The Aldergrove pop trio Her Brothers is among the over 40 artists and advocates nominated for the 12th annual Arty Awards this coming month.
The Arty Awards are hosted annually by the Abbotsford Arts Council to recognize and showcase local artistic excellence in individuals of all ages across multiple genres, ranging from visual art and writing to performance and the culinary arts, as well as community arts advocacy.
This year’s awards will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 9, at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. It will celebrate the wealth of artistic talent and the significant impact artists have on our community. The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m.
This year, the Arty Awards theme will be a tribute to the 1980s. Attendees are strongly encouraged to dress for the occasion with your best '80s-inspired look.
Tickets are available online at artyawards2016.eventbrite.ca. All ticket sales go to supporting this and event and showing gratitude to our local community and its talented artists.
The Abbotsford Arts Council announce this year’s Arty Awards nominees:
Christine Caldwell Arts Advocate: Alisha Deddens, Asger Hansen, Kim Janzen, Aymee Leake.
Outstanding Artist in the Visual Arts (Traditional Media): Kathleen Fowlstone, Cynthia Frenette, Jeffrey Rasmussen, Jeff Stackhouse, Shannon Thiesen, Carmen West.
Outstanding Artist in the Visual Arts (Digital Media & Photography): Brittany Cardinal, Sharaless Prang, Andrew Simpson.
Outstanding Post-Secondary Student Artist: Valerie Franklin, Candice Okada, Kendra Schellenberg.
Julie Loland Outstanding Student Artist: Allistair Bevan, Manvir Gill, Ella McCallum.
Outstanding Artist in the Literary Arts: Kristin Van Vloten, Carrie Wachsmann.
Kelly Meade Outstanding Artist in Performing Arts (Dance): Lineke Van Kleek, Jennifer Wilford.
Outstanding Artist in Performing Arts (Music): Simon Bridgefoot, Her Brothers, Joel Noftle, Sylvia Platters.
Outstanding Artist in Performing Arts (Theatre): Jay Danzigar, Dani Dejong, Andrew Gillott, Mark Kroeker, Kelly Shackleford.
Outstanding Arts Organization: Business in Black, Devon Clifford Music Foundation, Louden Singletree Literary Magazine.
Brodeur’s Bistro Outstanding Artist in the Culinary Arts: Cassie Crocco, Jason Dyckstra, Tim Garofano, Jeff Massey, Crystal Reddy, Kristina & Johannes Van Vloten.
Honourable Mentions: Rod Barker, Janelle Fitz, Cat Janzen, Lianne Mitchell, Aaron Young.
For additional information, contact the Abbotsford Arts Council office by phone at 604-852-9358, by email at katie@abbotsfordartscouncil.com, or visit website at abbotsfordartscouncil.org and learn more about this registered, local arts charity.
Her Brothers stand up for 'sisters'
Her Brothers is a Canadian alternative rock band from Aldergrove.
Together since 2008, Gabe Penner (lead vocals, guitar), Josh Penner (bass guitar), and Levi Penner (drums) have performed at a variety of venues and events along the West Coast of North America including fairs, cafés, community events, universities, and churches. They have opened up for big name acts such as Jerry Doucette and Dal Richards as well as have been winners of “Best Performer” and “Best Band”.
Their debut album, SHE, released January of 2015, is a mixture of the melodic hooks of Vampire Weekend with the anthemic textures of U2 and flavours of Jack White throughout.
“Music isn’t so much an end, but a means to an end; music is a vehicle for which to carry a message, and if we find ourselves singing these songs out night after night with each other, it only fits that these songs would be about something we believe in: Hope,” says Gabe Penner.
Between January and March 2013, Gabe traveled through southeast Asia with a film crew documenting stories and experiencing life as it is for millions in that corner of our world. The images of poverty, women being offered for sale, and the attitudes of people who thrive off a caste system designed to keep gifted and amazing human beings from reaching their potential, will be indelibly etched in Gabe's memory.
“All I could think was, “What if this was my little sister?’ It’s only a matter of place and time, and that shouldn’t have to dictate someone’s future.”
With a dream to lead and inspire men to stand up for, encourage, and become positive male influences in the lives of women in our world who either don't have a voice or simply can't speak up for themselves, the name Her Brothers just made sense for them considering Gabe, Josh and Levi are also the older brothers to their own sister.
“It’s time that men stood up in the fight for women’s rights and gender equality,” adds Gabe.