Games of La
Francophonie
Cultural Competitions
Representatives from 16 States and Governments of the International Francophonie will compete in the categories of song, storytelling, original dance and literature. Nineteen delegations will compete in sculpture, 22 in photography and 27 in painting. In addition to cultural competitions, artists will participate in creative workshops where they can meet, exchange ideas and forge special relationships with their counterparts from various countries of La Francophonie.
Team Canada has participants competing in all seven disciplines featured at the Games:
Song: Team Canada will be represented by the group KARKWA (Quebec). Karkwa delights crowds at home and abroad. The works and performances of this musical group of five musicians and performers reflect the creative and modern aspects of French song in North America.
Storytelling: Storytelling is the art of talking. Interestingly, it was while practicing folk dance that the artist ARLEEN THIBAULT (Quebec) became aware of traditional arts and the art of storytelling. It has since become her main calling. Arleen is a colourful and humorous performer who knows how to captivate her audience.
Original Dance: VIRGINIE BRUNELLE (Quebec) lives and breathes creation. A bold artist, she launched her career in 2007 with an impressive performance: Les cuisses à l’écart du cœur. Her work won her numerous awards and invitations to perform, which led her to dance with Quebecois and Belgian artists in the collective production Mixmusik. The show was presented on several occasions, including at the 400th anniversary of Quebec as well as in Brussels.
Literature (Short Story): After studying French Literature, STÉPHANIE FILLION (Quebec) took a hiatus from the literary world to start a family. This time gave her the opportunity to delve into everyday life and isolation, themes frequently addressed in her work. Stéphanie was a finalist in Radio-Canada Literary Awards in 2007, and she has recently been published in the magazines Virages, Jet d’encre, Zinc, and XYZ. She is currently preparing another project, in cooperation with a fellow author, entitled L’Almanach des exils, which examines the issues of space, friendship and day-to-day occurrences.
Painting: For BENJAMIN RODGER (Ontario), painting, above all, is about pleasure. He selects subjects that although rooted in art history are largely based on popular culture and the people around him. Painters from some 27 countries of La Francophonie are competing in this category. They will no doubt inspire Benjamin and perhaps even turn up one day in his later work.
Photography: GENEVIÈVE THAUVETTE (Ontario) says that her camera lens gives her the opportunity to escape from the never-ending “day in, day out” routine. Her first two showings were a sweeping success and the critics predict a promising career. Her favourite themes are sexuality and women. Currently, Geneviève is represented by Ottawa’s Dale Smith Gallery.
Sculpture: SARAH BECK (Saskatchewan) has studied photography, experimented in model building and explored working with new materials. In 2004, she was awarded the Joseph F. Stauffer prize (designed to encourage the next generation of artists) for her work in sculpture. Sarah uses art to express her ideas and speak out against some troubling realities, like children working in sweatshops. She uses a technique inspired by advertising.
Selection of Team Canada’s Artists Artists
were recruited through a national competition that was held in the fall of 2008. National juries pre-selected candidates, who were then validated by the Comité international des Jeux de la Francophonie.
For More Information
If you’d like to know more about the VI Games of La Francophonie and Canada’s participation, visit our website at:
www.gamesoflafrancophonie2009.pch.gc.ca
“To young people, the Games of La Francophonie represent a true adventure of the human spirit in which the meetings, exchanges and discoveries open the horizon to endless possibilities.” - The CIJF