"Razor-sharp critique packaged as cute-kid-and-funny-animal cartoon."
-Booklist
Pretty much sums it up perfectly. "it" being a graphic novel by Derrick Jensen, illustrated by Stephanie McMillan, provocatively titled AS THE WORLD BURNS: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial.
the cover jumped out at me at the makeshift bookstore of San. Fran.'s Global Summit. PFD agreed to get it [in the name of expanding SDH's library]. 200 pages later we agreed: stellar impulse buy! A powerful mixture of blunt honesty and quirky, optimistic characters this book leaves you feeling purposeful (with s sense of urgency, no sitting on your butt after this book!) I would recommend this book to an adolescent, an adult and a senior, truly a very current, must-read graphic novel.
Artist Gregory Sale explores the justice system in the United States (specifically in Arizona) at Arizona State University Art Gallery. Four YUM members were met with enthusiasm and warmth by the curator for this very interesting project, and the artist himself. Check out this link for more information about this exhibition and residency.
I've decided to review a film I haven't even seen yet. Funny, but true. All I know is that I LOVE Feist and I love what she does with her music and the way she pulls other talented people into her fold. This film is very much about taking one person (the star) out of the limelight and placing her within the crrooowwwddd of talented individuals that let this one star shine. You are brought on a multi-sensory journey through light and sound. What could be more beautiful? What could be more inspiring? I hope you check out this film! I know this one will soon end up on my book shelf for multiple viewings. Can't wait to see it!
It's not a question. Questions imply a right and wrong answer. Its not a question, its a fact. Facts have origins. Your origin, your reason, can't be wrong. We can't judge it. We can be inspired, impressed. We can say "oh wow...i hadn't thought of that before now", but we can't reject it.
so: what is your passion?
On the the 14th of August, 2010, at the break of dawn (literally...)
zircon, fang, PFD, jooree, B and that human (also known as the YUM team)
...set off for an experimental, experiential, two day, bio-regional tour!
First stop was Creston, BC. Sleepy-eyed and eager, we all piled out of the vehicles, shimmied into our spanking new spray-paint stenciled t-shirts and started smiling at Creston Valley Farmer's Market goers. We set our booth up: tickle trunk, info, face painting, stickers and the center piece - our banner. WHAT IS YOUR PASSION? Using recycled bits of fabric, market goers were encouraged to write their passion(s) and safety pin it/them to our banner - a collective peace flag inspired, quilt resembled, patch work of collective community passions.
Next stop was Kimberley, BC, where we were met with warm, inviting, open arms. We stayed the night at the Little Cabin, surrounded by board games, mix matched dishes, and a multitude of nooks and crannies. There was excitement in the air - the electricity of staying somewhere new. Glancing around the room, we discovered a guest book, complete with entries from previous guests - B: "Let's do a workshop here!!!"
The next day, we arose early and gathered around a table of french toast, yogurt, and cut fruit. We tumbled our way to the Kimberley Platzl and set up our booth alongside the giant yodeling coo coo clock, surrounded by kitschy Canadianized German "culture", "fresh apple streudal, straight from the oven..." and oompa pa music for the Sunday morning Kimberley Farmer's Market. We experienced the most amazing response from the beautiful people of Kimberley. So much excitement about SelfDesign High and SelfDesign --- being supportive and encouraging to follow your passion. Parents of young children and youth met our offerings for them with excitement and amazement -- "this is possible??", "this really exists?" and "I've been looking for an alternative to regular school." etc...
Our banner grew. And grew. And will continue to grow. We think of if as an ongoing call to action. An opportunity to invite conversation. To build something together, regardless of where you live. To come together. To celebrate. Sooo...in summary of the YUM East Kootenay tour :
YUM ate pizza, swam in cold rivers, visited local libraries, ate fruit, sang songs, admired flowers, played scrabble, talked about learning, ran through forests, plugged noses (thank you antiques and collectibles), asked questions, connected with East Kootenay youth, stenciled t-shirts, danced, giggled, turned wrong corners, visited waterfalls, swerved around squirrels, collected 100 mile diet lunch ingredients, pet cute dogs named Fart, sewed journals, photographed people and landscapes, video taped conversations, observed meteors, held one another with awe and respect and mutual respect. Oh ya, and we talked. A lot.
YUM tour, to be continued......
Call to action : Come find us in your community or add your passion to this blog post and we'll add it to our banner.
Next event : YUM at Marketfest in Nelson, BC this Friday, August 20th, from 6pm - 10pm.
Wow. Four weeks have flown by in a jiffy! Our first ever Summer Visual Art Intensive is beginning to wrap up with an art exhibition at Oxygen Art Centre, scheduled to open this Friday night at 7pm. The past 3 1/2 weeks have been rich and inspiring. The dynamic created amongst our group of young artists has provided space for co-inspiration, debate, and a deep engagement with the creative process. With four mentors supporting the group, each bringing their own expertise and personal style and technique, the learners have been exposed to so much rich learning. The past week and a half has been independent studio time and the photos attached demonstrate the level of commitment and engagement each learner has been bringing to this exciting and inspiring summer intensive.
Learners are becoming informed and empowered with the knowledge of gallery and professional art practices. The exhibition is a collaborative project that is guided and supported by mentors, but really fueled by the learners themselves. This summer's exhibition is entitled, SREYAL (layers spelled backwards) and is reflective of the overall theme the learners have been working with of "inner/outer" and the concept of time. All of the work created is in honor of these two interconnected themes. It's very exciting to have a recognized artist-run centre, such as Oxygen, supporting these learners by providing them space to exhibit. The opening reception is Friday, July 30th from 7-9pm. Gallery hours on Saturday will be from 11-5pm and everyone is welcome.
Plans are in the works for an online exhibition catelogue with images of learners work and artist statements, so stay tuned. Artists represented in this year's show are Jamie Inniss, Oliver Arthur, Mag Beynon, Tyler Wright, and Julian Sloman.
If you are interested in joining us next year, please drop us a line at 250-354-1310 or info@selfdesignhigh.org.
The fashion show, that took place on Saturday, May 1st, had a great turn out. Many spectators watched as models strutted their way on and off the runway, and behind the doors of the uppermost floor, designers hurried about in a frenzy of make-up, fabric, and the natural high of a fashion show. But there was something special about this particular fashion show. It was not only the garments, but what they were made out of that made this show so unique. Designers were limited to only using recycled fabrics and materials, thus keeping many articles of unwanted clothing out of the landfill. Working hand in hand with the WIN store, Children Of the Seams raised over $700 which would then be donated to Kitchen Table Arts. Many great collections were showcased on May 1st , and the designers are hoping the Up-cycled fashion show will be an Annual Event.
The documentary No Impact Man follows the environmentally epic, year-long journey of Colin Beavan, his wife Machelle Conlin, their year-old little daughter and their dog as they try to live a life of zero negative, net impact. These means no transport (that isn't self-propelled), no takeout food, no electricity, no factory made cleaners, no imported food, no new anything and no toilet paper for a whole year.
Colin Beavan started the Year of No Impact with the modest hope that his families efforts might change something. He was planning to write a book about the experience, but he had no idea that his radical experiment would cause such a stir.
No Impact Man was directed by Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein and filmed in New York City, New York, U.S.A. in 2009. The documentary was released late 2009 early 2010.
The idea for a filmed bloomed when Machelle was having dinner with some of her friends who happened to be well connected in the movie biz. They had heard of the launching of the idea of the No Impact Man book and thought it would be powerful as a documentary.
I think it is a very good documentary to have out there, regarding the environment. Colin Beavan said that the journey was a philosophical one, not a scientific one. It's refreshing. In the history of documentaries advocating for the environment first philosophy was used, but [some] people ignored it. Science was then tried out. It swayed more people, freaked out some, confused others, was still ignored (by some). No Impact Man is bringing us full circle and I think more people than ever are waking up.
I give No Impact Man 4 ½ stars. It was a pretty effective documentary, but it was a documentary. That half star is for entertainment, it was entertaining but I had to pay attention, I couldn't get distracted or snack on popcorn (ohmygoodness, where does my popcorn come from? Ah!...at least it's not microwaved...)
Cross-fuse a mystical fairy-tale creature, three French boys from Montreal, Quebec who decided to create an indie-rock band in Campbell River, British Columbia who then released a record and subsequently received raving reviews from online media sites and magazines only to tour under stage names for thirteen months straight crossing continents such as Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Australia to finally ending with, "I quit, I can't do this anymore” and, inevitably you will end up with an ironic, sardonic, strangely iconic, firecracker band with a fuse that fizzled out before any real explosives happened.
The Unicorns! a band that broke up tragically too soon. And their sound? I won’t lie, their sounds good if that’s what you’re in all of this for. It’s not exactly bubblegum rock-pop but it’s in there, and it’s not exactly Japanese techno but there are whisperings of it humming around. Thin root voices and warm ghost harmonies, catchy tunes and reminiscent riffs with lyrics that probably mean something to somebody somewhere.
As is the creature, so is the band, now merely a legend. Luckily, you can still listen to them here:
