Friday 6 September 2013



Art City WHALE Parade

June 29th. It was a gorgeous Winnipeg summer day. An estimated 700 people came out to the Art City WHALE Parade. A celebration of Manitoba's Waterways, and a hopeful demonstration of the power of creativity to create social change. It was beautiful. A pod of 12 life-sized beluga puppets led a procession which included waterfowl of all types, fishes, canoes, motorboats, kids of all ages dressed as seaweed and other water creatures, and the legendary Winnipogo that is said to inhabit Lake Winnipeg.
Our friends Rob Altemeyer (MLA) and Jenny Gerbasi (City Councillor) cut the ribbon that initiated a flood of positivity into the streets of West Broadway.
The Manitoba Arts Council, Resource Assistance for Youth, the Youth Agencies Alliance, and West Broadway Youth Outreach were in full effect.
Guest artist, Zoe Gordon led participants in a week-long workshop making 'underwater' hand-made instruments which were featured alongside the magnificent Flaming Trollies Marching Band.
Guest artist duo, WHALE (Ryan Klatt & Laura Magnusson) launched a giant helium beluga for a 'swim' in the Manitoba skies - complete with video cameras, a GPS tracking device, and a bunch of tiny art made by Art City participants!
A HUGE thanks to everyone who came out to participate in this social sculpture!
Special thanks to Guest Artists, WHALE (Ryan Klatt & Laura Magnusson), and Zoe Gordon (Thunder Bay) and our partners:
Manitoba Arts Council
West Broadway Community Organization
Canadian Heritage
Neighbourhoods Alive!
City of Winnipeg
Province of Manitoba (Arts Branch)
United Way
Broadway Neighbourhood Centre

Watch the WHALE Parade video here!