As a physiotherapist, Janet Rogers devoted her life to fixing other people’s injuries.
But, at the back of her mind, was a desire to express her own creativity.
“I enjoyed writing and the art classes that we had at Prince of Wales College. But when I entered the sciences and became a physiotherapist, my writing became factual. And I became too busy,” says the Charlottetown woman who, since retiring in 2003, has been developing her creative side through taking writing and art classes at the Seniors College of P.E.I.
“After years of writing factual reports, I can finally let my imagination run free,” says Rogers, with a laugh.
She’s one of the seniors whose artwork and prose will be showcased during Celebrating the Arts 2011, taking place today at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.
The event marks the 10th anniversary of the Seniors College of P.E.I. and recognizes the artistic accomplishments of members across the Island. It is funded by New Horizons.
“Every creative act needs an audience, whether it’s showing a photograph you’ve taken or standing up on stage to perform something you’ve written,” says committee member Ian Scott.
“In this celebration, we have first-time photographers, first-time singers, actors and painters. This is chance for them to share their work,” he says, adding that the event starts at Memorial Hall with an art/photography exhibition reception 6:15-7 p.m. and continues in the Homburg Theatre with a musical and theatre performance and a CD, website and anthology launch at 7:30 p.m.
The college’s writing instructors, Dianne Hicks Morrow and Libby Oughton, are pleased with the number of entries they received for Celebrating in Words: An Anthology from Seniors College of P.E.I.
“We have 56 voices in this book. It was a pleasure to let the seniors speak,” says Oughton, a former publisher of Ragweed Press.
Many of the submitted stories came in handwritten form so they had to go through a series of stages before they could be edited.
“For us, the challenge was to respect each voice and limit the editing to make the intention clearer for the reader. Also, many of the writers have not been published before. That was the joy of it,” says Morrow.
Meanwhile, the Seniors College Players, under the direction of Ron Irving, are rehearsing the sketches they have written that they will perform at 7:30 p.m.
“I’m nervous but excited. It’s amazing what we’ve created,” says cast member Jessie Lees.
The troupe began as a course, Creating Scenes for Seniors, that Irving gave at the college last year.
“The students drafted their own scripts in class. Next we workshopped the sketches, bringing them up to performance level. I was the dramaturge.
“Then, when I asked if they wanted to put them on stage, all hands went up,” Irving says.
The Seniors College Singers will also perform during a launch of the group’s first CD, Celebrating in Song 2011.
“Now that the recording is completed it’s satisfying. We’re just a group of people who like to sing,” says director Gillian Garson, pointing to the 42 people listed on the program who will grace the stage tonight.
Another aspect of the celebration is a presentation co-ordinated by photography teacher Winston Maund.
“I have asked the students to submit three of their favourite photographs. We’re putting together in a slide show that’s going to run in Memorial Hall and the concourse area on two large screens.”
The art/photography show will run on Saturday, 3-6 p.m., and Sunday, 3-5 p.m.
Earlier this week, co-chairs Frances Cullen and Winkie Park were busy checking the last-minute details of the celebration.
“We have been meeting with the team leaders of all the elements for 11 months now,” says Cullen.
The volunteer component has been amazing, adds Park.
“We couldn’t have done it without the countless hours that people have put in. Everyone has been extraordinary,” she says.
One of the people putting in many of these hours behind the scenes is Scott.
He has set up a website for the multi-component project that includes the anthology and an online art gallery.
“We are continuing to build the website primarily around the writing and the art (that the seniors have produced),” he says.
AT A GLANCE
If you are going
What: Celebrating the Arts 2011.
When: Nov. 4.
Where: Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Reception and art/photography exhibition: 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Music and theatre performance: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Tickets are $5 and available at the box office.
Website: http://upei.wordpress.com.
