I had a band name, blue dirt girl, I had a band, I had a first concert, I was working on video’s but i also needed some guiding principles for blue dirt girl.
blue dirt girl encompasses various lives I have lead from my 15 year Social Work/Community Development career, Arts Group Facilitator, mother, community activist, volunteer work as musician in my son’s schools, Saskatchewan born and East Van based life with my family.
blue dirt girl had to have a social justice element. A “give back” to the community each time I play music. My December ’15 House Concert host Catharine worked at RainCity Housing on the Downtown Eastside. RainCity Housing and Support Society is a grassroots organization built around compassion, purpose and a commitment to delivering progressive housing and support solutions for people living with mental illness, addictions and other challenges. So 5$ from every ticket went to RainCity at the December 4th Concert.
My Tour in August included a give back fundraiser/awareness raiser for Stolen Hearts. stolenhearts.ca
A very important Cowichan Valley First Nation Documentary Project. blue dirt girl was jazzed to be cohosting and evening of music and Silent Auction@duncanshowroom August 25.
I wanted to work have local, handmade merchandise. Started with my Greg’s images for all the merchandise, and one image from my Reed, then found Flight Path Designs, a local woman owned East Van handmade leather business, Naomi made the keychains, pendants and mason jar holders and finally Mike down at Grubwear who hand silk screened all the t shirts.
I wanted to have happenings that brought together my artist friends in visual art, photography, dance and music. Especially the woman artists in my “WFOBOFM” group. I started with blue dirt girl’s production, A Chautauqua, on March 5 and 6, 2016.
This Chautauqua concept will continue with shows in Vancouver and travelling shows farther afield.
“because i said i would”