Marianne Sinkovics never really thought of street performing as a career until that one fatal day when she drew a ransom note for Canadian clown duo Mump and Smoot.
It was the 1996 Edmonton International Street Performers Festival. As a visual artist by trade, Sinkovics turned her pavement chalk drawings into advertisements for the artists.
“I still remember it was an incredibly hot day. I put on a huge headdress and the cameras started clicking right away,” Sinkovics said.
It was one of those light-bulb moments that started her on a different path of artistic discovery. Not that Sinkovics was shy about mingling with the public.
For numerous years she was a mainstay at her parents’ (Andy and Pat) floral booth at the St. Albert Farmers’ Market – chatting, smiling and advising shoppers about the latest blooms.
And nature was a pivotal element she incorporated into her alter ego Gigi, an eight-foot human statue on stilts. Swathed in golden fabric and paint, Gigi is basically a piece of art wearing a crown.
“She resembles a trophy and stands for benevolence, honour and beauty.”
Reminiscent of a classical European goddess, Gigi is not above granting wishes.
“I’m freestanding and I can move, but my talent is standing still,” said Sinkovics, who can stand motionless on stilts quite comfortably for 10 minutes.
“Most people last 45 seconds,” she chuckled.
Most people follow a predictable pattern while sizing her up.
“They’re not sure if I’m real or not. That comes up a lot. Then they get into teasing and heckling. Some will try to tickle, but I’m not ticklish. Children are awed. But they get over their fear. They accept they are looking at something special.”
Gigi is one of the 60 professional performers at the 29th annual Edmonton International Street Performers Festival livening up Churchill Square until Sunday, July 14.
Under the direction of artistic producer Shelley Switzer, the energy and vibrancy has captured the imaginations of locals and turned it into a popular craze. In the past 28 years, organizers estimate that about 4,750,000 visitors attended the vibrant festival.
“It’s the last democratic art form. You, the consumer, get to decide the value of the show you’ve just seen,” Switzer said noting that after each performance, artists pass the hat.
In addition to stilt walking, the 36-odd acts feature b-boying, cabbage catching, jugglers, magicians, comedy troupes, puppetry, contortionists, vaudeville performers and free-style comedy.
In among the organized bedlam, Sinkovics believes Gigi is an island of tranquility.
“There seemed to be a need for something to be still in all the chaos. It’s the eye of the storm. I wanted to see if I could hold onto a magical quiet core, a centre of peace often overlooked.”
For complete information visit www.edmontonstreetperformersfest.com.
Preview
Preview<br />Edmonton International Street Performers Festival<br />July 6 to 14<br />Churchill Square<br />Admission: Donation for street performers
