave Card of Peace of Mind Creations (www.thehumm.com/hsn/peaceofmind/),
the Tour is designed to bring guests closer to nature and
to an understanding of the artistic inspiration of the participating
artists. This year's full program brings together visual
and performing artists who are inspired by nature and children.
Authors Phil Jenkins and Larry McCloskey will also present
readings from their books. Please see below for full details
on this enjoyable and inspiring event.
The Author
Jan Andrews is the author of many acclaimed children's picture
books and a novel for young adults, all published by Groundwood
Books (Toronto). Very Last First Time, a perennial picture
book favourite she wrote in 1985, illustrates Jan's ability
to inspire audiences with her own conviction that we each
possess the inner strengths we need to weather any storm.
It tells the story of an Inuit girl's first solo trip below
the thick sea ice to search for mussels while the tide is
out. Jan's first short novel, Keri, is the poignant tale
of how a 13-year-old girl enlists her younger brother in
a courageous battle to rescue a beached humpback whale off
the coast of Newfoundland.
Andrews earned her Masters in English Literature at the
University of Saskatchewan, and started her literary career
by writing commercials for a radio station. She realized
that she really "enjoyed making words do the job they
were supposed to do". She was short-listed for the
Governor General's Literary Award in 1990 and 1996, and
has had books selected for the International Youth Library
and the American Library Association's Notable Children's
Books Award. In 2001 she served as Writer in Residence at
the Ottawa Public Library.
The Storyteller
It was while she was organizing a storytelling program for
Expo '86 that Andrews first thought "I can do this!",
and she did. She especially likes storytelling because there
are no barriers." The wonderful thing is I tell the
story, but listeners create the images in their heads. It's
very creative, and also communal."
Past National Coordinator for Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs
du Canada, Jan Andrews was among those instrumental in convincing
the Canada Council to support storytelling as an art form
in the process of being revived. Her current initiative
is "StorySave" - a project aimed at capturing
the voices of elders from the Canadian storytelling community
on web site and audio CD.
Jan likes to touch audiences deeply, giving readings and
performing stories at festivals across Canada. With partner
and fellow storyteller Jennifer Cayley, she organises weekend
tellings of complete epic works such as The Iliad and The
Odyssey by up to twenty tellers at their idyllic home setting
on Taylor Lake. She produces a winter storytelling series
at Rasputin's Café in Ottawa, and is Artistic Director
for the Ottawa Storytellers series of monthly concerts at
the NAC's Fourth Stage from January to May. You can contact
Jan at 256-0353 or by email at jandrews@magma.ca
to be added to her electronic mailing list of storytelling
events and activities.
She delights in communicating her passion for the storyteller's
art, and has given countless workshops to teachers and writers
and storytellers. Besides her writing and storytelling,
her passions include canoeing, rock climbing, cross-country
skiing, discussing and promulgating oral traditions, and
especially, living life courageously.
2002 Inspiration Tour - September 21 & 22
This weekend Tour is a coming together of 18 like-minded
artists and craftspeople who either use natural materials
or depict nature in some way. Many make art for children,
depict them in their art, or draw on their own inner child
to create fanciful, youth-inspired art. Set in two lush,
natural settings, the show also encompasses many aspects
of the performing arts, featuring musicians, storytellers,
poetry reading, and workshops for children and adults. The
website at www.landolakes.ca/inspiration
provides maps, a full schedule of events, and lots of information
on participating artists (including Jan Andrews). Brochures
are available at many local spots (e.g., Miller's Tale,
Keffer Gallery, Baldersons, Foodsmiths, Apex Art Framing
in Kanata, Ottawa Folklore Centre), or contact Adrianna
Steele-Card at 259-2720 or pomc@attcanada.ca.
The best way to experience Jan Andrews' talents is to show
up for her storytelling and book signing at 1:20PM Saturday,
September 21st, at Stop 2 of the Inspiration Tour. Come
a little early to this beautiful site along the Clyde River
hosted by Joe and Inez Molloy of River Farm, buy a delicious
lunch from Savoury Pursuits Café, and settle in for
an afternoon of eclectic art and artistic performances.
What a way to do your early shopping for the holiday season!
