Rose
Rose
M. Spahan, the coordinator of WEAVE, is a Coast-Salish artist with an impressive
resume of accomplishments and achievements. She is a filmmaker, artist, curator,
and teacher. She explains the diversity of her accomplishments succinctly:
"In the beginning of my career, I became a teacher out of necessity: there
were not a lot of aboriginal teachers," she says. "I became an artist out
of the need to have a voice."
The issues Rose deals with as an artist and arts administrator are in evidence in the Downtown Eastside, where so many women are struggling to overcome violence, poverty and addiction. Rose notes the high percentage of women in the Downtown Eastside who are aboriginal, which doubles her commitment to finding resources for them.
Rose emphasizes that the art projects are not simply "make busy" work, or a series of crafts to bide the time. Each workshop is an opportunity for attendees to learn the fundamentals of art - from design to use of colour. Art history and social commentary are also part of the instruction. The women, Rose says, love the stimulation: "They eat it up."
Rose has big dreams for WEAVE: she wants to ensure the continuation of not only the workshops, but of the gallery exhibitions of the women's work. The exhibitions provide important economic opportunities for the women to sell their work, and to collect artist fees for participating in the shows. The exhibitions also build confidence. "At the Gallery Gachet exhibit, when the women saw their work framed, saw the reception in their honour, they were awed," Rose says. With the WEAVE workshops, Rose is helping the women of the Downtown Eastside find their voices; with the WEAVE galleries, Rose ensures they are heard.
