Year View Mirror: The Arts

One of my 2013 objectives is to make and acquire more art. 2012 was more about not getting more stuff. But we still had some great experiences:

1. While technically a concert, The Flaming Lips show at Dundas Square transcended a mere rock show. It was a spectacle, for sure, but when Wayne Coyne and company covered Radiohead’s “Knives Out” in a tribute to the Radiohead crew member who was killed in an accident earlier that day… well it was just such a raw and honest moment that it still sends shivers up my spine.

2. I found this tiny sculpture at a yard sale. It makes me happy.

3. We renamed Nuit Blanche, Nu Eat Blanche this year. While we saw some cool things (like the show at the AGO where we got free “I’d Rather Be Working” prints), the best thing was hanging out with our friends Craig and Elizabeth (and watching Mollie eat Balut) and just experiencing the transformative energy that art had on the crowds. Mr. Andrew even participated in Evan Tapper’s Performance Night Interdisciplinary School: Master Class show.

4. Sometimes a series of random events all pull together to create one giant amazing thing. For example, when I went to Philadelphia, I hung out with a new friend, Stephanie, and her boyfriend Christopher. It turns out that Christopher used to work on a show called “Spitting Image” so I mentioned my stint working for Radical Sheep, who were made up with some former Henson puppeteers. This lead to a discussion of how Christopher was trying to bring Mimi Pond — my cartoonist crush from the 1980s and beyond — to Philadelphia. And by the way, her husband Wayne White created the puppets on Pee Wee’s Playhouse.

All name dropping aside, this lead to two great things. I told Stephanie that Mimi Pond was my favourite cartoonist. She said “Oh you should friend her on Facebook and tell her that.” I did and now Mimi is my FB pal. She has even commented on things I’ve posted. It may not sound like a big thing, but it makes me swoon. Secondly, as timing would have it, Wayne White came to town with his documentary “Beauty is Embarrassing.” I loved this movie so much, it really inspired me to make and do more art. Everybody should go and see it right now!