Pollinators - Kele Fleming

Kicking off our June Pollinators series, we've reached Kele Fleming, an accomplished indie folk musician from Victoria. The plight of pollinators informed her 2019 song Vanishing of Bees, which has become something of an EDM hit, thanks to a remix by Atlas to Earth. 

This summer, Fleming is embarking on her Rhythm of Compassions tour, which will take her across a handful of locations in B.C.

Kele Flemings' Rhythm of Compassions Tour

• Sunday, June 2, 8 p.m. - Vancouver - Lana Lou's 
• Friday, July 5, 7 p.m. - Victoria - The Victoria House
• Saturday, July 6, 3 p.m. - Duncan - 39 Days of July Festival
• Sunday, July 7, 8 p.m. - Hornby Island - Fossil Beach Farm

Kele Fleming in the NXNW studio

Honouring Vivian Jung through poetry and art

By many accounts, Vivian Jung was a groundbreaking teacher and human rights activist who shaped many lives for the better. In 1950, she was the first Chinese Canadian teacher hired by the Vancouver School Board. She was also a key figure in ending racial segregation at a local public pool. 

This past school year, East Vancouver's Tecumseh Elementary created a special tribute to the late teacher with poetry and art. We'll hear from the project's driving forces: Tecumseh Elementary teachers Tilia Prior, Marion Collins, and Vancouver's poet laureate Fiona Tinwei Lam.

(L-R) Fiona Tinwei Lam, Tilia Prior, and Marion Collins

Rob Butler debuts his first novel Letters from Gerald

Rob Butler is an ornithologist, a fellow of The Explorers Club and The Royal Canadian Geographic Society, and co-founder of Pacific Wildlife Foundation. 
With over 150 published scientific works under his belt, Butler joins us to talk about his first novel. Letters from Gerald follows the character of Eleanor Hutchinson - a young woman who dreams of working as an ornithologist. Orphaned by the Second World War, Eleanor finds support in a young scientist named Gerald...But not all is as it seems. 

Published by Friesen Press, Letters from Gerald is available online wherever you shop for books.

Rob Butler with a copy of Letters from Gerald

George McWhirter and Self Portrait in the Zone of Silence

The Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the world's most prestigious and generous poetry awards. This year, B.C.'s own George McWhirter is one of the shortlisted nominees. McWhirter is co-nominated for his translation of Self-Portrait in the Zone of Silence, by Mexican poet Homero Aridjis. 

We'll hear about what drew McWhirter to the book, how the translation process works, and more. 

George McWhirter with Self-Portrait in the Zone of Silence

North by Northwest...on North by Northwest!

Originally from Scotland, artist Jeff Wilson has been enjoying his time in B.C. since he settled in Vancouver in 2004. His ongoing exhibit is a love letter to B.C.'s north coast, inspired by his time as the artist in residence at Cassiar Cannery in Prince Rupert. It also just so happens to be called North by Northwest! 

We'll hear NXNW's Margaret Gallagher visit Wilson's studio to talk painting, artistic mindsets, and more. North by Northwest (the exhibit, not us!) runs until June 8 at Smithers Art Gallery.

Jeff Wilson in his Vancouver studio

We raised ourselves, together and alone

This week on NXNW, story producer Jeremy Ratt embarked on a SeaBus journey to North Vancouver's Polygon Gallery, where he got a sneak peek of We raised ourselves, together and alone. Curated by Joelle Johnston, the exhibit features a history of different tanned hides from Lil'wat artist Sydney Frances Pascal, chronicling her past ancestors as well as a hope envisioned for future generations. 

We raised ourselves, together and alone runs at The Polygon Gallery until Sept. 22. 

Some of the hides on display (Photo by Dennis Ha)

In case you missed it...

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Jeremy Ratt, editor