An Odyssey in Algonquin

I have just returned from six weeks of experiencing unadulturated autumn up in Algongquin Park.  My job was PAing on a children's TV show, but I got so much more out of it - being outside, drinking water from Canoe Lake, and the exercise of climbing hills and roots for hours at a time.

Here are some of my favourite places from near my cabin.

My cabin.

A store on the side of the highway.  You know, ever since I saw a store for rent in Eagle's Nest, New Mexico, I've had passing urges to move out of the city and open some highway-side shop of my own.  Of course, it might end as badly as this one.

Guy Laliberté's Distillery District Show

I liked the plexiglass and metal display devices all around one of the alleys of the Distillery.  Too bad I couldn't get into the VIP party to see the photos framed in the Thompson Landry Gallery.

Prometheus? You Fail.

I had the opportunity to see Prometheus on Canada Day.  I took it, not knowing what I was in for.  At first, it struck me as a clever way of avoiding having to stuff myself onto an eastbound streetcar Ashbury's Bay-bound (now that Ontario Place's demise has ended the west end's pretty lights).  

Though lacking in patriotic spirit, the film enabled me to contemplate my general humanity.  Yay?  That is the only really good thing I can say about this shaky attempt of Ridley Scott's at sci-fi immortality.  Summer blockbuster?  Maybe.  But only thanks to its aggressive marketing campaign and being a strong temptation for fans of the Alien series.  It can't have acquired more ticket sales based on word of mouth, that's for sure!

Surprisingly, the best part of had to be the robot Fassbender.  He is the only character that held my attention from start to finish, and though a robot, through some arguably misplaced sensibility on the part of the writers, Fassbender's character had the strongest arc of the ensemble cast.  I'll skip the gritty details because this is not a film blog, but watch the movie on video and see if you agree.  Anyway, only one short week into its run and the film is already falling into the abyss of who-the-fuck-cares, so I will stop talking about it.

Soul Train

Canada Day

Pride Day

I just found this video, it is very watchable:

I think it captures the dual essence of the day.  Though for me, it's still quiet as ever.  Taking a break at the frame shop, listening to People Under the Stairs and Emilie Simon and eating physalis berries and chevre on baguette.  Life could be worse.  I think physalis are so, so beautiful.  I've decided to start a series of them in painting and see where it goes, I miss painting.  

The toffee marigold yellow of the physalis fruit is not unlike the popular hues of the 70s, like the awesome fashions of the Soul Train dancers.

Commute Home dining set

I adore this set of dining chairs from Commute Home.  What an awesome idea.  While being kitschy, they still maintain the picture of elegance with smooth lines and restrained graphics.

Set of 6 chairs with an image of antique knife and fork by Commute Home, on custom printed fabric. 

$695.00 each

The dining chair upholstery reminds me of this melted celluloid footage which has one of my favourite tracks by the 13th Floor Elevators laid overtop.

The Job Hunt

I'm on the job-hunt.  Have not felt much like posting about creativity, art, or design.  Job hunts make you feel so dried out.  I think I know just about every action verb there is!

On the plus side, I'm working toward my French fluency this summer, and I'm getting close.  It's pretty amazing to be able to read a full article from Châtelaine and not have to look up any words.

I made a lamp in the shape of a goldfish..

Karis Malszecki, “Goldfish Lamp”
2nd Place Winner DEC 404.03

The Goldfish Lamp lights up any space. The design is inspired by traditional Japanese fish ponds and folk art as well as the famous book, The Rainbow Fish by Markus Pfister. The goldfish is made out of felt dyed with food dye, and is cut to size using a cardboard template. Gauzy fabric made of polyester/cotton blends are used to enhance the light filtering through the scale cut-outs and the eyes, these fabrics are white and shimmery, producing a silvery water effect. 100% Wool Felt is an excellent material to use for lighting due to its flame retardant properties, and the varying layers of transparency give the lamp an extra dimension when lit. The choice of orange felt casts a warm light, creating a pleasant ambience. 


Materials Used:
Remnant Felt
Polyester/Cotton Blend Gauze
Food Dye
Wood
Wood and Fabric Glue
Halogen 25W Bulb


The Felt Store blog post

My Café

I have been busily manufacturing images of the imaginary Brillat Café for my 'thesis' project for Interior Decorating - named after Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.  Can you tell that I'm a turophile?

I must admit my style is solidly cartoon-ish and I somewhat resent it, but overall, it's a charming cafe that I would eat at.  I should know how to design a cafe by now!  I've worked in enough of them!!

Painting Ceramic with a New Mexico theme (White Sands Nat Pk)

I'll add the whole collection once I've thrown them in the oven tomorrow, but I was painting some Value Village/IKEA merchandise with Porcelaine 150 for a Humber project, and it's working out nicely.  I think this is something I would do for myself outside of school.

Some examples of the watercolour rendering that I've been doing lately. Just learned how! Not bad, huh?

The Science Centre?

I visited the Ontario Science Centre of all places recently.  I had the urge to go.  Don't you think every Torontonian gets the urge to go back to the Science Centre every once in a while?  I know I do anyway.

The first attempt was a failure because that place keeps terrible hours for working people and students (middle of the day stuff that only children and their guardians can manage).  The second was semi-successful, but I need more time.  It takes a lot more than the two hours I gave myself to look around the place.

I visited the Da Vinci exhibit, which was extremely interesting because it was all about design and development of ideas.  It's perfect for me because that's pretty much what I do all day, so I got to check out how a master does it (no photos allowed).

the oh-so-familiar logo

try as I might, I could not get a good shot of this ceiling installation sculptural piece

mechanics!

cardboard chair

my science exploration partner

the rainbow light corridor

wearing a futuristic white unitard, but in a da vinci-esque setting... hmm

what may have happened to the dinos

I could have spent all day in this interactive zone

trying my hand at cobbling (with cardboard)

Invisible Man: Liu Bolin

This guy is very good at camouflage.  Artful camouflage.

Meet the real invisible man.