How Arts And Sports Collided

Discover who the artist is and who the athlete is and how their paths shaped them into who they are today.

Get to know a little about Ted and Camilla, as they talk about their relationships to arts and sports.

Find out why, and how, arts and sports collide or connect. 

Want to send Camilla and Ted a message? Or learn more about them?

Visit FromTheParkBench.ca

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Welcome to our first episode of From the Park Bench, where we believe arts and sports matter and play a huge role in shaping our youth. We're an artist and an athlete, and we're sitting, observing, discovering, and inspiring the communities of arts and sports from a place of passion and safety. Will we connect? Will we collide? Can we achieve common ground? Don't know. Find out today, live. from the park bench.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

So, this is it. We're doing it. This is it. We're doing it. We're doing it. We're

SPEAKER_01 0:37

here. It's happening.

SPEAKER_00 0:37

It's happening. We can't go back. No,

SPEAKER_01 0:40

this

SPEAKER_00 0:41

is it. So, Saturday morning, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_01 0:44

I'm good. I feel good. I was actually walking this morning, listening to the birds and hearing just the sound of the community and I was starting to get revved up.

SPEAKER_00 0:56

Yeah, exactly. I wasn't doing that, but I'm revved up. I'm excited. How did you start your morning? I was at the gym, first thing, probably the first person there, so they were wondering why you're here so early. I couldn't sleep. But yeah, no, it was a great start. It's always great to do something active, you know, to start the day, I think, for both arts and sports. That's true. Yeah, but no, it's good. It's good. I'm excited to get rolling and to get into this. So yeah, it's good.

UNKNOWN 1:27

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 1:29

So I guess to get started, I mean, obviously, people don't know us. So you are more of the arts person. I'm more of the sports person.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

That's

SPEAKER_00 1:38

right. And nobody's 100% anything. That's

SPEAKER_01 1:40

right.

SPEAKER_00 1:41

So maybe tell us how you got into arts. Like, as a kid, how did everything start for

SPEAKER_01 1:46

you? Yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean, it was obvious. I was... There was no doubt that I was an artist when I was younger. So when I was little growing up, like elementary school age, my parents with some other families, they actually bought an island up north.

UNKNOWN 2:06

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

I know, it was super cool. It was like an old hunting, fishing lodge or camp, actually. It was on an island. It was on Lake Nipissing. You know where Lake Nipissing

SPEAKER_00 2:16

is? I've heard of it. Is it North Bay area?

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly. So shout out to Hidden Island Camp folks and my little posse. But yeah, so it was seven families that actually got together and purchased this camp and it was called Hidden Island Camp. It was super cool. And I mean, they did it back in, this was like the late 70s. So it was, it Right, right, right. So we would get super bored. And so part of the thing is, God, what do you want to do? What do you want to do now? What do you want to do now? So we would get in a little group. There was probably about like six or seven of us. And we're like, well, let's do our top three of things we want to do. And my number one was always, let's color. Everyone would roll their eyes. Oh, gosh. Because you think of coloring as what you do when it's raining.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

How old were you during

SPEAKER_01 3:29

this time? That's a good question. I think I was six or seven when they bought it. So literally within those elementary age, like, you know, from six, and then I would stop going like teens. Once you could drive, you'd stop going up. Right. But then... Like what you would spend with your parents, you know, during the summer, you would either go to your cottage. Well, this was our cottage, but you would go somewhere for a week. We were there for two months.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

I know. I know. And it was just like, that's what you did when school ended. You went up and then you never came back until like school was starting.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

Right.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

And

SPEAKER_00 4:05

that's when coloring was cool, right?

SPEAKER_01 4:34

So his top three would be, let's play ball. Let's do this. you know, paper dolls, creating any kind of 3D whatever. Well, I even had actually when I was 10 or 12, my art got into the art gallery in Kitchener. Wow. I know. It was so cool. But then I went to school for illustration. And I mean, I use the arts everywhere. It's weaved throughout my career, for sure. I mean, I'm always a creative.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Were your parents artistic?

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Ah... My dad could sketch a little. Yeah, for sure. And my mom, her background, her family was musicians. And I remember her mom even acted. So there was a bit of arts there. But I was, oh, and my great aunt. That's right. My mom, my dad's sister, my great aunt, she was an artist. My gosh, she was incredible. She would spend her summers or sometimes even six months in Jamaica. And she would paint. paint the landscape there. Yeah. She was, she was a beautiful artist.

SPEAKER_00 6:12

You come by honestly

SPEAKER_01 6:13

then. I do. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, yeah. So that, and so what about you? So that's me, the artist, um, from, from an early age, I knew from an early age, did you know that you were destined to be in some, some sort of athlete?

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Pro sports was the dream of every kid, but, uh, yeah, no, I mean, I always loved sports, uh, and competition and, um, you know, I, for me, it wasn't coloring, you know, when I was with my friends who wanted to play a game and figure out the rules and, you know, just compete, right? But it's funny, I think about my intro into sports and my dad loved sports, which is a big influence on me, and he was trying to get me to play hockey and I didn't want to skate and I really wouldn't do it. And then when I was in grade two, one of my friends was playing hockey and then I thought, I want to play hockey too, right? So that's actually what got me into it, not my dad trying to push me into sports, but when your friends decide they want to play, you want to be part of that too, right? Yeah, Yeah, and I think from there... I just, everything is in sports. So, you know, soccer in the summer, baseball in the summer, hockey in the winter. Um, yeah. And watching sports, playing sports, my whole life has been sports. Right. So, uh, yeah, it's, uh, it's always been a part of what I wanted to do and I know we'll touch on it, but I mean, arts is something that interests me too, but, but sports dominated my, my life. And, uh, yeah, my, um, my parents, like my dad loves sports, but my, my mom didn't, she was not a sports person. She would come and watch my hockey games and I would ask her after, did you see the goal I scored? And she's like, yeah. You know, she wasn't really watching, right? But yeah, I know sports has been a big part and for my kids now too. My son tried sports and my daughter loves sports. So yeah, it's a big part of my life. So

SPEAKER_01 7:59

yeah. So even you saying, you know, my friend was, I was going to say doing sports.

SPEAKER_00 8:07

Exactly. What's the score? 2-4? No, it's 4-2. Right? I wouldn't

SPEAKER_01 8:12

even have known that. So that's funny that you've seen your friend and you're inspired by them to start playing sports. But were you ever, like for me, I mean, I'll get into why I know that. sports, is this a place that I know my insecurities come out of my awkwardness, my awkwardness, but did that ever stop you or hinder you? Like, did you ever think I can't hit that ball or I'm going to look really awkward? Was that ever even a thought?

SPEAKER_00 8:42

Um, probably. I mean, I think sports definitely gives you confidence, right? So Um, you know, as a kid, it's the, whatever you do, you, you know, you become better at. And so that was the thing I was, I wasn't amazing, but I liked it. Right. So, so no, I don't think I was ever scared playing sports because you just jump in and I play the sports that I liked. So yeah. Yeah, I don't think so. But like anything else, there are moments where you're uncertain about whether I should have done it this way or whatever have you. But no, I was never scared of sports. I was scared of arts. Right?

SPEAKER_01 9:15

See? I was terrified of sports. I remember, so I have a soccer story and so do my kids. I don't know what it is about soccer. I guess because people think it's easy, right? It's just like such a big field, so I'll just stand there.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

Big net, easy score, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

Exactly. So I think I was like grade four and I was on the soccer team and I was the goalie. And big net, exactly. I was sitting in the middle of the net thinking, my gosh, this is a ginormous net. How am I going to block it? And when the play was happening on the other end, I was like, thank goodness. And then as soon as it comes to me, I'm like terrified. And sure enough, you know, they throw the ball at me. I duck.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

They wouldn't throw it to you in soccer, but.

SPEAKER_01 10:01

See? The ball comes hurling at me and I'm terrified. So instead of blocking it, like you obviously would, I run away from it, right? And they're like, what are you doing? You let it go in. They didn't say idiot, but that's what I heard. And I hated it because the pressure was on me. I was terrified of that ball. And then, oh my gosh, I remember my daughter going into Timbit soccer and she just wanted to be part of a team, right? And she wanted the shirt. And she wanted the medal. She thinks, well, I'm part of a team. I want to get a medal at the

SPEAKER_00 10:40

end, right? That's right. When do I get my medal? Yeah, exactly. And

SPEAKER_01 10:43

we get ice cream. This is what it's all about. Do I have to play? And we would go watch her and she was little and she had such, well, she still does, but like great spirit and heart. You know, she's out there, but she was terrified of the ball. She's like, mom, I'm just afraid the ball's going to hit me. I'm like, it's not going to hit me. She's like, I have a feeling it's going to hit me. She was out there and sure enough, it hit her right in the gut. you say, arts terrifies you. And so when I paint something or there's a blank canvas and someone thinks, how do you do that? I'm like, I don't even think about it. It just comes out. So there's this natural ability that is really there, that's really an artist and an athlete.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

Yeah, no, it's interesting. There's obviously personal traits that I think tie into that as well, but... But yeah, it's funny with... We were talking about this before and... I mean I'm interested in the arts and my son is very much into the arts and is very good at it and but as a kid you just don't want to look like a fool right that's that's the thing so I'm not even getting it wrong it's just like I'm gonna look like an idiot someone's gonna laugh at me and so I don't want to be put myself in that position it's easier to have a helmet on and be on the ice and people don't really know who you are right so yeah but no it's but but there is an energy for you know in that sort of space that that certainly interests me and again we were chatting of this I think the other day and and you know I think kids just need someone to say if someone had said to you no Kamala you're you're good in that right you might say oh I didn't realize that was good right so to have that little bit of encouragement I think helps so I think you could easily be either way but I still was more interested in sports then yeah then I would have been the arts but yeah and there's just more opportunity for sport too and and There are so many things you can do. Not that you can't in the arts, but I think as a kid I just saw sports everywhere, right? So that was probably more kind of where I was focusing. No, that's it.

SPEAKER_01 13:13

And I guess really that's kind of how we got together and we started talking about this podcast and about the fact that, yeah, that's it. Talking to those kids that have that kind of fear of stepping out onto the field or fear of stepping into a space Yeah. It's not going to hinder you in any way. It's a character builder and just giving them the courage to see both sides.

SPEAKER_00 13:56

Yeah, it's interesting. I think it probably benefits, it certainly does benefit both the athlete and the artist to do the other, right? So just to have the courage to be in a space where you're uncomfortable, it means something, right? And I know how difficult it is as you play sport. The boy or girl that joins in their 12 or 13 that have never played the sport, it's very difficult because you've missed so many years of learning, right? And arts is the same way. So I think kids would be well-served to try both, and parents should be encouraged to put their kids into both, right? So you have to let your kids go, I think, where they want to go. But I think it doesn't hurt to say, Kamalee, you should go try soccer, even though you don't want to.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

I know. It's so true, just kind of pushing you a bit into that– that uncomfortableness. And I think that's really where it stems from, maybe even as adults. I mean, stepping into a space and feeling vulnerable, your qualities that aren't necessarily honed. Like even as an adult stepping into a sports space. So, you know, stepping into an art space, no problem. You know, going into an improv class, do you want to volunteer for theater? Yeah, 100%. I don't even think twice. But then if friends of mine say, do you want to play pick up? Can you say pick up volleyball? Is pick up

SPEAKER_00 15:19

a reference? You could say that. We'd probably be wrong though. But yeah, no, it could, they might be. I, I'm not

SPEAKER_01 15:24

a volleyball. your vulnerabilities are out there exposed and you see I'm not good at this

SPEAKER_00 15:58

I

SPEAKER_01 15:59

think it's the people that are around you that are it's okay yeah you're not hitting it and you're not making it but

SPEAKER_00 16:07

do you think people in the arts are more willing to be welcoming and if you're new to the arts they're more willing to say hey don't worry about it like in sports I think it's the opposite it depends on your friends but people are there to play a game to win or lose generally speaking ready It's a competitive environment, mostly. Yeah. For adults, too. Totally. But do you think on the art side that people are saying, you know what, hey, he had a lot of courage. He can come out and try this improv tonight. We'll be gentle on him.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

You know what? I mean, disclaimer, this is just our point of view and not blanket statements. But I have to say, I think so. I truly think so. Because there is something about the arts. It's just your interpretation of how you want to express yourself there is no technique there is I mean there's a technique in how a brush stroke but there's no real right or wrong I mean in sports it's like you hit it or you didn't that ball went out of court like you are not hitting it to your player whereas in art it's just like just go just be free and just do what you

SPEAKER_00 17:16

want more expressive it is

SPEAKER_01 17:18

more expressive and perhaps it is a different space that it could be a little bit more accepting, you know, than sports.

SPEAKER_00 17:27

You know, it's funny, my son, who will probably hate that I'm saying this, but he... Oh, yeah, totally. But he, I mean, you know, because I played sports, I want to put my kids into sports. So I... Right. And so he played everything I put him into soccer and baseball and he tried and and and he did well. Like he was he didn't love sport, but he he did well. Right. And people were generally welcoming. But when he got to 12 or 13, he's like, Dad, do I still have to play soccer? I'm like, nobody. You don't have to play if you don't want to play. And then he went into the arts more so. And that's where he thrived. Right. So it's more his thing. And he got to have the experience. But he didn't have I don't think that connection to sport that his sister did. And she likes the arts. She's artistic as well, but she very much loves competition and all those things. But she also loves having the jersey and getting the medal and all the parts you talked about earlier. So it's interesting how much of a mix it can be, but everybody is their own person. They're going to do what they want to do. Having the opportunity is important, but...

SPEAKER_01 18:35

Well, I think on that point, it's really finding your community and your tribe and people that get me. Like I'm around my people, right? And if I stepped into an art class and we're all talking shop in terms of art, these are my people.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

Crayons and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 18:53

Exactly. Hues and tones and exactly crayons and stuff. But they're speaking my language. And that even happens, you know, in my career and marketing I can speak the language of the creative right I can't really speak the language of the art of the sports person right to me that's a foreign language but I can relate to a creative I can relate to an artist because I understand what it means to have that blank canvas in anything in word in brush stroke in any kind of creative space so So knowing what they're going through and knowing how to express yourself, your creative integrity, will I get it right? So finding your tribe, I guess this is what the podcast is about too, is those communities and those spaces and really helping them and supporting them and getting people on their journey, on their path of whichever they choose, to find that supportive community and hopefully... they find one that's welcoming and can help them grow.

SPEAKER_00 20:06

Yeah, and we're going to explore a lot of the issues and challenges that come up in all the environments because there's a lot of similarity, I think, between, and we'll determine that every episode. But yeah, and I think you're right. What we want to do is identify how do you inspire, how do you uplift these young people mostly that are trying to find their way? And they're finding it either through the sport world or the art world or both, right? So there's a lot of topics I think that we will We'll dive into as time goes on that I think people will enjoy listening to, hopefully, and will want to be a part of. Yeah, I know. I'm excited about this. And I think it was good to get to know a little bit about you, Kamala, even more than I already knew. So I will make the note about the crayons. That's a good one to keep in my back pocket. Do you keep crayons in your back pocket? Look at these! Look at my nose

SPEAKER_01 20:57

tag, of

SPEAKER_00 20:58

course! I keep

SPEAKER_01 20:59

colors, all different, highlighters and everything. But yes, crayons are always on the ready. But yeah, I just wanted to also touch on that. What people can expect and and from these episodes, and that's it, is talking about these, how we've talked about before, just in talking about this podcast, because we've both wanted, we've been wanting to do podcasts for a long time, right? Yes, yeah. And what is the purpose of a podcast for me and for us, we have this kind of same thought, is that we just want to help inspire, right? And just by sharing our stories and our experiences and if there's one takeaway that someone hears, whether it's from the arts community or the sports community, and they think, you know what, I'm going to look up an art class or I'm going to join that soccer team, even though I'm a little intimidated. And if we could give some... some child out there, or even an adult, just that bit of inspiration.

SPEAKER_00 22:04

Definitely the adults, too. Because they're the ones that are, you know, they have the children, right? So we need them to guide them properly.

SPEAKER_01 22:10

And two, in terms of sharing our stories, I know a lot of times I have tons of stories of my kids, but they're going to be cringing that I use their names. I knew a boy.

SPEAKER_00 22:20

Well, don't use their name. Just call your daughter something else.

UNKNOWN 22:23

Right.

SPEAKER_01 22:24

This random child that I knew, no relation, but But yeah, that's kind of the hope and the mission of this podcast. So hopefully we can make a difference in that way.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

I hope so. So if you're listening, keep listening. Keep listening. Exactly. That's

SPEAKER_01 22:43

right. Yeah, and that's kind of what we're hoping for each episode, that we could... Just inspire and give that little, I look at it almost, I always take a visual, like a creative. I think of something visual. Yeah. we're at the park, a little leaf, a little leaf of hope, you know? So maybe each episode can give someone that little inspiration throughout their day or if they're ever thinking about something, we provide a little bit of encouragement and a little bit of positivity and just a pay forward of goodness that we want to share with others and hopefully, you know,

SPEAKER_00 23:35

Yeah, absolutely. And I think people will want to share their stories too. And all the stuff we're going to be talking about is what parents think about, you know, when they're going to and from the rink or the field or the, I guess the... Auditorium.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

Or on their way to just even the easel and canvas that they

SPEAKER_00 23:53

set up. The easel and canvas. The crayon store. Many, many places.

SPEAKER_01 23:56

So we hope that everybody listens in. So if you're listening and you have a comment or you want to send us a message, you can go to fromtheparkbench.ca and let us know what you think. Make sure to follow us on Right. Stay tuned to our next episode, episode two, where we talk about nepotism is a good thing. Yes. So from myself and from my great co-host, Ted, we say... Chat soon.

SPEAKER_00 24:43

Yeah. From the park bench. And the second episode will be dropping at the same time. So if you're listening to this episode, you'll have a chance to listen to the next one if you love this one. So that's it. We know you're going to.

SPEAKER_01 24:56

We know you will. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 24:59

Thanks.