Trading the Bolex cards

I painted up a dozen images of a Bolex on trading cards on Friday and exchanged them for different cards at the artist trading card xmas party at the MAG on the weekend.

Arduino workshop

Attended a workshop on using an arduino device to control and manipulate sounds. It was hosted by the RPL with Kyle Whitehead, who used this technique with his film screening last night. Unfortunately a bit too short to really experiment, but a cool introduction. William wasn't there, having a long club meeting. 

Painting by day, film by night

Didn't paint yesterday and felt like avoiding other activities so I repainted two of my first paintings today, the one above and the canonette. I'll be repainting at least the first five of my cameras as these were done with less guidance and I'm rather embarrassed of them. 

The Independents film screening this week featured 16 and 8mm works by Kyle Whitehead of Calgary including a film performance in which he edited a film loop (super-8) while it was running. Tonal sound was responding to the image using an arduino device. 

Dentist, cat, ramen, drama

First thing in the morning I broke a tooth eating a biscotti. It was a multiple filled tooth so Dr. Kristy told me to prepare to get a crown but that she'd try to fix it one more time. Patch seems to be holding. 

 Sylvie was a bad cat this morning, leaving a mess and being stinky. We needed to wash her but her back claw caught me as we did so (I also cut her claws following this). Biggest cat scratch I've gotten in a long time.

 It was Ramen day at the Willow and William's Wednesday lunchtime class is over (zero credit hour MAP course) so we went for some stellar noodles.

I took in Natasha Urkow's autobiographical MFA play. She defends it on Friday. Very personal work. 

Adventures with Allan

William, Allan and I went to a great version of Talkies tonight with Jayden and Jennifer talking over the 1971 Canadian hockey film "Face Off". Having recently seen the documentary about Robert Evans (producer of such films as "Love Story") I was the only one to catch the foreshadowing of the tragic ending in the lingering shot of someone reading the Love Story novel in one scene. Spoiler: the girl dies suddenly at the end. Crazy conversations about it. Fun.

Went home afterwards and starting working on mods for the Brains game that was very fun but needed a bit more of something. William's drawings were all gold. 

Last class with Ward

Over the past couple months I've been in a painting course with Ward Schell. Each week I've been trying something new with my painting techniques (not "new" in a global sense, just new for me) and I've  been using the Bolex Film camera for my subject matter each week. Today I did one using only a fan brush. It's okay, but the detail was limited with that tool so I finished the day with this sketchy set of different angles of the camera, proving to myself how quick I'n now able to render this specific camera with a brush. Ward was great, giving me encouragement and advice and just shooting the shit sometimes. 

Fixing William's desk

A couple of months ago I bought an adjustable and ergonomic keyboard tray from Lee Valley Tools for William for his computer to facilitate his changed posture. It is heavy and lacked good installation instructions. Whatever the fault, it basically broke off the desk today, being held on with four one inch screws. The main plate also has a central hole so I've bolted it to his desk. It is strong enough now, but there is a bolt sticking through the tabletop (not a big deal as I built this table myself out of plywood and will probably replace it at some point).

Neutral Ground opening

Cool opening at Neutral Ground this evening. Long conversation with Risa. Work is by Hilarey Cowan in front windows and Cameron McKay, Laura Payne, and Derek Sandbeck inside. 

Leesa Streifler and Mike Rollo talks

We attended two artist talks at the university, the first was a full house at RC050 for Leesa Streifler's discussion of her career in art as she heads into retirement after 33 years. Many changes of direction over the years, which are not always evident from just looking at the work but necessitate the stories about her life behind them. The second talk later in the afternoon was Mike Rollo discussing landscape and nature and the shift in his own career since seven years ago when he began at the UofR. It was very interesting to hear talks from two artists in such different points in their careers, trying to make sense of the ebb and flow of the creative process.

new house on our block

New house where Gerry-Ann's (William's old gardening friend who is now in a nursing home) used to be is going up fast. They start work at 8 every morning. Weather is holding. 

for the archive or the "archive"?

Dust covered photo in paper frame and candy glued on found behind some books on the shelf. It might be from as far back as pre-school. This photo of the photo will be all that remains of it for posterity. 

NetHack demo at RPL

 Geremy hosted a demo/trial evening of the 1980s game "NetHack" as part of the monthly video game thing at the RPL. William played as the tourist Twoflower and managed to briefly step into level three before finally dying.

New vinyl

Margaret got a package from the NFB today, the prize she won last week for posting a jazz related image to celebrate the restoration/re-release of the obscure 1960s film Blue World about John Coltrane. They sent her the CD and the record! 

Michael Snow and Wavelength in Saskatoon

We drove up to Saskatoon to see "Wavelength" at the Remai Art Gallery with Michael Snow in attendance speaking about the film. I've had three opportunities to meet Snow in the past, once when he did the Riddell Lecture in Regina in 1998, again when he was at the MacKenzie performing jazz around 2002, and again at the AGO, again in the early 2000s. William was at the Jazz performance and screeched as it was beginning, prompting a response from Snow during the recording that Charlie was doing (although I've never heard the recording). William was able to tell him this story when we met him. The crowd was smaller than it should have been (about 50) and Snow only spoke for 8 minutes, but the print was very good and the projector and screen were outstanding. Totally worthwhile. Matt and Kyath were also there and we all toured the Remai together.

Allan Dotson book launch

 Allan had a book launch for his first "Critters" graphic novel this weekend, hosted by the AGR in their space. He had press from at least 2 tv stations who came in to interview him. We managed to purchase one of the spin-off books, "Bethany Blackguard" of which he thinks he only made about 20. He had five copies, the last ones, here.

Afterwards we zipped into theMacKenzie for a quick tour of their new exhibition. 

Silt opening party

Amazing party at Silt with about 150 people, the album launch and the premiere of a series of music videos for songs by "Natural Sympathies", followed by life music and dance performed by this group. Super cool, crowded, hot, and fun.

Earlier in the day, Jesse helped me start on my film camera box project. 

pony club

William set up a table in the Riddell Centre to try to recruit members for his new club. I wasn't around but Geremy and Dianne both sent photos. Thanks. William got a few conversations out of it, but the numbers are low. 

Leesa and Mohadese Movahed

We had supper with William between his lab and class then popped into the Fifth Parallel for the closing reception for Mohadese Movahed's MFA exhibition of some really strong paintings and prints called "If You See a Cypress...". She defends later in the week.
Finally got a few minutes to talk to Leesa who is only here a few days a week and will be retiring next month and moving to Winnipeg. Will miss her. 

Just another Tuesday

Allan was over but Margaret was out. We went to see the new Terminator film. Action was good. My expectations were satisfied. Margaret won a TAB candle for answering a questionnaire about Swampfest. William began a Christmas drawing with Pud as Santa. 

Remembering war

Remembrance Day. 100 years. We had our silent time and mostly we spent the day together as a family. It felt a bit odd of a choice, but we went to see Jojo Rabbit today at the theatre. Amazing film.

William painting still life?

When you paint a mannequin, is it a portrait or a still life? 

Paint or bake?

New biscotti and a new painting. Again, get more compliments for food than for art, but that has never been news.

Dunlop opening and new video game

Dunlop opened a new exhibition by Marigold Santos. We were at the artist talk and opening, all good. She had some interesting things to say about how her work related to her identity as an immigrant when she was a child. William got really engaged with the new video game afterwards in which you play someone trying to be in a very abstracted version of art school. He got an A, even though some people claimed that wasn't possible.

Cameras at pawn shop

Stopped in to Queen City Pawn shop with William. It is like a museum of cameras there with literally hundreds of old cameras. Owner isn't selling them but might part with items that he has more than one of (knowing that he wants to retire in a few years and will ultimately need to downsize). I'd really like a second stereoscopic camera so will need to discuss options on a later visit. 

CCC opening - Greg Allen

Very good paintings. He's now represented by Slate. Didn't know many people at opening though, big crowd but mostly his friends and family I suppose. 

painting microscope camera

Painted my microscope camera I bought last month. Light stayed on whole time as challenge.
Visited with mom and dad and Quinn in evening. 

Quick and Dirty sculpt

Quick and Dirty talk this month was "sculpture" and was one of the best sets of talks in a long time. Everyone was interesting and the set of talks seemed to hold onto topic of sculpture but also were unified by having some very playful elements: Frans with his miniatures, Nicole Gent on Lego, Jessie Dishaw on plushy portraits, Kelsey Gallagator on a more serious but still weird "leg" project, and Jess Richter's house that we saw this summer.