By: Katie Walkley, Peak Associate
For many, art brings purpose to life. With classes starting up again, some creative starvation is bound to set in as artists lose the free time they have to pursue their passions. To look at how one can continue (or embark on) their creative endeavours while taking a full courseload, The Peak spoke with SFU English student Coral Pichurski. Together, we discussed making time for songwriting, becoming a featured performer at Trees Organic Coffee, and the value and community that comes from pushing oneself to share their art with others.
Pichurski majors in English with a creative writing minor. After graduation, she plans to complete a Dual Master of Archival Studies and Library and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia, with the ultimate goal of “working in spaces that make education and creativity more accessible.” Aside from her studies, Pichurski pursues songwriting as a “ten-minute break” from her schoolwork. Pichurski plays original songs live at Trees on Granville in downtown Vancouver.
Her introduction to the music scene at Trees came from an SFU club meeting that took place there. Every Thursday, there is an open mic night, and coincidentally, the night she was there, not many people were performing. So the owner asked if she played music, and lent her his guitar to perform some songs. Since then, he has invited her back every couple of months, where she plays acoustic folk songs influenced by the “vibrant music community” in her hometown of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.
On Open-Mic-Thursdays, Trees becomes a place where up-and-coming artists can become well known within the local scene. Pichurski describes the supportive regulars at Trees as those who “know each other’s songs, which is really cool when you’re a small artist to have people know your music.”
“The arts will never not be nerve wracking because it inherently means being vulnerable with a very intimate part of yourself.”
— Coral Pichurski
When giving advice to people who want to enter the creative scene for the first time, she addresses the nerves: “the arts will never not be nerve-wracking because it inherently means being vulnerable with a very intimate part of yourself.” She concludes her thoughts on stage fright and discomfort with a profoundly accepting perspective that “it’s a part of what makes it worth it.”
Although she sometimes has to put off performing to focus more attention towards schoolwork she makes time for gigs by studying ahead. On the songwriting side, she often finds her inspiration in assigned readings, which brings her to see her position as a student as a helpful tool towards creative expression, rather than a hindrance. She summarizes her experience balancing time between art and school as “difficult to do, but ultimately worth it.”
So, with the new term on the horizon, Pichurski reminds us that there is always time to sneak in some creative expression. And, equally valuable to making the art is daring yourself to share the art, whether by performing at a local coffee shop or giving out zines about your deep thoughts. Pichurski exemplifies that possibilities to pursue creative passion can come up in unexpected places, even as a student.
