LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A show written especially for the NWT will finish its five community tour in Fort Simpson later this month.

Christine Fellows, left, and Shary Boyle will be performing their show Spell to Bring Lost Creatures Home in Fort Simpson on Oct. 20. - photo courtesy of the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre

Spell to Bring Lost Creatures Home was created by visual artist Shary Boyle and singer-songwriter Christine Fellows between this January and June. The show will start the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre's 30th anniversary tour season.

"It's very hard to get a hold of those two very incredible artists. We are so blessed," said Marie Coderre, the centre's executive and artistic director.

After hearing amazing things about Boyle in 2013, Coderre spent six months just trying to get in contact with her. Her goal was to persuade Boyle and Fellows, who have been collaborating together since 2005, to present one of their shows as part of the centre's season. Instead, Boyle suggested writing a brand new work.

Spell to Bring Lost Creatures Home explores a variety of topics, including childhood and aging and imagination and resilience in the face of a changing and challenging landscape through a series of vignettes seen through a window. Boyle uses an overhead projector to display the images that she animates and adds to during the show while Fellows weaves in music and singing.

"It is very, very, very creative. They are amazing," said Coderre.

Boyle's reputation has preceded her to Fort Simpson.

"Shary Boyle is one of Canada's top contemporary artists right now," said Anyes Fabre-Dimsdale, the executive director of the Open Sky Creative Society.

"It's a real privilege to have her come and perform in our community."

Boyle, from Toronto, represented Canada at the 2013 Venice Biennale, a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. Fellows is a Winnipeg-based singer-songwriter who has collaborated with a variety of artists.

"It sounds like it will be a real adventure, visually and musically," Fabre-Dimsdale said about the show.

She hopes to see lots of community members of all ages attend the performance at Bompas Elementary School on Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. It's important to make the most of the opportunity to see something different and to ensure Fort Simpson will continue to be part of the tour, she said.

In addition to Boyle and Fellows, members of the audience will also see a performance by Yellowknife artist Terry Pamplin.

Pamplin, a member of the centre's mentorship program, will be performing a 30-minute act from Let the Children Be, a show he created last year.

Individual tickets or season passes are available in advance from the centre or the Open Sky Creative Society and will also be at the door.

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