Jim Chambers asks why we should care about artists
May 21st, 2009Just in case anybody missed Jim Chambers’ excellent article in the Spectator entitled “Who Are Artists and Why Should We Care?”, here is the link: http://www.thespec.com/article/563049
Here’s a quote:
That’s really the point, isn’t it? Artists are only one group within a larger sector of self-motivated, entrepreneurial people who do things because they’re worth doing. Together, we could transform this city. We don’t need a whole lot of help, just not so many barriers. We have a city management this is primarily in the business of collecting fees. The fees are onerous. The paperwork is excessive. The pace of administration is glacial. These are strong disincentives. If people want something to happen, they make it easy.
Undercover By-law Enforcement Officers attend Artword Theatre
May 11th, 2009On April 15, two members of the audience for the first preview of Tobacco Troubadour turned out to be undercover by-law enforcement officers, out to bust Gary Santucci and Barbara Milne for running a theatre and an art gallery!This nefarious enterprise, by the way, is located in a neighbourhood notorious throughout Hamilton for crack houses and prostitution.Well, I guess you have to start somewhere!
I must say that I feel rather sick to my stomach, thinking of how Judith welcomed them to our play, performed by local actors, based on songs written and played by Hamilton musicians, telling the story of farmers in Ontario’s tobacco belt.
For some information on what The Pearl is doing for Hamilton, check out the video Hamilton Arts and Heritage, made for the Hamilton Economic Summit held last week. More »
Bad Girls Kicking Ass
May 10th, 2009
As we waited in the lineup for tickets to the Hammer City Roller Girls Mother’s Day Massacre yesterday (May 9), we were approached by a Cable 14 videographer. “What are you expecting to see?”, he asked me. “I have no idea”, I said, this being my first time. I blathered on for a while, trying to sound intelligent about something I knew nothing about. Afterwards, Judith said “He should have asked me. I would have said ‘bad girls kicking ass’.” He should have asked her.
James North Art Crawl April 29
May 9th, 2009
Summer in the city, and James Street North is the place to be. Loose Canon was showing surprisingly sophisticated work by high school students from Highland and Westdale Collegiate art programs. Hats off to their instructors, who must be doing something right. The technical skill was impressive and the ideas were clever, but unselfconcious.
Three new places opening up. A new studio/gallery called Socalled, with the owner exhibiting paintings and playing the flute.
A custom tailoring establishment, celebrating with a huge cake.
And our favorite printing house, just relocating that very night from darkest Westdale to the bright lights of James Street North: Copydog! www.copydog.ca.
Ron & Judith's reviews and views.