New appreciation for clown as art

Welcome to the The Creemore Echo’s Arts Edition, an exploration of the artists and the themes that will be at this weekend’s Creemore Festival of the Arts.

While the volunteers with Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society have been curating an inspiring line- up of artists and performers, we have tracked down the headliners in order to drill down into their creative process and learn a bit more about what motivates them to create in the way that they do.

MK Lynde told us that she really wanted to include clowns in the festival because she has long been fascinated with the art form.

At first glance, clown may look like a base form of entertainment but it has a rich history and tradition. I was surprised by the interconnectedness of the clown community. Each time I learned something new about clown, the more I explored the clown tapestry, there was another strand.

Clown goes back to time immemorial. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, sacred clown, is a ritual or ceremonial figure, in various preliterate and ancient cultures throughout the world, who represents a reversal of the normal order, an opening to the chaos that preceded creation.

Clowns have appeared in Indigenous cultures and in the form of jesters as “a means of social control by their satire of the antisocial behaviour of particular individuals.”

However symbolic, clowns are also a form of entertainment and the goal of the performers at this weekend’s festival is to amuse.

“I think especially in the artistic world, you know, we always have to sort of make, not big statements necessarily but I think, isn’t there something nice about having something being fun and playful?,” said France Huot, of Huot and Haze. “We’re not going to be doing a big philosophical thing, but I think it’s just nice to be silly and, yeah, have a good time.”

These clowns will not be frightening – although there is a long tradition of scary clowns going back to the early 19th century or earlier. I raise this because many people believe clowns to be creepy.

I would encourage those people to give the clowns a chance. In them we may see the absurdity of humanity, ourselves and in life.

The weekend forecast is looking spectacular. With 50 artists set up throughout the village, activities, workshops, free and ticketed performances, people should have no problem filling two days of creativity. We recommend visitors begin at the information booth at Creemore Village Green and then head to Station on the Green where there will be a group show of all participating artists.

We hope the weekend leaves us all inspired and entertained (and with a new appreciation for clowns.)