The Expression of Art with Wakefield Brewster and Stacey Walyuchow

Melanie Nicholson welcomes Calgary poet laureate Wakefield Brewster and mixed media artist Stacey Walyuchow to the show for a conversation about connections, accessibility and the power of art to facilitate both. Wakefield and Stacey each share insights and glimpses into their mindsets, and how they use their art to communicate directly with their audiences.Stacey shares the story of how she and Wakefield first met and how Wakefield’s performance changed her opinion of poetry while moving her to tears. Wakefield addresses how poetry is perceived as “old white European male” and that people often have an adverse reaction to it. He communicates very specific messages through his poetry that he says are translated by his performance. When Stacey considers how people perceive her art, she acknowledges the messages she intends but that people may interpret her work differently. Each of the artists talk about how COVID changed the opportunities in their careers and offered new ways of reaching people. The importance of art to society is significant, it’s how we collectively communicate and interpret, it facilitates accessibility. This episode explores the varied expression in art with two brilliant artists whose work you will want to experience for yourselves upon listening.“Regardless of what the material is or how it's been crafted, my delivery is going to be the translator because even if you don't get it, I'm probably going to make you feel it. And that's even more important in some ways.” - Wakefield Brewster“I think a lot of artists do not have gallery representation and you have to find another way to sell your work and to get it seen. And so though social media can be the bane of my existence some days, and that of everybody else's, it is free and it is necessary.” - Stacey WalyuchowAbout Wakefield BrewsterSince January 1999, Wakefield Brewster has been known as one of Canada’s most popular and prolific Performance Poets. He is a Black man born and raised in Toronto, by parents hailing from the island of beautiful Barbados, and he has resided in Calgary since 2006. He has spoken across Canada, and several States, and makes countless appearances on a regular basis in a variety of ways, for a myriad of reasons, throughout each and every single year. In 2022 he was appointed Calgary’s 6th Poet Laureate, the Calgary Poet Laureate produces literary work that is reflective of Calgary’s landscape, cityscape, and civic identity and that may raise awareness of local issues.About Stacey WalyuchowStacey Walyuchow is a mixed media collage artist in Calgary, Alberta. The theme of her work is is the human search of identity and recollection of memories, most often using female imagery and animals as symbols. Stacey works with a technique of hand colouring fragile pieces of paper and attaching them to canvas or panel to create the narratives. She intentionally leaves any imperfection that might occur in the process, as they reflect the imperfections, or perhaps the beauty, of such flaws in human beings. She believes the whole process of blending delicate pieces of paper to sturdy surfaces is a wonderful illustration of the exceptional durability of human beings, women in particular.__Contact Melanie Nicholson | Melanie Lynn Communications Inc. Website: MelanieLynnCommunications.comInstagram: MLCSocialTwitter: MLCSocialFacebook: MLCSocialEmail: info@melanielynncommunications.comContact Wakefield BrewsterWebsite: WakefieldBrewster.c