I've been working away on some new stoneware crow pieces to go with a show of Lee Cripps' fabulous crow and raven work. It opens Thursday July 14th at The Dart Gallery, 7 - 9pm.
Hopefully this firing goes well, as I'll be putting all my crows in one kiln load! The joy and challenge of working in clay is not being sure how things will turn out until one unloads the kiln. The last big crow bowl I made blew up so here's hoping this one will have dried completely. Here's a first progress pic, I'll be adding some others soon:
As well as new figurines and wall hanging crows, I'm excited to be trying a few new things in this batch of work. If you haven't checked out The Dart lately they now have a tantalizing cafe/bar with creative delicious concoctions by Picnic at Dart, under the direction of chef Allan McPherson. Check out the gallery's twitter feed or facebook page to see what's cooking.
Calgary has it going on!
1. Grow Calgary - "Canada's largest urban agricultural farm". this is a non profit 11 acre farm in urban Calgary (accessible by transit) where volunteers grow food for local food banks. What a great idea!
2. The Calgary Homeless Foundation and Calgary's RESOLVE Campaign. Resolve is a partnership of Calgary non profits and developers who have decided to end homelessness in Calgary. Kudos to the developers that are giving back to their community, by donating cash and expertise towards constructing various buildings to provide housing for people who are in greatest need. For example, here's a very touching youtube video about the early planning stages of Stepping Stone Manor - where the houses to be redeveloped became a site for community art for a period of time. And here is an article about the completed Stepping Stone Manor, the first RESOLVE campaign building. Calgary also has nonprofits dedicated to providing housing for low-income seniors, such as Silvera for Seniors and Bishop O'Byrne Housing. This is something Halifax could use, what with all the seniors waiting for affordable housing.
3. "Housing First" I hadn't heard of "housing first" before speaking with someone from the Calgary Homeless Foundation to learn more about their buildings. But it makes sense: the idea being instead of rewarding addicts for being clean with housing, provide them with housing first so that they can feel secure enough to want to get off of drugs. Medicine Hat has had great success with this program, here's a CBC 'as it happens' article/radio interview describing how Medicine Hat became the first city in Canada to eliminate homelessness.
4. Chris Martenson interviews that I found on youtube! Never heard of this guy before but I like his thoughts on the economy and what to do about it, we seem to be on the same page - he's a biologist turned business guy.
Peak Prosperity The Crash Course
and
Here he is with Robert Kiyosaki discussing today's economy and the coming crash.
5. This Infinite Waters youtube video: Why Artists Get Depressed. I've been loving watching how many subscribers this guy has been getting over the months, good for him!
6. This Amerika Now interview by Barb Adams with Stefan Verstappen: Invasion of the mind snatchers.
7. The Northern Lights Lantern Festival. I had no idea Halifax's North end has a lantern fest, it looks really nice! This year's is Saturday August 13th 2016 with a rain date of Thursday August 18th.
8. This Abraham Hicks video
9. This amazing written interview "The Trick of the Psychopath's Trade: Make Us Believe That Evil Comes From Others". It is a about a book which describes how psychopathy is rampant in political systems: "Political Ponerology, A science on the nature of evil adjusted for political purposes". I found this interview at the end of this annotated version of a favourite article: Empathic people are natural targets for sociopaths, protect yourself. Another interesting article recommended by this article is "The Way of the Psyschopath".
10. This blog post: Are you an insight junkie? A history of Tai Lopez. I've been seeing a lot of ads for Tai Lopez stuff on various 'personal development' youtube channels I like to watch, so I checked out a longer video about him. Something about him really rubbed me the wrong way, so I googled his name with the word 'psychopath' and found the above post which I liked a lot, kudos to the author for calling out people on psychopathic behaviour.
Earlier on my blog I decided I'd quit posting psychopath articles, for fear of people thinking I am one. But as other bloggers on this topic have posted, who cares what people think, it's so important that the masses be educated on the existence of conscienceless, predatory people in our society. They are ruining lives and entire political systems, and their behaviours are contagious. Maybe by shedding more light on it they can start feigning more empathy and improve the world for the other 95 - 99% of people who do have a conscience. Further to point #5 in this list, I think my keeping quiet has led to me being depressed and less productive. So from now on, ya, if I see something I like on this topic for sure I'll share it, if spreading awareness has a chance of helping others, why not. Time to make some crows!
Here are a couple pics of my entry for The Dart Gallery's Batman-themed show, "Biff! Pow! Art!", on til June 12th. The show theme was inspired by the 50th anniversary of the classic Batman tv series and features many excellent pieces by local artists.
In order to bend the theme into my own art practice, here is "Bat Mobile", comprised of 4 papier mache bats (made from Chronicle Herald newspapers), a couple lichen-covered branches and 3 pine cones from the woods around our place, and some string...
There's something very satisfying about mixing my sculptures with actual bits of nature, and trying to sell sticks and pine cones in an urban gallery. Here's another pic taken before the strings were shortened, the bats are posed a bit better in this one. Both pics were taken in a living room window at our home.
Now that the weather is warm, I've slowly been working on ceramic pieces for my first firing of 2016, sometime in June, which will include some new items for Jenny Jib down in Lunenburg as well as crow sculptures "Murder of Crows" - a show coming up in July at Dart Gallery that will feature the crow art of Lee Cripps.
1. Our garden, especially lemon balm and asparagus that are now nice and established; as well as haskap berry bushes and lots more. Next time I'll post some pics.
2. This "Paradise Stolen" youtube series, by Stefan Verstappen who also made "How To Survive Corruption" which has been on this list before. I like that this guy keeps making the connection between psychopathy and all sorts of things in society that don't otherwise make sense.
Paradise Stolen - Episode 1 (don't show your children!)
Paradise Stolen - Episode 2 - The Myth of Efficiency
Paradise Stolen - Episode 3 - The Myth of Overpopulation
Paradise Stolen - Episode 4 - The Myth of Terrorism
Paradise Stolen - Episode 5 - Why We Are Poor
also:
Historical Cycles: Are We Doomed To Repeat The Past?
3. This Vimeo video, a short cartoon by Taylor Erikson called "The Greatest Economics Lesson"
4. This American company: Youthbuild - where youths are taught the skills necessary to construct affordable housing, in a number of countries, thus fixing 2 problems with one solution: underemployment among youths, and a lack of affordable housing. This company receives funding from the Skoll foundation, which was founded by Canadian -born billionaire Jeffery Skoll. I ended up researching this guy after reading Canadian Business's article: Canada's Richest People 2016: The top 25 Richest Canadians.
5. Speaking of creative uses of resources to solve problems: this article about Portland Oregon commercial real estate investors "Menashe Properties" who offered up one of their office properties to shelter homeless "As Multnomah Village Shelter Closes, Menashes Offer Up Downtown Relo Spot"
Given the high vacancy rate reported for office property in downtown Halifax, perhaps there is opportunity here too.
6. Animal Sculptures by Ellen Jewett
7. This post "Ceramic Animal Art", especially like the pieces at the end by Brendan Hesmondhalgh
8. We Create - Why we need handbuilt homes. Great documentary on youtube about cob building with a focus on how this building method is both affordable and fosters community
9. Companies in other provinces that develop affordable housing available to purchase "rent to own", for locals who may just want to own a relatively simple place and not one of the luxury units that seem to be used increasingly as investment vehicles for foreign investors. Sounds good in this Global news article: "1000 dollar down payment among Canada's affordable home ownership options." Eg, Options for Homes in Ontario, and its affiliate in Montreal, "Acces Condos" which works in collaboration with SHDM. Would similar rent to own developments make sense for Halifax? Councilor Gloria McCluskey has mentioned this preference in the media both recently and in the past.
1. The new facade at The Dart Gallery. The scaffolding is down and the space has a glorious new exterior. I don't have a pic, so go see! Because of the on going renos, the upcoming group show Biff! Pow! Art! inspired by the 50th anniversary of the classic Batman TV series has been postponed to May 27th, 7 - 10 pm. The expansion of the gallery into the space next door will be complete by then. For artists, the deadline for submissions for show has been extended to 11:59pm May 15th.
2. Homemade vegan treats that started off as an attempt to make halva but kept evolving into a delicious vehicle for superfoods. So easy, melt coconut oil on stove, add honey to taste. Add any combo of lots of raw cocoa powder, cinnamon, ground ginger, cardamom, cloves, ashwagandha powder, whatever, a dash of salt... in coffee grinder finely grind any combo of lots of sesame seeds, dried coconut, almonds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, whatever, have way more seeds than oil, fold into the oil mixture, add in puffed quinoa if desired. Mix it all up and spoon in to silicon molds, put in freezer to set and voila, super delicious, nutritious snacks that are way more satisfying than any candy bar.
3. This youtube documentary about Suze Orman, How Suze Orman Scammed the World (2016)
4. The FitnessBlender youtube channel This is really smart, a husband wife team providing great home workouts via youtube
5. The FitLifeTV channel This is cool too, as the videos are a mix of health tips and mind training tips, eg 1 Simple Trick to Manifest Your Desires
6. This blog post: Mixed Generational Housing: Seniors and Families with Kids Within The City
7. This youtube video: How Do I Prune Raspberries?
8. This Dark Souls website by someone who has gone through experiences with Narcissists and/or Psychopaths and has clearly transformed those experiences by creating useful information, eg, this article: How To Play Pingpong With a Narcissist
9. Parasites and Demons. A youtube video. This is a pretty trippy theory, and one of the few videos I've seen that proposes a link between these members of 3d reality and other dimensions. Interesting!
10. Self/Less pretty good movie on Canadian Netflix, a very unique story idea
11. A couple more Infinite Waters videos: How to recognize your third eye and How to manifest 33 magic
12. This quote by Nikola Tesla: “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”
13. Nikola Tesla Vs Thomas Edison. Epic Rap Battles of History (short youtube video)
14. The History of Nikola Tesla - a Short Story. Short youtube cartoon that describes the "War of Currents" between Tesla and Edison
1. Exciting art shows: Helen Opie has a show on now through April 20th at ARTsPLACE Gallery in Annapolis Royal. The title "Helen 4.2, fourth cycle" refers to her place, in her early 80's, at the start of her 4th astrological "27 year cycle" - I think this is referring to the Saturn Return. Helen will be giving an artist talk Saturday April 16th at 2pm.
and Raymond Chow, an established BC artist who moved recently to Nova Scotia, has an opening this coming Thursday April 7th 6-8 pm at Art 1274 Hollis.
2. Best caption for a photo, ever, IMO, spotted on google while looking for inspirational pics of papier mache sculpture
"Chocolate eggs are not very good for animals, so these ones were made of
papier mache filled with juicy treats such as mealworms."
It went with these pics of various primates on the blog for a Wildlife Park.
3. Some videos about gratitude.
Oprah's Gratitude Journal, Oprah's Lifeclass
Gratitude - Ted talk by Louie Schwartzberg
The Extraordinary Power of Gratitude - reading of Chapter 7 "Gratitude" from The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles.
Eckhart Tolle and Oprah Winfrey - Abundance and Gratitude
This is interesting too, where Esther Hicks describes the different between gratitude and appreciation in this youtube video: "the emotion of appreciation versus the attitude of gratitude".
4. Houzz TV Youtube video of a guy who turned his home into a playland for rescued cats
5. This John Bergman Lecture on youtube "The Cure for 97% of Diseases"
6. youtube video from Rewire Me: Dr. Joe Dispenza: How to rewire the brain and recondition the body
and this Coast to Coast interview with Dr. Joe Dispenza
7. A couple new Infinite Waters videos, on the Emerald Tablets and How to Stop Being Controlled by People (According to a Psychologist).
8. New human body research topic, "Adrenal Fatigue".
Here's a Dr. Rostenberg youtube video about it "Adrenal Fatigue - How to Treat and Beat the Effects of Stress" super informative, but his advice to eat many meals throughout the day is counter to other people that recommend intermittent fasting and fasting between mealtimes. personally I've decided the compromise is to not fast when the body gets real hunger signals, as presumably this would create stress.
and How to Heal Thyroid and Adrenal Fatigue by Dr. John Bergman
and How to Lower Cortisol by Dr. Eric Berg. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. This one actually recommends only having 2 - 3 meals/day
9. The StarshipsStartHere.ca website, especially this pic of Kirk vs. Gorn at the Peggy's Cove Lighthouse
10. speaking of space, a lot videos from the Bob Sanders youtube channel. His stuff is pretty "out there" but anything is possible and he has a soothing voice. eg,
Why are we here! short answer, to raise energy of ourselves and the planet... unless you're part of the archons (psychopaths?) in which case you want to cause the waste and destruction of and to make people hate eachother. This is possibly a happy reason why cute cat videos go viral and may, from this perspective, actually be a better thing to pay attention to than bad news. It also potentially explains a lot about politics in a lot of places.
here's another:
Archons and Ascension which includes a unique anti-fracking argument
Another lapse in posting - was away from internet for a while in there!
1. Awesome beaded earrings by my artist friend "Peaceful Frog" - aka Carrie, she's chosen to name her new jewelry business by her Nisga'a name. She'll have tables of her wares coming up at a school in North Van as well as the National Aboriginal Day celebration, June 21, 2016 at Trout Lake park in East Vancouver. These are a lot of work and made from quality beads, I picked up a pair of turtles and wolves, the pic doesn't do them justice though and these pieces have great vibes like their creator!
2. Researching Fatty Liver. On the topic of learning more about health and nutrition, fatty liver was something I never really heard of but apparently it's super common. More reason to love your liver by detoxing from alcohol and other toxic foods and eating more bitter plants. Here are a few links.
Do you have the protruding belly? It may not be fat, it may be your liver. youtube video by Dr. Eric Berg
How to reverse a fatty liver. youtube video by Dr. Eric Berg
Heavy teens run risk of severe liver damage. NBC news article
House call: Do you have a fatty liver? youtube video by Dr. Mark Hyman
With my ongoing obsession with Candida I wondered if there could be a link between the two. Why not:
Candida, Gallbladder and Fatty Liver Disease. youtube video by Candida Crusher
Further more fatty liver doesn't just happen in obese or alcoholic people, here's a description of Non alcoholic fatty liver disease as described on youtube by Dr. Robert Brown
On the bright side the liver is the only internal organ that can regenerate itself.
3. Yellow split peas. They have lots of health benefits as described in this livestrong article, in particular pea protein is high in branch chain amino acids as described in this Shape article.
4. Love Spirits vs Denial Spirits - Origins of "Good and Evil" - stealing of soul energies. youtube video by Tobias Lars
5. Natural treatment and causes of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) fibroids and cysts. youtube video by Montrealhealthygirl.
6. "They Live" 1988 movie directed by John Carpenter based on a short story by Ray Nelson. This is awesome, about a guy who finds sunglasses that allows him to see through the masks of humans who are actually controlling aliens. If this story has any truth in it, it could explain so much! Never seen this before but heard about it via this video list by deep diving youtuber Infinite Waters - aka Ralph Smart: 10 Films that will make you question everything!
