5 things I love about "Word on the Street"

Fall.
My favorite time of year.
Not because of the fall colours, nor the cooler weather (well, I do like the cooler weather, that I'll admit.).
It's the "Word on the Street" book festival. Somehow, it's become a family tradition to attend this fest. So, here are 5 reasons I love it so (not in any particular order.);

1. The discovery of the new; new authors, new books, and not something you would find in Chapters/Indigo/ Amazon neccessarily.

2. Where else can you get a "Polkaroo" button and wear it proudly and not feel completely silly.



3. Authors! Authors! Reading, signing books and chatting with their adoring public.

4. Hey! Isn't that Giselle from TVO Kids?! Look hon, it's Giselle!

5. Book bargins and lot's of them! I try not to buy any books for weeks before hand, just for this. And, giveaways! Stand in the right spot for a few minutes and some one may even offer up a freebie!

So, there you have it. Only another 364 days until the next one. "Word on the Street", I await you with baited breath.



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Wacked Out Dreaming

Usually, I can't remember
my dreams clearly, but this one is truly on the wackier side, for me anyway.

I'm in an art class. The instuctor is prickily in nature and has us writing down in our sketch books some kind of mathimatical equations (I did say wacky, right?!). I look down at my notebook and realize that I haven't written anything that she's been saying down nor have I been listening to her at all! Suddenly, she stops, looks around the room and says, "you do realize everything I am telling you will be important to your future in this class." I flip to the back of my sketchbook and, lo and behold, is this indescribable math equation! I am sooooooo relieved that I actually wake up. It's 6:30 am and my alarm is beeping madly.

I really do need to cut down on my caffeine intake. Or something.

Sweet dreams.


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5 things about the "Ex"...

I had my once yearly (or mostly yearly) visit to the Canadian National Exhibition or the "Ex", as many so fondly refer to it. Anyway, in order to mark the end of this years Ex, here are my 5 fondest thoughts on it, not in any partcular order:

5) The Airshow; I admit it, I love the Airshow. I am completely amazed at the nerve of some of the pilots and how they allow their planes do what they do. I know people complain about the noise, the pollution etc., but it's only once a year. This year Mother Nature made sure of that.

4)The Food: Where else can you eat a whole bag of Tiny Tom Donuts or fried butter or Belgian Waffles with ice cream and not actually feel guilty about it?

3)The Crowds: I'm not big on crowded places, nor do I like line ups either, but if I was from another planet, this would definately be the place to go to observe humanity. Fascinating!

2)The Shopping: I see people walking arounds with bag loads of stuff. Could someone please tell me where this secret amazing shopping area is, as I can't seem to find it.

1)The End: The Ex always marks the last 18 days before the kids go back to school and I know all you parents out there are secretly checking off your calenders, aren't you?


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Balloon Derby 1901

As part of the "Six by Eight" exhibit, which was held at The Paper Place in Toronto, this was the entry that I had submitted. Now that the exhibit is down, I figured I would share it.



I wish I had something more clever to say about it, but it's only Monday morning and I am only on my second cup of coffee.

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Horsing Around

If you had read my blog a few posts back ("A Stable Summer Memory"), I wrote about spending a month hanging about the stables at summer camp. What I failed to mention was the beast of a horse that for some reason I was always made to ride: "Leroy Brown" (as in the song "Bad Leroy Brown"). Not to say that he was really "bad", but to a height challenged 12 year old girl, he was pretty monsterous, his breath was bad and the flies really liked him. Bleh.


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"Six by Eight" Exhibition

Here's another upcoming show I'm invoved in. This time it, won't be heisted by the G20. Anyway, I just thought I'd let you all know about it:

"Six by Eight" Exhibition
on view July 6th - August 5th
at:
The Paper Place
887 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M6J 1G5
416.703.0089

A Stable Summer Memory

The second summer I spent at an overnight camp in Northern Ontario. They had a horse stable and I probably spent more time there then with my cabin mates. Actually, I had such a great time that the night before I had to leave, I phoned my parents and begged them to let me stay an extra 2 weeks (which they did). Needless to say, when I got back from camp everything I took up to camp with me, smelled like a horse stable, causing my parents to burn it all, rather then washing it.

Washi: Remember When…

Here's an upcoming show I'm invoved in. Just thought I'd let you all know:

Launch Projects presents

Washi: Remember When…
June 16 – June 26, 2010
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 17, 5-8pm



“What Remained of the Expedition...” by Louise Kiner

Launch Projects is pleased to present, “Washi: Remember When…”, a group exhibition featuring works on Washi paper. The exhibition is in partnership with “Washi Birthday Bash“, a city-wide celebration organized by The Japanese Paper Place. The celebration commemorates the 1400-year-old history of Washi paper.

Washi is the name of the exquisite paper that has been handmade by skilled Japanese craftsmen for more than 1400 years. Over the centuries, each of hundreds of variations of the paper was indispensible to Japanese daily life-in homes on windows, at shrines, on battlefields, on rainy days in umbrellas, and in elegant court calligraphy. At the turn of the 19th century there were some 80,000 families making washi. Today there are roughly 320 individuals who carry on the tradition.

Participating Artists: Jared Bond, Kelly Cade, J. Lynn Campbell, Linda Chen, Tara Cooper, Pamela Dodds, Natalie Draz, Emily Eng, Henna Kim, Louise Kiner, Cathy Lang, Emma Lau, Diane Antoinette Mohan, Alexey Osipenko, Janet F.Potter, Gianluca Primucci and Andrea Williamson.

Launch Projects
404 Adelaide St W, Toronto, M5V 1S8
Wed -Sat, 12-5pm
416-364-2475
www.launchprojects.ca

The Japanese Paper Place
www.washisummit.com

























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Crikey! More Angels?!

Just when I thought it was safe to go back into the garden...another "weeping angel" appears. No wonder the stuff on the bar-b-que burned! No one wanted to be out there.

No blinking. Just drinking.
Oh well...

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Lower Bay...Toronto's creepiest station

So, how does one actually spend Victoria Day? By travelling the Bloor-Danforth subway line, of course, just to get the privilege of riding through the elusive "Lower Bay Station". "Lower Bay Station", as you may (or may not) know, is generally unused with the exception of some movie shoots, a Nuit Blanc happening and a film festival party of some sort (don't ask me who or what, as I wasn't exactly invited.).
Anyway, here is some photographic proof of this adventure in transit.
Frightening?! Isn't it?!





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Don't Blink! Don't even think of it!

After this weekends Dr. Who episode ("Flesh and Stone"), I couldn't help myself and had to photograph this angel in a shop window I had passed while strolling in St. Jacobs. I used some weird setting on the old camera phone.

Scary, isn't she?!

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Goggles made of "Washi"

When I saw that Launch Projects had a call for submissions for their "Washi: Remember When...", show, I felt I just needed to take up the challenge. It's all part of the "Washi Birthday Bash" which will take place in Toronto next month to celebrate 1400 years of this fabulous paper.

Now if you've ever had the pleasure of working with Washi, you probably have observed that it's pretty delicate, yet quite strong. Why in the world I decided to create a pair of flyers goggles as part of my piece was definately an exercise in patience and ingenuity. So, using the Washi, some matte medium and, my favorite building material, toilet tube rolls, I embarked on my goggle making.

I finished them up 2 days ago and was so pleased at how they turned out, that I immediately pinned them on the styrofoam head I have hanging around and plopped my flyers hat on top.

Cool. I need to share this.







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Fun with postcards

Here's something fun and mildly distracting. Weavings with postcards. And, as much as I'd like to claim having thought it up, I can't. It was something I learned in the collage class I'm taking and, frankly, it's so brilliant in its simplicity. Anyway, I have dubbed this piece "The Beatles vs. Elvis meet the Quarrymen", as they are all in there. Grin.


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"Nevermore"

Ok. I admit it. I've been pretty lax when it comes to my blogging. It always seems that there is just not enough time in the day lately.
So, I'm going to make it up to you by posting my recent submission to the magazine "Cloth, Paper, Scissors", just to show you I don't spend my days only drinking coffee and checking my social networks.
Titled "Nevermore", it was inspired by a combination of the Edgar Allen Poe poem, "The Raven" (who says "nevermore".) and some photos I shot of a local graveyard (I was there as part of a painting workshop. Really. I'm not a complete ghoul.).






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