Processing 35mm

This week I took the grad students into the darkroom and we developed the 35mm that we shot the prior week. I prefer to do this in the summer when I can dry the film outside. I couldn't use the studio as our workshop with photographer Blake Little was in progress (I didn't actually have time to meet him) so I took the film home in a bucket and dried it on a line in my basement. Once I started scanning it, it looked like this: 

Art events begin piling up again

Dianne Ouellette curated a really interesting selection of First Nations short films that showed at the RPL. Her guest was ex-Saskatchewan filmmaker Danis Goulet. After the films William and I dashed to the MacKenzie for the tail end of their opening which featured Winnipeg printmakers and some rarely displayed glow in the dark prints. Trippy shit. 

Last surreal film in series

My promotion of this third and final of my surrealist-inspired films at the RPL was a bit last minute, resulting in a smaller crowd than usual. There were still 15-20 people and some good conversation about "City of Lost Children" and I was pleased the Kevin McKenzie came, even though he'd never heard of the film before. William took his picture.

Last painting class

Inspired by Richard shooting Polaroid the other day (fresh film stock on the market, I plan to get some this summer when the light and weather cooperate). The pull-apart film that this land camera takes was not re-introduced unfortunately.It's the last class for this painting round but the regulars have rented the space for the next three weeks so I've bought in and will paint without instruction during those sessions. I'll be Deb's guidance. 

Dominic Gregorio

It is with great sadness that I received news today that my colleague from the music department, Dominic Gregorio, passed away today. I didn't know him as well as I'd like to have. We met when he first arrived in Regina and was attending a faculty retreat in August 2012. He didn't know anyone yet and the two of us had more than a few chuckles, loitering at a back table like a couple of high school boys, being a bit sarcastic and having a pretty great afternoon. I was really impressed therefore to see the much more serious side of him when he was performing. Wow, he was so good.

Turkish gum wrappers from Romania

A while back I got an email from a gum wrapper/comic enthusiast from Romania wondering about Pud comics and how to complete a collection. I helped this person out with a small bundle of our huge surplus of doubles. This week I received a gift package in response containing bundles of the most inane waxed wrapper photos of cars that come inside Turbo gum. While I appreciate that this was a sweet gesture, mostly I was amazed by what companies believe someone would find valuable. I mean, who do they think chews bubble gum?

Meat day

Red Meat Wagon will open on the first Saturday of the month to sell some of their specialty items. I suppose this is until they sell the property. I got more elk burgers and a few steaks for the weekend.

Dinner with Wilf Perreault

Our dear friend Sharon Eisbrenner included us in a very exclusive dinner party catered by Crave in Wilf Perreault's painting studio. It was amazing on many levels. Among the countless highlights were the food, the music, the art anecdotes, Richard's Polaroid camera, and my opportunity to touch a damaged spot on one of the paintings (Wilf will be repainting most of the canvas, so this was allowed).

Shooting 35mm with grad students

I loaded up the Bell and Howell with 100 feet of black and white neg and ran around with the four grad students in my Friday class shooting it. Probably nothing too special about the content, but we had a good time. When I told them that I would be developing it myself, they all wanted to be a part of that so I'll change my plans for next week.

William's bread sticks

William made bread sticks for supper today. They turned out perfectly. Later I lent one of the projectors to Rhonda for an event on Saturday night at Lemon Drop about body painting. 

Painting class with an old Kodak point and shoot

Before they called them "point and shoot", they called this Kodak fixed focus camera an "instamatic". I have probably had it a couple or more years but as it was still in its original box (with a flash cube), I hadn't noticed it on my shelf (I though it was a super-8 splicer or something). Painted it this week. 

Academy Award party

It's been quite a few years since I watched the Academy Awards all the way from start to finish. This year we attended an event at the RPL where Geremy and his radio crew did a commentary for the full three hours. It was somewhat amusing at times, although overall I doubt I got much more out of it than if I'd sat alone with my phone, looking things up as I watched. I guess what might have been better is if they told me who people were instead of occasionally naming these many celebrities and not giving any context of back story for why they, specifically, are on the stage. Free popcorn was nice. 

24 hour screenwriting marathon

William signed up for a 24 hour writing session at the Filmpool. He was there all day yesterday (starting at 9:00 am) where they had a lecture via skype and then they mostly just wrote and ate snacks. Margaret was worried but I knew it was really good people there so waited until he called. It was 2:30 am when I picked him up. He recognized Ron Mein from his voice and got a sketch from him. 

Veronica's father's funeral

With great sadness, Veronica Antal's father passed away a few days ago. She is in town with Thomas and Fiona. Mike drove in for the funeral. Thomas did some very good biblical readings. 

Revolving around Earnest

William's English homework for the week is a sociogram which is to graphically represent the play they are studying, "The Importance of Being Earnest". He began with a plan to draw it but now it is a mobile in which all the characters "revolve around Earnest" but once you step back you find that it is all just juvenile.

Lowell Dean's first comic

Lowell Dean launched "Atomic Victory Squad" issue number 1 today. We got the 8th last copy of his 200 copy run. I'll make sure to invest in issues 2-3 on the next crowd funding. Backstory: he had wanted to do the Wolfcop comic but the funders said he had enough on his plate making the movie so it was done by outside creators. He wanted to pitch Atomic Victory Squad as a film but was told it was too weird but might be considered if it was already a comic. Hmmm. Perhaps making it as a comic could therefore help make it as a film....? We'll see. 

Dandy's ice cream

We went to this new ice cream chain on the south end called Dandy's. They make everything in house. Expensive but good. I had a big sundae, as did William and Margaret. Watched the chopping process for a while through the window and wondered why, with the number of hand washing rules they had, did they not bother washing strawberries before using them. Paul says washing fruit is overrated. I didn't agree, even though I'm on day 7 of a beard. 

Painting wind up Keystone A-7 16mm camera

With the spring break, I felt a bit less rushed in painting this week. No meetings this afternoon, just grading assignments. Did this keystone camera that I've never shot with but has been in my office for at least a decade. 

Yell Fire!

Working on my respect in the workplace online course. Most of it is audio with graphics and William (being off school this week) started watching and was amused by the suggestion of yelling "Fire" in case of an attack. I thought that was only in action-comedies. 

Talisman - full game marathon

Holiday Monday: Allan and Kevin came over and we played a marathon Talisman game, beginning at 1:00 and reaching a conclusion at about 9:30. Margaret got to the middle and pulled at "nothing" card which systematically destroyed the world. The end. We all died at once but William had completed one personal goal so was declared the winner. I spent most of the game in jail or as a mouse but eventually was a dragon. 

donuts and coffee

We decided to move game day to tomorrow and go for coffee at Country Corner (Geremy's favorite, although he's never come here with us). We ended up talking about changing the game this week to Talisman, based on Allan's extensive mods for it. Conversation devolved into what use our skills would be if we were transported 500 years into the past. I got obsessed with lenses, Kevin with insurance. 

William returns to his graphic novel

After a break of a couple of months, William finally got back to work on his graphic novel. He only has a few pages left to do and got one done this weekend. 

MacKenzie opening of SakKijajuk

A cool exhibition of Newfoundland First Nations and Inuit art concluded its tour with its opening at the MacKenzie. We attended a lengthy but very worthwhile walking tour of the art with dozens of stories about the three generations of art on display. 

Common Polaroid camera in paintng

I have three or four of these cameras. I bought them the first time I taught Film 311 and we used them for an in-class demo on image transferring. Percy Fuentes was in the class and he eventually cracked the secret for how to do it (after about an hour of us all trying). It had to do with wetness of paper to be transferred onto, pressure with the roller, and timing. The next time I taught the course, the film was no longer available (the pull-apart polaroid) so I never used these cameras again. 

Lindsay Arnold at AGR

I managed to arrive at the tail end of the reception after my class to see Lindsay Arnold at the reception for her amazing set of paintings around her crochet paintings. From the original online posts, I thought she was displaying the actual cloth items (as she has done in the past) but in fact she was displaying very beautiful and accurate paintings of them. Love the pair of "lady chairs" where one can sit, look at video, or read sewing magazines. 

catnip

Catching up on old dates I've not blogged on. Found this cute picture of Nick from this day, rolling in the catnip... in his glory. 

electrical car trouble

Margaret's electrical system on her hybrid Prius. Froze up in the extreme this week. 

More eggs

Just keeping track of this, but the fish have been laying eggs much too often. Here is another set from this weekend. 

Subbing for game class

Allan is away this weekend and got us to substitute for him in his game design class. I ran an intro session of the RPG "3:16" and William took the role of a player, helping the other players understand and navigate the game. Went well. Ran overtime by 10 minutes without realizing it, having got quite caught up in the session. 

Dare Cookies have good things in 'em

About two months ago we were eating some Dare cookies and found what appeared to be a piece of paper inside one. Instead of throwing it away, I followed through with the online complaint. They responded with a few questions and eventually sent me a self addressed envelope so that I could send them the mystery sample. This week I finally received a polite reply admitting that it was paper from some portion of the packaging and assuring me that new inspections will be implemented to improve things in the future. I also got two free packages of cookies (in voucher forms, not to exceed $4.59 per package). Super polite and attentive, but when William suggested how worthwhile it is to complain, the time versus money ratio doesn't support him. 

Jodorowsky's "Holy Mountain"

 I introduced Jodorowsky's Holy Mountain as the second of three films with a surreal bent at the RPL this week. The weather was really really cold but I still got a bigger crowd than last month (I didn't count but I think it was closer to 30). Kevin came. I assured him that it was the strangest film I'd ever invited him to and I believe it was. My first reason for showing it was because "I didn't understand it myself".

Something borrowed, a bit blue

I borrowed this camera from Susan who bought it at the CVAF auction last week. I thought about outbidding her but then decided I didn't need to own ever camera I painted, some could be borrowed.
Lori is away so Margaret came instead and got some tips from Deb about a painting she's been tinkering on for a few years. It led to a lot of conversations due to the partial collage element to it.

Birthday cake for Allan

While officially the day after his birthday, Margaret made Allan one of her specialty cakes with chocolate whipped cream. William made a crazy card within a card within a card within a card within a card within a card card.

Restaurant week

We took in some restaurant week at the Copper Kettle this evening, celebrating 28 years with a nice meal. 

Video portrait of me

Karishma and Chinenye came to the house and shot a half hour of video of me that they must somehow make into a portrait of me for Trevor's course. After they left I kept thinking of things that I could have said that would have helped focus the whole thing, but with the cameras on, mostly I just babbled. 

CVAF fundraiser

We went to the fundraiser with Allan this year. The poster art was revealed (it was by Christine Moleski). I bought a super-8 camera but there is trouble with the viewfinder. I also borrowed a camera that Susan bought (we did some trading). 

Squishy the Snowman