Ryan and Carter take project onto the stage

It is the Year of the Rabbit, a fitting time for a unique duo of Edmonton-based artists to take the symbol of a hare and morph it into a shrine for art fiends and musical theatre gluttons.

CityTV remote host Bridget Ryan, who practiced her earliest stage skills with St. Albert Children’s Theatre, and visual artist Jason Carter have in the last six months hopped into hare culture, writing and illustrating a children’s picture book as well as hosting an exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum.

Their latest joint venture is a benefit concert for Edmonton’s Youth Emergency Shelter (YESS) aptly titled Jason Carter’s Year of the Rabbit/Bridget Ryan’s Hare Band Cabaret running from July 14 to 24.

“Part of the thing we’ve found is that by combining live art with static art, they really explode off each other,” Ryan says.

Most of the Capital region has developed an easygoing familiarity with the onscreen Ryan, also a polished actor/singer/writer/comedienne.

A graduate of the MacEwan theatre arts program and the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music, the spirited singer spent seven years in New York honing her performance skills in the cabaret circuit and at Rant Control and TheatreWorks USA.

Less well known is CityTV cameraman Jason Carter, an emerging aboriginal painter and sculptor whose collections have quietly developed a respectable following. Much of the ongoing momentum for Carter’s work is attributed to showings at the Edmonton International Airport, Bearclaw Gallery, Alberta House at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and the Sawridge Inn Gallery in Jasper.

The Catalyst Theatre’s quirky, yet intimate environment is a natural venue for the duo’s clever meshing of art and music that is similarly designed to the yellow brick road in Wizard of Oz.

“You will walk through a world of art. We’ve got green Astroturf that makes a path. As you walk in, you will be surrounded by rabbits. Jason has created 57 sculptures and new paintings. You will take a tour behind the set. All the while you will be surrounded by rabbits and at the end, the path spills into the theatre proper,” she explains.

With inspiration from the Chinese calendar, Carter has grouped his rabbit works under the five elements of fire, earth, water, metal and wood. Keeping the five elements in mind, Ryan scoured the lexicon of American songs to find equally hair-raising rock, jazz and Broadway showtunes.

For instance, metal has aggressive characteristics and Ryan has fit Trooper’s Raise a Little Hell in that slot. Wood instead has a romantic nature more suited to Chicago. Fire is passionate and tempered through Phantom of the Opera whereas water has an airy, dreamy personality that practically begs for one of Enya’s serenades.

“The idea is for people to submerge themselves in the event and see what it can do to change and enlighten you.”

Accompanying Ryan is the husband and wife team of John (vocalist) and Jennifer McMillan (keys), as well as Haley Symington (guitar) and Connor Walsh (bass.)

While both Ryan and Carter enjoy sharing their respective discipline with the public, they are equally adamant about raising money for YESS.

“It’s not a sexy cause like breast cancer and I really want to help. Right now it’s hard to raise children and be connected. What these people do at the shelter is amazing. They deal with high-risk kids and put them back on track and their successes are truly wonderful,” adds Ryan.

Determined to walk the talk, she has volunteered on numerous occasions, leading workshops, providing career counselling and doing overnighters.

“Kids rely on this place. It’s a safe haven and people in there can change the course of their lives.”

About 25 per cent of ticket proceeds and another 25 per cent of any artwork sold will be donated to YESS.

For more information visit www.yess.org.