Daniel Barrow

image via the Toronto Star



Big Big Shout OUT to Winnipeg artist, Daniel Barrow for winning the Sobey Art Award. It was unanimous. That is $50,000. That'll buy a lot of pencils...

Here is a description of his work as according to the Globe and Mail:
"Over the past 15 years [he] has created a unique, self-sustaining fictional world composed of drawing, storytelling and manual animation of the antiquated technology of the overhead projector . . . Wry, politically astute and strangely heartbreaking, his comic narratives address love, loss, gender and media culture.”
Atta boy Daniel...You can read the whole story here.

Reviewing Jill Barber

On Thursday, November 18, I experienced a bunch of firsts:
* I attended my first concert solo.
* I saw Jill Barber and Michael Kaeshammer.
* I reviewed my first show!


I was given the opportunity to write concert reviews for the Halifax Magazine blog (Thanks Trevor Adams!), on Wednesday and secured my media pass within 20 minutes for the Jill Barber show. haha


I've been a big fan of Barber for a while now, and was thrilled that this would be the first show I would get to write about. Of course I was nervous: what if the concert wasn't good? Well, praise be to Jesus, it was.


Perhaps the biggest surprise for me though was the opener, Michael Kaeshammer. I had never heard of him before. I was seated to next to a fellow reviewer (for the Gazette), and we both had our socks knocked off from the minute he walked on stage. This guy legitimately has it all. Perhaps Jill said it best after she took the stage musing, "How about that Michael Kaeshammer? He's handsome, certainly charming. If only he was talented..." (Jill's funny too).


He is a jazz pianist with such extraordinary talent. Talents really. That voice! His hands moved gracefully across the keys, producing a sound equal to twice as many instruments. His skill in controlling the volume of the notes was also something I marveled at. And how about his band??
Mark Rogers (bass) and Mark McLean (drums), are so top notch, they made a new notch.
I really can't say enough about Michael Kaeshammer, and urge you to buy a ticket next time you see his name on a bill. yowza.*

Prop

After speaking with an old friend on Facebook chat today, she totally reminded me of how much I loved Propagandhi (Thanks Lia!), and how influential they were in my life. Oh Prop-how many days and nights were spent singing along to your lyrics: talking fast, smoking lots, and sipping plenty. Those days are long gone, but the memories, although dusty, have just come flooding back. You were the soundtrack to so many of my favourite times.

One of my favourite stories has to be when I was 17 and hitchhiked to Vancouver. My friend John and I had been walking for what seemed like forever, when finally these two young girls picked us up just outside of Jasper. They had two tapes in their car (this was 1996 ok...) and one was Less Talk, More Rock. We played that baby over and over until we reached Vancouver. Those songs have stained my mind, and have earned a place on my solid gold charts.

Come to Halifax?

Banquet Atelier

My friend and former colleague, the lovely (and exceptionally talented) Sarah Edmonds, has just launched a new line of crafts in collaboration with the uber-cool kids art space, Collage Collage.

She has created 3 deliciously fun kits: shadow puppets, a snake draft dodger and a wooden animal mobile making kit.

If you are lucky enough to be in the Van city area, you must go see them in person on Saturday, October 23rd from 3 to 5 at Collage Collage, 621 Kingsway (at Fraser & 15th).

Fear not for those of you not in town (myself included). You can take a peek at their new shop by clicking here .

Peter Diamond

"Treading Water" by Peter Diamond: via here

Peter Diamond's work is incredible. It is skilled, precise, deliberate, and lively. It is narrative while still allowing the viewer to imbue their own version of the story.

Illustrators are the bee's knees.

Decorator Crab

This is a decorator crab, (Cyclocoeloma tuberculata). Masters of disguise, they earn the name by taking objects from their surroundings and decorating their exoskeletons with it.
I want this crab to decorate my house. Go big or go home.

I want!

A woman passed away at the age of 91. She had an apartment she left before the second world war. She never returned to it. Her belongings remained there until this year. Love letters tied with a ribbon. Stuffed ostrich. Glorious turn-of-the-century furniture...and the pièce de résistance: a previously undocumented painting by the 19th century Italian artist Giovanni Boldini.

Holy cramoly. I have dreamed of discovering something like this. A few years ago there was a story about a little old woman (not the one who lived in the shoe), but she did live in a tiny home. She had the most incredible paintings and first editions of books (the Chaucer-type). They found them behind the fridge, and under her bed.

If only that were my problem: "Where to store all of this priceless art!"...

2 good. ouch, yeah. way too good.

ever hear a song and feel like you've known it your whole life? it's haunting, its simple, it's beautiful. his voice is a little reminiscent of clap your hands, but in a peter-gabriel-in-your-eyes kind of way. well, like i said, ouch, it's too good.
(thanks for the tip bex)

Drake

dancin' at the drake. somuchfun. wpg girls know how.

Pee pee in the potty

Great cause. Great music. We are especially partial to the Potty Song.






And the search continues

This light (Barn Light Outback Warehouse Pendant) is so outta contol fantastical that I NEED it in my house. In every room; hanging from the trees outside in my yard; and in my car. Ok. You get how much I love this light.

Found it here.

Chop chop bite bite yum yum

Just at work perusing blogs to see whats what in the design world and came across this cutlery set. I want I want I want. (Found at Remodelista)

Operation Opening: Success!

What a delight it was to go back to Peg city. The show was a huge success, and I loved getting my hands dirty selecting the drawings-and oh what a job it was, and mounting the show. We decided to use push pins which resulted in my thumb feeling like I played 18 hours of Nintendo (remember that feeling?), but the result was fantastic. over 100 people attended the opening night-and so many drawings were snapped up. (I got mine!)

It was also so wondeful to see my old friend/colleague Takashi Iwasaki. If you don't know of him, you MUST MUST MUST check out his website, or even better go see one of his shows in person. I dream of owning one of his embroideries.

Thank you to everyone who came and supported Ravi, the Semai Gallery and myself!

Bombs and Wombs

BOMBS & WOMBS
drawings by Ravi Shukla aka Bill Beso

Curated by Lisa Kehler Sims
Opening Reception: August 5, 2010 7pm-10pm show
running until August 31, 2010 at the Semai Gallery 264 McDermot Avenue.

Oh how delighted I am to be working with such a talent. His drawings seem effortless; enigmatic; ethereal. The gallery is a treat too: Semai translates to narrow in Japanese: the gallery space is a hallway nested within another gallery's walls. I couldn't imagine a more perfect venue to exhibit a body of work so steeped in exploration of spaces...Once I have completed my curatorial statement/essay I will post it here.

The show will be available for viewing online once it opens. Visit Semai Gallery website here.

Love.

I heard your name and knew. I saw through panes of glass. You saw me in a window. Now here we are, years later. You are mine, and oh my dear, I am yours.

Oliver McTubby Hat

He's so squirticallllllllll....He's a little squirt.

The PlayDate to End All Playdates

We have wonderful friends, with even wonderfuller kids.

Ollie in the sky with diamonds

Crystal Palace, Dieppe, NB: April 15, 2010
Oliver's first amusement park.
Rides: Carousel-not so much
Red Baron-indifferent
Activities: Mini-golf-chasing balls is the object of his game
Watching Mom and Dad play whack-a-mole and soccer games-FUN!
Results: We'll be back.

Impossible to chew

images via felt.a.licious


yum. i want these. maybe I should make a wedding registry after all. felt food is damn near a necessity, according to me.

Friendly Fire

Image via SabbahReport

My friends are so talented. Over the years i have met many wonderful artists, musicians and writers. I think what I want to do from now on is discuss a friend and their talents, once a week. I will come up with some sort of catchy title, like "Friendly Fire" and then I will direct 5 questions to each. Maybe 10, or maybe 3. Hmmm. the number is insignificant at this point.

Right now I want to mention some of the people that inspire me everyday, and that hopefully will answer my questions at some point. (Some are shyyyyyy)

Bill Beso: Amazing artist/photographer/musician.
http://famousdrawings.com/
Leslie Supnet: Artist/Animator.
http://www.sundaestories.com/
Sarah Edmonds: Artist/Blogger/Cool Mom
http://banquet.typepad.com/banquet/
Marnie Wilson: Entrepeneur/Also cool Mom
http://www.theartsbiz.com/
Kyle Jackson: Artist/ Creative Engineer.
http://jacksonpainting.blogspot.com/
Sonja Ahlers: Artist/Writer/Bunny Maker/Blogger.
http://www.sonjaahlers.blogspot.com/

Um, realistically, I could go on for days with the list of people I am lucky to know. Super stoked to start this....

Diamond in the Rough.

Baseball. I love it. Just love it. I love the smells at games, I love the silly things that they do to get people excited. When I was 17, I went to a Yankee game at Yankee Stadium. One of the highlights of my life, most def. During the seventh inning stretch, they sent out the rakers to groom the in-field, and they did this phenomenal routine to YMCA, and topped it off with a delightful dance to 'Jump on it".

Anyhow, if you know anything about baseball, you know that at the top of the 8th, Bo Sox fans always join in a rousing rendition of Neil Diamond's, "Sweet Caroline". (Fever Pitch?) WELLLLLLL, apparently for the home opener against the Yankees last weekend, NEIL DIAMOND HIMSELF, for the first time ever sang the song in living colour. Can you imagine?

Moroccan Veggie Stew a la Kempt

image via Kempt


A lovely lady by the name of Andrea writes a blog that I have been following for quite some time (Kempt, formerly miel et cannelle). She is the bees knees and therefore when she spoke of a Moroccan Veggie Stew, I took her advice and went for it. It is simmering downstairs this very minute. I skipped the eggplant (cause I have never really liked it), and the turmeric (darn it all-it is in a box hidden away in the depths of my basement). I hope it tastes as delicious as it smells. Oliver my boy-tonight we FEAST!

PS. How cute is the image that she used to illustrate the spices to use?

UPDATE: Word to the Moroccan who came up with this. :)

Music Makes the World Go Round

Just can't get this song out of me head.



And this one, oh my goodness. Oliver and I are dancing like its going out of style.



I pre-ordered the box set of Jonsi's album and it will be here mid-end of April. Because I pre-ordered it, I got a link emailed to me that allowed me to download a bunch of stuff including 4 videos and the cd. EEEEEK!

I miss Oliver

Oliver is going to daycare, and lately I miss him a lot. He is learning things that I didn't teach him, and that makes me sad, but happy for him. He makes funny gestures, pecks like a chicken and laughs when he toots (ok, I may have had a hand in the last one...hahaha).

Oliver, you are one heck of a find. I am so glad you hopped on board this train, and I ain't never lettin' you off....

Coeur de Pirate

Currently very much in love with the following:
her voice, her style, her tattoos, her words, her tickling of the ivories. Coeur de Pirate, je t'adore.

Ideas?

Brent Randall and His Pinecones.

Ha! Great name, great music, great silly mustaches. Thanks for cheering me up Pinecones.

Weddings, houses, daycare, jobs, losing minds

Well, I have been MIA for a while. I don't have time to explain it all now, but let's just say I'm busy.

Bonk.

Signatures

So, for the past 5 years, I have been trying to think of a way to get a tattoo to pay tribute to my dearly departed Father. Well, searching through some blogs today I came across this post, and it sparked an idea for me to get my Dad's signature. It's almost like he'd be saying, I made this....

Good mom-bad blogger

Here's some more Oliver goodness. Eat your hearts out....