“You can always go back home” is a catch-phrase I use often. And go back home is just what I had the opportunity to do in style this past week. I had the distinct honor of displaying both my photography and vocal talents at FLiN FLON’S NORVA Centre.
In many ways everything leading up to this exhibit was full-circle, in that it was a first for me to share such a part of myself with my home town, which I left in 1997 shortly after I graduated high school.
I want to first of all thank everyone at NORVA who helped make it the incredible event that it was; KAREN CLARK, my former high school mentor/art teacher/guidance counselor; Margie, SARAH TREVOR, and especially CATHERiNE JOA-HALL. Catherine your support leading up to the event as well as during were indicative of the love you have for me – and I can’t tell you how much I appreciated it. Having been invited to showcase my work meant the world to me. All of you ensured I felt a part of the community, no matter how long I’ve been gone. I wish NORVA continued success in bringing the arts to the forefront of Flin Flon!!
I also want to again thank the community of Flin Flon in general for making Summer 2011 such an amazing experience. With about 100 people cramming into NORVA centre on July 11th, you couldn’t have imagined my surprise at the amount of love and community support. It lifted me and made all of the blood, sweat and tears leading up to it worth it. I know it wasn’t easy for some of you to make it but EVERY SiNGLE FACE in that crowd – and every embrace gave me the greatest natural high. Thank you.
I also have to give special thanks to DALLAS CLARKE and CFAR RADiO for having me on for an interview as well as all the extra promotional help you gave. ANNE ROSS – thank you for the delicious gumbo, and DOUG MAGREGOR – THANK YOU for accompanying me on ‘My Tennessee Mountain Home’ with your stellar mandolin playing – how fun to jam with you. It won’t be the last! I’d like to thank JULiAN KOLT, editor of Cottage North – for coming out to see me and interviewing me for the local publication, as well as MARK KOLT for playing piano at the NORVA show. Thank you to JENNiFER HANSEN for lending her beautiful vocal talents as well as for extending such a warm welcome to me – all of you are very talented, not to mention SUPPORTiVE of your fellow Flin Flonners.
Finally I’d like to give a special shout out to my family and friends. It had to be trippy to have me back in this capacity, but what would I be without my family? Thank you for ALL the love – and ALAiN – I especially thank you for tending to all of my worries and concerns – <3
As I said in my introduction at the show – I could not be the CC TRUBiAK I am today were it not for my FLiN FLON roots. Flin Flon is my stomping ground and it was there I immersed myself in books, photography, film, music, and pop culture. This was how I endured the isolation. But the same must be said in that I could not be the CC TRUBiAK I am today had I not left Flin Flon. I needed to spread my wings if you will, and experience the many other things life had to offer me that Flin Flon alone couldn’t. All in all – weather in or out of Flin Flon, I’ve always looked to and used the arts as a means of SELF EXPLORATiON and SELF DiSCOVERY, but how wonderful to come HOME and share it with YOU!
I was happy to share my selection of photography (titled ‘Hail The Narcissist’), as well as be able to expand on what it is my photography is all about. Likewise – being able to play selections from my album THEY SAY i’M DiFFERENT was something that I had been looking forward to doing, as I hadn’t opened up my mouth to sing for Flin Flon since my high school days. You can imagine my surprise when I found that THEY SAY i’M DiFFERENT sold out completely!!! I had not anticipated such a terrific response, and I will be sure to send more copies up to Flin Flon for anyone who would like to get one but did not.
Once again – THANK YOU for the amazing time back home. Now I’m back to regular life as it is in Ottawa, but I can assure you I would like to return again and see all of you – in whatever capacity I can. Every promise I made to visit and see you – I WILL KEEP.
Love from CC
xoxoxo
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The dynamics between our dominant and submissive selves are the fundamentals of my portrait photography. My portraits begin with a character idea, evolving into compositions where this character becomes the primary subject; characterization as a means of emotional catharsis. To me, art is a reflection of both our dominant and submissive selves and my portrait photography allows me to explore other existing sides of my personal architecture by allowing the more submissive self to dominate and shine, even if temporarily so. When these selves begin to shine our darkness transforms from a weakness into a byproduct of strength. By getting dressed in our strengths and weaknesses, we attempt to toughen and wash our hands of what we perceive to be weakness.
Wear yourself out loud.
CC Trubiak
