Arteles Catalogue 2023-2020

Back to Basics program / MAY 2023
Jen Herszman Capraru
Canada
www.theatreasylum.com/home.html
About
Jen grew up in a haunted house in Montréal. She is an
international theatre director whose work has been seen in
Africa, Cuba, USA, Canada and Europe, and is also active in
film. As artistic director of award winning Theatre Asylum,
she premieres thought-provoking contemporary theatre by
and about women and humanist issues from the inter/national
repertoire. Awards include le Prix de Théatre Africain, Dora
awards, finalist for the Siminovitch , Hirsch and Freedom to
Create prizes, as well as being an invited artist to Banff, the
Lincoln Centre and Schloss Solitude. Merci for support by
the Canada Council for the Arts.
The Inner Compass
O Finlandia. This small forested mythic land loomed large
in my consciousness ever since I fell into the world of the
films of Kaurasmäki. Long awaited through the pandemic,
the journey from the idea of north in Canada to that of Finland
was finally made as the land broke free of winter.
Days were composed of reading for hours, nature, silence,
yoga, lake, blessed sauna, film scripts . They were bent in a
way time refracts to the horizon when technology is taken out
of being. My old friend solitude was waiting for me, as ever
patient and without judgement. Arteles is a magical place, a
sacred space. The creators of it are architects of the sublime
and all of us envision it, keep it alive. Each artist’s energy
over time contributes to its growth and creative fire. The
alchemy of the elements purify us; nature, sauna, sun, dark,
rock, meditation, exploration. All equal bliss. May Arteles
Creative Forces rule.