We've Moved!

Beautiful Feet has moved to a new blog address. Click here to go to the latest posts. Same great stuff. Bookmark the new url for future artists' care happenings too (and see www.beautifulfeet.ca for more details). Thanks for your continued support!

Happy Easter!

Redemption by Ann Kim, Mixed Media, 2004, 25" x 50"

It is Finished by Jeff Wunrow, Silk Matka, Silk Chiffon, Silk Dupioni, 2007, 32" x 40"

It is the Triduum

Maunday Thursday Footwashing, Photography, Patricia Smith 2006

"The Bono of Lahore"

Great indie movie to recommend: Man Push Cart by director Ramin Bahrani (2005). While this film can be viewed from many perspectives, do yourself a favour and watch it untainted by any reviews or commentary on its 'meaning'. I did, and was able to appreciate it for the offering it was, and to not be influenced by others' take on it. Nice editing. Winner of many awards, such as at Sundance. Available at good video stores.

Rooster

Aleksandar Antonijevic in Rooster. Photographer: Sian Richards

I recently saw the National Ballet's Rooster, 24 Preludes by Chopin and Soldier's Mass. I attended with a dancer, and we had polar opposite reactions: alack, you are stuck with mine alone.

The Preludes, accompanied by piano, were arranged by 'bad girl' choreographer Marie Chouinard. I haven't seen much modern ballet for about ten years, so I found it interesting to be updated, but I found the attempts at humour often lacked substance and didn't do Chopin justice. This was a very organic piece and the dancers connected with the audience, but I found the tone of the choreography just too self-reverential. I also felt the larger chorus lacked cohesion, although the demi-chori were more successful.

Soldier's Mass was extremely poignant but avoided being sentimental about war; indeed, much of the choreography was evocative of military formations and battlefields. I appreciated the references to a Christ figure during the Kyrie and other parts, and I felt the costume design suited the eastern music of Kylian well. Did anyone else notice that with the exception of three musicians, all the instrumentalists, dancers and choral singers (members of the Elora Festival Singers) were male? There was a palpable weightiness to this ballet. That's a good thing.

The much-awaited Rolling Stones-scored ballet, Rooster, tried to do too much. Choreographer Christopher Bruce created this some 30 years after its characters, Mods and Rockers, walked the earth, and it is still fresh. I'm glad the NBC put it on. But I kept feeling like the ballet couldn't decide what style it wanted to be: it rocked between lyrical, Elizabethan dance, and rock 'n roll. During Not Fade Away, I half expected Elvis Stojko to come out on rollerblades. Paint it Black worked and the finale Sympathy for the Devil lived up to my expectations. I hope next time the ballet administration decides to push the boat out that they will go whole hog and really let loose with something even more audacious. Bruce was working with the music; I just wish it had all been serious rocking.

I'm glad my one recent chance to see our ballet was this one. Karen Kain has breathed a much-needed breath of fresh air into this arts organization. I hope they will continue to diverge from the traditional repertoire, and often.

Ewen Me Both

Good news! Another venue to see some Paterson Ewen pieces! Olga Korper will be exhibiting Ewen at her gallery in April; Mapplethorpe in May. Ck her site for more details. 17 Morrow Ave.

Paterson Ewen, Cross Section of Sun 1997, watercolour on handmade paper, 22" x 30"

The Evil 14

I recently heard that the Vatican has announced an updated and expanded version of the 7 Deadly Sins, the original being a construct by the church in the 6th century, I believe, and not biblical. So here are the additions to Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed and Sloth. See if you qualify---or rather, offend:
ruining the environment; carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments; or allowing genetic manipulations which alter DNA or compromise embryos; social injustice; taking or dealing drugs; causing poverty; and the excessive accumulation of wealth by a few (see source). I guess Prada shoes are exempt...

Oh... my...goodness...

While checking out the Christian art of Sister Mary Proctor recently, I was pointed in the direction of other 'visionary' folk art via America Oh Yes website. What a surprise. If you'd like your eyes opened to the extent of another genre, ck the site out.

What's with dishonesty being cool? From commercials to books, such as one recommended by How magazine, it's supposed to be funny to outwit establishments and rip them off, either by not reporting their errors in your favour, or by theft. The IKEA commercial was funny in itself, but let's drop this attitude of screwing companies whenever possible...theft is theft.

If You Like My Poems Let Them

if you like my poems let them
walk in the evening,a little behind you

then people will say
"Along this road i saw a princess pass
on her way to meet her lover(it was
toward nightfall)with tall and ignorant servants."


~e e cummings

BAD....in a good way of course

All you baroque lovers out there, don't forget this Saturday, March 15th at 8pm, I Furiosi return to Calvin Presbyterian Church for another concert with a wacky theme: Bad. As in Furies and fate and well, you never know with these musicians. Guest Lucas Harris on lutes and theorbo. Tickets a bargain $20/$10 at the door (compared to what some other groups are charging these days.....).

New to me...

The Wave VII, (Vågen II) 1901. Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Check out this artist I learned about on the Tate Modern's website: Swede August Strindberg (1849-1912), who was also a sculptor, photographer and writer. His art was expressionistic and--after some research I confirmed my hunch--he shared the artistic ideology of Naturalism with which Emile Zola also wrote ('Les Quatres Journees de Jean Gourdon', Germinal, Nana, Therese Raquin are my recoms). Cool stuff from 100 years ago.

blog recom

Got a comment from a fellow blogger about the movie, Conversations with God (see label god/phantom, below), so I checked out his blog and it rocks! Kingdom of God Media's Patrick Roberts writes reviews of movies, books and records with thoughtfulness and aplomb. Those who don't yet need reading glasses might appreciate his review of this:

God loves those who can laugh at themselves

smooth as merlot

Next Sunday brings Jazz Vespers at CCDP again; at 4:30pm Mike Murley (sax) and David Occhipinti (guitar) inspire low-key worship. Admission is free; freewill offering to support this music ministry.

Does This Challenge Your Idea of Opera???

Baritone Calvin Powell in The Shaman’s Tale, part of Opera to Go 2008 presented by Tapestry New Opera Works, February 14 to 23, 2008. Photo Credit: Bruce Zinger.

What--you don't think a spliff-smoking shaman is operatic? Well, shake up your idea of what opera is by getting down to Tapestry New Opera's Opera To Go at Harbourfront's Enwave Theatre (streetcar from Union stops right outside). If you don't believe me, take it from The Star's John Terauds, who says Tapestry is "...where the future of Canadian opera is being made today", and coming from that authority, that's high praise indeed. I've covered them before, but Tapestry is so hot, I have to keep the recoms coming. I love my COC, I drool over Opera Atelier's productions, but these folks are fearless and always successful (never mind what the Globe says...). This company is innovative, fearless and consistent in their musical and professional integrity. I applaud their vision and approach: they never shy away from new things or risky stories or stretching their artistic talents. The only criticism, if I can call it that, is that I found their surtitles superfluous--the singers' enunciation needs no crutch. Best of all, they always manage to push the boundaries: if they can have my 17 year old daughter going regularly, they must be doing something right.

(left to right) Mezzo-soprano Jessica Lloyd, tenor Keith Klassen and soprano Carla Huhtanen in See Saw, part of Opera to Go 2008 presented by Tapestry New Opera Works, February 14 to 23, 2008. Photo Credit: Bruce Zinger.

Okay, so we know that I love them, love them, love them. Here's why. The librettists and composers from the annual Lib Lab (opera pseudo-boot camp: read up on it here) are versatile. The story lines are always fresh and surprising. The designers are resourceful so that one never notices they aren't working with a zillion dollar budget. Best of all, they do cool new things---thank you, God! It was exciting to see film, paper theatre, large-scale puppetry, and laptop media being incorporated into this medium. I've talked before about enjoying their sense of humour. But this time I was also taken by their multi-tasking, if you will: Carla Huhtanen and Keith Klassen not only singing and manoeuvering over-scale puppets, but simultaneously acting as if they weren't also contending with the third mode of expression. I also appreciated their fearless interpretation of a political plotline.

So kudos, Tapestry! We look forward to Sanctuary Song in May. And to the rest of you new opera virgins: hustle down to the remaining performances on Feb 20-23. See their website info about tickets, times etc.

Book Recoms

I recently read Stumbling On Happiness by Daniel Gilbert, which may be of interest to those who are into non-fiction. It's a little heavy on the cranial stuff, but it's a very readable explanation of why we are or are not happy. I am scientifically challenged but the psychological stuff was accessible, and the author kept me reading and laughing, which is something these days. Check out more about the book here. It's available in the library too.

I am presently reading Steven Pinker's book, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, for future review here, courtesy of the publisher. More about it at a later date.

ECVA has a new call for artists on self-portraiture which you might want to consider if you are a Christian artist. Although based in the US, they are very welcoming to others farther afield (i.e. Canadians and others). Also, check out their current online exhibit (I'm plugging it again!) Feasts for the Eyes. Good people there: please support them.

HM at work

Don't miss the next four Sundays on CBC from 8-10pm for a unique look at the Queen and the many obligations she fulfills. Good for dispelling any myths about a rich, cushy lifestyle! Monarchy: the Royal Family at Work is a sympathetic look at Her Majesty and her family in situations beyond the sound bites and photo ops. While you're at it, why not check out the Monarchist League's website to learn more about the function of the monarchy in Canada. She is our Queen, too!

Bibelots

Ck out this amazing Christian arts project called Bibelots. I love organic movements with a purpose! This one is a ministry which touches people on many levels. Info courtesy of CIVA.

Opera to Go Recom

"Everyday tales of passion and pathos…with just a touch of paranoia
Toronto, ON…Tapestry explores the passion and peril of contemporary relationships in Opera to Go 2008, presented in
association with Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage 2008 at The Enwave Theatre (231 Queens Quay West). Opera to
Go 2008 previews February 14 and runs February 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2008. All performances begin at 8 pm
with the exception of the February 17 matinee at 2 pm.
Opera to Go 2008 showcases seven world premieres of six 15‐minute chamber operas and a Bravo!FACT film by composer‐writer teams who have graduated from Tapestry’s Composer‐Librettist Laboratory, an annual opera “boot camp” that brings together artists of various disciplines to collaborate on new opera creation."

Tapestry New Opera is the coolest company going. You may recognize their director Tom Diamond from Bathroom Divas. Ck out the Tapestry website for more details.

woot!

In my continuing study of art about the Prodigal Son, I found out that Tissot had done an etching on this subject, part of an exhibit now on at MOBIA in NYC. Also cool are the versions by Timothy Vermeulen and Mary McCleary. Check them out.



Even more exciting was my discovery of a fellow exhibitor in the ECVA Feasts for the Eyes, Rev. Paul Fromberg, and his work, such as Good Friday: Lebanon Bombing:
Another artist's work I will save for Maundy Thursday. Although Fromberg's is for Good Friday, I couldn't wait til then to post it!

compline with a side of organ

Christ Church Deer Park has a Lenten program for the next several Sundays which sees various organists playing recitals followed by the BCP service of compline with Gregorian chant. This evening office begins at 7:30pm. Even chiller than Jazz Vespers!

jazz vespers

Next two dates are Feb 17th and March 2nd at 4:30pm, at CCDP. Visit the link for details about the musicians and other goings-on there.

Film Recoms

A neat film I saw recently was Last Orders (Fred Schepisi, 2001) starring Michael Caine and Helen Mirren. This movie had sensitive direction about life and grief, and was particularly astute about the English. All you WASPs out there will feel emotionally at home....Worth a watch. Also finally saw American Beauty (Sam Mendes, 1999); I think I'm the last person in North America to see it. For an accurate portrait of the realization that life is not as it always appears--especially in the American dream--put aside a few hours for a watch. And buy the soundtrack.

The Menorah

The Menorah (1993) by Roger Wagner, British, b. 1957

more about this painting

Happy Epiphany!

Today is Twelfth Night or the twelfth day of the Christmas season. It marks the liturgical celebration of the magi's arrival at Christ's side with their three gifts. It is also the feast of Christmas for our friends in the Eastern Church. For more info about epiphany, please click here.
You can also catch the Archbishop of Canterbury's new year's message on YouTube but here is an excerpt, which is good for reflection:

In a society where we think of so many things as disposable, where we expect to be constantly discarding last year’s gadget and replacing it with this year’s model - do we end up tempted to think of people and relationships as disposable?

You gotta love an archbishop who goes on YouTube! Well, that's the Church being sensible about how to reach the people. I like to think of Thomas Becket's mind being boggled by all this! Anyway, good food for thought. I heard him speak this past year, and I am much impressed with Rowan Williams.

Inflationary Language

If you want a bit of a giggle, go to this site to read Victor Borge's Inflationary Language sketch. Read it through before going to watch it on YouTube; you'll get more out of the AV version if you are familiar with the text. Great fun!

Film Recoms

The first film I would like to discuss is Jesus Camp (2006 Ewing and Grady), a documentary about evangelical children in the U.S.. There is much that is difficult to swallow in this movie. If it were just little kids saying "I love Jesus", that would be one thing. But consider the following quote from a conversation between a 12 year old and a children's pastor: Levi: At five I got saved... Becky Fisher: Yeah? Levi: ...because I just wanted more of life. Now, I'm sorry, but at 5 you don't have cognitive development that enables such thought; even if you did, this is clearly parroting adult talk. The views expressed by the participants are racist (see the quotes on IMDb if you don't believe me), narrow-minded and threatening. The film also gives Christian homeschoolers a bad name--they are not all fundamentalist. I found Jesus Camp completely frightening and yet it is absolutely required viewing for any Christian.
On the other end of the spectrum is a movie called Into Great Silence (Die Grosse Stille, 2005, Philip Groning), about a French monastery that is considered to be the most ascetic in the world. The Carthusians apparently took 16 years to consider even allowing the film! At times I thought the art direction was superb, at others boring--how unoriginal to be filming dew-covered flowers!!! In any event, the film is almost 3 hours long and almost completely silent--a hyperacutic's dream come true! Amazing how you get drawn into these men's lives, then. And it contained some wonderful surprises. Overall, I would recommend this film with the proviso that you must set aside the 3 hours to watch it uninterrupted, or you won't be able to enter into the spirit of it. If you do this, I promise you your blood pressure will be lower and your spirit calmer by the end of it. Great chilling!

Ring in 2008

art by Jan Neal

In Four Steps to Wisdom:
You don't have to do anything to acquire happiness. The great Meister Eckhart said very beautifully, "God is not attained by a process of addition to anything in the soul, but by a process of subtraction." You don't do anything to be free, you drop something. Then you're free.
Jan quoting Anthony de Mello quoting Meister Eckhart

" "

And you, liar, teller of tall tales: you trample all the Lord's commandments underfoot, you murder, steal, commit adultery, and afterward break into tears, beat your breast, take down your guitar and turn the sin into a song. Shrewd devil, you know very well that God pardons singers no matter what they do, because he can simply die for a song....

~The Last Temptation of Christ,
Nikos Kaztantazkis

For the Youngsters

Yellow by Coldplay

Fundamentalist Trials

George of The Hour (CBC trying to be hip) recently interviewed AJ Jacobs, a New Yorker who spent a year living according to the tenets of the Bible. While I have often questioned fundamentalists on the convenient compromises they make to suit their lives while claiming to live biblically, I loved hearing about the Jewish embodiment of this quandry. Of particular note was the anecdote about him stoning an adulterer. You gotta love this guy's tenacity. And his wife's for that matter: he was not allowed to sit on a chair sat upon by his wife while she was 'unclean', so she went around the apartment and defiled every last one of them! Ah, the trials of living like our forefathers.... But on a more serious note, his book does address questions about the development of one's prayer life, and the issue of 'cafeteria religion'--picking and choosing what suits us in our faith.

You may know him from his articles and other adventures such as reading all 44 million words of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Here is an excerpt from his website : 'His father is a lawyer who holds the world record for the most footnotes in a law review article (4,824). His wife works for a highbrow scavenger hunt called Watson Adventures. He lives in New York. He wonders if he fooled anyone with this third-person thing, or if everyone knows that he wrote this bio himself.'

Hero of the Week

Ok, so it's not weekly. But I would like to sing the praises of a gentleman who has done me favours and who serves the Christian art scene in Canada with unrelenting passion, energy and support: the very humble John Franklin, executive director of Imago. This organization provides financial, logistical and promotional support to Christian creators of the performing and visual arts. I love it because I constantly find new good Christ-centred art through them, particularly at their Imago Evenings. Imago busts the myth of 'good' and 'Christian art' being oxymoronic terms. And John's quarterly newsletter is a source of theological reflection on new works and issues in art, as well as book reviews, calls for artists and show announcements. To support this very worthy organization, go to their website and use the contact us link at the bottom; I guarantee you your donation will be VERY well used.

Next Jazz Vespers

january 6th is the next jazz vespers at ccdp (1570 yonge st) at 4:30pm. the canadian jazz quartet plays a tribute to milt jackson. come join me in chilling in the pew.

Upcoming Movie Recoms

This year will see recoms for more offbeat, artsy and inde movies. I have a wonderful source, and a Board that always brings new ideas for me to try. So ck back for the popcorn and spilled coke ratings. I recently saw The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988, Terry Gilliam) and wondered how I managed to miss yet another interesting flick. It is completely insane. Note that this does not mean perfect; I am not saying it is the best movie on the planet, but I am always appreciative of artists willing to at least do what they need to do, and in the process not bore me. If you want to ck out the cultness of it, go rent it. I don't think you'll ask me for your money back.

Gross Out for the Kids

Gags for the adults, guffaws for the kids. Here is a link to a recipe that is usually for Hallowe'en, but it is where I am metaphorically dumping 2007. This coming year is looking good, however....

Merry Christmas from Beautiful Feet

Advent IV

Advent IV

On the Cusp of Christmas

This fourth Sunday of Advent we light all the candles of the wreath and mark Love incarnate, birthed by Mary.

O Wisdom, holy Word of God, Jesus Christ, all things are in your hands, come and show us the way to salvation.

This is my favourite season of the year: it's about reflection, intensity and delayed gratification. I almost find Christmas too much. It goes against my asceticism, and the peace of Advent is lost. Ah well, I can start counting the days til the beginning of Lent...

And my last plug for Buy Nothing Christmas:

Back in the Christmas season....

We Will Rock You, the musical

I was recently treated to We Will Rock You, the musical by Queen and Ben Elton. Guess I am stunned, coz I misunderstood what the show was; I thought it was a tribute band. However, I was quickly corrected but then relieved of new doubts. It is actually a storyline that initially is questionable, but you are quickly sucked into the 'world' therein and get into it. While the singing and choreography is good, I would say the writing is the most fun--very clever and very topical. There was one moment, however, where a character gets the equivalent of tasing and you could cut the tension in the hall with a knife. We attended a night with the understudies who were actually better than the main cast members, according to someone who went twice: Breanne Arrigo was endearingly feisty as Scaramouche, and Jewelle Blackman as Killer Queen was reminiscent of Tina Turner. The background multimedia visuals were absolutely fantastic, perhaps my favourite part of the show. There was a poignant nod to Freddie Mercury, a too-short video clip of Queen and tons of good-natured fun-poking at the group. Just completely good fun from start to finish: if you like Queen, you absolutely MUST go see this. You will indeed be rocked. (Even I, with my usual wasp-y reservation, let loose, so you know it must be good.) www.mirvish.com

Segue...

If you want a giggle, check out this one of several videos of prison inmates in the Philippines in which they dance en masse to popular music--a new type of rehab for Corrections Canada to try??? I really don't get this and that's what fascinates me. This one is to Queen's Radio Ga Ga . There's also a really weird version of (what else) Thriller. Beats carving shanks, I guess.

from "The Nativity of our Lord"

Then tear the sky apart with light

And with your news the world endow.

Proclaim the birth of Christ and peace,

That fear and death and sorrow cease:

Sing peace, sing gift of peace!

~Carl Schalk

Welcome to Advent III

We're almost there! It's the third Sunday of Advent, often known and celebrated as Gaudete Sunday, wherein we light the pink candle. Joy is the theme and we read about the pronouncement of Jesus by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God (John 1: 19-34).

O Key of David, Jesus Christ, the gates of heaven open at your command; come and show us the way to salvation.

And I offer this advice, with personal endorsement:

Flying Bow

My best discovery this week was Trevor Dick and the 5th String Blvd Band; our mc told us, as he introduced them, to fasten our seat belts, and he was right! I was not convinced that I would be enamoured of yet more versions of Christmas carols, but this guy rocks. He had great audience rapport too. He reminded me of a cross between Jean Luc Ponty and Oliver Schroer. I have to say I prefer the raucous carol disc over the more low key carols in his double cd, Glory and Peace, but he is a breath of fresh air. Laila Biali was a guest performer, so that was a treat as well. Check out some mp3 clips of Trevor's at http://flyingbow.com/g&pclips.htm and put those boring old Christmas cds you have away!

Sound Art

I generally have little time for Performance Art as a genre, but this week I had the opportunity to watch sound art unfold. I admit I was rather skeptical initially, but the work of the artist sold me on this medium. At a concert by Trevor Dick, as mentioned above, Tina Newlove created a painting which, had I been able, I would have bought. You can see her stuff on her website www.tinanewlove.com and also follow the link there to her myspace site. I quite like her urban crowd stuff. One of the works, City Crowd, reminded me of Klimt. If you ever have the chance to watch her, stick around to the end. It's worth it.

Movie Night Recoms

I was watching Marie Antoinette recently, thinking 'This soundtrack reminds me of the one in Lost in Translation'; sure enough (I had popped the dvd in without much study), it was another Sofia Coppola film (2006). Definitely not for my mother's crowd; she would have a fit at what had be "done" to this quirky period piece. It had been recommended to me precisely because its focus was the visuals rather than plot. Like Translation (2003), Coppola used the technique of dampened audio, which has various effects on the audience. Also lost to the traditionalists would be the use of current American accents and vernacular language, mixed in with the sensibilities and expression of the time. A completely cool film. But I love anything different; there is no room or time for boredom. Half a box of popcorn to my next recom, 49Up (2006), which I used in my continued study of the series in my classes. My students and I felt there had not been substantial change from 42Up, so while it was a wonderful film in and of itself, the series does seem to be lacking momentum. What was so eagerly awaited seemed a bit flat. I wonder if director Michael Apted will pursue this longitudinal study and how many of the participants will continue with the project. So, definitely worth watching for its sociological importance, but don't expect the shake ups encountered between, for example, 35Up and 42Up. I plan to watch the director's interview to hear his views.

Kids' Stuff

Two things for kids this week:

I was referred to a group called the Go Fish Guys, and they have some worthy music for children that goes beyond the usual potty-training and monsters subjects. You can check out various things on their site at http://www.gofishguys.com/guys/index.html but one song I liked was It's About the Cross which you can find on their index of sample mp3 clips along with other Christmas songs: http://www.gofishguys.com/music/index.html . I like the fact that they don't dumb things down for kids.

Also of note is a hot-off-the-press book (I was at a launch by the author) which I bought as a Christmas present for certain young people I know (can't ruin the surprise here): Jim's Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book. What is different about this one is that it is witty (yay! something unboring about the Bible for kids!) and it has a pretty cool, age-appropriate key at the back about symbols and references. A good stepping stone for the 8-12 age group in terms of Bible acquisitions. Good fun. You can find out more about Jim Paterson's book and order it via www.jdpaterson.com or bga@spectranet.ca .

Another Kind of Good News

As we enter the season of Good News, it is fitting that I found this website: www.goodnewsnetwork.org on which only positive new stories are found. Now many will counsel you not to take a media fast, especially as Christians, because we should not turn a blind eye to suffering and should continually pray for those who need it. I believe that is true. However, if one must read the regular news (which is 99% bad), I think it is balanced to look at this good news source. I love it.

Blogger's--not My--Bad

Just noticed that Blogger has inserted automatically a new Video Bar which usurped my YouTube Beauts. Somehow, some weird video was attached and as yet I have been unable to remove it from the html. Please ignore that one ('sweet rose' something or other) and do not think that it has any connection to me. Thank you!

Welcome To Advent II !

Today we light the second (and first) candle of Advent. This candle represents Peace, and the scriptures and focus today are about the prophets' foretelling of the Messiah's coming.

O King of all nations, Jesus Christ, only joy of every heart, come and save your people.

If you can handle a bit of tongue-in-cheek about Jesus, but which is really about what he would say about our consumerism, check out Jesus Shops for Sandals:

http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/resources/tract01/index.html

There is some hoopla about a line in it about Jesus not knowing what to pray, but I would suggest that some people need to relax. Nevertheless, check out the feedback at http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/resources/tract01/09.html. Then, join me in this

Advent Prayer on Consumerism
Slow us down, O Lord, this Advent, So we may understand the darkness we are in, The darkness of fear that comes with wanting more, And the fear of having less. Grant us the light of transformation, As we wait for your true abundance— The love of the Incarnation, A love that brings us true dignity and security, A love that embraces all, that enriches all, That calls us all to share justly and celebrate joyfully. (author unknown)

From Over the Pond

From blogger Dave Walker, some cartoons about Advent: http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/category/advent/

and this, which I tripped upon as soon as I had put up our lights:

Non-Christmasy News

CONTACT Photography Festival is sponsoring an exhibit of some of the Malcolmson Collection of 19th century photographs at Lennox Contemporary gallery. The show runs from Dec 14th through the 23rd (Th-Sun 12-5pm), 12 Ossington Ave. just north of Queen St. Call 416 924 7964 or www.malcolmson.com for more info.

The Nativity

Last year saw the release of the film The Nativity. I would like to recommend the related book The Nativity Story: Contemplating Mary's Journey of Faith, edited by Rose Pacatte, FSP (Pauline Press, 2006). It is a collection of reflections on Mary by various women, one of whom is my best friend: Marily Elphick wrote the chapter entitled "Mary's Journey of Love". Don't just take my word for it--the book is presently being translated into Italian, with more translations sure to come. You can purchase it at Pauline Books in Toronto; email toronto@pauline.org for info or go to http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/bookcenters/toronto/index.html.

Christmas Specials on TV

I noted a glitch with the link to the CBC tv guide listings last week, so although it is corrected below, I am repeating the address here: http://holiday.cbc.ca/

Concert Reminders

Sunday December 16th at 4:30, there are two options: The Festival of Light at St. Clement's church--carols, pageant and living nativity scene--or for those of us with grown up kids, head over to Jazz Vespers at Christ Church Deer Park (http://www.thereslifehere.org/) where the Barlow Brass and Drums will present a Christmas Vespers. THEN, for even more fun, go to the Church of the Messiah (240 Avenue Rd, N of Bloor at Dupont) for a Christmas Concert and Show that will include jazz, gospel, rock, choral and celtic music, highland and step dancing, and carol sing-alongs! 7pm, freewill offering.And that's just the people I know! For more concert listings, see http://www.thewholenote.com/

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!

Welcome to the first Sunday in Advent! You will notice that this image has purple and pink candles; that is because I am renegade and refuse to switch to the modernized blue and white and pink adaptation (apparently my preference was too Lenten; never mind that the purple is a symbol for royalty). So for you traditionalists, the first purple candle of the season signifies hope. Of course, the circular wreath represents God's completeness, the greenery reminds us of renewal of life. A prayer for the lighting of this first candle:

O Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, desire of every nation, Saviour of all peoples, come and dwell among us. Amen.

To kick start your advent season, why not use some cues? Play the soundtrack from Godspell, or the quintessential Christmas piece, A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. Start an Advent devotional (see God With Us post on November 18th, below). A neat thing for the kids is to host a party where they get to make a Jesse Tree (see http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM or do your own version); my kids didn't have birthdays en masse, so this was a chance for them to have a party with their friends. Try and get a permanent (not chocolate) advent calendar for your family; there are quilting and sewing patterns for them, or see the variety of store bought ones at http://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/advcal2.html. Delay putting up your really Christmas-y decorations to mark this season. An advent calendar, Jesse tree and the wreath are simple ways to declare the season. Finally, start your Christmas baking and gift making now, so that you can enjoy Christmas when it comes. And save a tree and ditch the Christmas card madness.

Veni veni, Emmanuel

captivum solve Israel,

qui gemit in exsilio,

privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,

nascetur pro te Israel!

from buynothingchristmas.org

Christmas Specials on TV

As a CBC brat, I bring you access to listings of old favourites this month only on Channel 6: there's a nice pdf of the month's Grinch/Charlie Brown/Muppets etc. specials at http://holiday.cbc.ca/ Don't miss the Vinyl Cafe's inevitable Dave and the Christmas Turkey story on the 18th! Remember to watch A Christmas Carol/Scrooge (the only acceptable one, with Alastair Sim), and please do yourself a favour and read The Polar Express to your (grand)children; like Jumanji, some things should stay on paper only.

SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!

~Buddy the Elf

Concert Recommendations

Okay, so I'm slightly biased in this post, since I have friends in and connections to these groups, but I can guarantee superlative musicianship! Due to the busy Christmas concert season, I am posting some two weeks in advance.


Saturday December 8th~dear I Furiosi help those with a blue Christmas with an irreverent look (as always) at loneliness: Solo includes guest percussionist Graham Hargrove. Calvin Presbyterian Church on Delisle (Yonge and St. Clair) 8pm (http://www.furiosi.com/).


Sunday December 9th~first at 3pm, Brother Heinrich's Christmas, a Christmas story with music by John Rutter, at St. Clement's Church, 59 Briar Hill Ave. (http://www.st.clements-church.org/). Then after a skate and a bite to eat, head over to Blessed Sacrament Church (south of Yonge and Lawrence) for Aradia's Et Exultavit Christmas Concert, at 7:30pm (http://www.aradia.ca/).


The following week, you'll have to pick between church and church:
Sunday December 16th at 4:30, there are two options: The Festival of Light at St. Clement's church--carols, pageant and living nativity scene--or for those of us with grown up kids, head over to Jazz Vespers at Christ Church Deer Park (http://www.thereslifehere.org/) where the Barlow Brass and Drums will present a Christmas Vespers. THEN, for even more fun, go to the Church of the Messiah (240 Avenue Rd, N of Bloor at Dupont) for a Christmas Concert and Show that will include jazz, gospel, rock, choral and celtic music, highland and step dancing, and carol sing-alongs! 7pm, freewill offering.
And that's just the people I know! For more concert listings, see http://www.thewholenote.com/

Offered without Comment

'HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR?'

Stir Up Sunday

Yes indeedy, it is 'Stir Up Sunday', an affectionate and quite colloquial name for the last Sunday of the Christian year or the Sunday before Advent begins. The term comes from the collect (meaning communal prayer for those gathered, accent on the 'coll') in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer:
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you Thomas Cranmer! You can check out this and the OT and Gospel readings for today in the BCP on page 259-260.

What Exactly are we Stirring Up?

So now that you know what today is, you have to do the stirring up! Most families have their own tried and true recipes for plum pudding, but if you don't, you can find some suggested recipes and suggestions here: http://mysite.verizon.net/stlukeep/advent/plumpudding.html. Actually, we try to avoid the gluttony of the holidays, so we no longer serve the plum pudding at Christmas dinner--usually later in the week or for New Year's. Coz we still love a bit of that terribly rich hard sauce!!! But if you really don't like the (in fact) plumless dessert, you can stir up your Christmas cake today. But you'll have to really douse it with booze to make the cut for Christmas. No matter what, do some stirring and keep that tradition going!

Christmas Windows

If you are trying to avoid that conspicuous consumption but still want a Christmas window outing, ck out this new competition: http://www.downtownyonge.com/WindowWonderland . Several stores in the downtown core have had their windows dressed by Ryerson students on a budget of $100! These will be judged on December 3rd, but in the meantime you can see them yourself (ck the website link for the pdf map) and/or vote online for your favourite. Excellent outing for the artsy fartsy type!

Carol Service

Next Sunday, December 2nd, is the first Sunday in Advent and the annual carol service at St. Clement's Anglican Church will take place at 4:30pm. Music will include Palestrina, Archer, Vann, McKie and Near. Freewill offering. 59 Briar Hill Ave, Toronto. Call 416 483 6664 ex 26 for more info or go to our website at http://stclements-church.org/ourworship.html

Buy Nothing Christmas

This may not be a new notion to those of us who have Buy Nothing Days most of the time, but I wholeheartedly promote the Buy Nothing Christmas movement. Not only because of its Christian sensibilities, but also because they invite people of all opinions to participate: you can go whole hog and really buy nothing, or you can use their varying degrees of suggestions to cut down on your Veblenian conspicuous consumption. It is a wonderful notion that is actually accessible, unlike a lot of the resolutions that will likely follow a week later. Ck out this great idea (which is not new) by going to their website at http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/index.html. For each week of Advent, I will be highlighting one of their clever posters.

Opera at the Met

If you haven't jumped on the Metropolitan Opera Live broadcasts at your local cinema bandwagon, you should: you get top notch music, cast interviews at intermission, and other treats, all while munching down on your popcorn and smarties! We did this last year and got more tickets for this year. But caveat emptor--the lineups are long and start early. Just coz you have a ticket, doesn't mean you'll get a good seat, so go early to the movie theatre. Cineplex has added more venues due to the raging success of last year. Ck out this link to investigate what's on for 2007-2008: http://www.cineplex.com/Modules/ecms.aspx/$Cineplex/1a0b9dfc-71bc-44f3-be62-4f42afd297f5/2007-09-20--Metropolitan_Opera_Live_in_High-Definition_Returns_to_the_Big_Screen--.pdf . [I believe the National Ballet is looking into this too, the ol' copycats.]

My Favourite Ad

Day by day
Day by day
Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day

~Saint Richard of Chichester 1197-1253

Advent venit!

This week I will be attending the Toronto reception and book launch by one of my heroes, Kathleen Norris, author of The Cloister Walk and Amazing Grace. You can learn more about her contributions to a new book called God with Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, which includes other authors such as Eugene Peterson (The Message). Her talk, Remembering, Waiting and Hoping: The Countercultural Pursuits of Christmas, will be right up my alley. I will feature products and thoughts in future posts based on the same ideology. This event, after the New York launch and before the Vancouver one, is sponsored in part by Imago (http://www.imago-arts.on.ca/). You can check out the exposition of the book by clicking on this link: http://www.rediscoverchristmas.com/the-book.aspx.

Because Advent is just around the corner--yes, three Sundays from now!--a reminder to buy the Christian seasons calendar I recommended a few weeks ago. I received mine and it is a keeper. Go to http://www.thechristiancalendar.com/ to order; they also have some cool ideas about using it, which they send with your order.

And if Advent starts in 21 days, then two weeks from today is 'Stir Up Sunday', a fine Anglican tradition. Put the plum pudding ingredients on your grocery list soon!

Call for Sponsors

I am seeking a corporate or individual sponsor for the production of my donation to the 2008 Design Hope Toronto art auction and gala; this would involve a very modest investment, but is crucial to the professional developing and mounting of the photography by Toronto Image Works. The venue is moving this year to Modern Weave on King E. and the event is the evening of February 8th. I need confirmation of support by Christmas to make my production deadline. If you can support my contribution, please contact me via info@beautifulfeet.ca. If you would like to view my previous entries and learn more about the 2006/2007 events, in which over $17,000 was raised for Dixon Hall's homeless, hostel and housing programming, please go to http://www.designhopetoronto.ca/artists_pages/vanessawells6.html and http://www.designhopetoronto.ca/artists_pages/wells7.html. FYI, corporate or individual sponsorship is eligible for publicity online, onsite and in the auction catalogue. Many thanks!

A Cool Photo by Jan

Memento Audere Semper 2, © Jan Neal, 2007. You can visit her Studio Journal here: http://digitalartadvocate.squarespace.com/studio-journal/

An Unfinished Life Premiere

I am a huge fan of Canadian 'classical' music and was looking forward to the premiere of Brian Cherney's oratorio, An Unfinished Life, last week at Metropolitan United. Unfortunately much seemed to conspire against this event: errors (e.g., labeling Dutch as German)
in the already poorly laid out concert programme, a cell phone ringing during the CBC recording of this (!!), a sense of underrehearsal (it was only composed this summer) or at least hesitancy or nonconfidence, and worst of all, the sound set up made hearing the narration by Marilyn Lightstone completely unintelligible. The audience was restless, several walked out before the midpoint, and it became something to sit through out of politeness. You might suggest that this modern classical piece was too challenging or deep for me to understand: after over 30 years of singing, I feel comfortable forming opinions about choral music. I'm not Jewish and didn't get the profundity of the piece? Just finished teaching an in-depth and emotional unit on the Holocaust: I don't think I am uneducated in this area. I just felt there was a disconnect between the music and the selected text, and it is hard to make a connection to cacophony. Aside from the redemption at the end of the borrowed Bach motif, I felt jarred and lost rather than moved and drawn into the life of Etty Hillesum. I would like to give this Soundstreams Canada commission another chance one day; maybe the gods were conspiring against this premiere. But I did find the evening unsatisfying: the advertised 'works by Jewish composers of the Renaissance' amounted to psalms set to music by Palestrina and Lassus (whom I understood to be very Christian) and the only Jewish composer represented was Solomon Rossi (1570-1630), of whom I had never heard, so I was interested to learn something there. So, alack, no raves here, but hope for a better experience next time.

For Kids up to 35

On Saturday November 17th, Sound Ministry hosts another night of DJs, electro and techno beats at the Sanctuary, 25 Charles St.E. just off Yonge St, south of Bloor. This time they have guest DJs from the British club scene! I believe these wild and crazy kids start at 8pm and go half the night. They request $5 cover to go towards expenses. If you go to their MySpace page, there's some YouTube footage you can check out (the ones in dark with the glo stix).http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=209260624

Also, please note there is a new internet Christian rock radio station on the permalist at left; the old one folded for regulation reasons. This one has rock, hard rock, hip hop and other listening options. Check it out.

The Sugary and the Hard to Take

Something made me watch Simon Birch (1998) recently, although I think it was just insomnia and it was on TV; I wished I had tried another soporific remedy. Yech: sacchrine and preachy, and worst of all, exploitative of Ian Michael Smith for the purposes of making us feel smug for our normalcy via lecturing us about being grateful. Towit: have we seen him in another movie? No. Anyhow, clearly not sucked into this vortex of the Feel Good genre. However, I do recognize the didactic worth of the movie for perhaps the Tween set if one is looking for an illustration of the importance of love, acceptance and true friendship. Hmmm
On the other hand, The Last King of Scotland (Kevin Macdonald, 2006) is good stuff and definitely not for the Tween set.

Well, Bust my Buttons!

Ok, I will toot my own horn: Just got wind that yours truly is on an online exhibition by ECVA called Feasts for the Eyes. You can see my and others' contributions on the theme of church feasts at http://www.ecva.org/exhibition/feasts/Wells1.html (and click on 'next' at the bottom of that and the following pages) and be sure to read the curator Judith McManis' statement via the link on that page.

Gotta love it

COC Marathon

Had my companion and I known that Don Carlos would be a 4 hour 20 minute ride, we would have supped on straight espresso aforehand. However, the COC--thankfully--offered yet another modern production that was worth the eyelid toothpicks the next day. Conductor Paolo Olmi had very large shoes to fill with our absent Richard Bradshaw, but was warmly received. While performances of this Verdi classic are done, there is a whole season of others to look forward to. To see if there are any non-subscription seats still available (!), go to http://coc.ca/performances/0708.html .

Concert Recommendations

Three beauts coming up next weekend:

On Friday Nov 9 and Saturday Nov 10, the Toronto Consort will present "The Queen" with music of the period (the I, not the II monarch) for voice, lutes, bandora, cittern, gambas, violin and keyboard with actor Karen Woolridge. This, at the Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, 427 Bloor St W, for $14-40. 964-6337 or http://www.torontoconsort.org/season/tickets.html for more info.

Then on Sunday Nov 11, Thomas Fitches plays a recital at 4:30pm, 'Heroic Music & Songs of Peace' by Franck, Langlais; freewill offering. This is at St. Clement's Church, Briar Hill and Duplex Aves. 483 6664 ex 26 for more info. You have just enough time to beetle over to hear the Aradia Ensemble performing Handel's Israel in Egypt, with artistic director Kevin Mallon. The concert begins at 7:30pm at Blessed Sacrament Church which is just south of Yonge and Lawrence. Email info@aradia.ca for more details.

Thanks to Paul Jenkins for bringing these events to my attention.

To order the Toronto Consort's cd, pls visit http://www.torontoconsort.org/recordings/recordings.html . There is also a review by Rick Phillips there.

" "

Most people never know the God they reject.

~Fr. David Belyea

Absolutely Scary

I'm really hoping I am misunderstanding this, but I think it is a new trend:
http://www.lifesongs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=77
The world is truly insane.

It's Raining Prodigals!

I recently mentioned Jason Hildebrand's The Prodigal Trilogy film premiere. There is also an exhibit at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York City on until February 7th called 'The Art of Forgiveness: Images of the Prodigal Son'. This show features Rembrandt, Tissot and others' works on this theme. For more info, pls see http://www.mobia.org/ if you are headed to the Big Apple. Or, you can enjoy the theme from home by flipping to Luke 15.

Bold Steps

There are highland dance classes, and then there are FUN highland classes. Meghan Bold is a teacher who not only excels at the traditional steps, she choreographs the old and new and makes the class time whip by. This is my daughter's umpteenth year in highland, and this is the first time she has had fun doing it. Meghan also teaches step dancing, and her infectious laugh makes adult beginners feel comfortable right away. Should you know of someone looking for a no-stress dance teacher who knows how to bring out the best in her students, ck out the Bold Steps Dance Studio website for contact info and further details, http://www.boldstepsdancestudio.com/classes.html

Keyboard Versatility

I blogged about friend John Kameel Farah before (see cd release post, Sept 9th). You can see him Friday at the Music Gallery at 8pm; that's at St George-the-Martyr Church, @ Stephanie & John St. $10/15. Two pianists fusing improvisation and electronica, towit: solo piano, harpsichord, organ, computer, synth. Presented by the Music Gallery and CBC Radio 2, John is joined by Hauschka of Dusseldorf.

That's John's art on his cd cover, btw.

Oh, Who Needs Drugs?!?

Oh, lovely Opera Atelier! I saw Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses last night. It's such luxury. The lilt of the music and the stylized gestures are so seductive. Then there's the top notch Atelier Ballet artists, the likes of Paul Jenkins and Boris Nedicky on harpsichords with the Toronto Consort, the whole shebang. They really do have the perfect venue in the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre. I'm not normally a fan of the soprano voice, but Carla Huhtanen is so lovely; mezzo Stephanie Novacek not only has a gorgeous voice, but is probably the only person who can express sorrow convincingly. [Do I sound like a crazy stalker woman? I just believe in pumping up all good performers, not just those of the opposite sex.] They have a banner year lined up, so get to one of the five remaining performances of Ulysses, and order now for the spring's Idomeneo by Mozart. Here again is their link: http://operaatelier.com/

Soundstreams World Premiere

A really exciting premiere is approaching which I can't wait to see and hear. An Unfinished Life is the new work by Brian Cherney 'based on text by extraordinary Dutch author Etty Hillesum. Hillesum, whose wartime diaries have become a classic of 20th century spirituality, died at Auschwitz in 1943.' With a Young Artist Overture @ 7 pm, the concert takes place on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 @ 8 pm, at Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E. It features the British Hilliard Ensemble, the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir conducted by Ivars Taurins, a chamber orchestra and Marilyn Lightstone as narrator. The program will also include Jewish composers of the Renaissance. $37/$29sr/$10st through the St. Lawrence Centre box office 416 366 7723 or online at http://www.stlc.com/.

Can't Come Up with a Heading Better than the Website:

As a Christian, this site is really the antipathy of my faith, but I confess I laugh my head off at it all the time. Check out Despair.Com and their products, but only if you have a sense of irony: http://despair.com/ I love it coz I am so not into all the pc butterflies and rainbows garbage out there, and this stuff sticks its tongue out at hypocrisy and bs. Here's an example (applicability???):It makes you not take things so darn seriously.

Jazz Vespers

Next Sunday, November 4th at 4:30pm we are back for more Jazz Vespers at Christ Church Deer Park (1570 Yonge St). The Kevin Turcotte Quartet leads worship with a tribute to Clifford Brown. Come chill with us.

Des Stuffs Très Cool

Pour les francophones ou ceux/celles qui aiment le français:

INVITATION CINÉMA—UNIVERSCINÉ
"Salut Cousin ! "
Mardi 30 octobre à 19h30
95, Sheppard Ave. W, North York.
for more info call 416 922 2014 ex 35
Entrée gratuite
Sous-titrage en anglais

Hero of the Week

Architecture Corner

Did you know about this? If you are a movie fan, it will be your mecca. (Unless you are an opera fan, and then you'll have to divide your loyalties between it and The Four Season Centre for the Performing House, called the Opera House by normal people). Check out the future Light Box, to be home for the TIFF and other fine things cinematic: http://www.belllightbox.ca/design/default.aspx

St. Clement's Concert

A reminder about a post from last week: Today, Sunday October 28th, we at St. Clement's host a concert by Elizabeth Fraser, a leading young Canadian flautist from Vancouver. She is a performer with the McGill Symphony Orchestra and the Contemporary Music Ensemble Montreal. The program will include her solos as well as works with harp and organ. Like all concerts in our Sundays At Three Series, it will include refreshments and an opportunity to meet the musician afterwards. Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors, but subscription to the series offers discounts. For more info call 416 483 6664 ex 26 or see our website, http://stclements-church.org/whatsnew.html

Movie Reviews: New Symbols

I am instituting symbols for the hits and misses of movies I see. One each this week!





The Phantom of the Opera. I had sort of put off seeing this because I had done it to death around the time I saw the Toronto stage premiere in 1989--although that was cool; I even had chandelier earrings for the occasion (hey it was the 80s). So here we have Gerard Butler (of 2005 Beowulf and Grendel and 2006 300 fame, both good in their own weird ways) playing the tortured phantom of the opera house--they actually did manage to ugly him down. Then we have this chicky who honestly looks like a muppet half the time playing the apparently oscillating innocent waif/object of lust figure. I could go on about the cheating in set design, the continuity issues, the (in my opinion) not-up-to-scratch singing for pete's sake, the synchronization problems and the absolutely schlocky graveyard scene with anachronistic sculpture, etc etc but I won't.... Leonard Maltin gave it 2 1/2 stars, with good reason. The only fun bit is Minnie Driver playing the impossible Carlotta. Skip the 2004 Joel Schumacher and put on the cd if anything.


Okay, the next one rates popcorn but hold the butter. Conversations with God was extremely hard to watch but that's not the problem. I'll get to that later. This 2005 film by Stephen Simon, filmed in Oregon, was about an average Joe who ends up homeless through a series of circumstances beyond his control: there but by the grace of God go I. Watching the pain of his humiliation was terribly difficult, testimony to Canadian Henry Czerny's acting. One cries along with him and rejoices with his tiny victories and steps forward. Then a bad thing happens: the movie gets happy. More specifically, the main character, who is based on real life author Neale Donald Walsch, is suddenly inspired by God/the Holy Spirit? to write bestselling Answers to Life, becomes a millionaire and then when he has an apparent revelation bordering on paranormal access, I got very uncomfortable. It went from real life to puh-lease! So here's my snack bar recommendation: use the first 2/3 of the movie to spark a youth group service project or bible study conversation, then skip the dumbness at the end. Other than that, it's a great story about tenacity, faith and transformation. Bring kleenex.

Creativity Stuff

Michael Bungay Stanier has yet another interesting issue of Outside the Lines available for your perusal: ck out his discussion about Creativity at http://www.boxofcrayons.biz/outside-the-lines/07-10-25.html. Michael is the creator of the 8 Irresistible Principles of Fun, highlighted on a hyperlink to the right.

Oooooooo, a racy photo!

Thought that would get your attention. If Tapestry is the coolest opera company in TO, then Opera Atelier is the most sumptuous opera experience on offer. If you have never been to an Opera Atelier production, you are missing out big time. This company specializes in Baroque opera theatre, and provides the instrumental accompaniment, costumes and choreography to match it. (Even non-opera-lovers--if there be such a thing--would love it). It is always an exquisite experience for the senses, even without the hot young cast! But seriously, some of the best young operatic talent around, like Stephanie Novacek and Olivier Laquerre, is directed by some of the most intelligent artistic directors around, i.e. Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Zingg, and the outcome is always fab-o. Add Artists of Atelier Ballet, David Fallis conducting Canada’s finest renaissance ensemble on period instruments, the Toronto Consort, and waddya get? Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses, that's what. From their site: 'This deeply moving opera recounts the story of the Greek king Ulysses and his return to his homeland after a twenty year absence fighting in the Trojan War. Ulysses’ reunion with his heroic wife, Penelope and his son, Telemachus makes for some of the most poignant moments in operatic history.' If John Terauds likes OA, you know they've got to be impressive (I always trust his musical judgment).

The Return of Ulysses runs October 27, 30, November 1, 2 and 3 at 7:30pm, and October 28 at 3pm. Find out about regular and special ticket prices via (416) 872-5555, in person at the Elgin Theatre Box Office, 189 Yonge St. (Yonge & Queen), or online at http://operaatelier.com/home_ulysses.htm.

Trust me, this is one art offering you can't go wrong with. Do yourself a favour and go. Next week I will report on my experience. (Gee, do you get the sense it will be a positive review?....)

Sneaking Opera into Kids' Lives

I LOVE my COC, but the coolest opera company going is Tapestry New Opera (they're the cool ones I mentioned in Nuit Blanche). One of their many projects for this year is a collaborative effort with PREVNet and sponsored by TD Canada Trust Music, a touring production in Oct/Nov and April in Toronto schools. Here is info on their fundraiser this Tuesday the 23rd (and please note the opportunity to sponsor a child from the Regent Park School of Music to attend):

Elijah's Kite
Camyar Chai, librettist / James Rolfe, composer
October 23rd Special Performance & Fundraiser
Tapestry's opera for young people about bullying prevention will tour Ontario schools in the fall of 2007 and the spring of 2008. Tapestry's development partner, PREVNet (Promoting Relationships Eliminating Violence Network), is pleased to announce a joint fundraiser in support of the TD Canada Trust Music Elijah's Kite School Tour and of PREVNet's ongoing research. The performance will be followed by a catered reception and will be recorded by the CBC for an upcoming broadcast.
Join us for a special performance of Elijah's Kite featuring children from the Regent Park School of Music on October 23rd at 7pm at the The Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W., Toronto.
TIX: $95 at http://www.prevnet.ca/
A tax receipt will be provided.

Book Madness

A few days remain of the 32nd Annual Trinity College Book Sale, an insane event if ever there was one. It is open today til 8, Monday 10-8 and Tuesday 10-8. All forms of payment are accepted. Risk the bruises and get some serious bargoons! 6 Hoskin Ave, 978 6750 or www.trinity.utoronto.ca/Library_Archives/Friends_of_the_Library/

Sundays at 3

Next Sunday, October 28th, we at St. Clement's will host a concert by Elizabeth Fraser, a leading young Canadian flautist from Vancouver. She is a performer with the McGill Symphony Orchestra and the Contemporary Music Ensemble Montreal. The program will include her solos as well as works with harp and organ. Like all concerts in our Sundays At Three Series, it will include refreshments and an opportunity to ‘meet the musician’ afterwards. Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors, but subscription to the series offers discounts. For more info call 416 483 6664 ex 26 or see our website, http://stclements-church.org/whatsnew.html

Get Animated!

This coming Sunday is World Animation Day, and the NFB hq is highlighting animation shorts, free to the public. You can get more info by clicking here: http://www.nfb.ca/webextension/animation-day/ to see what is going on in the Toronto area this week.

" "

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

~Jan Karon

Hero of the Week

As friends will know, I am not a political person in the least. However, I wanted to have a shout-out for someone who has restored my faith in politicians: Lillyann Goldstein, recent runner in the provincial election. This lady impressed my son when she visited his school (while her opponent was condescending to young people), and she went out of her way for me right in the middle of her campaign. A lady of integrity. Just so you know.

Friends Plug Each Other!

To read the small print, right click on 'open link in new window'. On now!

'Prodigal' Delivers Big Time!

We went to the premiere of Jason Hildebrand's film, The Prodigal Trilogy, this week and were blown away! This is one powerful film! So, so cool. Jason has produced a modern re-telling of the story, which has evolved over eight years of his performing it, and which is sure to become a classic. We wish him the best of luck in marketing this piece. It ended with silence, sniffles and a standing ovation in the theatre. I loved it theologically and artistically, and my filmmaking daughter loved the cinematography. I am working on having it shown at my school, and would strongly recommend it for youth, Bible study and film groups. You can get info about obtaining a dvd at info@jasonhildebrand.com. In case you missed my last plug before the premiere, ck out the trailer here: http://www.jasonhildebrand.com:80/prodigal_trailer.htm Ck out his other doings at his eponymous website.

Hero of the Week

I think I have recommended this website before, but as Nic Askew is back from a move and pseudo-sabbatical/travel, I thought I would give him another shout-out. Nic has a knack (!) for finding what is important in people and putting it on film. Sometimes in unexpected ways. For instance, watch last Monday's film, Beyond the Words. Then sign up for your weekly delivery. It's always food for thought and truly a great way to start your week.
http://www.monday9am.tv/monday9amblog/film_of_the_week/index.html

"Subverting Secular Time"!

The Salt of the Earth Christian Seasons art calendar is just that: it maps out the year based on the church year, starting with Advent. A really cool indicator of your Christian orientation. It's only $11.95, and is the work of the University Hill Congregation (United Church) in Vancouver. Call 604 696 1295 or ck it out at http://www.thechristiancalendar.com/uhill.htm. Be a rebel: use a different calendar than the rest of society!

Jazz Vespers!

Next Sunday, October 21 4:30pm at Christ Church Deer Park (1570 Yonge St). The Brian O'Kane Quartet leads worship with a tribute to Dizzie Gillespie. This early evening office gets increasingly beautiful as the days shorten and one emerges from the church into less and less sunlight. Come park on a pew for an hour or so.

OFF THE MAP

Saw a quiet but big movie this weekend: Off the Map (2005, Campbell Scott director). This quirky film is about loss, grace and resurrection, and manages to address the holy in life without being hokey. Oh, and for once, a homeschooled child was represented realistically--creative, imaginative and poised--rather than as some social freak or oddball which is usually the way in the media (recall Dharma?). It was also about art and its power in the human psyche. Great performances, artistic integrity, Christian worldview themes--what's not to love? Rated PG for some dumb reason (you know the MTV rant). Highly recommended.

" "

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world;
I rest me in the thought--
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
his hand the wonders wrought.


~Maltbie Davenport Babcock 1858-1901

Discussion on Art

Did you tune into Cross Country Check-Up on CBC radio with Rex today? They were asking people what constituted art to them. There were lots of myopic views shared. I thought it was very interesting that one of the most apt comments about modern art was via an email from a 13-year old. There's hope for the future yet.....

Hey, Faith Really Can Move Mountains!

Francis Alÿs, Still from When Faith Moves Mountains, 2002

A Belgian based in Mexico City, Francis Alÿs often creates art on religious themes. In 2002, he filmed 500 volunteers digging in single file to literally move a 1600 ft. sand dune over 4 inches from its original location.

Francis Alÿs: Politics of Rehearsal, is a major exhibit of various media, and will be on view at the Hammer Museum in L.A., September 30, 2007 through February 10, 2008.

I want them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above; then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all his love.

~Matthias Claudius (1740-1815), tr. Jane Montgonery Campbell.

UPDATE ***For the Spirit-Filled Young 'uns

All you crazy kids into breaks, DJs, spoken word, techno etc can head down to The Loft, 619a Queen St W just east of Bathurst Saturday night from 8am til 1am! Bring a cash donation if you can. And the next praise and party will be November 17th, FYI.

Every Churchgoer's Dream...

AGO closes today

If you want to get to the Art Gallery of Ontario, this is your last chance for the next year or so. It is closing to complete their transformation, although some programming will be offered in other venues in the meantime.

And my thanks to Aaron in the education department for comping my class when I took them on Friday. They were totally turned on by their experience!

architectural thrills

An exhibit of architectural posters is at the U of T's Eric Arthur Gallery at 230 College St. until December. Graphic Virtuosity explores the printed poster as a crucial tool in disseminating the image and idea of architecture to a wider audience. For more information and for gallery hours, contact the al&d at enquiry.ald@utoronto.ca.

Nuit Blanche

Our family and friends spread out across the city to check out the various offerings of Nuit Blanche with varying degrees of satisfaction.

My night rocked with Tapestry New Opera's Opera Briefs, the result of Lib Lab (think speed dating for librettists and composers). Regulars Keith Klassen, Carla Huhtanen, Peter McGillvray, Jessica Lloyd and Scott Belluz were outstanding, and the germinal operas literally had me on the edge of my seat.

Also worth a laugh were the slideshow dramas of Sarah Teitel and Shira Leuchter about Macbeth, Sodom and Gomorrah "in the medium of Barbie Doll". Great girls with refreshing output!

Apparently the downtown section had some misfires, Yorkville was hot, and Church and Wellesley successfully represented red light districts of previous eras. As one in our posse said, it was cool, but I 'm glad I didn't pay. Dommage, too, that the trendies crowding the galleries don't support them the other 364 days/nights. Church next morning prevented some of us from staying out all night but next year we'll fortify ourselves with some double red-eye Americano first.

Jazz Vespers

The next Jazz Vespers is Sunday October 7th at 4:30pm. Christ Church Deer Park hosts the Robi Botos Trio (wahoo!), celebrating the music of Thelonius Monk. 1570 Yonge St at Heath, 920 5211; free/offering taken up.

" "

Shame our wanton selfish gladness, rich in goods and poor in soul.

~Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)

Boredom of Heaven

I recently watched--intermittently--Kingdom of Heaven (2005), directed by Ridley Scott of Gladiator fame. This Orlando/Liam fest attempted to reduce all of crusade history into some small window of the Middle Ages, as if it all kinda squished into about 30 years. The moslem stereotypes, while not exactly offensive, were pretty hackneyed, and someone let the costume designer go wild: the crusaders apparently had every kind of anachronistic cross embroidered on everything! Even St. George's cross was on banners. As a liturgical symbolist, I think I know my crosses pretty well, and trust me, this film is a little historically incorrect.... And nary a scallop shell anywhere (the pilgrim's symbol). I guess that's where I started to lose interest. The flying cgi blood also got irritating. I awoke three times to find Orlando was doing something honourable and brave again. Blech! So glad I didn't rent the dvd.

Call for Volunteers

Each year I participate in Design Hope Toronto which raises funds for Dixon Hall's homeless shelter by auctioning art in various media on a certain theme. This event usually takes place in February at Gallery 1313 and is primarily coordinated by Philip Sung Design Associates, a downtown architectural firm. Here is their call for volunteers:

After two very successful years raising money and awareness for the homeless at our annual gala and art auction, we want to spread our message of hope even further.

In order to reach more people across Toronto, we need to fill a variety of vacancies on our organizing committee including, but not limited to, corporate donations, media relations and student contact.

Design Hope Toronto is a volunteer collective that will meet at a central location once a month leading up to our next event in February 2008. We are also looking for people who can donate their time on a short-term basis closer to and at the gala.

If you would like to help, please reply to info@designhopetoronto.ca for more information, or pass this along to someone who might be interested in joining our team.
More information about Design Hope Toronto can be seen at http://www.designhopetoronto.ca/.

At this point they mainly need someone to help with corporate donations, but please feel free to contact them through the email address above.

Thank you for your consideration of support!

DVD Premiere!

Friends at Imago have made me aware of a premiere of a short film by Jason Hildebrand called The Prodigal Trilogy which takes place on Thursday October 11th at the Royal Cinema (608 College St) at 7pm. The preview looks fantastic! For more information on how to rsvp your intention to attend this screening, please email your name, number of guests and full contact info to prodigalfilm@jasonhildebrand.com. You can also inquire about acquiring the dvd for yourself. For more information about Imago, which supports the Christian arts, please visit http://www.imago-arts.on.ca/.

If you don't get teary-eyed over this, there is something wrong with you-

Someone emailed this to me but to acccess it from here, go to http://www.myspace.com/coalitionforanimaljustice; scroll down to the fourth shining star on the left (you'll see what I mean) and there is a story about Ralphie the dog. Even if it is doctored a bit, it is feasible. A caveat, however: there is a lot of graphic stuff (even written) on the site about abused animals, so keep your eyes left if you haven't the stomach for that.

love it!

CRASH

Oh my gosh--this is an amazing film. Every time I reflect on it I get goosebumps. This movie, directed by Paul Haggis (2004), is a wonderful challenge to one's belief system. It is about racism, sexism, social status, deviance, power and authority--pretty much all the juicy sociological topics you can think of--but it examines every side of the coin, if you see what I mean; there isn't just black and white, if you'll pardon the pun, but many shades in between. It is full of irony, redemption, ruined dreams, horrific things and divine intervention. Crash reminded me of Magnolia in many ways, although this movie is completely heartbreaking and very poignant. Makes a great stocking stuffer for the humanists and the bigots on your list. Honestly. It should be discussed widely.

The Blessing of Animals

Next Saturday September 29th at 11am at the Cathedral of St. James there will be an annual service of the blessing of the animals in celebration of St. Franics Day on October 2nd. If you have never taken Rover or Boots to a blessing service, you really must, or at least go on your own and do it by proxy. The atmosphere is amazing; you'd think the animals would be scratching each others' eyes out, but usually there is a strange peace. Kind of like Edward Hicks' The Peaceable Kingdom. For more info call 416 364 7865 or go to the service at Church and King Streets; they tend to bring in animal and human reps from the zoo, Toronto Police Mounted Unit etc.

Hymnology 101

"...for Jesus restores what sin would destroy..."

~Byrn Austin Rees (1911-1983) in
'The Kingdom of God is Justice and Joy'

ROM Walks

One of my new discoveries recently has been the ROMwalks; I knew about them for yonks but finally got off my rear and went on some. The experience level of the docents varied and there were some errata (noticeably re: Latin inscriptions, but you knew I'd pick those out....), but I can't say I wasted my two hours with them. The last two of the season are today at 2pm around the ROM itself, and next Sunday Sept 30th at 2pm around Cabbagetown. I will bring up this outing again when next year's season opens in May. For further info, go to info@rom.on.ca or call 416 586 8097

Little Miss Sunshine

I watched this film at my church's film and theology night, and was sorry I hadn't seen it when it had come out. Frankly, the title had put me off and I foolishly dismissed looking into the film. This is a fascinating movie about family relationships and accepting people for who they are, rather than looking for non-existent perfection. Best of all (for me) this film was rife with Christian symbolism--wahoo! Don't get me wrong, this is no goody-two-shoes flick; there is tons of swearing and discussion about difficult topics-hence the reality ascription. I highly recommend this film for its poignancy and its humour. As our priest said, if you think your family is dysfunctional, this one is bound to make you feel better!

Hero of the Week

From 'Suzanne':

And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.
~Leonard Cohen

Thanks to...

Just wanted to say thanks to the following people for extending friendship this week: Laura, Jim, Anna, Marilyn, Heather, Marguerita, Viviana, Randy, Simon, Christa (and I hope I haven't left anyone out!).

Snort!

Hero of the Week

Alas, another loss to the Christian arts community! One of my favourite authors, Madeleine L'Engle, died this week at 88. She is perhaps best known for her novels inspired by her curiousity about quantum physics, such as A Wrinkle in Time, but she also wrote extensively about faith and the arts. Since she bristled at the label 'children's writer' (which she felt was a slur to like authors, and an insult to children), I will emphasize that although my daughter read several of her books at around age 12, I read some of the same ones, and they had me hooked. She also chronicled family life (The Crosswicks Journals), and wrote many adult-themed novels based on biblical sources; one that I have not cracked open yet is The Genesis Trilogy. Ms. L'Engle was unapologetic about her Episcopalian worldview. She is greatly admired in our household.

Another Plug

This shout-out is for a musician whose out-there-ness I respect very much; my previous contact with him through Wholenote magazine (see permalist, right) left me with the sense that he has not only musical but personal integrity. John Kameel Farah has a new cd out called Creation and you can sample his electronic style here: http://www.johnfarah.com/electronica.html. Make sure you also look at the song 'Healings', videographed by Eamon MacMahon, which is on that page. And if you want to see something really trippy/heavenly, try an example from a previous collaboration: http://www.galaxydynamics.org/. As per the site, "GRAVITAS: Portraits of a Universe in Motion is an ongoing project to visualize and animate the dynamics of galaxies using supercomputer simulations ...[It] is a synthesis of science and the arts. Long animation sequences of interacting galaxies and structure formation are set to the original music of John Farah inspired by these animations, creating a compelling synthesis of sound, motion, vast dimensions and timescales and Newton's universal laws of gravity and motion." It was produced in conjunction with astronomer John Dubinski, and it is truly lovely and original.

BTW, any cd/dvd on this blog are on my Christmas wish list.....

If You're Under 30 and You Know It, Clap Your Hands...

Ok, here's some new music for the non-seniors in the bloggership: actually, MC Maguire can't be pigeonholed. He has done such eclectic work that his appeal may be very wide. 'Course, coming from Eastman (and more), he is bound to be well-rounded. Unfortunately, the mp3 downloads are $1 ea., but that's the fallout we get from the whole piracy/free downloading issue. Roam around his site at http://harostreetmusic.com/index.html.

Join Jan in the Back to School Swoon

Branch Out, Cockburn Fans!

This chappy just finished a 'musicycle' cross-canada tour yesterday, which you can read about under the home section of the site, but ck out Derek Oliver's cd. He sounds very much like Bruce Cockburn; explore some sample songs here: http://derekolive.com/music/ . I like to push Canadian composition, so check out the Sonic Reveries excerpt too.

Signage

Mellower Live Music for the over-30s

Actually, I shouldn't say 'mellow' because every hip adult in Toronto is getting into the music at the semi-monthly Jazz Vespers which returns for a new season this week. Yay! Except I have another commitment elsewhere! Perhaps you can attend for me as they feature the John Johnson Quartet, celebrating Cannonball Adderley. I'll post a reminder of the next one on the 23rd too. So this Sunday September 9th, 4:30pm, go to Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St north of St. Clair (920-5211); admission is free but an offering is taken up for those who can support this ministry.

Turntable Worship for the under-30s

"Reaching out to the party culture of our day", a new ministry under the auspices of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship called Triple 7 Ministries has an online presence as well as regular downtown church meetings at various club-like set-ups. You can ck out their MySpace, Facebook and other web stuff like mp3 mix downloads on their website http://triple7.org/

I Furiosi Return!

Their first concert of the season is 'Crazy': "Mental instability can be a result of many different things – unrequited love, power struggles, being dropped on the head at birth... The ensemble whips off the strait-jackets for this presentation of wackos from the Baroque era." Guest: Stephanie Martin, organ

Saturday, September 15th, 2007, 8:00pm
Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave.Toronto
Price: $20/10 at the door.

Don't miss this; these folks are a riot and their concerts are absolutely fantastic. http://ifuriosi.com/bio.html

Creative Spark products

Two things to bring you from our friends at Creative Spark and Burning Brush:

Virtual pilgrimages you can make at http://www.burningbrush.net/pilgrimage.htm
and
the Burning Brush 2007 Online Gallery Winners in various media, http://www.burningbrush.net/creativespark/2007winners.html

They seem to be attracting the same type of artists as CIVA so it's interesting to see where Christian art is going all over the continent.

Grow Up! Be a Child!

Yesterday's sermon at St. Clement's by the Rev Canon Dr Harry Robinson talked about Jesus' admonition that in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven, one must become like a child (Matt 18:3). This immediately reminded me of an article in Scientific American MIND about cognition and creativity (XVI i, 19). The latter reviewed characteristics typical of people easily led to creativity, one of which was wonderment, "a spirit of discovery, a childlike curiosity about the world". I found it interesting that the goal of creativity and the goal of eternal life both required becoming like a child, laying yourself open to vulnerability, innocence and humility--casting away the strictures and pretences of adulthood. And both ends are not run-of-the-mill. Inheriting the Kingdom and creativity are both for our benefit; not doing those things is our loss. The Rev. Robinson talked about adults as the flesh of Adam being locked into time and space, but a descendant of Adam--via water and the spirit--can grow and bear fruit. At this time of a 'new year', let us all take time to become more like a child; it can only do us good.

Quills and Spills

To see the miraculously retrieved Margaret Atwood review, scroll down the page.

If Your Are Under 40....

Another 'sick' website (parents, that means 'cool', just so you don't freak) came to my attention for the 20-30 set: http://www.bustedhalo.com/

If you liked geezemagazine.com, you should like this atypical product of the Paulist fathers. Check it out.

Offering

©V.Wells, 2007

Museum Prioritizing?

There has been much navel gazing and gnashing of teeth as to why we in Canada do not have a portrait gallery yet, and now we are apparently getting a human rights museum. In the same breath, news wires report that art galleries and museums such as, recently, ones in Saskatchewan and Alberta are finally getting some financial respite to conduct much needed repairs and renewal projects. Am I slow, or does it not make sense to fix what is broke before manufacturing more? Kind of like if Montreal were to build some new state of the art toll bridges right now.... Interesting how the new stuff goes to the tourist magnets like, oh, the capital region, but cultural institutions anywhere outside the money belt shamefully go without funding and usually face funding cutbacks so that their programs suffer from crippling deficits. Argh.

Call for Artists

Another call comes via our friends at CIVA: "CIVA is currently accepting entries for the invitational exhibition Art and Text. This exhibition brings together the works of no more than twelve CIVA members and may include up to five works per artist, depending upon factors such as size and shipping weight. Various media will be considered (drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, mixed media and new media.)" For full details go to www.civa.org

Call for Papers

A call for papers on the topic "Of Sacred Crossroads" has been issued by the Association for Cultural Studies, for the International Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica in July 2008. Abstracts are required and are due by November 30th. For full details go to www.crossroads2008.org

Signs, Signs...

An American in Birthday History

This Thursday, August 23rd is the anniversary of Gene Kelly's birth in 1912. This incomparable dancer and velvet-voiced singer is a dvd fixture in our house. We'll see if the weather calls for rain that day.

For the Young Metalheads

Let us cheer ourselves from the entry below by looking at another place the cello is used: the Finnish heavy metal band, Apocalyptica. My son, ex-metal aficionado, confirms their status as legitimately good.

You can get a good flashcard of them at http://www.apocalyptica.com/stuff/flashcards.php

Not sure they are exactly squeaky clean but they do know how to rock.

Hero of the Week - Reprise

On June 3rd I pointed to Richard Bradshaw as a hero of the Canadian opera scene, and now~alas~he has died. What a loss for the COC and for us, the appreciative audience. I will miss watching him conducting the opera. tibi gratias agimus, Richard.

Call for Artists

The National Exhibit by Art-at-the-Cathedral (Lexington, Kentucky) announces a new call: "Themes for Advent and Christmas". 2D or 3D media are welcome, and are due by October 15th or 17th depending on means of delivery. For more information about submission details, sales, etc. pls visit http://www.ccclex.org/Art-at-the-Cathedral.html. Thanks to ECVA for bringing this to our attention.

By Anonymous

"If you are looking for a friend, don't look for perfection, look for friendship".

For the Youngsters

You kids discovering what good taste your parents had in rock music will be glad to hear that there will be a cd release of Best Ofs by Led Zeppelin in November, along with a dvd of their 1976 concert in NYC, The Song Remains the Same. Whet your appetite with Black Dog here: http://www.ledzeppelin.com/site_flash/fs_audio.html

The Blue Screen of Blog Death

I just wrote a superbly crafted review of The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood and cyberspace sucked it into a black hole. Here's the gist of what it said:
1. Read the book; it's really good.
2. Go see the stage production at the NAC Sept 19-Oct 7; it's supposed to be good.

Stupid computers.

Quills and Ink Spills--Retrieved!

Lots of hoopla lately about the dramatization of Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad. The book (Knopf 2005) was the result of a series of myths reinterpreted by various authors and true to her form, this retelling of Penelope and Odysseus has Atwood's wit and acerbic perception; I laughed all the way through it. A week ago the theatrical producation, with choreography by Victoria Tennant--it's a joint NAC/Royal Shakespeare Company effort--opened over the pond to largely good reviews. If it's anything like the book or the operatic adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale (which was fab), I know it will beat by grade 8 exposure to mythology, which turned me off myths for 30 years. It plays in Ottawa Sept 19- Oct 7.

New Music, Music in the News

I was recently given the new cd by Peirson Ross, a Torontonian singer/songwriter whose album I found quite sweet. Check out some of his songs such as the thoughtful A Boy Caught on Words at http://peirsonross.com/song-boy_words.htm. His lilting style grows on you.

Ever hear a new word and then encounter it 15 times? That's been my experience with the graphic novel thing I discussed earlier. The Globe and Mail ran an article in the books section about them last month, I'm using one to teach in a class this year, and now Neil Young's Greendale cd is headed for graphic expression. I didn't know the music, but found everything I ever wanted to know about Greendale at http://www.neilyoung.com/tracks/tracks_menu.html. Look for the graphic novel next year.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to SSJD

One of my favourite places is the convent of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine in North York, and one of my fave things is the movie The Wizard of Oz. In a perfect world I would be attending an upcoming retreat program they are offering, led by neat people, Srs. Constance Joanna and Elizabeth Ann on November 23-25, called Praying in the Land of Oz. More info about this and other programming offered there can be found at http://ssjd.ca/retreats.html.

How Do You Say 'Bird's Nest' in Chinese Anyways?

I loved this story: the architect of the 91 000 seat stadium in Beijing is threatening to boycott the 2008 Olympics for political reasons (see http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2007/08/11/beijing-artist-stadium.html for the story). Ai Weiwei, son of a political activist prisoner, is standing up to the Chinese government for their wacky human rights stance, something I don't think I would have the courage to do. Not a case of art imitating life, but of art trying to shape life. Kudos to you, Weiwei.

The Sort-of Weekly Diatribe

Okay, can we talk about Harry Potter for a minute? I know, we're all a bit overmuggled at the moment, what with the book and film releases, but I would like to offer two comments.

What the H-E-Double-Hockeysticks is wrong with the world??? Prior to the release of the English-language version of the final book, some patheticos in Britain were setting up a kids help/phone line in anticipation of helping young muggles cope with the potential killing off of the character(s). I just googled 'Crucifixion kids helpline' and 'Charlotte's Web kids helpline' to no avail: I guess we are just so much more enlightened about childhood trauma nowadays. The creators of this phone counselling service must live in an incredible bubble if they think that is a needed service. I'm sure the Kenyan garbage dump children and the Rwandan child soldiers will be really grateful that that service is available to them after they finish the book......

On a slightly saner note, JK and the Powers That Be are not going to sue the teenager who had posted an unofficial prevenient French translation of the book on the web. Gee, how nice of them not to sue a young person for reading and translating; have they never heard of drugs and crime? A kid does something constructive and ambitious, and they have to consider whether or not to waste his parents' and the state's money and time taking him to court. Oy vey.

Creativity Tips on YouTube

I usually eschew self-improvement guruism, but I do like the woman who brought us the anti-self improvement day, Comfort Queen Jennifer Louden. While perhaps not incredibly original, she is a good angelos of reminders, such as this one about facilitating creativity. Check out her 2 minute video here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5S3FWR3lZY ; just take a deep breath and be prepared for major boppiness. You can also sign up for her email newsletter at http://www.comfortqueen.com/ .

Pleasantville is Just That

I recently watched the movie Pleasantville with the ever-appealing Tobey Maguire in the main role of a story in which a teen and his sister are transported back not only in time but into the TV-fictional 1950's town of Pleasantville, where everything is just A+ top drawer swell. The lesson, of course, is that wishing for perfection is the wrong route because it rarely pans out as we imagine. Perhaps a little too predictable and didactic, I felt the film was a good reminder to be grateful for what we have and also to be open to the possibilities of spontaneity. It reminded me of issues raised in the ongoing Star Trek prohibition against changing the Prime Directive and in the Lois Lowry novel The Giver (a five Quills rating on that one) which promotes the idea that trials and tribulations are invaluable to the human experience. Pleasantville has socio-political overtones about the 'non-changeist view' and the rejection of prejudice (the non-conforming Coloureds--literally people in colour vs. the town's black and white people--are to be embraced despite their differentness), and it celebrates individualism, choice and the joy of self-expression, as per the artist character played by Jeff Daniels. As usual, the PG13 rating is a bit moot (you know my MTV rant) and I believe the overall message is never outdated and ideal for youth groups and the like. A nice little fable that won't waste your movie night.

" "

Be ever engaged, so that whenever the devil calls he may find you occupied. ~St. Jerome

On Caravaggio

It has been a week rich in art news! You can read about a controversy in establishing authenticity of a Carvaggio painting (http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2007/07/14/caravaggio-controversy.html) which is fascinating. The knowledge of art experts and the use of high tech in this area never ceases to amaze me. But the report reminded me of two charming things. One is the Golden Legend story about St. Jerome and the Lion which you can read here: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0930.htm. The other is a chasuble designed after Caravaggio by Lewis Hindle of Orillia which I saw about five years ago at a liturgical arts festival, probably the coolest liturgical vestment I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot):

Pre-Raphaelite on the Prairie

The news report this week of a Kate Elizabeth Bunce painting in a Prince Albert cathedral reminded me how much I love Pre-Raphaelite style but often forget to explore it more. A devout Christian, this woman focused much of her work on church commissions and donations. The picture of St. Alban in the prairie church may be part of a triptych of him, Jesus and St. Patrick, but the latter two, if extant, are awol, as are many of Bunce's undocumented pieces. Here is a well-known painting of hers, Melody (Musica).

Quills and Ink Spills

A quill with a question mark this time to The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson (Penguin 2006). I loved this book but the question mark arises because of a wack website I found associated with the book (http://www.scotgeog.com/index.php) which I will leave you to do with what you will. However, the novel was fab. It concerns a burnt out minister with an already dubious vocation who believes that after an accident he has not quite died but between realms he has met the Devil. This satan delivers: quirky and cool but unerringly creepy. Just how I like my religious literature: makes me laugh and think at the same time, and very imaginative. The town, of course, thinks Gideon is barmy~I'll say no more about it. It doesn't all take place in coo-coo land, so don't dismiss it as some weird sci-fi thing; it really is about the role we play in our own lives and how we are interconnected. Definitely one of those wish-it-wouldn't-end books. Having been exposed to a lot of gnostic and non-canonical gospels this year, I appreciated the idea of divinity in narrative and the human experience of spiritual players.