April 7 1981 – January 1 2024
Jaimz Asmundson, beloved member of the film, music and arts community, the programming director at the Dave Barber Cinematheque and a wildly irreverent filmmaker, artist and musician, suddenly passed away from an aneurysm at St. Boniface General Hospital on January 1st 2024 at the age of 42. He is profoundly beloved and missed by his wife Karen, his father Graham, and all of his family, friends and colleagues.
Jaimz was born in Montreal, QC on April 7 1981 to poet Carol Barton and visual artist C. Graham Asmundson. He was an extraordinary, gleefully transgressive, award-winning filmmaker, talented musician, film programmer, flashy video editor and brilliant graphic designer. Over the course of a 25-year career in Winnipeg’s arts community, Asmundson created and promoted independent work that mirrored his love for the absurd, and distinct taste for the experimental, the occult and the bizarre.
Jaimz married Karen (Dunham) on August 29 2004, and together they lived an adventurous life as artist co-conspirators, loving partners and best friends. They made many short films together, and produced music as the gothy electro pop duo Ghost Twin. The duo released albums “Plastic Heart” (2017) and “Love Songs for End Times (2021) on Artoffact Records.
Three of Jaimz’s notable, beautiful film works were directly inspired by his parents. He explored his father’s visual art practice in 2006’s “Drawing Genesis”and 2011’s “The Magus”, and “Echoes” (2015), is a rich, process-based visual meditation about his memories and dreams prior to his mother’s death.
Jaimz will be remembered by many for his contributions to the city’s film community from behind the scenes, first as producer of the WNDX Festival of Moving Image, and later at the Winnipeg Film Group as Programming Director at the Dave Barber Cinematheque.
A well-known, respected, and much-loved member of the VHS community; Jaimz was a devoted collector of VHS tapes, with peerless curatorial instincts. He shared his passion for tapes, and his own brilliant comedic sense, through the screening series Cream of the Crap.
He could also bench press over 500 hundred pounds (on a machine).
Beyond his achievements, Jaimz was a thoughtful, empathetic, kind-hearted soul known for his generosity, warmth and unwavering support for fellow artists, constantly encouraging others to pursue their artistic visions with courage and authenticity.
A memorial service will be held at Knox United Church (400 Kennedy St) on February 10th 2024 at 2pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Royal Albert (48 Albert St) at 8pm.
At the loving request of Jaimz’ family, the Winnipeg Film Group is collecting memorial donations to establish an endowment fund at The Winnipeg Foundation in Jaimz’ name.
3 thoughts on “Jaimz Lucas Barton Asmundson”
Dear Karen and Graham, what a wonderful tribute and video! My very deepest sympathy to you in your sudden and saddest loss of your beloved Jaimz. He was such a rare, gifted soul who clearly meant so much to so many…to you both most of all. I’m so sorry for your pain. May Jaimz’s undying love lift you daily as you travel your beautiful, artful paths without him. God Bless xoxo
Jaimz was my son in law. He and my daughter, Karen, were exceptionally compatible and had a wonderful marriage. I found Jaimz to be a very good, smart and generous person. He and I shared an interest in movies, particularly science fiction and horror movies. We were both Star Wars fans. Jaimz accomplished many things in his life in the areas of art, fillm and music. One accomplishment that could be easily overlooked that I want to be sure to mention here is that Jaimz could do the best imitation of Chewbacca the Wookie that I have ever heard. It was impressive. Jaimz is going to be missed a great deal by all of us who knew and loved him.
Our thoughts are with all of you, Karen, Graham grandma Eileen, Chris, Gordon Kim and family.
Over the past weeks I have learned about Jaimz talents, through articles, friends comments , his dad’s photos he has shared. (Beautiful Beautiful Boy) which all expressed what an exceptional person he was , his kind spirit, I’m sorry I didn’t get to know him in his short life. He has inherited these talents from his family.
He lived life to the fullest, left many memories for his family and friends.
Sending hugs and prayers to you all, he will be greatly missed among family, coworker’s.
From your Saskatchewan cousins
Monty , Lois Needham