creative forces

 Blog # 128...April 2022

Now that Toronto's winter is on its way off to wherever it spends the rest of its time, we’re left with the candy wrappers, masks and dog crap that was hidden by the beautiful white snow…yuck!

But there are some lovely images to distract our attention. In the alleyway behind our house, Max, a golden retriever who lived next door when we moved in over 40 years ago, is immortalized, larger than life, on a garage door. It’s festooned with graffiti and says in tiny letters at the bottom -  "I love dogs."  So do I!

Last year, when we badly needed to smile, a neighbor, Martha Davis, created Panda Land on a nearby school yard lawn. It began on a small scale with one or two pandas sitting quietly and gradually expanded into a glorious celebration of what pandas might enjoy…sitting at the movies, eating in cafes, generally cavorting around in amusing ways.

My cousin Cindy, florist by day with a side hustle creating cakes for special occasions, sends us photos of her inventions. Happy Bassday is one of my favourites - maybe to open the fishing season or to celebrate a sportsperson's birthday.

Hanan Abdu, artist and occupational therapist, makes black muslim women feel important, portraying them as strong and fashionable. Using her personal and professional identities as well as her creative energy, she gives us a view of herself and other women as unique and beautiful,

And finally, the cover of The New Yorker always delivers a message, capturing what’s going on in that city and in the world - sometimes trenchant, sometimes funny and last week, heart wrenching. Artist Ana Juan’s Motherland evokes Madonna and child…with artillery accompaniment.

I’m having to extend my cognitive therapy inspired worrying time to handle all that’s going on! But, we'll be back in May, when the only certainty is that things won't be the same. I spoke too soon about winter being out the door though, and it wasn't an April Fool!