I'm a "working" visual artist as opposed to being wannabee artist who walks around this city saying "I'm a writer, or visual artist. I am founder/ curator/co-owner and steward of the RAWVISION GALLERIA @ 709 Rosser Avenue. Which is a "Working Studio/Public Galleria",We are Dakota First Nations & Ojibway member owned.
I was born and raised in Brandon. My ancestors come from Sioux Valley Dakota First NAtions but I was raised and lived other parts of the country before coming back to care for an aging parent. (Dakota way for the youngest to care for aging parent) like so many of us do. I finished my 1st B.A. then started the B.F.A. but B.U BFA was not up to my personal high standards and will wait for Emilly Carr in the future. I think as one gets mature with life experiences, relationship, divorces, challenges ect, life gets more interesting, so I got some cash decided to open this working studio, because knowbody was diplaying art the way I wanted to do it, or play the games of the AGSm, which I have nothing good to say about.. BAD location...I always tell homeless people to go in there, lots of Brandon "Homeless/couch surfers are artists. it's not a very welcoming space I hear this almost daily, unlike my small studio, I welcome all with a smile and coffee if I can afford it.
Anyways..When I got back from Vancouver Island (Artist retreat) Gabriola Island) I was hearing all these "skeptics" down-playing Rosser Avenue, the homeless issues,, hahaha...I just came from Toronto after a few years, now thats homelessness. I decided I had some extra cash.. not being a selfish person, I decided from all my years of living on the societys margins to open a Rawvision Galleria, I was not and still welcomed by the Established artists community, AGSM Director has never come over, or the BU BFA profs EVER come in and said hey! Cool thing your doing...the odd radical professor has come in,..so..thats there choice ..I don't personally attend opening, I have a wide personal space issue. lol.
So.. I met some cool outsider artists who I will bring in for exhibitions here which will be a culture awakening for many here..
The RAWVISION is NOT Provincially funded, federally or city funded space.(The city has no idea we exsist, even though we pay license's taxes.)
This is my own $$ investment, John Steppler' $$and is the new Co-Owner of the Galleria,The new front-man, we are working artists spending the cash of our hard earned buck to enlighten this local society... We are "NOT" a collective which implies that one can'nt think on ones own, thats the rest of Brandon, we are a "Concept" galleria, meaning two artists bring together self knowledge to create a whole.
Ok...This is all you need to know. I hope to see you all out at the openings for a relaxed glass of cheap red wine some thought provoking art a night filled night with artists,poets, weird off the margin DIY folkswho are instatutional trained or self-intuative artists, these are RAW MOMENTS in the Core of Brandon Arts District. I am the Arts District..LOL...Peace.
** Rawvision Boycotts the Brandon Sun and it's employees**
Member since: 4/24/2008 9:17:23 AM