So we've had some interest in the Bilingual aspect of Canada and how this effects the Craft industry.

As I am no expert on the subject I am opening the floor up to comments.

To get the ball rolling, here are some ideas:

As a Canadian resident, how do you feel about the bilingual aspect of Canada? Does it effect your craft practices in any way? Have you experienced the arts in Quebec? As a non Canadian resident what’s your perception of French culture in Canada?

Personally, I never realized outside of North America, it is assumed Canadians speak both English and French fluently. But of course, this makes sense since Canada prints all signs in English and French, and French is taught in school. This is a great clip from the 1995 movie 'Canadian Bacon' directed by Michael Moore with Dan Akroyd and John Candy. It's a comedy, but this scene sums up the language laws in Canada beautifully.  

I suggest fast forwarding this video 1 min to get to the good stuff 

 

Thanks for your interest, all comment welcome,


Rickson

 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Frances solar on July 18, 2010 at 6:35pm

Hello Rickson-
I love it that you've started the Canadian Can Craft!( the more the merrier).I lived 20 yrs in the Montreal Area, then 10 near Toronto, and now 20 here in BC--used to feel fairly comfortablespeaking French, missed hearing it in Toronto, but actually hear quite a bit in Squamish & Whistler. Lots of young french canadians come for the various outdoor recreation & to work on Whistler /Blackcomb Mtns in the winter.

I've sure seen a big change in the Canadian Craft scene in those years-- I know Montreal has a very vibrant arts sector, with a style thats unique. When i was beginning as a weaver
years ago, things were pretty conservative,-- thats changed a lot.: altho I must say when I
took workshops at Basket Focus conferences in Toronto & the Okanagan in the late 90's,
it was innovative US craft artists that really got me going in new directions-- John
Garrett, Dorothy Gill Barnes, & Arline Fisch.

Vancouver & BC has wonderful craft artists, but few galleries to really support them, --the public aren't as knowledgable perhaps as in Toronto/Montreal. In2009 there were 4 galleries from Montreal & Ottawa that exhibited at SOFA NY, don't know about 2010.-but
none from the West.The Circle Craft Xmas show is quite good,and getting better, but still doesn't have top level work.I exhibited at One of a Kind for several years in toronto, 25 yrs ago & even then the top artists could do well-- but i have no idea what the situation is now with the show.

I LOVED the video clip -language cops & Bill 101--I was there--HA!
Thanks for your wealth of ideas and observations! So interesting that Toronto/Montreal public is more knowledgeable about the crafts, as I always viewed Vancouver as an artistic area. Maybe it's more superficial, people appreciate aesthetics and not so much concepts. I find living in Brampton (within the Greater Toronto Area, but not IN Toronto) the public is all over the place. Some have a great appreciation for the arts, others seem totally new to it and not familiar with art jewellery, or even custom engraved jewellery! For example when I show my song ring at shows in Brampton http://www.etsy.com/listing/42942236/your-song-ring-solid-sterling-... which has the notes to your song engraved on the outside of the ring, numerous customers get confused as they think the ring will PLAY the song. :)

That's nice to hear there are french speakers in Squamish and Whistler. I was speaking with a jeweller friend of mine who also lived in Quebec for a number of years and now lives in Toronto and we were discussing how as a resident of Canada living outside of Quebec, we are not really reminded that we are a bilingual country in our daily lives. Aside from food labels and signage being written in both English and French, most people don't speak French, and with immigration, there are tons of languages being spoken, not just French and English. Do you feel like the French culture is only kept alive in Quebec?

Thanks so much for your input,


Rickson

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