In this episode of Re-Creative, Mark and Joe talk to animator/filmmaker Tess Martin about Yuri Norstein’s Tale of Tales (1979), a complex, surreal masterpiece. As Tess explains, Tale of Tales is less a classical narrative than a tapestry of memories, providing just enough clues to allow viewers to unlock its meaning and hidden depths, though a familiarity with the culture from which it emerged helps. Featuring a little grey wolf from a traditional Russian lullaby, Norstein employs deeply personal and culturally specific imagery—such as a glass of vodka and bread as an offering for the dead—making the film feel intensely real and true, even if one doesn’t fully grasp every reference the first time around.

Originally from the States, Tess relocated to the Netherlands to pursue her craft. Her own work follows in Norstein’s tradition of thoughtful, material-based art. Her projects tend to develop through a mix of personal interest and the practicalities of the Dutch public arts funding system.

Mark, Tessa and Joe discuss two of her recent films:

• How Now House: Using archives, personal memories and the philosophy of time, the film questions whether a space can ever really belong to one person, or time period, at all.
• 1976 Search for Life: A new father visits the hometown of his mother in 1976, accompanied by his wife and baby. At the same time, the NASA Viking lander is sending the first images back to Earth from the surface of another planet.

You can check out Tess’s work on her website.

Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.

Contact us at: contact@donovanstreetpress.com

In this episode of Re-Creative, Mark and Joe talk to singer-songwriter Jenn Grant about coffee, smoothies, and a whole lot more, including Jenn’s upcoming tour Cradled by the Waves, described as “a groundbreaking live tour that transforms her forthcoming album, Queen of the Strait, into a stunning multimedia performance blending music, film, theatre, and dance.”

Drawing inspiration from Sarah Harmer, Jenn sees her work as an act of service, viewing music and art as forms of resistance, especially in these troubled times. They talk about how her current album Queen of the Strait was recorded “live off the floor” in four magical days, in their own home studio, and how the “Queen” in the title is an homage to her mother, who displayed remarkable resilience during a tumultuous time in their lives. Jenn also shares the true story behind her wonderful song “Jim Cuddy Dress”

Mark and Joe also talk to Jenn about some of her favourite art. She speaks passionately about her own journey with visual art and her admiration for the work of Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy, and about the importance of reconciliation and supporting the long-standing work of indigenous creators.

Re-Creative is produced by Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.

Contact us at contact@donovanstreetpress.com

In this episode of Re-Creative, Mark and Joe talk to Diane Walton, a founding member and long-time managing editor of On Spec: The Canadian magazine of the Fantastic. On Spec is well known in Canadian speculative fiction circles (and beyond!) for publishing quality fiction and art from (largely but not exclusively) Canadian writers and artists.

Diane tells the lads how the highly regarded Canadian spec fic magazine began in Edmonton around 1989 after a creative writing group at the University of Alberta grew frustrated with American magazines rejecting their work for being “too Canadian”. She recounts the early days of assembling an editorial team, securing startup funds, and commissioning stories from notable authors like Dave Duncan and Eileen Kernaghan for their first saddle-stitched issue.

Re-Creative is produced by Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.

Contact us at contact@donovanstreetpress.com