Unpack Studio

I haven't posted in a while because these have been exciting times and very busy times. Unpack Studio will officially open in early 2013.

 Before

After

a phrase

I came across this phrase in Gabriel Ramos's statement about his work in Arc Magazine September 2012

the ephemeral quality of a home

A new mural

Last Saturday, I went to the opening of this mural produced by Grace Channer, Sandra Brewster and Jay Stewart in collaboration with Sketch and DeSantos Martial Arts.

BUT MEANWHILE

All through the speeches and martial arts demo, this kid was absorbed in his books.

Kings and Queens

A haiku for Toronto created from TTC subway station names. Done in collaboration with Calwyn Shurgold.

By placing a constraint of time and limiting ourselves to the language of subway tiles, we allowed ourselves to step outside of our individual practices to see what we would produce as a team.

http://vimeo.com/50343011

Atmosphere from the Archives

Looking through my external hard-drive, I came across these photos.

from high to low? or low to high?

This past Saturday in the afternoon, I went on the Gallery Hop in the afternoon. In the evening, we were having a beer and a stranger gave us free tickets to UFC at the ACC saying that he was unable to go so decided to give them away.

Compared to the 30 or so people at the Gallery Hop, there were certainly a lot of people... 

Flags

These flags were being pushed around Toronto. Picturesque but also a reminder that most people don't have to hawk flags on the street.

Flying in the City

Installation of Snowflakes, in my mother's garden

A short video of the installation of paper snowflakes on the frangipani tree in my mother's garden after my video performance Snowflakes, in my Mother's garden for the series Going Home (neither here nor there) 2012.

http://vimeo.com/47964317

El Capitolio

The Capital Building in Havana

The onset of a tropical night

David Alvarez y Juego de Manos

David Alvarez y Juego de Manos played in Toronto last week. 

Nuit Blanche Toronto 2011

I came across these on my external hard-drive. Two videos from my wanders during Nuit Blanche last year.

Springtime in the city.

There was a beer commercial here quite a few years ago that said "in Toronto, there are two seasons: winter and patio". It is very true that as soon as spring arrives, people hit the streets. These two guys were playing on Queen St West.

Abakuá at Callejon Hamel

If you are in Havana, then go to Callejon Hamel on Sunday at noon. Abakuá is an Afro-Cuban secret society. These men is representing the dance of the Ireme at an Abakua ceremony.

(p.s. the video flips to landscape after a moment, you don't have to tilt your head left for very long)

Sometimes it snows in April

It happens almost every year. The trees are growing their leaves, the flowers are out, everyone thinks that spring is here to stay and then we have a cold snap just to remind us all that this is still Canada.

A beautiful song

Without Blame
Marianne Faithfull and Ismael Lo

Daffodils

After a grey winter, it is hard to resist the bright colours of the spring flowers. 

Jam session after Habana Sax's concert at Holders

After playing at Holder's Gala Night 2012 in Barbados, Javier Esteban of Habana Sax continued the party with an amazing impromptu jam session. 

6 pm

Lila Downs

Lila Downs had a concert a couple weeks

ago at the The Royal Conservatory here in

Toronto. She and her musicians gave an

amazing performance - the acoustics were

fantastic in the hall. My video clips do not

do her justice but they give an idea. I had

seen her before at Harbourfront Centre a

few years ago and her performance was

just as good.

I walked through Brookfield Place a couple weeks ago and found an installation of Migrating Landscapes.

On a personal note, I loved the smell of the fresh-cut wood. When I was a child, my father worked in a furniture factory which had sawdust everywhere.

   Today there were grey skies above Toronto.

Cuban Rumba

Sunday at noon, Callejon Hamel, Havana

this guy was a great dancer!