You’re Invited to GerryFest 2024!
The St. Norbert Arts Centre and Black History Manitoba are excited to present the fifth annual GerryFest, unique and enriching event designed to foster the growth and development of emerging artists from diverse backgrounds. Join us Thursday, August 15 at the St. Norbert Arts Centre as we celebrate the legacy of beloved music icon Gerry Atwell through art, music, and community. Attendees will have the opportunity to see, hear, and engage with the innovative projects developed over the summer through the RiseUp Mentorship program, celebrating the artistic achievements and cultural contributions of the participants.
Mentorship participants and live music performers for 2024 include Jovelle, KNG JMZ, Melodiah, Oso Mario, Rut, and YBK Shakur, along with special guests Chuck Copenace, Jace Bodner, Kelly Bado, and The Kaptain. Mentees working in visual arts sharing their work this year include Daniela Smith-Fernandez, Earl Rina, Olivia Cassie, and Ada Zhang.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
3:00pm Art Exhibit Opens
3:30 pm Artist Talk
5:45 pm Concert Starts
Tickets are $15 in advance | $20 at the door
Children 12 years of age and under will receive free admission.
All proceeds go directly to build the Gerry Atwell Memorial Mentorship Endowment Fund.
MENTEES
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Ada Zhang
Acrylic Painter
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Daniela Smith-Fernandez
Textile and Multimedia Artist
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Earl Rina
Interdisciplinary Visual Artist
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KNG JMZ
Hip-Hop Artist, Songwriter, and Producer
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Jovelle
Jazz Pop Artist and Performer
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Melodiah
Singer-Songwriter
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Olivia Cassie
Multi-Disciplinary Artist
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Oso Mario
Hip-Hip Artist and Producer
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Rut
Empowerment Pop Singer-Songwriter
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YBK Shakur
Hip-Hop and Afrobeats Performer
SPECIAL GUESTS
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Chuck Copenace
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Jace Bodner
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Kelly Bado
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The Kaptain
Gerry Atwell
Gerry Atwell was a long-time board member, curator and program coordinator at the St. Norbert Art Centre. Gerry had been involved with SNAC for over 20 years. Since the 90s, the St. Norbert Arts Centre had created a path to diversity in its role as a multidisciplinary artistic space. Gerry and other committed staff and board members worked to promote this organization as a space that curated and promoted cultural and diversity focus and engaged with cultural and diverse communities with projects like DepARTures, Soul in Ice, The Last Stop and the last project Gerry curated, The Skin of the Moon with music and songs written and performed by Phoebe Man.
With Gerry’s passing in November 2019, friends and family believed it was important to find a way to continue Gerry’s community involvement supporting and mentoring artists from various disciplines, giving them the opportunity and space to develop and showcase their craft and meet and mingle with other people in their profession. GerryFest is an annual event that was started in 2020 as a way to continue the work that Gerry had done in the community with a particular focus on artists from communities under represented in the arts. The RiseUp Mentorship program first intake was the following year, 2021.
Gerry was a very gifted writer and talented musician, playing the keyboards for several bands. He was a prolific writer, writing music and lyrics, TV and movie treatments, plays and songs. Gerry had plays produced locally and a TV show pilot released, and other short films. Gerry used his strong writing skills to write grants for community groups, for musician friends and for SNAC, bringing in 10s of $1000s of dollars into the community at large.
St. Norbert Arts Centre is running a fundraising campaign to promote and support the continuation of the RiseUp Mentorship Program and GerryFest, striving to grow the Gerry Atwell Memorial Endowment Fund to $200,000 to ensure the program continues with or without grant support.
Theme: The Northern Lights
Drawing inspiration from their awe-inspiring beauty and cultural significance, the Northern Lights symbolize a timeless energy and a profound connection to our ancestors and the natural world. This theme encompasses several key ideas:
Reflecting on the movement and dynamic, ever-changing nature of the Northern Lights.
Honouring the spirits of those who came before us.
Sense of wonder: Capturing the awe and mystery that the Northern Lights inspire.
The theme encourages artists to explore these concepts in their work, fostering a deeper connection to the land, the sky, and the traditions that have shaped our understanding of the Northern Lights.
FAQ
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GerryFest is held at the St. Norbert Arts Centre, 100 Rue des Ruines du Monastère, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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Yes, parking is available upon entrance to the St. Norbert Arts Centre grounds, and it’s free. Accessible parking is available upon request and is closer to the venue.
If you require additional accessibility, please email us in advance at info@snac.mb.ca to make arrangements.
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Yes, there will be food available from the restaurant by Fort Catering and the bar will be open within the St. Norbert Arts Centre.
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This is an all-ages event; however, please keep in mind that some of the content featured may not be appropriate for families with young children at all times.
Children 12 years of age and under will receive free admission.
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Inspired by Gerry’s lifelong commitment to mentoring emerging artists, the Atwell Family and the St. Norbert Arts Centre has established the Gerry Atwell Memorial Mentorship Fund. The Fund will provide support for professional artists to work with talented emerging artists from communities underrepresented in the Artistic sector. The mentorship fund is administered by the St. Norbert Arts Centre with the Atwell family’s direction and in collaboration with community organizations that were near and dear to Gerry’s heart.
To donate to the RiseUp Mentorship Program, GerryFest Annual Art Exhibit and Live Performance and/or the Gerry Atwell Memorial Mentorship Endowment Fund held in trust by the Winnipeg Foundation, please go to St. Norbert Arts Centre Donation Page, or cheques can be forwarded for these initiatives to:
St. Norbert Arts Centre
PO Box 175
St. Norbert, Manitoba R3V 1L6Email RiseUp Mentorship amd GerryFest Committee Co-Chair Judy Williams at judywilliams5@gmail.com to learn more about the RiseUp Mentorship and GerryFest sponsorship opportunities available today.
RISEUP MENTORSHIP AND GERRYFEST TEAM
Ashley Bieniarz
Artistic Director
Ashley Bieniarz, also known as Kwiat, is a multi-talented and award-winning music industry professional based in Winnipeg. Dedicated to community, songcraft, and representing her cultures, she has worked tirelessly to mitigate barriers for marginalized individuals while creating inspiration and opportunities for others. Notably, in 2023, she was honoured with the inaugural Women in Music Honour Roll award for her outstanding work with Songsmiths Canada, a program that celebrates and supports Canadian innovators and creators. As the first Indigenous woman from Manitoba to receive this commendation, Ashley is making significant strides.
Having completed her role as interim Indigenous Music Development Coordinator at Manitoba Music in 2022, she is well-versed in grants and actively contributes to initiatives promoting gender equity in audio recording and music production. Ashley has a vision of evolving Songsmiths into an artist services and publishing house that incorporates Indigenous knowledge and leadership practices to provide greater benefits and support to the artists she works with.
Shay Wolf
Administrative Assistant
Shay Wolf is a prairie-born singer-songwriter. She started developing her musicality at a young age playing classical piano. In 2016, she started songwriting and hasn't looked back. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business in 2017 and dove into the music business with the launch of her debut EP, "Stay" in 2023. Shay is a dreamer at heart and invites others to believe in their dreams, too.
Alia Aluma
Curator
Alia Aluma is an artist, designer, and writer, known for her contributions across academia, philanthropy, and the creative industry. With experiences spanning multiple countries, including Hong Kong, England, and Canada. She currently works as a curator at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, is the founding Perspective Film Curator at Contemporary Calgary, a previous curator with Pink Flamingo, and is a creative with SRRYCinema and Aluma Studio & Agency. Her current focuses include playwriting (in prod. 'Roma Tempus', 2024) and film production (in prod. 'Yesterday, Last Year', 2024). She has also built artist and creative residencies in Alberta with a focus on education and entrepreneurship, leading consultations with diverse clients globally.
On August 12, 2023, SNAC hosted the Annual GerryFest in honour of Gerry Atwell, a musician, writer, community builder, and mentor to many, who was involved at SNAC in various roles for over 25 years. GerryFest 2023 featured the work of the program participants who completed SNAC’s Rise Up Mentorship program. They were invited to exhibit visual art in the Women of Vision Gallery or perform live at the Gerry Atwell Amphitheatre. SNAC partnered with Black History Manitoba for this year's event and received funding support from FACTOR Canada.
TIME CAPSULE
Gerry Fest 2023 - Rise Up Mentorship
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Ashley Bieniarz (Kwiat)
MENTORS: Claire Boning of Misfit Music Management, Chole Chafe of Synonym Arts Consultation, JayWood, Jacques Richer, Brendan Kinley, Lisa Whitehouse
GUEST FACILITATORS: Naomi Gerrard, Judy Williams, Dan St. Ives, Jo Dixon, Stephen Carroll of Manitoba Film & Music, Cathleen Enns of Manitoba Arts Council, Alex Sannie of Manitoba Music
COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Manitoba Music, Creative Manitoba, Black History Manitoba, Black Artists Winnipeg
MENTEES
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Shay Wolf
Singer-Songwriter
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Xiaojun "Ada" Zhang
Visual Artist Using Painting and Embroidery
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Kozii
Hip-Hop/Rap Artist and Songwriter
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Kwae Kobain
Hip-Hop Artist and Producer
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Tega
R&B and Pop Singer-Songwriter
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Zen Thompson
Visual Artist and Filmmaker
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RJ Martinez
Rock Fusion Musician
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Emmanual Bonger
Bassist and Vocalist of Alt. Punk Rock Band spectrums.
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Allie James
Multi-Genre Singer-Songwriter
GerryFest 2022 - Love Letters to Community Mentorship
Gerry Fest Mentorship program is about how each mentee feels life and wants to share it with us. The program provides a secure, intimate place to nourish and inform artistic growth. We'd like to thank you all for attending Gerry Fest and for supporting the Gerry Atwell Endowment fund. We'd like to thank every mentee and mentor as they've placed their trust in the process of creation in the valleys of vulnerability. We'd like to thank the Committee and SNAC for supporting this vision. Gerry believed in the mutli-faceted world of art. It never has one voice or one face. It's to be explored and it's magic honoured. Gerry meant so much to so many people. This mentorship is a way to keep his spirit present and actions within reach to observe & follow.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Elliott Walsh (Nestor Wynrush)
MENTORS: Ogo Okumabua, Sonya Ballantayne, Jen Doerksen, Jaywood, Ashley (Kwiat) Bieniarz, Luther Mallory
MENTEES: Cosmic River (Eric Lavoie) — Musician, Mary Clare "Clary" Ines — Graphic Design/ Visual Artist, Daisy Caneda — Musician, Kara Rose — Musician, Anuna Oman Ojwato — Visual Artist & Fashion, Destiny Wilby She/Her — Musician, Ryan Cameron — Novelist , Isaac Kelly Kirugi — Photography, Jocelyn Chorney — Poet/ Multi discipline.
GUEST FACILITATORS: Naomi Gerrard, Louise May, Sharon Mctyre, Judy Williams, Pheobe Man
COMMUNITY PARTNERS: African Super Creative Arts Centre, Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, Black History Manitoba, CEDA, Manitoba Music, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg - Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, Tech Voc High Schoo, The Holistic Ongoing Opportunities Development-Facilitation and Management Services Inc. or The HOODFAMS Inc., Aurora Farm, Manitoba Art Council, Factor, Government of Canada.
GerryFest 2021 – Raising New Voices Mentorship
On August 13 - 15, 2021, SNAC hosted the second Annual GerryFest in honour of our long time supporter and mentor, Gerry Atwell who passed away suddenly in November 2019.
This year’s GerryFest featured the works of nine mentees who completed the Raising New Voices mentorship program that SNAC launched in February 2021. The mentorship program was supported with a grant from the Manitoba Government, Ethnocultural Community Support Program. Emerging artists were referred to this project by community organizations with a specific goal to invite artists to this training program from communities underrepresented in arts sectors.
The Raising New Voices them focused on the idea of “Each One, Teach One,” action/liberation/healing through community and relationship building.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR : Brendan Kinley
MENTORS : Ashley Au, Sierra Noble, Franklin Fernando
MENTEE’S : Kelvin Bett – Visual Artist, Jace Bodner – Musician & Songwriter, Emmanuel Bongar – Filmmaking, Jibu Kamabu - Visual Artist, Albert Kandie - Writer, Ethan Lyric – Musician & Songwriter, Pajack Obeing – Visual Artist, Tomiwa Omolayo - Musician & Producer, Allen Odongoh – Visual Artist
GUEST FACILITATORS : Phoebe Man, Louise May, Yisa Akinbolaji, Judy Williams, Naomi Gerrard
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS : Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, The Holistic Ongoing Opportunities Development Facilitation and Management Services Inc. (HoodFams), Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba – Stronger Together, Kenya Association, Black History Manitoba, The Community Education Development Association (CEDA)