Dad

 

Visited dad for a while. He enjoyed a couple of cookies and said a few things but seemed tired and didn't want to get up and walk anywhere. I have no real news for him and feel uncomfortable telling him old news that I've told him before, even though he certainly doesn't remember it. Maybe it is because he either doesn't care or doesn't comprehend the news and stories I tell him, so I am just lying to myself. Perhaps I'll start telling him plots to old tv shows instead of trying to tell him about my life or about family events. 

Party with Robert and Sarah

Very nice party at Robert and Sarah's. Many grad students, including ex-grad student Geremy Lague, and five of my 8 students from my Methodologies course last term (Mahtab, Amy, Mahdi, Rozhin, and Nicole). Roger Lee was there, following up on a small private reception for him the other day at the Fifth Parallel. He was telling me about having retired in 2000 at the age of 63, so it seems he is a bit older than he looks. Holding up well and quite an engaged conversationalist. 

 

William art game project

 William has begun working on a set of drawings to make into a storytelling card game. More info and images to come over the next couple months as it develops. If it looks good, he'll be using it as his graduating project. 

New optometrist

 After being my optometrist for nearly 40 years, Dr. Ron Gaucher  is retiring this year and I'm now seeing someone new. Younger guy (younger than me) so if this pattern continues, he'll be the last optometrist I'll need. 

Polaroid

 Although I've encountered this over and over, especially with the Poloaroids, I continue to be amazed at how many models of cameras they have. This is the fourth different SX-70 that I've painted, but this one is a "Sonar" line and slightly different than the others. When Brent Pylot lent it to me, I was certain that I'd painted it before, but apparently not. Bravo. 

Studios

 

I visited Gerri Ann's studio today and helped plan some time laps of her painting. William worked in his studio, planning his game. 

Drawing straws

 We drew straws after supper and I lost, even though mine has a cinnamon bun attached. 

Eggs

 

Inspired by Nero Wolfe, William spend a long time making himself scrambled eggs. 

Gallery day

Three gallery openings today; Dunlop (with a talk by David Garneau), MacKenzie (Luther Konadu), and Neutral Ground (Chukwudubem Ukaigwe)). We arrived at Neutral Ground five minutes before it was closing and as William was writing down some notes, he was approached by the artist and they started talking. William is supposed to write short things about art and culture events he attends this term. We ended up staying 45 minutes. 

 

Game discussion

 William is trying to figure out a new game to create as part of his school art project. Allan came over and we tested and discussed a storytelling game called "Shadow World" and talked about where it works and doesn't work. 
Afterwards we went to Mooky's fiftieth birthday party. Wonderful time. William made a card depicting a chicken on a tight rope crossing a blaze of candles on a cake. 

Dad on his feet

Visited dad. He's had some walking trouble this week but today he was not only walking but he was obsessively moving chairs around to get them away from the table for some reason. 

 

potential new filmpool

Marian has found a very workable and versatile space to possibly be a new arts hub downtown. I was there today to see it for the first time as a member of a Filmpool committee. I'm excited about this prospect. 
 

Dropped lens

 I had my first mentor meeting with Gerri Ann today. When I arrived, she asked me how I was doing and I said I felt a bit out of focus. At first, I thought that I was speaking figuratively but after a few minutes I realized that I said it because I was out of focus. I didn't have my contact lens in. I was quite certain I had put it in that morning, but it was not in my eye now. When I got back home, I confirmed that it was not in its case. Knowing it was futile, I looked around the bathroom to see if it was on the floor and.... it was!!! When I have dropped them in the past, I am generally aware of the event and it is still a herculean feat to find it. This time, both the losing and the finding were easy. 

animation

Ian and Ron have both been going leaps and bounds at improving the layout and working conditions in the animation work rooms. We can now work, with fair elbow room, on two stands at once while others can be preparing artwork in the larger space. 
 

Garage shelf

 

Assembled garage shelf. Had wanted to buy a much larger one, but realized that this would restricted by the placement of the windows. Got a strong one, so should be able to stack lots of stuff on it. William likes the cardboard box. 

QCC and Clark

After shoe shopping with William and supper with my mom, we went to QCC and saw Clark Nikolai (nee Henderson)'s film with its world premiere. Great fun and even better to be able to catch up for 15 minutes after the event. Haven't spoken to him in a long time, possibly since 1991. 

S

 

Bolex shooting

 This is not a Bolex, it is a standard 8mm camera that I've got on my shelf and have painted before. Earlier today I worked with two grad students and the Bolex and got them shooting some film on campus. Erika was quite taken with it all and took the camera home to finish it. 

Art Now opening

 Attended Art Now opening with lots of high end snacks and a great crowd. Fun conversations with lots of people. 

AGR AGM

 

Art Gallery of Regina annual general meeting was this evening. I'm a member but not very involved. Margaret used to be on the board. Meeting was short and painless. Good conversation with Gerry Ruecker about godmothers. 

New lab coat

 William sporting his new lab coat from the science store. Ready for the dark room. 

Animation starts

 Due to the holiday Monday last week, my animation class didn't have its first meeting until today. Everyone was in attendance. We made some thaumatropes as a warm up, and got a start on the first project. 

Carfac meeting

 Mentoring Gerri Ann on an animation project she's embarking upon. Had first meeting with other participants of the Carfac mentorship program this afternoon in Saskatoon. Nice drive. Met some cool people. 

Big comic day

 William challenged himself to do a very large cartoon character drawing. He's been a bit frustrated by the way the "magnum" line of Sharpie works though. 

Ray-o-grams

William in Film 205 (photography), working diligently on his first assignment (and the only one doing so). 
 

Three art events

Big art day. The day actually began quite chill as I painted and William drew. At 4:30 we went to the Rumour Handcraft Gallery where Gerri Ann Siwek was having a one week exhibition of her encaustic paintings under the theme/title Gifts From The Garden. Really beautiful. William needs to write about art events so he started today with vengeance, doing 200 words on/about Gerri Ann which she then read and corrected and was happy with. We went on to the old campus for speeches and a reception accompanying a sneak peak (invite only) for an auction of art from the Shumiatcher collection. While conversation and food was great, we needed to exit and get to Slate Gallery where Ward Schell's exhibit opened (and was selling incredibly well). Great conversation again. What an evening. Home in time to watch Shazam part 2. 

 

Plantain

I met with Jhazley at the university today and our conversation repeatedly strayed towards food (beginning with her having brought me a warm from the over brownie sample that she is devising for her job). This led to me trying plantains for the first time. I sliced and fried it and served it with guacamole (that I also made). 

 

William animating

William was struck by an overwhelming urge to create some animation based upon his comic strips, so made a 30 second piece today to show to his prof tomorrow. It is based on a a short sequence from January with one of his bird people watching a horse race. William worked on parchment paper and shot with the layers flattened by glass. Quite evocative. 
 

Holiday Monday

 My animation class is on Mondays but, since classes started last Wednesday, and as today is a holiday Monday, animation won't start until 12 days into the term. I stayed home and painted. 

Swamp Fest concludes

 Swamp Fest concluded. Less people today, but that might be because the sold out Rider game. 

A couple of yahoos decided to swim across instead of taking the ferry, but mid way across they started calling for help. The ferry helped them but the festival kicked them off the island due to "extreme poor judgement". But for the toxic levels of algae and other crap in the water, and the decade of goose shit turned to nitrate sludge on the bottom, the swim should not have been difficult. Probably about the distance of two swimming pools. 

Swamp Fest on Willow Island

Went to Swamp Fest today. It started at 2 pm, which gave me time to visit with dad before hand. Mom told me that dad was being very quiet but today he was actually quite lively, laughing about the events around him (another tenant had fallen asleep in his chair and the attendant was trying to wake him up). 

At the festival, William spent most of his time on the ferry, hosting the ride in his role of Sir Reginald, but occasionally had interactions with the pirate. Jeff gave people a "Bath-tism" using a bathtub full of lake water.