Blog # 59...July 2016

We're all increasingly aware of people being displaced from their homes by war. We've welcomed a great number here and I'm particularly interested in discovering the different ways that we're attempting to make them feel at home. It's challenging to get them housed, fed and working but beyond those instrumental tasks, helping them make cultural adjustments is trickier. We're familiar with our own ways of thinking, believing and doing things, based on our surroundings, background and experience.  And maybe subconsciously we think it's the best way and we should encourage the newcomers to learn and adjust to us, after all they've chosen to join us...haven't they?

Balancing fitting in and getting along, with keeping in touch with their customs and culture is a delicate equipoise, for them to achieve and for us to witness.

 For my money, cooking is one of the greatest art forms and things we have in common.  I love the way a west end restaurant called Depanneur uses noon hour, when it’s usually closed, to welcome immigrant women from the neighbourhood in to cook.  The owner  supplies space, utensils and some ingredients that are available here...many women have brought spices in their luggage (shows how important those familiar tastes are). The lunches have become popular with local residents as well, possibly giving some of the women a direction for future employment, or at least a connection with their environment.

 The Gardiner Museum, although devoted primarily to displaying ceramics, has branched out in its Community Art Space with a recent program.   Muslim women in the South Riverdale Community Centre have been invited there to decorate their distinctive clothing -  head scarves, hijabs or burkas. Sharing their stories while they work helps them transform their individual experiences into forms of artistic expressions. Their pieces were displayed in the public gallery from July 19 to 24 (I missed it) as a means of sparking dialogue and promoting acceptance within the broader community.

The Aga Khan Museum, as well as introducing us to an amazing collection of art works, is a subtle but important exercise in human relations. Their recent installation by Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami (missed this too) Doors Without Keys is a series of still photos showing doors, all closed, many padlocked, chained or bolted. These old. mostly wooden doors are attached to uninhabited homes in his country and others in the region. 
He also composed haikus to accompany the photos:  

“The key falls

 silently

 from her neck in the rice field.

 In the kitchen

 The boiling kettle on the stove.”

Abbas Kiarostami died on July 4th at 76. leaving. us a cinematic treasure chest

Lots of material here to deepen our understanding and get a feeling for the complex and layered lives these people are bringing here to share with us.  We’re still waiting for our family of Iraqis. 

Blog # 58…June 2016

 Art Nouveau (sometimes called art moderne) that lovely curvaceous form that emerged at the end of the 19th century, reflects in many ways  the elements of softening and changing that were beginning to appear in society. It was an early example of globalization too, originating in Brussels and appearing in slightly different forms in France, Germany, Spain, Scotland and Japan. People were as tired of the traditional landscapes and portraits as they were of the ruling monarchies and the rigid layers of class.

                                                                                                                                
New materials and techniques allowed the creation of new forms, allowing artists to capture some of the human agency that had been lost during the industrial revolution.  The ability to bend wood and metal led to beautiful staircases and luminous stained glass windows and their representation on posters (another new form) that still decorate our  bedrooms and offices.          

Full disclosure here, I’ve never had a clear sense of the difference between the arts – nouveau and deco - so this is a personal voyage of discovery for me, maybe for you too.  

Charles Rennie Macintosh desk

There are some similarities in the origins of Art Deco which first attracted notice in 1925 at an exposition of decorative arts in Paris.  The style (as with Art Nouveau) was a reaction to major world events.  The horrors of World War 2 had created a mood of cynicism and a shift in sensibility.  The decorative and romantic images of Art Nouveau were replaced by sleeker, more sophisticated forms, extending from architecture to fashion, art and furniture.

Toronto Stock Exchange

If you live in Toronto, take a look at some of the remaining examples of  Art Deco buildings, and keep your eyes open, maybe there are some near where you live too... or furniture, or dishes.

Still no sign of our Iraqi family…they’re safe and continue to learn English and we’re prepared for their arrival in case it happens quickly. We met recently to re-invigorate our enthusiasm and heard of some good work by a couple of the committee members to ensure housing that will welcome them whenever the machinery turns in their direction.  Stay tuned.

 Blogspot has a mind of its own and sometimes decides to switch the font size mid stream without consulting me.

Blog # 57…May 2016

Accessible physical spaces have been with us for many years and I’ve found an amazing range of art forms developing innovative ways for artists to express themselves in spaces where we all go….important here to recognize the groups who have worked for years with special galleries and theatres, but this leap to the main stage is wonderful progress.

Artists Without Barriers “aim to create fully sustainable and creative environments that are accessible to people with dis/Abilities and that celebrate

and nurture a diversity of abilities and approaches to communication”.  A recent opening at a Queen West bar (fully accessible) featured musicians as well as painting, sounded like a great evening.

Tangledart a gallery at 401 Richmond West in Toronto opened on May 4 and is “boldly redefining how the world experiences art and those who create it…helping  untap potential and transform the expected into the unexpected”.

I recently heard about Scribes for Disabled Artists, a group who act with visual artists to transform their visions and sensibilities onto paper or canvas if they lack the physical capability themselves. Expressing  their creative spirit, they’re seen  as artists rather than disabled people and gain access to a community in mainstream venues.  Once again, art has a subtle but powerful ability to change perceptions.

Last night I was at Ultrasound, a theatre production written and performed by deaf individuals with a theme relating to issues deaf people face. This is a breakthrough event, co -produced by Cahoots Theatre  and Theatre Passe Muraille.  To celebrate their 30^th anniversary, Cahoots is launching the Deaf Artists & Theatres Toolkit to promote the productions of deaf artists for deaf (and hearing) audiences.  Last September, Deaf West Theatre mounted a new version of the Tony winning Spring Awakening on Broadway with deaf and hearing actors ... applause was huge for this new way of listening.

The Deaf Cultural Centre, located in the Distillery District, promotes participation in dance, music (yup, it’s seen as math rather than just sound and transformed into a visual form, I know, that’s a blog in itself) and encourages participation in conventional spaces.

And, Passe Muraille has started an interesting initiative called relaxed performances, attracting an audience of folks who may find their tolerance for sitting or their attention span challenged by regular performances…an opportunity for mothers with babies to get out and enjoy themselves too.

I’m writing a piece “What’s Normal Anyway?” for Moods, a great Canadian publication aimed at people who are interested in mental health.  Strikes me this fits in to the theme of acceptance. 
And speaking of mothers…we all have that in common, think of yours on Sunday…give her a break, it’s a tough job.

Blog # 56…April 2016

I'm early off the mark with this post, wanted to give everyone a heads-up about my favourite holiday... so think up a joke to play on someone tomorrow, nothing mean is the only rule..

I heard the five finalists for the Charles Taylor prize introduce their work recently and decided it was worth another look at our national treasures. The prize, in honour of  the respected Canadian historian and writer (not to be confused with the former leader of Liberia or a flock of other Charles Taylors) was established in 2000 and has been awarded annually since 2004 to a Canadian writer of non- fiction judged to be the best in their field.   Ben McNally hosts the event every year, he and his bookstore are national treasures too.

This year’s bunch made the choice particularly difficult and the five finalists should all be considered winners. According to Taylor’s widow Noreen, who is the force behind the prize, the field has shifted greatly since the award’s inception…when most of the entries were books of history by university professors. Gradually non-fiction has become less academic, more popular and accessible to the general public. Winners over the years have included Wayne Johnston (the first) Carol Shields, and Richard Gwynn.

This year’s finalists (from a list of over 100 submissions) were:

Ian Brown confronted his 60^th birthday with the decision to document what the year brought.  Sixty is a candid and touching look at ageing - semi gracefully (as he puts it). As a person confronting a large birthday this year, I appreciate the prevailing stereotypes of old people being shifted to a broader sense of what we’re really like.
Roger Angell, who writes about baseball, and other things, has also done a good job of it in This Old Man. He’s neither Canadian, nor a contestant for the Taylor prize, just saying.

Camilla Gibb’s world was turned upside down when the partner with whom she was looking forward to the birth of their first child suddenly decided to leave. In This is Happy, Camilla searches for stability with a constructed support network.  In our age of unconventional families, happiness is defined as having loving people around, not always relatives, not always having a smooth time either, but surviving day to day with grace (sometimes) and humour.

David Halton is the son of Mathew, a well known war correspondent during WW2.  In Dispatches from the Front,   David, also a journalist, presents us with a warts and all portrait of his father who met and interviewed most of the key political figures of the era - Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and FDR. His love and respect for his dad and the work he did is a tribute both to his father and to David’s ability to write as a balanced journalist.

Wab Kinew reconciled with his father a year before his death. A survivor of the residential school system, his father had brought the lessons learned there into his own family - a lack of love and nurturing that is passed on through generations, The Reason We Walk is Wab’s account of caring for his father, coming to an understanding of how he’d become the man he was as well as realizing how his own parenting has been influenced by his childhood experiences.

Rosemary Sullivan has given us a glimpse into the lives of Canadian literary figures Gwendolyn MacEwan, Elizabeth Smart and Margaret Atwood.  Her latest biography Stalin’s Daughter takes her, and us, into a totally different realm. Svetlana Alliluyeva, born in 1926, was Joseph Stalin’s youngest child and only daughter. To know the fascinating story of her early life in Russia and India, her defection to the US and renunciation of her father’s regime and her flirtations with a range of religions, you’ll need to read the book. Although as I said at the beginning, all five writers are winners, Rosemary was awarded the RBC Taylor prize on March 7^th.  

Still waiting for the refugee family...and I hope some of the frustration people feel about delays in welcoming Syrian families can be directed towards the people of Pikangjikum and other northern settlements who live in brutal situations too.

Blog # 55… March 2016

“Art is not a luxury, it is a necessity”…both words to live by and the title of a book by artist and art therapist Diorbhail (Gaelic for Dorothy) Cameron.

I have a great respect for art therapy, although, when I was working in psychiatry I preferred to involve artists in a different way - giving people a chance to explore, experiment and have a rest from therapy.  But, about five years ago I met Diorbhail, who lives and practices art therapy in New York City and discovered a kindred spirit.

                                                                                                                                                                     

An Geurran,
Path leading to where her family members are buried

As an artist herself, as well as a person who has experience with mental illness, Diorbhail has spent most of her life painting and contributing to the lives of marginalized people in NYC. A strong influence on both aspects of her work is her Gaelic heritage...her sensibility formed by the mystical landscape of the Western Highlands of Scotland where she grew up. She sees a strong resemblance between the revival of interest in the cultures of North American Natives and the Gaels…both cultures live outside the mainstream and offer expanded perspectives on the land, art and spirit. My Campbellness resonates with that too.

Seannir's Passing
Song of the passing soul
(Grandfather's death)

Encouraged to paint while going through her own therapy, Diorbhail started to take courses in psychology and began involving herself in social issues. She began with domestic violence, establishing Abused Women ‘s Aid in Crisis and encouraging city officials to establish protected housing. She went into one of the first shelters intending to use art to work with children and found that the mothers wanted to join too… and the staff. This beginning led to innovative programmes in senior centres. work in homeless shelters and the establishment of Broadway Community Inc. a drug and alcohol rehabilitation agency serving a downtown area for twenty years.

 “I have never heard of  retired artists” she said in a recent interview  and Diorbhail continues to take an active interest in using art to help people find better ways of dealing with life…something dear to my heart too.

Now that the magic number of Syrian refugees has been reached, our Iraqi family may get their chance to come and join us….hope so.

Blog # 54…February 2016

We’re so lucky in Canada to have a number of national treasures…natural resources that aren’t found in the ground, growing in the forests or under the sea. Everything from pop stars to comics, novelists and actors - we see their names in the news, smile to ourselves and whisper to the person next to us “they’re Canadian you know”. When George Elliott Clarke was recently named Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate, it seemed a good time to celebrate some of my favourite treasures, he's first up... 

 I was introduced to  George's folk opera Beatrice Chancy in Dartmouth in the 90’s and have followed the journey from his native Nova Scotia to Toronto, where he just completed a 3 year term as our poet laureate….”imagining words of beauty and  emotion to mirror and echo the cultural mosaic that is Toronto”.  His Influences range from Miles Davis to Ezra Pound, with Irving Layton, Malcolm X and Pierre Elliot Trudeau thrown in for good measure.  Moving to the national level will give him a chance to bring his fresh voice to our government and our identity…I can hardly wait.

Sophie Milman was a nineteen year old business student at University of Toronto when she began to have success as a jazz vocalist and decided to switch careers. Born in Russia and raised in Israel, she makes use of her rich exposure to the languages and cultures of many countries to bring depth and variety to her performances.  The intangible cultural property that is her voice can be sampled online in her 2007 Make Someone Happy or 2009 Take life Easy. (couldn't resist that delicious phrase).

The Gardiner Museum of Ceramics took off in an intriguing direction when it invited Kent Monkman to mount an exhibition. He was prompted by the bone china in the collection to centre his undertaking on the source of the bones…the buffaloes that had roamed the plains of his native Manitoba. Themes in his art often explore the way indigenous history has been presented (or misrepresented) by19^th and 20^th century artists.. The Rise and Fall of Civilization that appeared at the Gardiner late last year gave us a whole new look at the connection between the harvesting of buffalo to make fine china and the dwindling resources available to native people.  

Too late to see that show, but watch for his work elsewhere.

No news of the family we’re supporting but they appear to be safe and are taking advantage of the waiting time to learn English - we correspond with them regularly through our Arabic speaking member. In the meantime we are benefitting from the experiences of the groups who have welcomed their families already, honing our sensitivities to their situations and learning how to be supportive in ways that are helpful and not smothering.  More to come.

Blog# 53…January 2016

One Christmas is so much like the others that I can never remember whether the year the cat knocked over the tree in the middle of the night was before or after the year the raccoon licked the whipped cream off the trifle, outside the back door because the frig was full.   The warmth of people we love, the melancholy of missing the ones, alas no longer with us, everything glittery and buttery and excessive, Scrooge and Bing Crosby, it all gives us a sense of permanence.

Now it’s over and we’re back to old clothes and porridge (as my Scottish great grandmother apparently used to say).   I’m always tempted to go small - eat and drink less and appreciate some subtle and simple things around me so here goes…

We always make devilled eggs for Christmas Eve in memory of our dear friend Natalie who used to arrive with a platter of them in tow - no matter how many she brought, they all disappeared in a wink. This year we opened one of our boiled egg to find twins…seemed they were probably a lucky omen of some sort, maybe from Natalie.   Before anyone else had a chance, with a smirk, Julia and I  et them.  That’s not a typo btw, I listened many times to A Child’s Christmas in Wales and Dylan Thomas’s language has crept into mine.

Having a good book to read over the holidays is always important to me, and this year it’s A Strangeness in my Mind by Orhan Pamuk. Set in modern Turkey, it follows a young boy from the hills of Anatolia into the bustle of Istanbul. Pamuk’s style is precise and descriptive (I sometimes feel as if I’m watching paint dry) but right now I find the detail somehow comforting and relaxing.

Other small things further from home…customers at a coffee shop in Austin Texas have their mornings brightened by the designs created in the frothy milk by  barista John Ingham. He has a large repertoire and often performs to order.

                                                

Lauren Rapp, in Washington DC makes tiny chairs out of found objects (like ice cream sandwiches!).  She's part of a 365 project where people make or do something different each day of the year.

A love of vintage furniture led her to make her first chair and she's never looked back.

I’ve consciously kept my blog from descending into personal trivia - you’re not interested in the latest concoction I’ve made from leftover turkey - but I’ve indulged myself a bit in this one, feeling the need to lighten the mood as we enter the new year.  There’s lots to be serious about and I’ll be going there d’rectly (as they say in Cornwall).

No sign of our Iraqi family yet.  We’re very lucky to have an Arab speaker in our group so we're getting to know each other through telephone conversations, reassuring them that we're here to support them when they arrive.  As for the family, they’re preparing by learning English and being alert for the government interviews that will precede their approval to come to Canada. Stay tuned.