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JAMES PICARD HELPS MARGOT CAMPBELL WITH THE FACIAL FEATURES ON THE HEAD SHE IS SCULPTING. PHOTO: AL PRICE Symposium 2001 Builds Excitement in the Arts community | by Al Price It is Saturday, January 27, at 9:30 a m and I a m already faced w i t h my second c o n u n d r u m . W h i c h of the many workshops should I, or can I, attend at the North Shore Arts C o m m i s s i o n Symposium 2001? M y first c o n u n d r u m w a s -- w h e r e t h e heck is t h e Lucas Centre? A s a relative n e w c o m e r t o N o r t h Vancouver, I h a d n o idea w h e r e H a m i l t o n Street was. Purchasing a North Shore m a p at a store o n Lonsdale A v e n u e , I checked it occasionally, a n d finally f o u n d myself in f a m i l i a r territory. I h a d b e e n to the Lucas Centre this s u m m e r for G o r d o n Smith's o u t s t a n d i n g show, just d i d n ' t k n o w the n a m e of t h e venue. It w a s a five-minute w a l k across t h e M c K a y ravine from my home. A n d I'm late. I hate b e i n g late. I c h o o s e to sit in o n t h e Human extensively t h r o u g h o u t N o r t h A m e r i c a , Picard is a highly respected teacher of d r a w i n g , p a i n t i n g , a n d sculpture in b o t h V a n c o u v e r a n d N e w York. B u t he is also a n extremely funny m a n , w h o s e w i t a n d w i s d o m b l e n d e d w e l l w i t h s o m e of t h e slightly t w i s t e d souls in his w o r k s h o p . Picard h a d t h e students break a block of clay into t w o parts, form each into a n o v a l , a n d r a m t h e m together to form the basic shape of a skull. W i t h several plastic models o n display, t h e students t h e n learned t h e techniques of creating eye sockets, cheekbones, a n d craniums. Highly entertaining stuff, as hands tried to c o m e t o grips w i t h w h a t the m i n d e n v i s i o n e d . W i t h skulls crea t e d , facial features w e n t o n next, w i t h t h e results ranging from N e a n d e r t h a l M a n t o Darth Vader. I quietly snuck out of the w o r k s h o p a n d h e a d e d for The Business services representative Terry O'Brien; m u s i c i a n , journalist, a n d M o Funk Records founder Ian M e n z i e s ; a n d R o n Irving, performer, songwriter, producer, composer, and music publisher. W i t h t w o hours a n d a relatively small audience, panel members h a d plenty of time to a n s w e r a l l the questions a n d give a m a z ing tips o n h o w t o get established, survive, a n d thrive despite a glut of performers and songwriters in the music market. They e x p l a i n e d that w i t h the digital revolution, musicians a n d songwriters can do increasingly better-quality d e m o CDs at cheaper prices but must be prepared to market themselves t o t h e correct targets, as they only have 3 0 seconds t o o n e minute to impress s o m e o n e hearing their work. "The definition of an optimist is a banjo player w i t h a beeper," said Irving, w h o also stressed the need for luck a n d hard work to ensure y o u have t h e opportunity to be in the right place at the right time ... with the right product. W h i l e a l l this w a s g o i n g o n , I missed several other w o r k s h o p s . Barrie Jones, a n of Music--Where and Form How to Begin. Moderator, promoter, a n d artist Sculpture w o r k s h o p o f f e r e d by James Picard. m a n a g e r U m e e d a S w i t l o w shared her w i s d o m a n d experiences w i t h a high-octane p a n e l : T e a m w o r k s M a n a g e m e n t president, Frank Weipert; S O C A N W e s t Coast m e m b e r W i t h i n seconds, my d a y is g e t t i n g better. A s w e l l as b e i n g a g r a d u a t e of t h e O n t a r i o C o l l e g e of Art a n d e x h i b i t i n g his w o r k March | April