1. What is your Afterglow 2018 project called? Could you describe it? What is its inspiration? 
Our Afterglow Project is called Equilibrium. It is an interactive circus performance including juggling, hat manipulation, bubbles and more. Our inspiration came from the bubbles themselves: always moving to find that perfect balance.

2. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you live, and your creativity. 
We are The Jugglin Bubblers - a circus duo based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We have been performing unique, all ages, circus shows together since 2014. We specialize in Juggling , Hat Manipulation, and bubble art. Our performances have taken us across Canada , USA , and Costa Rica. 

3. How do you feel Afterglow makes an impact on Bridgewater? 
We feel that Afterglow makes an impact on Bridgewater by bringing the community together and by making art accessible. Both of these things create the most inspiring atmosphere!

4. Why have you chosen to take part in this year's festival? 
We chose to return to Afterglow because the community was so welcoming, and the experience we had connecting last year was absolutely beautiful! The joy and excitement that fills the street is the best!

5. What are you looking forward to most in this year's festival?
This year we are looking forward to bringing new and exciting tricks and play to Afterglow, along with seeing all of the other amazing projects and shows. 
​

​Interview and blog compiled by Jordan Beck Crouse

1. What is your Afterglow 2018 project called? Could you describe it? What is its inspiration? 
The project is called Story Weaver. It’s about a storyteller creating and sharing magical stories for all ages; taking the listener into the world of imagination and adventure. The stories told may entertain, inspire, challenge and/or give sense of hope that we can build a better world together.
My inspiration is my imagination and a strong desire to touch the listener in a way that may leave them with a smile, touch the heart or encourage them to be true to themselves.

2. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you live, and your creativity. 
I am discovering the joy of whom I am at 65. I live in a small community, Lapland, and have been here for 37 years. 
I have a been reader of fiction since I was young. I have a strong imagination which scared and entertained me over the years. As a substitute teacher for many years, I began telling stories that I usually created on the spot to the students, or told one I had created before that went over well. It was something I could do easily and simply did it. About 10 years ago I expanded my audience into the adult world when I joined a storytelling group. Whenever the opportunity presents itself I will joyfully tell a story.

1. What is your Afterglow 2018 project called? Could you describe it? What is its inspiration?
Josh Dramer is the name I use for performing. My performance will be drumming to songs that many people know, and maybe some that people do not know. I'm breaking out of the shell of drumming in a room by myself, and having fun with a bunch of people around me. 

2. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you live, and your creativity.
I'm a drummer from Laconia, NS. I'm a bit of a shy and hyper person, but I always try my best to help out and be kind to others as best as I can. I started drumming when I was in 7th grade after not being able to make a note come out of an Alto Saxophone. Ever since then, I've mostly learned a bunch of stuff at my own pace through YouTube videos of drummers such as Cobus Potgieter, Luke Holland & Phil J Drums; also looked at drum lesson videos from channels such as Drumeo. 
My range of music is varied. Anything from country to metal - as long as it's good to listen to and it makes me want to drum! 

3. How do you feel Afterglow makes an impact on Bridgewater?
​Afterglow lets people see lots of various talents that they don't get to see a lot of. There are always those rare talents that no one knows about, that others needs to see, hear, etc. 

4. Why have you chosen to take part in this year's festival?
To perform in front of the local population, and show them how much fun I have playing some songs, and just hitting hard on the drums!!!  

5. What are you looking forward to most in this year's festival?
The music performances in the events!! 

Interview and blog compiled by Jordan Beck Crouse

3. How do you feel Afterglow makes an impact on Bridgewater? 
Afterglow is an inspirational program that gives every person in and around the Bridgewater area to experience many forms/kinds of art first hand. From Fine Art to Performing Arts, everyone has the chance to see, hear and feel the arts and culture of our area. 

4. Why have you chosen to take part in this year's festival?
I chose to join in the festivities so I can once again educate the public on the art of printmaking, as it was done for over a hundred years.  

5. What are you looking forward to most in this year's festival?
Working with the children and seeing their faces when they reveal their own piece of linocut art. 
​

What is your Afterglow 2018 project called? Could you describe? What is its inspiration? 
My project this year is going to be called simply just "Jerika Clara Art"
This year I want people to be more inspired 0 more inspired to create dreamy watercolour paintings. I also want for my project to help little kids branch out and try a new medium that they maybe have never tried before. My inspiration for this year's project comes from the Afterglow Festival itself, when you're there, immersed in the festival, you look around and you see so many creative people all in one place! I really wanted to have a project that will also inspire people like all of the other projects that will be around me.

2. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you live, and your creativity. 
My name is Jerika Clara and I've lived in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia my whole life. My creativity and inspiration definitely comes from my surroundings. Nature and the ocean both give me so much inspiration. 

Interview and blog compiled by Jordan Beck Crouse

1. What is your Afterglow 2018 project called? Could you describe it What is its inspiration? 
The Lewinskies are from the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Kristen (Hatt) Lewis writes, plays and sings with an accordion and her husband, Matthew, accompanies on guitar. Our writing inspirations come from people who are trying to make a difference in this world.

2. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you live, and your creativity. 
Kristen was born on PEI but moved all around Canada while growing up and as a young person. Matthew was born on The Rock but also moved to mainland Nova Scotia. Matthew & Kristen decided to have a family in a small town instead of the big city. Kristen has been involved in music since the mid '90s recording with bands such as Matt Mays, The Heavy Blinkers, and many projects with Feswick Productions. Kristen is an artist jumping back and forth between two icebergs in the middle of the ocean - one called music, and the other called art.

1. What is your Afterglow 2018 project called? Could you describe? What is its inspiration?  
The title of my project is 'Blind Drawing'. This is an interactive project where the public is invited to participate. I will be drawing participants portraits using the 'blind contour' method. This unconventional style of drawing is implemented by the artist not looking at the paper when drawing, which creates whimsical, interesting, often humerous and bizarre results. Each participant will sit down to have a 5 minute portrait drawn using mixed media. Others are invited to pick up a pencil, pastel stick or marker and draw a friend or themselves as well. This all-ages project is fun for the public, and is something that allows the whole family to get involved in. The idea behind the project beyond the mere fact that interactive projects are exciting and good for community, is also the idea of not taking art too seriously or oneself too seriously. I love blind contour drawing because it immediately takes the pressure off oneself to create anything contingent on performance or technical expectations. The participant has a level of control removed from them, and this vulnerability brings everyone down to the same level. Surprisingly, the method encourages more creativity and surprisingly, more interesting results that challenges the conventional standards of what art-making is and how it is viewed. ​

2. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you live, and your creativity.
 I have been artistic my whole life (since I was a youngster). I am originally from Mesa. Arizona, and have lived in Nova Scotia since the age of seven. I am a visual artist living in Halifax, NS (Downtown Dartmouth, actually). I am primarily an oil painter, but often work in mixed media. I graduated from NSCAD Univeristy (BFA 2004) and since then have been working full-time in the arts community. My primary work is arts administration at a historic gallery in Halifax, and where I also head the art restoration department. On the side, I teach art privately and through public workshops, and also am a live event painter for public and private events.  I am represented at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax, NS.

3. How do you feel Afterglow makes an impact on Bridgewater? 
I believe the impact a larger-scale, public cultural event such as Afterglow has on Bridgewater is considerable and effective, in that it shows that Bridgewater is not only a town that is alive and well, but also is worthy of such an event - one which is comparible to any reputable cultural event in the province. It reflects to the public that Bridgewater and the surrounding area has a vibrant, active artistic community and has a strong place in the arts in the South Shore (and not just the historically artistic hubs, such as Mahone Bay & Lunenburg, for example). Bridgewater deserves an arts festival, and I believe Afterglow is a budding, emerging-on-the-scene event in Nova Scotia.

4. Why have you chosen to take part in this year's festival? 
Why I chose to participate again this year for Afterglow is purely for the fun and energy the festival has, and also to support the town, as Bridgewater is a town where I grew-up in.  I had a terrific experience last year with my interactive mural, and the public was very responsive and I think they had a lot of fun. I enjoy that Afterglow is still a younger art festival than for instance, the Nocturne Festival in Halifax. Because Afterglow is still a young(er) festival, there is something that still feels magical about it - unadulterated, if I may. Sometimes this vibrancy gets lost in the older, more established cultural events in the province. It is easy for a larger, more populated town or city to sometimes take for granted what it has. 

5. What are you looking forward to most in this year's festival?
What I look forward to again this year is being able to see some of the same faces as last year and meet new people. There are always valueable connections and relationships that are built in these experiences, which I look forward to. I also am curious to see what projects arise this year, as they seem to be very diverse and different each time. 

Interview and blog compiled by Jordan Beck Crouse