Spirit Quest initiated a first on January 28: a film and discussion in partnership with the Gabriola Branch of the VIRL. Attended by 25 people, and introduced by Susan Buie, the 2018 film GIFT was described as a “balm for the soul” when it was previewed for the Vancouver Film Festival.
The documentary explores the roles and impacts of art and artists in freely giving their creativity and work to community – without expectation of reciprocity, a concept rare in our commodified times. The film was inspired by Lewis Hyde’s 1983/2007 classic book The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World (highly recommended by Margaret Atwood it’s noted in the blurb).
The film weaves together stories emanating from four very diverse geographical locations: Rome, Alert Bay on Haida Gwaii, the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, and Aukland. Artists are shown energetically working on the gifts of their artworks amid the people who actively acknowledge and appreciate it – or not.
“Exploring the parallels between artists’ work and a gift economy”, the film reflects on the creative process, the reasons we “labour in service of our gifts”, and celebrates imagination. “It’s a tribute to something that can’t be measured or counted, bought or sold”. Much food for thought emerged during the following discussion lead by Susan – and I’d wager, in a few cars on the way home. How do we decide what has value and what we do with our gifts of items or skills? And who decides?
If you missed the film, it’s available on Amazon Prime or Vimeo for about $5.00. 90 minutes. https://www.taskovskifilms.com/film/gift/
~ Jinny Hayes
