Art Pays Me

Welcome to a special series of Art Pays Me interviews with the winners of the 2024 Creative Nova Scotia Awards. Presented annually by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, these awards celebrate artistic excellence across Mi'kma'ki. This would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.

On this episode I spoke with playwright, multimedia artist and creative entrepreneur, Tara Taylor – recipient of the 2024 Black Artist Recognition Award.

Multidisciplinary artist Ibe Ananaba describes getting early inspiration from his older brother, exploring different mediums and why his approach to painting is similar to carving. He also takes us on a deep dive into the thinking behind one of his paintings and a lesson he helped me learn from my first experience as a curator.

In this throwback to my chats with the participants in our 2023 collaborative exhibition with Haliente – Arte & Movement, I spoke with Gloire (John) Aelfaz about his multi-disciplinary practice. Despite being relatively new to the Halifax art scene at the time, Gloire managed to find diverse ways to get his work seen while also exploring multiple mediums of expression.

I also reveal the start of a new era for Art Pays Me.

Welcome to a special series of Art Pays Me interviews with the winners of the 2024 Creative Nova Scotia Awards. Presented annually by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, these awards celebrate artistic excellence across Mi'kma'ki.

In this episode I interviewed Oriana Duinker, Executive Director of the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia about the amazing ways that they support Nova Scotia's writing community. We also talked about the significance of winning the Creative Community Impact Award and I came away from the chat feeling inspired to write the book I've had in my head for a few years!

This special edition series would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.

artpaysme.com

Jennifer O'Connell is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. We talk about Jennifer's approach to making art, why it brings meaning to her life and how an unexpected Instagram co-sign from art critic, Jerry Saltz impacted her art practice. Jennifer also talks about fear and the double standards applied to women in the art world.

Marissa Sean Cruz is a digital multimedia and video performance artist from Kjipuktuk (so-called Halifax). Cruz's topics of interest are related to labour, power and surveillance as seen through digital platforms and pop culture. Their experimental videos comprise found footage, 3D modelling, sound design and costumed performances to look at value systems with critical sensibility. These satirical works aim to capture a fast-paced contemporary present and envision possible, liberatory futures.

Presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards celebrate excellence in artistic achievement.

Award categories are as follows:

• Creative Community Impact
• Prix Grand-Pré
• Established Artist
• Emerging Artist
• Black Artist
• Indigenous Artist
• And finally, The Portia White Prize that is given to a person who has made outstanding and significant contributions to Nova Scotia's creative community over a sustained career – much like the incredible woman that the award is named after. The winner will also choose an emerging artist or cultural organization that they feel deserve recognition.

Collectively, the awards are worth $75,000! Visit artsns.ca to nominate your favourite Nova Scotian artist or be a boss and nominate your self!

This series would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.

artpaysme.com

Lydia Zimmer, a graduate of The Boston Conservatory (BFA '11), is a dancer and choreographer in Halifax, NS. Lydia has created several works supported by Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Nova Scotia. These include 'Bonne Nuit,' Live Art Dance (2016); 'Embankment,' Votive Dance (2017, 2021); 'Sonderlings,' Nostos Collectives (2018), 'Sonderling,' Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal (2019) & 'Extremophile,' FODAR (2021).

Recent creations include 'Mercurials' commissioned by Mocean Dance (2022), a work for The Boston Conservatory's First-year students (2023), and 'Xenofauna', which was created for Atlantic Ballet Theatre's ImpactFest 2023 during a residency with the company. In the summer of 2023 Lydia launched ZIMMERDANS at Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal where an excerpt of The Devil's Intervals was performed, a full-length work that premiered through Live Art Dance in December 2023.

Presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards celebrate excellence in artistic achievement.

Award categories are as follows:

• Creative Community Impact
• Prix Grand-Pré
• Established Artist
• Emerging Artist
• Black Artist
• Indigenous Artist
• And finally, The Portia White Prize that is given to a person who has made outstanding and significant contributions to Nova Scotia's creative community over a sustained career – much like the incredible woman that the award is named after. The winner will also choose an emerging artist or cultural organization that they feel deserve recognition.

Collectively, the awards are worth $75,000! Visit artsns.ca to nominate your favourite Nova Scotian artist or be a boss and nominate your self!

This series would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.

artpaysme.com

Presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards celebrate excellence in artistic achievement.

Award categories are as follows:

• Creative Community Impact
• Prix Grand-Pré
• Established Artist
• Emerging Artist
• Black Artist
• Indigenous Artist
• And finally, The Portia White Prize that is given to a person who has made outstanding and significant contributions to Nova Scotia's creative community over a sustained career – much like the incredible woman that the award is named after. The winner will also choose an emerging artist or cultural organization that they feel deserve recognition.
• Collectively, the awards are worth $75,000!
• Visit artsns.ca to nominate your favourite Nova Scotian artist or be a boss and nominate your self!

This series would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.

artpaysme.com

Juanita Peters is known by many people, as many things. She is an actor, journalist, news anchor and playwright, film and theatre director.

As a writer and director some of her films include:

• I Made a Vow
• Hannah's Story
• Africville Can't stop Now
• 8:37 Rebirth…which has picked up multiple awards in Canada, New York, London and Paris.

Juanita Peters directed two seasons of the Film Nova Scotia Award winning dramatic series "Studio Black" and the multiaward-winning television series DIGGSTOWN.

As a playwright she has given us:

• The San Family
• The Mother Club
• I M Possible
• The Green Book

Founding member of Women In Film and Television Atlantic and Found-ing member of Atlantic Canada's newest multicultural festival Nova Mul-tiFest.

Presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards celebrate excellence in artistic achievement.

Award categories are as follows:

• Creative Community Impact
• Prix Grand-Pré
• Established Artist
• Emerging Artist
• Black Artist
• Indigenous Artist
• And finally, The Portia White Prize that is given to a person who has made outstanding and significant contributions to Nova Scotia's creative community over a sustained career – much like the incredible woman that the award is named after. The winner will also choose an emerging artist or cultural organization that they feel deserve recognition.
• Collectively, the awards are worth $75,000!
• Visit artsns.ca to nominate your favourite Nova Scotian artist or be a boss and nominate your self!

This series would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.

artpaysme.com

Jah'Mila is a reggae singer from Kingston, Jamaica, now based in Atlantic Canada. With a deep-rooted love for traditional roots reggae, her music blends the vibrant spirit of Jamaican roots music with elements of jazz and modern soul. She has been blessed to share stages with renowned acts like The Wailers, Black Uhuru, and Groundation, which has enriched her journey as a reggae artist and cultural ambassador.

Jah'Mila is passionate about social justice and uses her music as a platform for both a form of entertainment and activism, advocating for community, inclusion, and support for the arts.

Presented by Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, the Creative Nova Scotia Awards celebrate excellence in artistic achievement.

Award categories are as follows:

• Creative Community Impact
• Prix Grand-Pré
• Established Artist
• Emerging Artist
• Black Artist
• Indigenous Artist
• And finally, The Portia White Prize that is given to a person who has made outstanding and significant contributions to Nova Scotia's creative community over a sustained career – much like the incredible woman that the award is named after. The winner will also choose an emerging artist or cultural organization that they feel deserve recognition.
• Collectively, the awards are worth $75,000!
• Visit artsns.ca to nominate your favourite Nova Scotian artist or be a boss and nominate your self!

This series would not be possible without the fantastic production work of Heist and Keke Beatz.

artpaysme.com