Recent History – 2003
October 7, 2003
By Gary Rusak, Daily News Staff
An ambitious artistic vision of the Peace Region will be introduced by Don Pettit and Bert Goulet at the Dawson Creek Public Library Thursday evening.
“This is our first big promotion,” said Pettit, who along with Goulet
will be launching both an original CD entitled The Peace: An Exploration in Sound and a video at the performance. Both the CD and the movie were inspired by Petitt’s well known book of photography, The Peace: An Exploration in Photographs.
“There is sort of magic in the region,” said Pettit. “The book came out of what I think the Peace Region is all about. I think from there we just started to think of other ways to express that.”
Over the last couple of years Pettit has toured with a slide show of his photography set to original music written and performed by Dawson Creek resident Bert Goulet. The response to the shows was so overwhelming that Pettit and Goulet felt that they had to take the idea further.
“People would just come up to us after with tears in their eyes,” said Goulet.
“We have done this by popular request,” added Pettit. “It just really
makes you proud to live here.”
Goulet, a local composer, musician and recording engineer, recorded the CD using the natural themes of the Pettit’s book as his guide. The result is a lush soundscape of nature sounds, symphonic synthesizers and local choral singing. It all took shape in Goulet’s home recording studio with the help of local musicians Keith Hall, Dawn Taylor and Marc Risvold among many others.
“It really grabs you,” said Pettit about the music. “Bert has done such an amazing job capturing the essence of the Peace.”
The CD is the first from Goulet and Pettit’s new record label. Dubbed Peace Records, the company will focus on trying to showcase local
talent and is based out of Goulet’s Solar Power Studios.
“The talent that is in the Peace Region is very varied,” said Pettit.
“There is such a variety of really talented people here who do everything from opera to country to folk, blues and everything else. We hope that Peace Records can professionalize it. I think it is a really exciting opportunity.”
The artists believe that with the Peace Region going through a major influx of industry and business interest, a new creative movement can compliment the growth.
“It’s a great time right now to keep the balance,” said Goulet. “The Peace Region is not just about oil and gas and roads, we also have clean air and fresh water and a sense of belonging to the land. It’s so easy to overlook the natural benefits of living here,” added Petitt.
Thursday’s performance will be a multi media affair along with a wine and cheese reception. Pettit and Goulet believe it is the perfect venue for people to gather and appreciate the beauty of the region.
“It is a going to be a celebration of all the natural riches we have right here,” said Pettit.