Word on the Street

I hoped to see some more interesting or independently published books yesterday at Word on the Street. I did, however, meet two comic book artists, J.R. Faulkner and Brian Evinou, and listened to Stuart McLean tell amusing half-fictional anecdotes while some prepubescent boys cheered fanatically in the background as if Stuart were Justin Bieber. I didn't end up buying anything at Word on the Street but as I'm recently employed by the monopoly of Canadian book retail, I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to buy books.

Stuart McLean (photo by me)

St. Clair Artwalk

Yesterday, Bryan and I went to the St. Clair artwalk, which Noah Cole had told me about the day before. Noah has extensively photographed either end Canada and was showing his work at the OUT/AUT Gallery of Modern Art at 823c St. Clair West. His show will be on until October 10th.

Noah Cole (Vancouver, 2005)

We also happened into the home of painter, Barbara Muir. She told us she had sketched Oprah via Skype, that her cat can play the piano better than any of the other cats on youtube, and she fed us homemade pizza.

Barbara Muir (Oprah Sketch)

Lastly, I really enjoyed seeing Dina Torrans' huge mixed media paintings at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. They're fantasy-like landscapes with minimal but important 3-dimensional elements tacked on. You don't get the full effect from the web version, but luckily she has a show "Mapping Infinity" at Impressions Art Gallery at 102 Yorkville Ave., going from Sept 29-Oct 20 (including Nuit Blanche).

Dina Torrans, Delivering

queen west art crawl

I went to the outdoor exhibition at Trinity-Bellwoods park for the Queen West Art Crawl yesterday and was impressed by the variety of stuff that was there. I rarely feel the need to own art, but I really would have loved to own (and use) one of these:

Filipa Pimentel

had I had 50 bucks + HST. I also could see this on my living room (if I had a living room) or front entrance wall, since it looks vaguely functional. I really wanted to take out those papers and read them, but I don't think Patti would have appreciated that.

Patti Harris

Although I wouldn't really want to own these ones, the mushrooms were particularly memorable for their quirkiness:

Victoria Nesbitt

More than the mushrooms, I really like Victoria's unique wedding band designs on etsy. The nature references make them seem light and impermanent but the tree bark lines give the impression of something old and long-lasting.

 Lifetime

Lisa Ng

I went to the Junction Arts Festival yesterday and saw Lisa Ng's paintings in the Academy of Realist Art. She won second prize in the juried exhibition, but her work was my favourite. She creates these mini worlds where bizarre things are happening, such as one painting where a guy on the subway is literally coughing up a lung and everyone is cowering behind him, including some vermin. Her website is also worth checking out. I especially like the "cannibalism" section, which reinterprets common food items as human body parts, but somehow manages to be more quirky than actually disturbing.

Lisa Ng

Viktor & Rolf Spring 2010

Just when you thought there were no new silhouettes to be had in fashion... I'm kind of amazed by the floating skirt. I can't imagine how they got that to stay up. The only thing I hate is the one that looks like cheese and a mouse has been nibbling on it. Katy Perry, on the other hand, disagrees.