Mind. Blown.

Jackson Pollock 1A

Check out the AGO's Abstract Expressionist exhibit. Seriously. Even if you're not a fan of paint splatter on a canvas there's some really interesting creative philosophies to be explored. 

"Every good painter paints what he is." -Jackson Pollock

Mark Rothko No. 37 / No. 19 (Slate Blue and Brown on Plum

"I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on." - Mark Rothko

Word Mr.Rothko. Word. These artists make me want to create a three hour theatre piece about all my little feelings. Screw form. Screw space. I just wanna wank.

Dear Dora

I had the exciting experience of attending the Dora Awards after party! Woo! (Anyone can go...you just have to buy a ticket...but let's pretend it was super exclusive) It was a great time with boozing, schmoozing and musing. I also went to the press conference a few weeks earlier when the nominees were announced.

Amanda Cordner and I at the Dora afterparty

I am still awstruck by the ordinariness of the shows nominated. Now in all fairness I haven't seen all of them so I may not be the best judge, but plays that generally got panned by myself and my colleagues are getting Dora noms. What is that? When we left theatre school we were told that the future was going to be different. That remounts of the same old same old would not be rewarded and that we needed to be new, original and risk taking in order to create something worth a damn. In the recent weeks I have come to terms with the fact that I will probably never be nominated for a Dora. Maybe because I'm not as hot shit as I think I am, but also because the type of work I want to create is never going to be acknowledged on that stage. But, I think I'm okay with that. Who needs the ceremony? The after party is where its at anyway.

P.S. Mad props to Anusree Roy (who graduated from York) for winning Outstanding New Play for Brothel #9. There's an artist telling new stories, her stories.

If only...

Wine, the future, more wine

Little known fact: The future of Canadian theatre likes to get drunk in Ruby's apartment.

This is Alex. He has a play in the Toronto Fringe Festival this year called Bordeaux (check out the details here) The play features Michael Davidson, Alexis Eastman, Jamie Ebbs and Julia Pileggi (all fellow Yorkies). It opens July 7th at the Factory Studio Theatre. The showtimes are:

Thu, July 7 10:30 PM 1306

Fri, July 8 3:15 PM 1308

Mon, July 11 8:45 PM 1331

Tue, July 12 2:45 PM 1334

Wed, July 13 5:45 PM 1342

Fri, July 15 7:15 PM 1357

Sun, July 17 4:30 PM 1369

Whats it about you ask? Pascal escapes from war and revolution in Paris to the wine growing town of Bordeaux. The arrival of a young man from his past breaks the spell of his quiet existence and he must reconcile the pieces of his new life: the eccentric young woman he has fallen in love with, her deranged sister, the mysterious young man and the life he had abandoned in Paris.

Don't miss it!

Note to Self

Sage Wisdom from Gossip Girl

"People don't write sonnets about being compatible, or novels about shared life goals and stimulating conversation. The great loves are the crazy ones. L'amour fou." 

-Blair

I knew there was a reason I still watch this show.

Squirrel seeks Chipmunk

Some research for Peter and the Wolf.

My favourite stories from this book: 

• The Motherless Bear
• The Faithful Setter
• The Crow and the Lamb
• The Grieving Owl

Paranoia

So a few weeks ago Ruby and I had a post-Playground interview marathon of Criminal Minds. I'd never seen it before and quickly decided that Shemar Moore is the best thing ever (second only to the fact that agent Hotchner is played by the same actor who played Greg on Dharma and Greg.)

Love me some eyebrows

Thomas Gibson aka Agent Hotchner aka GREG

If you're unfamiliar with Criminal Minds it focuses on a team of FBI profilers who work in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Lots of murder, kidnapping, sex crimes and whatnot.

Lately I've taken to watching an episode or two late at night.

Worst. Idea. Ever.

A raccoon knocks over a garbage can at 2am and I am convinced I'm about to be abducted. 

The waiter at a my favourite restaurant asks me if I live in the neighbourhood I'm pretty sure he's going to take my eyeballs and eat them later that night.

Episodes watched: 43

Hours of sleep lost: Countless

William S. Burroughs wrote "Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts."

KM + KV = TruLuv 4Eva

Is it possible to love a dead man a little too much?

I can feel my hipster levels rising...but I love him.

"The arts are not a way of making a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."