Amrita Sondhi PreSentS

healing reciPeS for lifeBy Susanne Martin

Amrita, you are a woman of many talents: you teach yoga, founded a clothing line and have written a cookbook. How do you successfully balance your many jobs and passions?

My one word answer is Ayurveda, the tradition of yoga and integral healing through balancing the doshas. My own exposure to Ayurveda inspired me to write The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook and share healthful healing recipes and how to cook and balance our unique individual constitutions which are made up of doshas. Doshas are combinations of the elements Wind (Vata), Fire (Pitta), Earth (Kapha), ether and water. We all represent a unique combination and permutation of these and it is helpful to know what elements to add or subtract in our food, surroundings, exercise, work and extra-curricular activities to achieve a healthy balance in mind, body and spirit.

Your family background is Indian, you grew up in Africa and are now living on Bowen Island. What made you choose the Canadian West coast for a home?

I moved to Canada as a teenager with my family. While we still lived in Kenya, my parents traveled the world for two years when my father was International Director of Lions International, a world service organization. They thought Vancouver was the most beautiful city in the world and liked Canada’s politics. Although I have since traveled extensively, I have always come “home” to the West coast. For a long time, I have missed the feeling of freedom, community and being around international people that I had in my life in Kenya until I moved to Bowen Island where I capture the same essence.

Inside: President’s Message 2

Calendar of Events 3

MaraGold Theatre 5

News 7

CHAC Tournament 8

Amrita/cont’ on Page 4

iebenL The voice of one of Canada’s most artistic communities

A Publication of the Bowen Island Arts CouncilSpring 2007

Amrita Sondhi

Local resident, Amrita Sondhi is a certified yoga instructor and Ayurvedic cooking teacher; and owner of Movement (movementglobal.com), a cutting-edge clothing line specializing in sustainable fibers. She also was a co-founder of Lululemon Athletica, the activewear company. Arsenal Press has just launched her first book, The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook.Writer, Susanne Martin, caught up with Amrita recently for an interview on her life, passions and

how to achieve a healthy balance in mind, body and spirit.

Ayurveda

B I A CBOWENISLAND ARTS

COUNCIL

Box 211 Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 Phone 604.947.2454 Fax 604.947.2460 Email admin@biac.ca Web www.biac.ca

The Gallery@Artisan Square Email gallery@biac.ca

Fall through Spring hours:Fri. to Sun. 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

AdministratorJacqueline Massey

Gallery/Cultural Development Coordinator

Sara Baker

BIAC thanks its members, volunteers and the community for their generous and loyal support

of the arts on Bowen.BIAC also gratefully acknowledges

the financial support of the Bowen Island Municipality,

the Province of British Columbia and the BC Arts Council.

Lieben is published quarterly by the Communications Committee

of the Bowen Island Arts Council

Design/LayoutRoss Carter

Editor/ProofreadingJacqueline Massey

ContributorsMatt Maxwell, Susanne Martin

Mara Brenner, Jackie Minns, Kate Coffey

Sara Baker

Article submissions welcome

DeadlinesSpring: February 1

Summer: May 1Fall: August 1

Winter: December 1

President’s Message

It has been an exhilarating year for the Bowen Island Arts Council as the lead arts organization on the island, we have made our presence felt in a myriad of ways.

The Community Hall and Arts Centre (CHAC) committee has been working very hard to make the dream of having a first-class facility, where the community can attend theatre, concert and film events, a reality. Two members of the committee, Paul Hooson and I, are members of the Civic Facilities Working Group, a municipally-appointed committee that is charged with determining the location, size and functions of the recreational, cultural and municipal buildings that will be built on the recently acquired surplus lands. In the coming months, after a visioning session in early March, to which various stakeholders in the community will be invited, we will hire a programmer to help in finalizing a needs assessment. Shortly thereafter, we will hire an architect to begin the process of designing these buildings.

The CHAC committee is also developing a full-fledged fundraising strategy which will work along two different strands—one to raise the money necessary for capital costs and one to create an endowment fund to cover operating shortfalls once the facility has been built. For the endowment fund, we have partnered with the Bowen Island Community Foundation to administer the Arts Renaissance fund of the Vancouver Foundation; all monies raised for the endowment fund will be matched dollar for dollar. We are presently in negotiations with an experienced fundraiser who will volunteer her time to develop a strategic fundraising initiative which will target arts-friendly foundations and private philanthropists. We will also continue to have profile-building fundraising events, like the highly successful 1st Annual Swing for CHAC Golf Tournament and Swing for CHAC Dance. It’s our goal to have the CHAC up and running in time for the 2010 Olympics.

The gallery and cultural coordinator, Sara Baker, has had a busy year. Her dogged determination in promoting the Learning Through the Arts (LTTA) has paid off. It has been an unqualified success in its first pilot project launch at the Bowen Island Community School (BICS). The West Vancouver School District has been very impressed with the results of the LTTA initiative, and some off-island parents have even inquired about sending their children to BICS so that they can participate in this enriched program in which artists teach core elements of the curriculum (math, science, language arts) through their artistic disciplines.

A discussion of the accomplishments of BIAC would not be complete without mentioning administrator Jacqueline Massey. She has worked to make our organization run like a well-oiled machine, getting our accounts in order, preparing our annual budgets, communicating with our members and public at large and constantly working behind the scenes to make BIAC one of the strongest not-for-profit organization on Bowen. And of course our volunteers also deserve a “hats off” for all of their tireless commitment and contributions to the arts on Bowen. We also thank our membership for their continued support, interest and participation in our programs and initiatives.

Sincerely,

Matt Maxwell

2

British ColumBiaarts CounCil

Supported by the Province of British Columbia

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My large international family is passionate about cooking and food. We learn from friends and family and exchange recipes. When my mother came to Canada she wanted to bridge cultures through teaching Indian cooking. She taught classes through adult education and at elementary and high schools where there was extensive racism apparent in the lower mainland. She saw wonderful results. She was also the in-house chef at the Pierre Dubrulle School of Cooking before she moved back to Kenya. I learned many of the basics of Indian cooking from her and believe that the passion for cooking is part of my family’s genetic make-up.

I really began to focus on cooking and take it much more seriously after my health failed and I burned out. I was driven by my passions and deadlines and did not make enough time for health exercise and good food, working 80 hour work weeks and flying all over the world creating my clothing line “Tayari”. I was designing clothes in Europe, having them made in Hong Kong and India and selling them across Canada.

When I burned out, I met a private trainer, Joan Santopinto, who said “a man spends his health to get his wealth and then spends his wealth to get his health back again” This hit home for me. With Joan, I began running 10 kms and focusing on my health. I also started to pay attention to the food I put into my body.

After my clothing store on Vancouver’s West 10th was robbed, I suffered a second burn-out which led to meeting my ultimate teacher, Sandra Sammartino. She took me to a much deeper level through yoga. I am now a certified yoga instructor from Kairos, a school for educating teachers founded and headed by Sandra. I have been practicing and teaching yoga for 12 years to the benefit of both my students and myself. From Sandra I learned that yoga is not here for us to escape from our lives—it is here to assist them.

What can you tell us about the Pamoja Foundation?

According to Ayurveda, when we are feeling healthy and balanced we start to extend that feeling to those around us allowing us to contribute to our community and our planet. After climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, I envisioned and co-founded the Pamoja Foundation which supports grass roots entrepreneurs in Kenya (Africa), where I was born, through micro-financing loans (www.pamoja.org). This method is the most successful proven sustainable way out of poverty today. These loans are extended to people who cannot ordinarily get loans as they have no collateral. The repayment rate of this method, begun by Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Muhammad Yunus, is typically 98%. Within only two years, most borrowers qualify to enter the “normal” banking system and the loans get recycled indefinitely.

I began teaching Ayurvedic cooking to raise funds for the Pamoja foundation and that led me to writing “The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook”. The book includes healthful healing recipes for life as well as yoga poses for the doshas. When I realized we would need yoga clothing for the models, I was able to draw on my extensive knowledge of the clothing business to further the vision. I began my new company “Movement”, featuring clothes made from sustainable fibers, i.e. soy, bamboo and tencel fibers (www.movementglobal.com). Part of the proceeds of my new book and the clothing line go to the Pamoja Foundation. It is my vision that the natural fibers for the fabric, and eventually the clothing will be made

by the people in Africa who finance their business through micro loans.

The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook is on sale at Phoenix on Bowen.

Susanne Martin is the author of a number of books and articles. She works primarily as a freelance writer, editor and translator and resides on Bowen Island with her family.

...Amrita/cont’d from front cover

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find the courage to participate in the real world. This highly acclaimed 2005 Fringe Festival hit was originally directed by Russell Bennett. Boweners may remember him from the 2005 Bowen Fridge Festival production of The Reefer Man.

Interestingly, although Laurel studied theatre in Boulder Colorado, and was the Co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of a well-received theatre company in London England, most of the roles she has played are by Vancouver playwrights. Laurel says “Some of the plays were new at the time and required a workshopping process with the playwright, others were remounts of locally written plays”. Included in her extensive biography are: Sarah in Breeding Doubts (Sandra Ferens); Annie in Cubistique (Tom Cone); Joan in Two in the Morning (David Bloom); the Fool in Howard Johnson Commits Suicide, Emii in Branwell Alone, Leslie in Thoroughbred, Arlene in Where Have All the Real Ken Dolls Gone? (Andrew Templeton), Branwell Bronte in The Bronte Brothers (Bill Roxoborough), Elaine in The Late Blumer (John Lazarus), and Gus Gelpin in The Fourth Monkey (Eric Nicol). Laurel also did commercials in Taiwan and some film work in Vancouver, but most of us here now know her as the “Naked” lady. (As in Naked Soapworks!)

MaraGold Production Offers Double Pleasure in March

For the first time ever, MaraGold Theatre Productions is producing a non-Fridge Festival event. In keeping with MaraGold’s new not-for-

profit society mandate to produce plays that would not be seen in mainstream theatres, the two upcoming plays differ markedly. Although they are both one act plays by Vancouver playwrights, one is a drama and one is a comedy. So, it’s an evening of, dare I say…Dramedy?.

The first show of the night is titled Self-Storage. Jackie Minns, who is directing Laurel Bailey in this one-woman show, says that “the play is a journey of self preservation”. The character, aptly named Normal, decides to move into a self-storage unit to escape from life. Written, and originally acted by Vancouver playwright Gillian Stevens-Guille,

Normal says “I am not afraid of life, I just don’t know what to do with it right now.” At times painful and humorously cathartic, the storage unit is a safe refuge for Normal in her attempt to

Gillian Stevens-Guille

Laurel Bailey

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She was also recently seen as The Mother in Kingbaby’s premiere production of Time Out.

The second play of the night will delight us all with some very well known local talent. Peg Campbell will be directing Martin Clarke and Graham Ritchie in Babel Rap which is a comedy, by BC’s John Lazarus. It has nothing to do with rap music and everything to do with the Tower of Babel, an early construction project of such humongous size and budget that it even made

it into the Bible. Martin portrays a construction worker totally dedicated to the success of the venture, while Graham plays a worker who’s not quite so keen. Will they overcome their differences and fulfil their mission of meeting with God? I won’t

reveal the ending. You’ll have to come and find out for yourself.

Since Martin’s first Bowen Island appearance in The Drunkard in 1977, he has directed and/or starred in 25 local productions, all with Bowen’s Theatre On The Isle (TOTI), of which he was a founding member. Some highlights of his illustrious career in community theatre are: directing Waiting on a Parade, Dancing at Lughnasa, and three fantastic Shakespeare productions. He also has his own one-man-show titled Angry Penguins.

Graham Ritchie who has acted with, and been directed by Martin in the past also has his own very impressive list of productions under his belt. Highlights from classical productions include: Malvolio in Twelfth Night and King Richard in Robin Hood. More recently, he has been collaborating with Kingbaby Productions in both local and national productions. He was the Waiter in La Vita Grande and last year he portrayed Kenneth in The View. Once again, the Legion will be opening up its doors to the community and allowing us to transform it into a “theatre” for a weekend. Self-Storage and Babel Rap will play on Thursday March 1st at 7:30, Saturday the 3rd at 2:00 and 7:30 and Sunday the 4th at 2:00 and 7:30. Tickets at Phoenix on Bowen are $15 in advance.

Bowen Centre for the Arts Launches Programs

The Gallery @ Artisan Square has launched the Bowen Centre for the Arts with a series of lectures and classes in art instruction. Offering arts programming and education is one of the objectives outlined in the Cultural Master Plan and is viewed as an important aspect of the arts council’s mandate in providing opportunities for artists and promoting arts and culture.

The lectures, on Sundays throughout February and March have created a lot of buzz. Speakers have included Dr. Charlotte Townsend-Gault, Paul Deggan and Susan Hillman. Paul is returning February 25 to talk about Post Impressionism and Ron Tribe will address his audience with the theme, the Secret Life of a Ceramicist, on March 11. Everyone is welcome to attend these interesting and informative lectures at the Gallery beginning at 3 p.m. The price is $10.

Watch for more news, or check our website online at www.biac.ca for upcoming announcements about the Spring session of classes and programs.

John Lazarus

Stuart Slind works with students of his Still Life in Oil class. Slind is a respected artist who is represented in Canada by the Bau-Xi Gallery. He studied at the Emily Carr Institute and the Seattle Academy of Realist Art. His paintings have been exhibited widely across Canada and are sought after by private collectors. Says Slind: My painting is a personal intimate experience by which I try to make the real the more ephemeral emotional aspects of myself, in particular that tangled area of hopes, faith and meaning.

Stuart’s work is currently featured in an exhibit at the Baux-Xi Gallery. Titled, Vanishing Point, it runs until February 17.

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Everyone Danced for CHAC!With a shuffle-shuffle rock-step, dancers swept across

the ballroom floor at Cates Chapel this month, getting all jazzed up to help build a community hall and arts centre. The well-attended evening began with a dance lesson from Dominic Brown and his partner, Linda. In no time at all, couples got into the groove. Crooner Artie Devlin pleased the crowd with his honeyed voice and the band – Wayne Kozak, Rob Bailey, Teun Schut, and Brian Berry were sizzling all night long.

Jackie Minns, the head organizer of the splendid affair, ensured that the evening ran smoothly with nary a hitch. Her crew of able-bodied volunteers who decorated the hall, sold tickets, served refreshments, and mopped up afterwards are to be congratulated for the success of the Swing Dance party. The community raised another $2000 to put in the pot towards a multi-purpose facility where we can all gather and celebrate the treasures of our community.

Some Day My Prints Will ComeThanks for those who made it out for fun and to support the Arts Council at the Some Day My Prints Will Come event in early February. Sara Baker and her committee are to be commended for organizing a splendid event that raised approximately $2500, funds to go towards the Gallery, the Building Fund and the arts council. If you weren’t able to make it last Saturday, there’s still time to contribute and purchase a print. The exhibition runs until 25 February.

Royalty pictured from left: Kim Kasasian, Betty Dhont, Sara Baker, Lori Griffiths, Sara Wallwork at the February event Some Day My Prints Will Come

Mary McDonagh and dance instructor, Domininc Brown swing to the beat at the CHAC fundraiser in February

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It’s not too early to start planning for the

2nd Annual Swing for CHAC Golf Tournament & Dinner

Kate Coffey has again pulled together her extraordinary team of volunteers to organize the event of the year! It combines the best of Bowen

—physical activity in the great outdoors, fine dining, tantalizing entertainment and a great party with all your friends—all in support of the arts. Mark your calendars now.

Golfers please set aside Saturday afternoon, June 22 to T-off for a round at Bowen’s first rate 9-hole golf course.

Of course everyone is invited to join the fun and celebration that evening. Dinner and an auction of exciting items, artworks and experiences will be presented on the lawn at Doc Morgan’s Pub and restaurant. Drinks, prizes and entertainment by the sea – isn’t that a perfect way to kick off summer?

The annual golf tournament, is one of many capital fundraising initiatives aimed at raising $2 million towards the construction of a Community Hall and Arts Centre (CHAC). Last year BIAC raised almost $10,000 from proceeds from this event. We look to your support again to make this a successful undertaking.

Watch for updates, including registration forms which will be available soon. As well, we welcome participants to register online at www.biac.ca.

The cost per golfer, including green fees, dinner, entertainment and donation is a steal at $99. Dinner tickets only sell for a mere $30.

Prizes will be awarded to outstanding golfers. As well, thanks to sponsorship from Wood Griffiths and

Family, we are again offering a $10,000 prize for anyone who hits a Hole-In-One.

The indomitable David Cameron has agreed to act as Master of Ceremonies, while the in doughty Graham Ritchie will auction off a number of coveted items. A little jazz with Corbin Keep and Teun Schut will keep us all in the mood.

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The Gallery @ Artisan Square hosted a book launch of Barbara Murray’s new book, Gifts and Bones on January 20. Allice Bernards, who has collaborated with Murray to produce an audio version of the murder mystery, was on hand to give the audience a sound bite of what they might expect. The softcover edition of Gifts and Bones is available locally for purchase at Phoenix on Bowen. The audio version will be released this Spring.

Call to Action: Contact Your MP Prior to the Federal Budget!

The Canadian Arts Coalition calls on all artists and those who support artists and/or work in the cultural industries to let their voices be heard.

We urge you to make your voice heard by contacting your MP to let them know about your work and the need for more federal investment in the arts.

Go to www.canadianartscoalition.ca to access information and communication materials so that you can write or meet with your own MP.

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February 21—The BI Public Library Association and the Bowen Island Library Foundation will host their annual AGMs on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. in the library.

February 24—Kim Barlow performs at Cates Chapel at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at Phoenix for $18 or $20 at the door. Presented by BIMA.

February 24—Peace it Together, Canada, 2006, a series of seven films will be the feature of the Bowen Island Film Society this month. The films were created when the Vancouver-based Creative Peace Network Society brought ten Palestinian, ten Israeli and nine Canadian youth together for a unique peace and filmmaking camp on Galiano Island. Youth filmmakers and Creative Peace Network directors will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening. Collins Hall, 7:30 p.m.

March 1, 3, & 4—MaraGold Productions presents a double bill. Self-Storage and Babel Rap will play on Thursday March 1st at 7:30, Saturday the 3rd at 2:00 and 7:30 and Sunday the 4th at 2:00 and 7:30 at the Legion. Tickets at Phoenix on Bowen are $15 in advance. Minors will be welcome at matinee performances only.

March 6—Bowen Island Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting, at the Bowen Lodge by the Sea. 7 p.m.

March 10—Swing and Jazz Vocal Harmony Workshop; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.March 13—Community Choir Concert. Details TBA.

The Gallery @ Artisan SquareFebruary 25—Paul Deggan, Post Impressionism. Sunday Art Lecture Series,

Bowen Centre for the Arts. The Gallery @ Artisan Square; 3 p.m.March 2—Owen Carroll. A new exhibit featuring the work of Owen Carroll.

The show runs until March 25. The artists reception is Sunday, March 4.March 11—Ron Tribe: The Secret Life of a Ceramicist. Sunday Art Lecture

Series, Bowen Centre for the Arts. The Gallery @ Artisan Square; 3 p.m.March 30—Kim Kasasian. A new show of her works opens at the Gallery.

The opening for the show is April 1. The show runs until April 22.

OngoingThe BI Juggling Club meets twice-weekly. It’s free to drop-in and everyone is

welcome. On Wednesdays meet at Collins Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays head to BICS from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Paul Stewart at 947-9180.

Board of Directors of BIAC

Matt Maxwell, President Ian Davidson, Treasurer

Lorraine Ashdown Ross Carter Betty Dhont

Don MacLean Jan Wells

Liz Watson

CALENDAR OF ARTS EVENTSSee www.biac.ca for more details and ticket information