Elvira Nishida Gaona , 76 , Porvenir , Pando – Bolivia , 2012 .
Escobar visited Elvira every day for two weeks while documenting traditional pottery making and pre-hispanic pottery finds . Life in rural Bolivia was very different to what we know in today ’ s Canada .
Let us be extravagant in our patience and extraordinary in our kindness . We may not all be in the same boat , but we are all in similar storms , Andrea Brennan , minister at Knox United Church and priest at Christ Church Anglican .
associates in Calgary and found that people are documenting the realities of changing life all across the country .
With a desire to support the community , she began offering porch-side portraits in return for donations to the Elk Valley Covid Support Team . The response was enthusiastic and within a short amount of time she had documented 82 families . Calls began coming in from Sparwood and Elkford , where her services are available if enough people are interested . Expanding the content , Escobar is now also including business portraits and images of social changes such as mask wearing and social distancing , which she
Always take time to bounce !
says is the most noticeable difference as lineups begin to snake around corners .
In addition to photographing her subjects , she records how they have managed their time under the new restrictions and the impact it has had on daily life .
Having started the project in April 2020 , Escobar plans to capture a full year of the pandemic and then hopes to mount an exhibition to highlight the transition the community has made and offer residents a way to connect with each other through images . Watch for it in Spring 2021 at the Fernie Museum .
Gabbiescobar . com quarantinejournals
13
FEATURE PERFORMER
LITERATURE & COMMUNITY
NELL SMITH –
FERNIE’S
GIRL IN
AMBER
FERNIE HERITAGE
LIBRARY
The Fernie Heritage Library is a place to discover and nurture a love of literature and
language. Fun and friendly, warm and welcoming; a sanctuary for all ages filled with
every variety of media. Drop in to pick up a book or movie to take home, stay a while
and enjoy storytime or a special social event. Curl up in a huge leather armchair by
the sunny upstairs windows to enjoy the view of the Lizard Range and folklore of old
Fernie. More than you imagine, the Fernie Heritage Library brings words to life.
BUILDING FERNIE’S LITERARY
HERITAGE
Housed in the beautiful historic former
Customs & Post Office building in the
heart of Fernie, the Fernie Heritage
Library has provided library services and
programs for over one hundred years.
The Library has been recognized for its
excellence in community programming
and engagement and offers three floors
of books, magazines and reference
materials, a research and study room,
computer use, and fax, copy, and scan
services. In all seasons, it is a cozy refuge;
warm in winter, cool in summer.
ENGAGING PROGRAMMING FOR
ALL
While the Library usually loves to
welcome visitors of all ages for storytime,
informative presentations, community
gatherings and entertainment, most
programming has been adjusted until it is
safe to gather again.
24
Visit social media to join Michelle for
online storytime and craft sessions. Pick
up your craft packs in advance from the
library and then follow along for a simple
and fun activity. Craft packs are available
for children and adults.
Take a walk along the community trails
with the Walkie Talkie Book Club. Meet
on the steps of the library on the first
Friday of every month at 1pm for a walk
along the riverside trails, friendly chat
and book talk.
Seasonal celebrations will continue
whenever possible, and may be replaced
by outdoor events and alternative ways
to celebrate safely. See website for
details.
492 3rd Ave | 250-423-4458
fernie.bclibrary.ca
Collaboration – a creative tool that
most musicians love. Collaborating
with a Grammy-winning international
recording artist like Wayne Coyne of
Flaming Lips fame is something that
most musicians have to wait a while to
experience, however. Not so for Fernie’s
Nell Smith, 13.
After meeting Coyne in a giant bubble
floating above the crowd at a Lips
concert, Nell was inspired to pick up
a guitar and kept in touch with the
creative mastermind. Coyne recognized
Nell’s talent and encouraged her over
several years. In March of 2020,
a planned trip to Coyne’s studio
in Oklahoma was scuppered by an
inconvenient global pandemic but she
forged ahead, setting up a home studio
with the help of local musician Troy
Cook and her own musical Dad.
Smith recorded vocal tracks and guitar
while dad Jude worked the keys. Local
singer Rachel Behan provided harmonies
and development assistance and a
family friend in England sent guitar
tracks. Coyne recruited his band to
work through the tracks, and then sent
them off to be mixed and produced by
long-time Lips producer, Dave Fridmann
at Tarbox Road Studios in NY state. A
video followed with the help of more
local talent including videographer Alex
Hanson, to create a dark and moody
vignette for her cover of Nick Cave’s
Girl in Amber.
I picked Nick Cave cause I love his music
and lyrics AND I thought ... Nell probably
doesn’t know very much of his (Cave’s)
music and she might (because she has NO
pre-conceived notion) just do something
very simple, heartfelt and original... and..
SHE DID!
~Wayne Coyne, Flaming Lips, 2020
Nell’s debut album – a collection of Nick
Cave covers – is in the works. Watch
for cover art and release date coming
in early 2021, plus an original album to
follow.
nellsmith3108
25
25