CityTV's Live Eye host Bridget Ryan and her cameraman Jason Carter have a unique working chemistry. They are like two peas in a pod, completely in sync with each other. Ryan is vibrant and energetic whereas Carter is more soft-spoken with a warm, easy-going nature.
Away from the bright lights, Ryan is a playwright and Carter is a sculptor/painter. Since day one of their eight-year television working partnership, the duo has wanted to work together on an outside project.
Just this week they released a self-published children's book, the first of a series of adventure stories about a fleet-footed rabbit that races around the world helping other animals in distress.
Who Is Boo: The Terrific Tales of Trickster Rabbit is a 60-page illustrated book that is literally a work of art, and the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) is displaying 20 of Carter's vibrant paintings in a special lobby exhibit. Three of Carter's soapstone and alabaster animal carvings also accompany the acrylic paintings.
“I believe we are seeing Jason as he continues in his ascent. Just the fact that the Alberta ministry chose him to represent the province at the 2010 Olympics has been a huge boost to his artistic endeavours,” says Todd Crawshaw, RAM communications co-ordinator.
Carter's sketches are a stylized blend between Andy Warhol and Canadian aboriginal artist Norval Morrisseau with bright, bold images divided by strong black lines.
Carter, a graduate of NAIT's graphic communications program and Grant MacEwan's Digital Arts Media program, is a member of Little Red River Cree Nation. However he was raised in the city and learned little of his traditional roots until he researched material for his paintings and carvings.
In native legend and folklore, Carter unearthed tales of Nanabozho, the trickster rabbit who named all the plants and animals. Ryan is quick to point out the duo has borrowed only the essence of the trickster rabbit from native legend.
“We wanted to create a series that looked at things differently, something that sparked the imagination with a character that was helpful and energetic,” Ryan says.
The duo first paired up for an art show in 2008 at the Sun and Moon Visionary Gallery. While Carter showcased his work, Ryan penned the accompanying panels telling a story for each one.
From that point on, they talked about a children's series. On New Year's Day of this year, Ryan woke up and resolved to get the project off the ground. She quickly plotted the entire book in a day and raced over to Carter's house.
After storyboarding the first book and making cuts to the 75 pages, Carter dived into painting panels for each page. He “feverishly worked” for two months, completing one painting a day, often working on several at time. “He's a lot like the Littlest Hobo,” he says.
Both talents hope the project widens cross-cultural bridges. Says Ryan, “It's not only about bringing animals together, it's about a sharing of culture, my Irish-American with James' aboriginal roots. Together it makes two sides of the coin.”
For more information visit www.jasoncarter.ca or www.whoisboo.com.
