the Q&A at loop

The new solo shows at Loop Gallery are of artists Yael Brotman and Candida Girling. I'm a member of this collective. All the while I've been there I thought Candida was Candice. I think that's because of Candy Silverstein, my first big crush back in grade 5, plus everyone at the Q&A was calling Candida Candy. So I was a little bit right and lot wrong, but now I've got it right. Candida and Yael timed their shows to coincide with Printopolis. Both artists have work employing printmaking.

There were lots of people at the Q&A. It was packed. When I did a Q&A at Loop with Heather Carey back in January, moderated by David Holt, we had one guest. Oh, plus my wife. It was fun. The large audience at this one would have made me nervous. Yael and Candida both did a great job. They were very engaging and warm. William Huffman, the Q&A moderator, is a born ring master. His is timing is deft. Part way through the Q&A he had the throng stroll around the gallery to review work on the walls. He had picked just the right moment to wind things down in a sensitive way.

There was this tinge of academic pall though that did permeate the proceedings, but I guess that's Loop and it's constituency. Maybe the presence of that many degree's in one room at the same time was too much for me. I'm trying to get used to it and I can get a little bored, waiting for the speakers to work their way to what they are trying to get at, but by drawing the whole session I could handle it. I still haven't mastered sitting and listening to cultural art-speak without my hand needing to be busy. I don't think I ever will. And I can see now that if I had drawn my way through boring classes at The Ontario College of Art when I went there back in the early 70's, I might have survived long enough to get my degree too.

around the ashes

Drawing people, trying to make a portrait with good detail and accuracy, while they are moving,

talking, eating, drinking, it's hard and frustrating. On a plane it really sucks, it's so cramped. Everyone is watching you. They are captivated. They all want to look and comment. It's the best.

at Naco

This is a drawing of Julian Calleros, the owner of Naco Gallery Cafe. Met there last week with him, artist Sylvia Temis and musician Dennis Duffin. Sylvia and I are doing a mural there for the Day of the Dead. We all chatted and drank coffee in the sunny front room. Dennis played some guitar, I drew, Sylvia and Julien organized timelines. Opening night is going to be fun with Flamenco music and Mexican traditional songs by Shirley Pincay "La Pili" singing and Dennis on guitar with some musician friends. I think Sylvia is going to get in costume and dance Flameco, which she is mad for. Sylvia was my student at The Art Institute of Toronto a few years ago. What a creative dynamo. She's from Mexico. The cafe is great. Nice location on Dundas West. Julian always has interesting installations and shows up on the walls.