Santa’s workshop may be a flurry of activity in the North Pole, but there is another workshop in the village of Elora that is working hard to get Santa’s parade float ready for his big debut there on Nov. 24 for the Parade of Lights.
Elora artist Bear (Brenda) Epp has been commissioned by the Elora Lions Club to redesign the look of the man in red’s motorized parade float, from the reindeer to the sleigh and all points in between.
“We promised the community if we started to charge a fee to participate in the Elora parade, we would invest in it,” said Staci Barron, vice president of the Elora Lions Club. “We made good on our promise and hired an Olympic-calibre installation artist to get the job done.”
Barron is referring to Epp’s participation as both a set designer and volunteer in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Having lived in Vancouver for 13 years, where Epp taught art to children from her studio and worked on private commissions, the opportunity to get involved with the Olympics was the chance of a lifetime.
“My neighbour was the head of the props for the Olympics and he wore a jacket that I designed to a party one night (it was glittered), and the senior production designer of the Olympics, Leslie Frankish, said, “Get me the name of the person who designed that.”
The rest is history.
Epp was granted an interview and an opportunity to provide artist concept drawings for the three-dimensional maple leaf bandstands that stood before the musicians that performed for millions of viewers the world over with acts such as Michael Buble.
“It was very exciting and very nerve-racking,” Epp said.
The bandstands required Epp to coordinate efforts, using a wood-worker to build the structure of the music stands. Epp’s vision was a stage spectacle that required 10,000 hand-pinned sequins into the giant foam structures. The pin cushions to hold the pins for the application process itself were six feet by four feet.
“The pins were so tiny. They had to go through the hole in the sequin,” describes Epp, adding she had an assistant for that task.
“There was pounds and pounds of glitter for an ombre effect,” she said.
Her commissioned work was only part of the Olympic experience. As an official volunteer, her artistic talents were put to good use in other creative ways.
“I painted the canoes for the closing ceremony. They were originally all yellow and I painted them to look like birch bark canoes,” Epp explained. She also painted the fleur-de-lis emblem on the canoes.
“It was a really great opportunity to be around all those people and see the performers come in and be around it all,” Epp said.
She described the camaraderie of the work behind the scenes, including the devastation for the workers who designed the Olympic cauldron’s hydraulic system, which malfunctioned during the opening ceremonies, when only three of the four arms came up before it was lit.
“It was so sad. Those union guys, hard working men, were in tears,” she said, noting her respect for their dedication.
“We felt very fortunate to be a part of the excitement and the buzz at that time … and when Canada won the hockey game, we could hear it from far away. Hockey games broke out all over Vancouver. It was a really great experience.
“I think that they (the Olympics) were fantastic,” Epp said. “I was really proud.”
Two years ago, Epp found herself back in her home province, in her new community, Elora.
“I love the people and the community and I have had the opportunity to meet lots of people,” she said, noting she sits on the Elora BIA’s events and marketing committee and the Elora Swan Society.
Epp opened the Junior Arts Collective, on Metcalfe Street, a retail studio offering art workshops, predominantly for children.
“The Elora Lions knew about my experience and I designed the club’s trophy for best float in their 2011 Christmas parade,” said Epp. “They liked my store window last year, because it was animated.”
Epp says Barron approached her, on behalf of the Elora Lions, to discuss refurbishing the Santa Claus float.
“Centre Wellington has a plethora of talent with regards to the arts and it just seemed like a natural segueway to utilize the talent we have in order to amp up the quality and presentation of the parade,” said Barron.
Epp said, “I presented them, last winter, with a concept and drawings in a formal presentation, with a quote.
“I’m happy that Staci approached me with the opportunity. I believe it was her inspiration, her hope to have a new float for the community and I am grateful to her for letting me propose a concept they accepted.”
For Barron and her fellow Lions, it was a win-win.
“The budget was pure materials cost. Bear has donated her time,” Barron said. “What an unusual and unexpected gift from a fairly new resident to our community.”
For Epp, it was an opportunity too good to pass up.
“I am honoured to be asked. It’s a tremendous responsibility. I really respect the Elora Lions Club and what they’re doing for the community. I don’t think you can get bigger than this, doing this (parade) for your town. It’s pretty exciting.”
Epp, who defines herself as a “site-specific artist,” was trained in theatrical prop building and jewelry design, graduating from Niagara College and Sheridan College.
She is also a part-time art teacher at Wellington Hall Academy, a small private school in Guelph.
Perhaps it was the youthful spirit of her art students that inspired the vision Epp had for Santa’s float, but the artist has also injected a sense of elegance from Christmases past.
“The feel is a nostalgic 1940s vintage,” said Epp.
Beginning last year, Epp set to work making her plans a reality. With over 400 feet of new Christmas lights and 12 pounds of glitter, Epp plans to create a spectacle that will remain part of the community’s festive tradition.
“The whole float is gold and white, except for Santa and his sleigh,” she explained. “Santa will have a white fake fur throw and a snow owl perched on his sleigh.”
The animated owl is created by Epp’s husband Fraser Boyle, who is a key grip in the television industry. He used his special effects skills to make the bird move its head to look out over the audience.
“The sleigh is a vintage sleigh which is beautiful. It belongs to [Elora Lion] Glenn Kelley. I have repainted it a more burgundy, vintage-looking red,” Epp describes.
“I’ve rebuilt the reindeers antlers and legs. The new lead deer is flying, which is new this year. She is elevated.”
From the colour scheme to the construction, she enlisted a team of community supporters to get the job done.
“There has been a lot of people helping,” Epp said.
Student artist volunteer Libby Phillips joined artists Meredith Blackmore and Katelyn Langille in adding flair to the reindeer.
“They did papier-mache of the deer,” said Epp, who explains the deer are plastic and foam underneath. “They applied three coats of paper and glue, then three coats of primer then glittered with three coats to ensure longevity.”
Epp also connected with an old friend, metalwork fabrication artist Jane Longstaff, of Holstein.
“Jane is an unbelievable, fantastic welder-designer. She’s done all the deer support,” Epp said, noting they had to make all the functional platforms, stands and metal work supports to ensure the float can support weight safely.
Two, 10-foot decorative signs with skirts have been donated by Colleen Craig Marritt, of Sign Art Centre in Guelph.
“The float will include six clouds that are seven feet tall, made out of steel, and lights and fabric tulle, with shooting stars that light up,” said Epp.
Adding more fabric to Santa’s fashion flare is the Tutu in You young sewers group, lead by Stephanie Toohill at the Elora Centre for the Arts.
“Steph and the tutu girls are making the reindeer’s ornate textile saddles and refurbishing Santa’s suit,” said Epp. “I go there and work with the girls … They are so inspiring and it’s just a wonderful place to be and feed off their energy.”
The young sewers will get a banner for their participation.
But Epp notes there are many more people supporting the parade float from behind the scenes, including the donation of a truck, tractor-trailer, the generator and storage space.
It’s that community spirit that keeps the Elora parade thriving, and in its fifth year of coordinating the parade, the Elora Lions Club wants to build on the momentum.
“Elora, as other communities, has an Christmas parade, and I’ve noticed in the past few years the crowds have been increasing in Elora, [and other places], and we at the Elora Lions Club have decided to invest in our parade to create a really great float for Santa,” said club president John Morris. He added, “Bear brings tremendous creativity and enthusiasm to take this float to the next level.”
Fellow club member Glen Kelley agrees.
“The club is very excited because it is going to be a totally new production and all of Bear’s doing is going to be very neat,” said Kelley. “She is so enthusiastic. This is obviously a passion of hers.”
Barron adds, “I hope that other businesses will be inspired by Bear’s work and it will inspire others.”
As Epp puts on the final touches for Santa’s debut on Nov. 24 – beginning at 6pm through downtown Elora – she has one wish for that night.
“I hope the children find it magical,” she said.
