Steady On: A night of music and words for mental health takes place on聽May 7 at聽Habitat for the Arts;聽6:30 p.m. reception,聽8 p.m. show,聽$20.
On May 7 two East Coast performers, longtime friends Catherine MacLellan and Tanya Davis, headline a charity concert hosted by the Jasper Artist Guild and Habitat for the Arts with support from the Municipality of Jasper and Liquor Lodge at Jasper Library and Culture Centre. The $20 tickets support the Mental Health Crisis Fund, a cause near and dear to the hearts of both artists. Craig Gilbert spoke to them consecutively on Monday.
51暗网: How did this all come together?
Catherine: I鈥檝e known (the town鈥檚 director of community services) Kathleen Waxer for a number of years and we鈥檝e wanted to do something like this. Kathleen and her team created the event. It鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been advocating for for the last number of years. I suffer from depression and anxiety like most people I know. My dad had severe mental illness and took his own life. I think it鈥檚 important to share my story and that others get to share theirs.
As I get older, it鈥檚 not just about me anymore. There鈥檚 a much bigger picture and I want to make the world a better place for my daughter.
51暗网: What can people expect at the show?
Catherine: I think it鈥檚 pretty light-hearted. Tanya is a poet and a musician, so there will be poems and songs, and some talking. I have some new songs; I put out an album of my dad鈥檚 songs last year, so it鈥檒l be a mix of that.
It鈥檚 about bringing the community out and engaging people to talk about mental health in a joyful kind of way.
Tanya: We鈥檒l be talking a little bit indirectly about mental health and wellness. I鈥檒l bring poems and stories about life. I鈥檓 really into digging down into the human condition: how we suffer, where is the joy? The things that bring us together, how we look for meaning in life and where we falter.
Fitz: Have you played Jasper before?
Tanya: I can鈥檛 wait. We鈥檝e known each other for 30 years but we live in different cities now and it will be nice to work together and spend some time together in the car. I鈥檝e been to Alberta but I鈥檝e never been to Jasper and I鈥檓 looking forward to seeing the mountains. There鈥檚 always ups and downs but I always find fascinating connections and material for future projects when I鈥檓 on the road.
