July 27 was Mom’s birthday and I missed her terribly. Your invitation came at a perfect time as I had spent more than a week feeling anxious, breathless and sad that I could not speak with my mother. Right away, I contacted my daughter Erin to see if she would be able to come with me to the Ironwood to hear Hogan and Moss and she agreed. I really felt blessed to be in Erin’s company. We don’t have the chance to spend very much time alone together anymore and I miss her. I felt vulnerable and sad and even wished that I could be back east with my Dad, sister and brother, so this time out was really a treasure.
We scooched in beside Lauraine and Wendy and Karen and to be honest, I felt that beneath our smiles and gratitude to be together, we were all a little tired. But, oh, Ruth! You looked so beautiful! Your hand made felted jacket was spectacular! You glowed with the excitement of your plans for Scotland. Your generous heart was appreciated.
You took to the stage and I had no idea that you would open your set with this song…
You are always generous. The music community loves you. We love you for your stories, for your laughter and for the struggles that have made you who you are. We so treasure the times that we can share. You do so much to build others up.
Thank you for introducing us to Jon and Maria…such unique, heart felt, authentic music. Their music is so grounded in historical narrative. It was wonderful to share this experience and to learn so much…
Blessings on your journey, beautiful friend. I hope that you discover love and kindness wherever you go.
Love,
Kath
“He took his pain and turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that’s what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you.”
― Hannah Harrington, Saving June
This is a beautiful day! I got up early and Max and I headed over to the pond. I made a decision to attend a later Mass again because light will be fading soon and our pond walks will be later in the day…it is time to soak up the beautiful morning light while it’s still possible. It is another golden-blue day as tree branches become more exposed and the leaves move into a warmer shade of yellow.
Mass was inspiring. With my church family, I was able to reconnect with a friend I hadn’t visited with for quite a long time and I felt as though I was able to be really present to her and to the blessed peace of the Mass. I thought a lot about discipleship…and took pause to consider what direction these thoughts might take me in my community.
Once home, I ate a nice lunch and then visited with Dad on Skype. Now, I am sitting in my pyjamas, ready to have an afternoon nap. The sunshine is creating beautiful patterns on the floor near by. This relaxed feeling that pours over me is quite a contrast to the whirlwind of activity that has been filling up my life since Enriquito’s departure and connecting with Dylan last week. A few images as an archive…
Dragon Pearl Dumplings and Hot and Sour Soup…a family favourite and great for an art night.
Esker Foundation autumn opening. The snacks, as per usual, were amazing! And it was such a nice thing to visit with Jim and Sue Hill again. I bumped into people I knew, but it was especially good to share the experience with my daughter, Cayley. I have to say that this exhibit is a challenge for me. I’m looking forward to programs that will supplement the visual exhibit over the coming months. I’m guessing I will learn more about art as communication and installation. The programs began on Saturday, with an artist talk, but one needs to pace ones self. Charlotte Moth: living images and Celia Perrin Sidarous: Interiors, Other Chambers will be on exhibit until December 20.
From this gallery setting, we headed over to Pith Gallery, meeting John Will in the center of 9th Ave, where funny enough, he stopped to talk. Comic Con’t by Ryan Statz, had me in stitches. Honestly, the work made me laugh out loud. A great find! Autobiographical in nature, this work was technically astute and in very good humour.
Lifted from the Pith Comic Con’t public share, I hope that Ryan will not mind me sharing this…sort of gives you the back story.
Ryan Statz – Biography
A native of Montréal Québec, Statz completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Alberta College of Art + Design in 2000, and received his Masters of Fine Arts degree at Concordia University in 2008. Currently based in Calgary Alberta, Statz’s work has been exhibited across Canada, The United States, and Europe.
Ryan Statz – Artist Statement
I am an idiot.
Anyone who knows me would likely admit that this is neither a stretch of the truth or the imagination – in fact, if I were a gambling man I’d say it’d be a pretty safe bet. Based on a personal, and experiential reality, my work owns up to this; however, because I also do not lead a life that is altogether interesting or exciting, the subject matter of the work references the mundane.
In the production of my work, I employ strategies from performance, executed with a deadpan fervour that includes elements of humour, wit, and humility – with just a hint of self-deprecation. Any self-flagellation, however, should not be taken as an admission of a lowered self-image; it is used primarily as a comedic device that addresses the notion of hegemonic masculinity.
Art History ubiquitously portrays the male artist as an iconic figure, a genius, and a hero. As I often approach things with a great deal of humility, I present the male artist (myself) as an individual who is not the sharpest tool in the shed, whose social status amongst his peers isn’t the highest, and whose success within the local, Canadian and international art context is virtually non-existent. So for my own purposes, and in the context of the male artist-as-bumbling-idiot, failure is always a viable option.
From Pith Gallery, Cayley and I walked down to the Ironwood Stage and Grill where Steve Coffey and Sheri-D were performing a collaborative piece titled, Tales From the Moonshine Room. Over a glass of wine, a snack of calamari and conversation shared with a writer out of LA, Cayley and I really enjoyed this performance piece. On a few occasions, the spoken poetry brought me to tears.
Nice to see you again, Paul Forestell!
Saturday morning began with an early morning pond walk. Even when life is hectic, having a beautiful border collie (Max-Man) in my circle, causes a connection with nature and required exercise.
From there, I headed up north for an Open Door YYC activity. I had registered to see the warehouse where the City of Calgary stores and cares for the Public Art Collection. It was fabulous! Barb and Quinn did an superb job sharing such a ‘magical’ place with us. Articulate and genuinely passionate, their collaborative presentation was excellent. A staff of two, they manage a beautiful space and collection. I was really glad to have seen this. (No pictures inside…and if you’ve ever attended to such an event, you would understand the logic.)
Had I prior knowledge about the density of population that would attend a Pop Up Etsy event, I would not have committed to the 50 minute line up to get to the 97 vendors inside the Golden Acres venue on Saturday. While I did pick up three Christmas gifts, I find that Market Collective provides a more ‘chill’ experience and as many artisans and creatives. I missed food trucks and live music. The crowds were oppressive. Hmmm…let me see…I’m sure I took a photo of the line up that wove in and out of shelving. Yes, here it is…
Yes, Dad, I DID do this! The best part of the line up was that I met up with one of my fans…just love this girl! Hannah is in one of her dance poses for this photo. :0)
I decided to opt out of the bus tour of the Shepard Land Fill site and headed home to chill out before sharing the evening with my girls, attending Alberta Ballet’s Balletlujah.
From Avenue Magazine: Photo captured of a moment in Jean Grand-Maitre’s choreography for Balletlujah!
Now…it might be that my readers will think that Saturday was over…but, no. What did we do? We stopped at the Blackfoot Diner OF COURSE. We thought we would share a piece of pie. But instead….this.
I have much to be grateful for…I’m offered up so much in the way of opportunity…good food and drink…friendship and family. It was quite a weekend! Late this afternoon, I will drive out to spend time with my dear Ya Yas. But…for now…a snooze!
If a person looks, they can find a Craig Cardiff lyric for anything they are thinking about…anything they are feeling. He gave me a hug as I was waiting for dinner at the Ironwood the other night…that, after the hand shake, which, with creative people, is usually enough. He passed me a book to write my thoughts down and then went about doing the same thing at most tables. I drew a scene…it spilled out of me…and I thought about the full moon that was coming as I drew.
The music was so special. I most appreciated that I had opportunity to share the music, good food and I nice bottle of Malbec with my cousin, Peter. Our conversations are always deeply personal and all-encompassing. We ‘don’t beat about the bush’, as some folk would say. Recently, I’m of the mind that life is too danged short to mess about contemplating whether or not you should or should not share your true feelings. So, forgive me, if you’ve been the subject or the result of my tirades. I’m not that great with boundaries these days, at least not where ‘the voice’ is concerned. I’m speaking more. I love Craig Cardiff’s music for that very reason because I think that he’s ‘saying it’.
I like that he signed my cd…and spent time signing it, instead of thinking that the interaction was solely about his signature…instead, with this musician, it’s about the interaction. I liked that. I’m posting the song that spoke to me most remarkably, that is, after the When People Go thing…that one speaks to me the most.
Dance Me Outside reminds me of my love for the book The Diviners by Margaret Laurence…the moment in the beginning chapters when Morag’s daughter, Piquette, asks what a buffalo looks like…this, a question posed in the Manitoba landscape where once, myriads of buffalo ranged free. That exchange was one of the reasons I became a landscape painter in the day…long story.
Photo Credit: Kathleen Moors
This Indian girl walks out into traffic
The traffic stops then she’s causing havok and baby won’t you
Roll up the windows dial up on the cellphones
Get the cops to get out here
I just want to get home
She says, “Well, do you remember the all buffalo?”
And all the dumb white people say, “Do you mean Jimmy Neil Young Springfield?”
She says, “No”
But Cleveland isn’t the home of Indians
And not even Eskimos it feels like you just don’t want to know
She says; “Take me around
Dance me outside
Show me a place where we might hide
and oh, what I want I’m afraid that you can’t afford to buy”
This Indian girl
Spins like a toy top
And her hair spreads out like fire and it’s like she just can’t stop
And then the cops come
Donut guard state car
Rolling up along the side
With the fire lanterns burning
The sirens opened wide and they say
“Excuse me little miss I’m afraid its time to take this home”
And they try to get her address
She says, “Sorry I don’t have one
It’s only we and the feeding fields
And look where you are”
And she kicks at the hem of her skirt
And on go the cars
She says; “Take me around
Dance me outside
Show me a place where we might hide
and oh, what I want I’m afraid that you can’t afford to buy”
This indian girl
Feeling cold and tired
Wouldn’t mind some help then
But the cars go by it’s no wonder why
‘Cause all they want to do is go and get away
“All I wanna do,” she says, “is get away from here”
So she builds a fire
And all through her belly
And through her hair and bones
And to remind her that shes alive she stares at in awe
And she says; “Take me around
Dance me outside
Show me a place where we might hide
And oh, what I want I’m afraid that you can’t afford to buy”
“Take me around
Dance me outside
Show me a place where we might hide
And oh, what I want I’m afraid that you can’t afford to buy”
My cousin, Peter, and I shared an evening at the Ironwood Stage and Grill last evening. Scotty Hills was the ‘headliner’ but Amber Suchy REALLY impressed me. It’s tricky finding her material for now, but just you wait! I wish you had all been there! Nice though, Scotty Hills seems to really advocate for other musicians and has produced an EP (Extended Play) for Amber including six tunes. Pete generously picked me up one of these.
A married duo, Smokekiller (John Antoniuk) and his wife, out of Saskatoon was also brought in for the second set by Scotty Hills. They were fantastic! It’s always so much fun to learn of new music. That’s why I always enjoy the Calgary Folk Festival and Calgary venues like Mikey’s, Blue’s Can and the Ironwood.
Oh yeah, and I know this isn’t a big dealio, but this will be my 1400th post since beginning my blog. I began writing in September of 2001. I turned to writing as I was trying to make some sense of what had happened earlier that month. My blog really lacks focus and I don’t have many readers, but it has given me great satisfaction to keep a record of the goings-on in my life…music, art, faith, environmental concerns, family, good food and drink…it all sits under the umbrella…MAGIC. I’m so grateful for my life!
You can tell that it was a very exciting weekend for me and you can also tell that I had Monday off. I haven’t spewed out so many blog posts in a very long time. I don’t think it’s possible to convey some of what’s been going on in my mind, my heart and my life recently. There is a huge shift of consciousness…or mayhaps, spring is on its way. My mother and father have been on my mind a lot lately, but tonight I’m excited because I know that my daughter is curled up in the single bed that Dad has readied in the spare bedroom. I’m glad that Dad will have her company and conversation and I’m glad that Mom will have her snuggles.
On Saturday night, the Kirby Sewell Band played at the Ironwood Stage and Grill. Kirby is such a gentleman and it’s always nice to see Morgan. In fact, at the end of this show, I got to meet Jim who had an awesome night on the drums! I really worked hard to get a decent photograph of Morgan, but don’t know how well that went. I also captured a couple of clips and will post them when I have Kirby’s permission.
This guy’s music and his performance level just takes me to a happy place…very uplifting! Thanks again, Kirby and thanks to Peter and Margy for sharing it with me.
Such a different flavour of music last evening compared with the music enjoyed some years back at the HiFi Club. I really got a better sense of Herald’s writing and musicality. This was an excellent night!
Thanks to my beautiful sister-friend and cousin, Margy, for being my passenger in a blizzard on Deerfoot…just so that she could share in my love of Herald Nix’s music.
Yesterday, Margy and I attended the opening, The Land and and painted by artist and musician, Herald Nix. I have been following Herald’s work, both music and art, since some time before staying at his refurbished Heritage home the summer of 2002. We were heading for Comox, B.C. and time with my brother Cliff, and I was really interested in stopping over in Salmon Arm.
I had previously met Herald at art openings and loved the rich quality of his landscapes, seeming to have their inspiration in the light and water of his home in Salmon Arm.
Herald Nix, Untitled 2009, oil on board SAGA Public Art Gallery, Salmon Arm, BC.
When I phoned to book a couple of rooms, he was in the midst of a huge transition and unbeknownst to me, so was I….I just didn’t know it at the time. His home was absolutely beautiful, but definitely enjoying the flux and change reflected back to it by Herald. This created all the more magic because floor boards were creaking. Outdoors, an old meditation pond…cherry trees heavily burdened with ripe fruit and a breath taking view of the water.
“The SAGA Public Art Gallery is featuring Herald Nix’s Railroad Bridges and the Lights of Town, a series of 40 oil paintings from the Sicamous Lake area of British Columbia. Painted between 1967 and 2012, the images capture the lakes, bridges, towns and massed hills around Salmon Arm with large, deft brushstrokes.
Herald Nix was born in 1951 in Salmon Arm, in the interior of British Columbia, and continues to live in the farmhouse where he grew up. In his youth he went to the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University of Art + Design). Nix makes almost daily trips into the bush around Salmon Arm or takes his rowboat onto the lakes to paint small landscapes en plein air using oil on board. His painting has been described as being “as much about the paint as it is about the places.”
Nix is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, and one of the most respected artists in the Canadian underground scene. ReverbNation (reverbnation.com) reports that he “sings like Hank Williams, writes like Steinbeck and paints like nobody else”. Variously called “alt country” or “Americana”, his music – like Chicago blues – is simple, warm and beautiful.”
Herald spent time with us in his studio…excited about the pigments that he had and showing us bits of his process…his panels, his framing. His eyes lit up in this space.
Equally as beautiful was the fact that he sat with us on the porch…shared a beer with us…and played a whole number of songs on his guitar as the sun set. It was a magical experience. When I hear his music or see his paintings, the memory of this time spent in his home, echoes back to me. It was a blessing-time.
Song-Sharing
Art-Sharing
If you haven’t enjoyed the work of Herald Nix, stop in to Jarvis Hall Fine Art or hit the Ironwood Stage and Grill tonight.
Wendy, thank you for the invitation to be a guest at your table at the Ironwood Stage and Grill on Friday night. It was wonderful to meet Stephen and to reconnect with Lauraine. I ordered myself a glass of wine and a plate of calamari with the hearts of romaine and then the conversations revved up…art, music, meditation, relationships…the gamut.
Wendy and Lauraine…
Then…the music began! And what a night it was for music. Joe Nolan performed with Stephen Halverson on lead guitar, Eric Smistad on bass, and Alex Baum on drums. I guess we would now appropriately refer to these musicians as the Joe Nolan Band. Pure awesomeness.
Photo Credit: Kathleen Moors
Photo Credit: Kathleen Moors
I was thrilled, at intermission, to meet up with a ‘familiar face’. It happens that one of the lead guitars for the Kirby Sewell Band is my former guitar teacher, Morgan Turk. I think that he is one of my favourite people and by far one of my favourite guitar players. And who-ah! Does he have patience! What a great night, to be able to hear him perform along with such a spirit-filled and inspiring musician as Kirby Sewell. I feel as though the crowd was elevated by this night of music. It was memorable on so many levels.
Nineteen years ago, at 12:08 on Christmas Eve, my willowy dancer was tugged into life! And right at the anniversary of her birth on the 24th this year, I was dancing in her arms…mother and daughter wrapped up in oneanother. It is interesting that she chose my favourite honky-tonk spot to celebrate with her friends…it is cozy and family-like and everyone in the place shared lemon meringue pie with us….not often one has Tom Phillips singing your Happy Birthday to you as you stand proud on a dance floor! A ‘magical’ event!
