PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS...

People -- who's CANEMAN, you may ask?  I recently had Gerry Teahan, while at the Union coffee shop/store present me with this year's short story of the Caneman.  What a delight!  I did not realize this is a short story series of which Gerry is the author, comes out on occasion that not only celebrates being an Elder also celebrates charming writing.  Gerry is a musician who lives in our "hood" and I've often talked to about things and life and now I know is a hidden gem who lives near me.  These discoveries are beyond wonderful -- thank you Gerry and now I understand "miscreant" as a noun and an adjective!

The other photo below is of another Jerry.  Jerry Whitehead is another amazing person who has crossed my path over the years.  I first met Jerry while giving some of my time to the Russian Hall wall mural project lead by Richard Tetrault.  Over the years I have grown to become a friend of Jerry's through art projects.  In the photo of Jerry and the print block below, created by him and his son Jerome, it is an honour to know this piece will become a door in the Big House.  I love the generational connection and that there is a true respect for generational understanding in this work.  Feeling blessed to know both Jerry and Jerome.

 union and not union...

Places... during the CRAWL (Nov. 16-19th) I went to a good deal of artist's studios.  Those places range from okay to amazing and it's interesting to know that what you notice one year when visiting the next blow your mind.  Here we have some photos of the Big House and the reality of angles and what takes place to build a home and also the amazing lighting re-discovered at Sasamat Creative at the Mergatroid building.  I love that Sasamat has taken colour to some of their lighting this year  and looking forward to considering this beautiful work for the Big House.

Things...while visiting the Project as often as possible, the goal to be daily, there are always small discoveries in the things found on these visits.  Here I happened to catch a few gems that the guys on site just do.  It's part of their job and most likely just a part of their everyday.  These photos are a tribute to the everyday of those dudes that show up and do their job with honour, respect and integrity to their profession!  

COMMUNITY -- yes it's 3rd week of November again!

And that means the ECCS (Eastside Culture Crawl Society) holds it's annual visual art festival the CRAWL!! It's my pleasure to share some of the best and "hood" gems.

Above: Esther Rausenberg, long time resident of Strathcona and Executive Director of ECCS at work and scores a stool!  note: if you picked up one of those programs take the time post-crawl to have a tea or coffee and dig in digesting it from cover to cover (it reads like a magazine even if it is called a program).  Louise Francis-Smith is also in one of those photos above, with Connie Sabo who made the cover of the Georgia straight, who is a brilliant photographer and long-time resident of Strathcona as well. 

2nd Row: Sharing the art work of Esther Rausenberg, Richard Tetrault (who's studio space/gallery is on Georgia st)  and my other soon to be neighbour Ewan McNiel (these neighbours live across the alley from 851 union!!).  I can feel their creative juices flowing into the project already!!  

3rd Row:  Just down the street from 851 Union there's the Union Market, LOOOOONNNGG time supporter of the ECCS.  Oh and look there's that other soon to be neighbour, Pillow fight, Erica under the tent of Pantages house. 

Of course, we need to have a thank you party for wonderful people who help make ECCS thrive and succeed.  Sure, "no problem I'll host",  I say -- hahaha that was before my 3 days of being a culture vulture, but somehow when it comes to a party I can be rejuvenated. 

Above:  Zach, the astute dog who sees food in my hand and decides he's my best friend.  George Rammell with his piece that will be going into MOA down the road and what I thought to be crows, but are really  Ravens by Dieter Schlatter!

Finally below images included of what will be coming to the Project 851!!  -- the lights I fell in love with and the big print block (this one done by Jerry Whitehead and his son Jerome) that will be made into doors:  I have 2 more -- by artists Susan Point and Connie Sabo!

PROGRESS...

One step forward, two steps back, slide to the right and shimmy on the left...this is the dance of PROGRESS.  It's a dance that requires patience and perseverance, an ability to keep all appendages moving at the same time on occasion is most helpful, and it's the key to style -- hopefully resulting in a smooth tango and not special Seinfeld episode of Elaine's dance.

I've decided to include a little project visual--  steps to the project 851 dance.

Big House one step forward:

Octopus one step forward:

Two steps back =  (flash back to 1952)

Yup, channelling Gene Kelly can get you through refining those dance steps when working on a building project, especially all the multi-thinking;  is that's a word?    What I mean is that while work takes place on the ground (inside, outside, BH, Octopus...) other decisions come flying at ya. Not only do you have to decide but the timeline can be very short on when you need to make the call.   So, when it gets really crazy who better than Gene Kelly to turn to about dance steps and style.  The layers of decisions that need to be made result in the final dance style. Perhaps a dance mix of fixtures a go go, waltz of the trusses, millwork shake down, and infrastructure systems do-si-doe.

Smooth Tango or Elaine dance moves?  It all comes together through the choices and decisions: what to pick, what to pick? and how does one effect the other? oh and if you pick that then it effects that (ie. one sink = millwork and another doesn't...) should I change dance partners?...

My head is spinning.....

ART -- it's coming...

It's that time of year -- The Eastside Culture Crawl Society (ECCS) it ramping it up!

Twenty one years, this year, the hood has celebrated art through the ECCS  and Nov 4th the celebrations started with the launch of Take Flight; a fundraiser and preview exhibit at the Arts Factory.  What a great time!! 

This was the first year of TAKE FLIGHT, which is kind of the equivalent to an opening night.  The programming of the ECCS has expanded under the direction of an amazing Executive Director, Esther Rausenberg, who just happens to be a local to our community for over 35 years.  Esther has taken exhibition programming to a place of 4 venues this year through an exhibition called LIT. 

Mark your calendar for Nov 8th 6-8 pm to view more art of the exhibit and the CRAWL event takes place Nov 16- 19th.  To prep for the CRAWL you can go online to view, plan, strategically experience art at it's best; the studio's where it's created.  Going online is a quick way to view everything, however, I really process the information when I have one of those great programs in hand.  There's nothing like the tactile feel of flipping through pages and making notes as I go along.  The graphic design just seems to get better every year.

Oh but wait, there's more! -- Film night on November 24th.   Once you've processed all the creative juice that will flow through your veins post-crawling,  you can catch the closing program (page 7 of the program).  Last year Geoffrey Farmer spoke to his work on Film Night and this year  Carole Itter and David Rimmer will be featured. .  Itter will speak to her work and 4 of her films will be shown, also experimental film maker Rimmer's piece, "Where Streets Are Paved with Gold" will be shown.   Popcorn and libations available!

Take flight crows, little birds and culture vultures.