Holiday Shopping in Movember

Now that Hallowe’en is barely behind us, with sad jack o’lanterns still on the porch, it’s apparently time to think about Christmas. I saw my first Christmas commercial (for a Glade candle, so your home can smell like a very chemical Christmas in either cran or winterberry).

Moving on.

A friend had  a pic on their Facebook wall one day that said “If you want to stick it to the man, do all your holiday shopping at a local retailer.”

Fair enough. With that in mind, The Barns Holiday Art Market Call is out:

Artscape is currently accepting submissions from visual artists, craftspeople and designer/makers who wish to participate in the Holiday Art Market at the Artscape Wychwood Barns, taking place December 4th & 11th, 2011.   The Holiday Art Market will feature 25+ exhibitors – artists,craftspeople and designer/makers have the opportunity to utilize a 10’ x 10’ booth space for which they need to supply their own booth structure and/or display equipment. Participants in the Holiday Art Market will be selected by a professional jury, with consideration to diversity of medium and quality of work being sold.

Still on the subject of Art(scape) – their REOI deadline has been extended. Artscape is seeking to commission permanent art installations by local artists, arts collectives and community organizations for the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre (slated to open in Spring 2012). We are accepting expressions of interest by Toronto-based visual artists whose work will be installed outside the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, and will reflect the social and cultural fabric of Regent Park.  More info here.

And it’s Movember! During November each year, “Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer.”

Many thanks to all the gents donating their faces to such a worthy cause.

Finally a few people have asked why I haven’t had many posts or opinions on our Mayor lately. Ina ll honesty there’s really nothing for me to say on the subject right now, his – escapades – are being covered quite thoroughly by media outlets far and wide.

Sunday Roundup – October 30

It’s Hallowe’en weekend and folks are out being their Halloweeniest. What else is going on?

Let’s Not Talk About Branding, Let’s Make Art Instead  – a reminder that if you need to make some art and not be distracted by the excruciating minutiae of day-to-day  living, Artscape Lodge is available for you to hunker down and get some work done. Also if you feel the need to participate in someone else’s process, TPM has Buzz going on all this week.

Yesterday I Did Not Weep For the Future  – I chaperoned a field trip on Thursday – a group of talented, thoughtful young people from Jarvis Collegiate to the Applied Arts Expo.

I’m working on a marketing plan today for my business, it’s due on Wednesday for Entrepreneuse School, and since it’s cool and grey outside and I am locked in Gandalf style battle with a dreadful cold, no better day to do it. I hope everyone’s Hallowe’en is fantastic tomorrow whether you’re at a party in a cat costume or shuttling small trick or treaters around, or simply waiting in a pumpkin patch, hoping for something great.

 

 

Yesterday I Did Not Weep For the Future

Or at least as much as I am wont to.  As I mentioned, I went along as a chaperone/supervisor person for a Jarvis Collegiate student field trip. My friend Meghan was taking her Grade 11/12 art class to the 2011 WINNERS EXHIBIT + CREATIVE SCHOOLS EXPO by Applied Art Magazine.  It was being held for the second year at Artscape Wychwood Barns so off we went.

There were fifty of us and we made out way by TTC to the Barns, got there, got settled and got our assignments (well, I didn’t get an assignment but I took one anyway). I did a couple full tours of the building for the students and we all seemed to have a great time. I forget that teenagers when hanging around of their own accord are high energy and – well – really LOUD. I am more that sure I was too, but good Lord.

These were great students. When they were on the tour, they listened, they asked intelligent questions, they cheered at the elements of LEED certification the Barns has. Several asked how they would get to live there. Others asked about volunteer opportunities at the Stop.  I had a really good time with them.

Here is our assignment:

Part A – View the Award exhibit and answer the following:

Which piece do you wish you had made and why?

Which piece do you wish you could take home and why?

Part B – Tour the Barns

Which do you think is the most interesting building and why?

Imagine you are a professional artist. Would you want to live and work at the Barns? Why or why not?

What was the most interesting part of the “green building” features and why?

I am going to ask Meghan to forward me any good answers. These young men and women really impressed me. Smart, clear spoken, interested in learning new things. I stand by my post title.

Here are some cellphone pictures.

 

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DAM! BAM! Art!

I have been remiss in mentioning two arts markets that are not only awesome, but near and dear to my heart in terms of the artists participating and the organization that put them together. It’s yet another thing that makes me proud of our city – not just the events but the folks who create them.

The Distillery Art Market  feature an outdoor market of artists, craftspeople and food artisans at the Distillery Historic District. Come see a wide variety of exhibitors – painting, printmaking, ceramics, fibre art and more!  Open Studios are open from 11am – 6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tours of Artscape Distillery Studios will take place at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm each day of the market. Tours will meet at the Information Booth located in Case Goods Lane. The Distillery Art Market runs every weekend from April to October.

 

And should the Distillery be too far downtown for you, you might want to check out its uptown cousin – the Barns Art Market – an exhibition of artists, craftspeople and designer/makers that takes place once a month from May 28 – October 15, 2011 at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. The Barns Art Market coincides with The Stop’s Farmer’s Market, which attracts hundreds of people to the area every Saturday.

 

Both markets are running this weekend – August 20th and I highly recommend you check them out.

 

Over and out for today.