Radical Stitch at MacKenzie Art Gallery

Curator talk at the MacKenzie today with Sherry Farrell Racette, Michelle Lavallee, and Cathy Mattes. Tremendous show with about 50 artists. The talk was on the free day so there were lots of people. I'll go back another day when the whole place is more quiet to look more closely at everything. 
 

Fourth Year Film screening

 First public face to face screening of graduating film student films since 2019 took place last night. Program was shorter than I had expected and perhaps less fanfare and talking. Brian's last students, which was not spoken of. Link to program on the code above. 

Visit dad

 Dad's shoes were wet so he had to come walking in socks today. He wanted me to stay with him at supper but of course I couldn't. 

Back to painting class

 I want to do some adjustments on this painting, my first of the new term for Balkwill course, but I had a full docket of meetings this afternoon beginning with meeting with Katherine Ricketts about the Fifth Parallel show this September so I had to leave early and will need to come back to the bottom edge later. 

New drawing project?

 William has been finished school work for about 4 days now and is floating some ideas for a graphic story about Liches. Drew something this evening. 

Second year film screening

 I missed the third year film screening a few days ago due to being in a meeting (that I called, so fault is with me) but took in the short dramas made by the second years streamed on Youtube. 

Visit dad

 I was finally allowed to visit dad in his care home. He was generally in a good mood but also seemed a bit unhappy with people around him. Overall, I don't think there were as many people as I'd expected. Walking up and down the hallway, there was only one other guy doing the same. Others had collected in a tv room and in the eating area but dad didn't want to sit there. Most were probably in their own rooms. I could see some people sleeping on their couches or chairs from the doorways. 

Turkey supper with Allan

 I roasted my "on sale at easter" turkey and we had Allan over to eat and re-teach us how to play Mysterium (the reduced, and more focused "Mysterium Park" version which was Margaret and William's Christmas gift to me this  year). Lots of fun. I think we really understand it finally. 

Margaret at Last Mountain gallery

We drove out for the reception of Martha Cole's touring OSAC exhibition of banners that she made in collaboration with a group of artists (including Margaret Bessai) a few years ago. We missed the big group of everyone but were able to see Martha and Sharon Eisbrenner. 

 

Darke Hall

 Huge reception for re-opening of Darke Hall. Fantastic food and conversations, although the Dean and probably a few faculty members ended up sick and unable to attend. The performances were peppered with the obligatory praising of the space and thanks to sponsors and individuals who made everything possible. The performances themselves were a mixed lot and included a fantastic performance by Katherine Dowling. 

Fred at dentist

 While university ended a week ago, our time is still tremendously full. I've been chairing a search committee which should wrap soon. Margaret has many family responsibilities including taking her dad to the dentist. 

Covid tests

 More and more people are testing positive. We've been to many public events over the past week or two but still testing negative.

Allan visit

 Allan usually runs a game on Monday but, perhaps because it is Easter Monday, not enough people joined to make it viable to he canceled and ended up bringing over a book for us and hung out for the evening talking about time travel. 

Leslea and Leif visit

In town amid a snow storm for just one night, we got to host brunch for Leslea, Leif, Brianna, and Teagan for a couple of hours on Sunday morning. With supper having be held last night, it left the rest of the day open to relax. 
 

Easter Dinner at Lori's

Supper at Lori's. Dad couldn't come because his new home is in lockdown so no one has even been able to visit him. 

 

New/Old project

 Last week while looking for something else in my office, I found a roll or ray-o-grams on 35mm that I'd made a few years ago but done nothing with. Today I started scanning it and finding some beautiful elements within. Perhaps I'm make it into a new short, but probably under two minutes. The title and the sound are up in the air until I see it all in motion. 

more painting

 Painted a second angle of this standard 8 camera from Daryle Young. Also finally finished listening to my main alphabetized collection of vinyl records. There are still some collections, comedy, spoken word, classical, and other oddball lps in the other rack, but this was the main goal for my listening. 

Snow returns

 Yesterday I spread the last of the ice from the backyard around so that it would melt and be gone. Today it snowed and appears it will stay for a few days at least. 

Calm evening with tea

 Made green tea in our stainless steel pot and drank it with raison toast while watching some Bridgerton. 

Return to painting

 First painting in about a month. Grading is done. 

William's map project

 William finished his last art project for the term for his landscape course. It had to include a map and he created a treasure map and I acted as the person following the map for his video of the site specific demonstration. It was really cold out. When we dug up the treasure he'd burred, the box was empty. A mother with kids nearby revealed that her kids dug it up but she made them return it, but it was now missing the contents. 

Magic Lantern workshop

I watched a talk by Charlotte Pryce who was presented her experiences creating magic lantern shows. This was hosted by Lisa Marr and Echo Park. Triggered many new ideas including a hope to build some sort of hand crank mechanical slide. 

Lunch with students

 

Last day of teaching for the term. While not everyone was able to come, I was able to sit down with four of the grad students from my 831 class and have lunch at Mei Wei and talk about other stuff for a while. 

Birthday

Classes winding down. Today was my last undergrad class of term and also the visual arts open house which I wandered around in after class (William has a piece hanging in the hall). Lori came over for a while in the evening. Mild migraine prevented me from going for free ice cream. 

Watching 16mm

 The 16mm film we shot in class three weeks ago arrived in time to watch yesterday (with additional classes today and tomorrow). Today included a fairly cool shot of me shooting with the other Bolex. 

Food prices

 Food prices don't bother me much, although I would hesitate spending this much on a steak prepared for me in a nice restaurant, let alone one that I have to cook myself. 

Robin in the yard

 Sign of spring. 

Retirement home for dad

 Dad is moving into a retirement home in a couple of days. I got a tour of it. He really wants to be there. I think it is nice to have numerous random people in the hallway who he can say hello to as he wanders around. We'll need to see how things go once he is actually spending the night. 

Cat and Mouse

 We've had some mice. There is no sign of them anywhere except in a crevasse behind Sylvie's litter box. Sylvie has not been able to catch them herself but we've trapped some. 

Two Gallery openings, both face to face

 Went to the Woods gallery at 6 for Karli Jesssup's exhibition of drawing/paintings/carvings on wood as well as bizzare uses of chicken feet. 

From there we went to the artist talk by Riisa Gundesen and the opening of a group show called "In My Skin" at the Dunlop.