Who Are The Creative People In Your Neighbourhood?

In this special episode we speak with musician and teacher, Steph Fournier.  Steph works at Greater Heights Learning Academy, a Coquitlam-based school for special needs kids.  In this interview we will hear about his journey from long-haired rock musician to how he created and developed the school’s music program from zero to the music-making, video producing, live-broadcast streaming, entity that it is today.

In this episode, we speak with Artist and Publisher Camila Szefler who channels her creativity into projects that involve printmaking, illustration, and textile art.  She is a master at getting people excited about working on her projects and has been able to gain traction and break into publishing cookbooks and other paper-based products.  Today we find out what drives her, how she chooses what projects to work on and find out how she fosters a collaborative spirit with her peers.

Del, a woodworker, and Angela, a handbag designer, both sell their work through the Blackberry Gift Shop cooperative in Pomoarts Centre.  Not only do Del and Angela Holbrook share a passion for their creations and for the cooperative, they are also a married couple.  We find out how these two seniors started their creative journeys, how it might be like to share a home with another creative person and what advice they would give on how to start a new creative endeavour.

This episode is all about Grandy, a self-taught fashion designer who has had her clothes worn by celebrities and whose fashions have been on the Academy Awards red carpet.  Because of her grit and determination, Grandy’s business sky rocketed to the top in record time.  In this interview we will hear about how she taught herself how to sew, how she navigates the ins and outs of the fashion industry, and what she did in order to acquire the success she enjoys.

This episode highlights Rose Kapp, founder of Creative People Talking, a group of creatives of all disciplines in the Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody areas of Greater Vancouver BC.  Rose is an illustrator who has a long career in the arts.  She’s worked in design, print, photography, educational TV, etc.  Today we find out how her work history has contributed to her comics illustration and talk about how her group supports local artists and creatives.

In this episode, we talk with Damon Bradley Jang, a performer of Asian Canadian heritage who has played many roles, not only on stage, but off stage as well. 

During his interview, we find out about how Damon used his transferable skills to land roles and acquire opportunities in theatre and arts, and how his passion for advocating for his fellow Asian Canadians have inspired him to found a new group called the Asian Canadian Artists Alliance.

Talented musician and music tutor Devon Wells is on WATCPIYN?  Devon is an accomplished banjo-player who has recorded albums with musical movers and shakers and is a tutor to the next generation of musicians.  Hear about his journey in this eye-opening and candid interview where he shares  some valuable insights on what it takes to be a working musician in this day and age.

Deanna Fligg is an advocate for pollinators and is a painter and illustrator who makes artworks with bees as the main subject.  Because of her love of creatures who help plants make fruit and seeds, Deanna has become known as the Pollinator Artist.  In this interview we will hear about her artistic journey, how she landed her perfect career, the highlights and challenges of making a living as a creative person, and we find out the origin story of her illustrated bee character, Jovie.

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