Training basket: Kal Barteski

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This article was published 10/01/2015 (4240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

KAL BARTESKI, 38

Artist: painter, poet and creator of “brush script” art.

 

Accomplishments: Kal Barteski believes in the power of art and the Power of Being a Girl. Her bio on her website refers to her as “a creative rogue” but, as a mother of three daughters (7, 6 and 4) with husband Dan Kostenchuk, Barteski is finding a way to do it all. Family and community are major components of her art career. In addition to her artwork, which has gained international attention for both its unique style and how many times images of her work have been stolen through online sharing, Barteski volunteers as a presenter with the Power of Being a Girl, the YWCA’s violence-prevention conference for girls ages 12-14, in the city.

As for the ideas behind her signature brush-script style, “those are just the things busting out of my heart at that moment!”

Polar bears are another of her passions — she’s been to Churchill eight times to see and paint them and she’s a frequent visitor to the Assiniboine Zoo’s Journey to Churchill exhibit. She was featured in 2012 on Animal Planet’s Wild Obsession during a trip to Churchill to see polar bears.

She discovered Pilates while struggling to deal with the chronic pain of back injury that now, years later, is going to require spinal fusion surgery in the next year.

“Pilates is just an amazing type of exercise and it’s changed my life so I’m really happy that I found it,” she said. “I was just blown away, Pilates is for every single person because it’s all about spine health, having a strong core and it’s not like yoga. Pilates is like university for your muscles.”

As for art, Barteski asks people to remember artists’ work is also their livelihood: Buy it if you like it (www.kalbarteski.com) and resist sharing art images online.

 

1. Favourite workout?

Without a doubt, my favourite workout of my entire life would be a solid intermediate workout on the reformer (a machine that provides resistance to assist in developing proper alignment, core strength and flexibility). I found Pilates on the reformer after a long love affair with the gym and a drag of a back injury. Pilates is a workout for your body, but also for your brain. I love the challenge. I love the connection, the feedback, the endorphins. I love the body awareness. I love the physical test and intelligence behind the science.

2. Favourite workout song?

Well, that’s embarrassing. I have a strange affection for old-school hip-hop! I have a huge crush on Fatman Scoop and his songs (and we are now friends!), especially Be Faithful. When I need a kick to get working out, a couple of my electronica favourites (they are pretty obscure) are Let it Go by Fake Blood, Compute by Soulwax, Arrive Beautiful Leave Ugly by Dada Life. Cool down, cheer up, I like Magic by B.O.B.

 

3. Fitness tip?

Find exercise that is sustainable and functional. Get to know your core — not your abs — your deep core muscles. In my life, I don’t need to be able to slam stuff around and jump five feet in the air, but I do need deep core muscles to keep a serious back injury from slowing me down.

 

4. What’s in your fridge?

Honeycrisp apples, almond milk, olives, pickles, jam, lactose-free Greek yogurt.

 

5. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Gluten-free pizza and red wine.

 

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca