Eastside Pride

I've set up shop across the street from the JJ Bean roastery. I get a kick out of the image on the bag also being my address. Then I read the bag and realize we share the same mantra in our East Van pride, and I understand a little more clearly why I'm continually drawn here.

"JJ Bean's roastery is on Vancouver's Eastside. Our neighbours are artists, students, musicians and soccer fanatics - passionate people who love what they do. It's the kind of place that inspires us to focus on what we love, and to do it in our own style."

Funny, that's just what I was thinking...

Also relevant then is the upcoming Eastside Cuture Crawl which I was going to do an installation for in my studio but instead have decided to attend extensively Nov 18-20. The variety of mediums being worked in and the abundance of artist studios in my neighbourhood makes me so pleased I want to burst. It will be tricky to document without the taboo of photographing artwork, but I think an abstract video is in order. The Other Day On the Eastside will be posted here sometime in December.

The Other Day

Inspiration Strikes Strong and with a Thunder. But only where there is room for it.

Asking myself where the creative way forward is when I'm alone at the helm is a beautiful question to address. I'm not sure many people get such a blatant opportunity to examine their own process, style, and path.

I have been resistant to moving forward because of what it means I have to move away from. The past is such a beautiful memory, full of inspiration and great successes. Yet in the past there is no kindling for the fire that burns ahead- as I had once naively hoped.

And so somethingsomething studios is reborn. A studio of unrestrained creation. What I want most, and am most excited by, are the ideas that do not have to be condoned to be created. To create without the need to reach some professional standard or acceptance. Of course, the criticism has always been that this theory results in financial failure.

However, by restraining the productive time I have available, I force those projects that are less inspiring through the wringer. I have a spark that fuels my propulsion forward in a way that I haven't felt since before I was earning a living at this craft.

At the same time, some spectacular projects have fallen into my lap as a result of being present, aware, and open to them. As if by accident, I am now at the forefront of the Canadian studies being carried out by MAPS Canada and for the first time hold the rights to a project of great merit from the outset. I set out the other day with just myself and my SLR to see what would happen.

This is what happened

One day I will find a camera operator who enjoys me as much as I do them. One day I will again record proper audio for my interviews. One day I will see funding for a shoot BEFORE it happens. Until then, I am overjoyed at my half-assed attempt at pulling it off if for no other reason than to prove to myself that those things should not hold us back.

And so begins a new series titled "The Other Day in..." where these odd short videos that I whip together in mere moments shall find license.

And in this moment of writing a smile finds my face because as I write all of this to some future semblance of myself (because who else would care?), I also now know that you may be reading this Brownie, and I love you so truly that it makes me wish I had a post secondary education and could entertain you more with some literary wit. Hearing that you care enough to have read past posts leads me to want to do better in life so I can report great things from a solid, grounded place. Stay tuned.

Without

“When it looks as though you’ve lost everything, take a hard look around because you are in a unique position to learn something.” Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

To be without. To have not. Every moment is defined by need in the essential sense of the word. What is it that you have to have right now, and only now, or in the very immediate future? I need salt. I can live without pepper. I can’t live without fresh flowers.

Blossoms: beauty in a pure essence. For it’s own sake. Not attached to ego or expectation, but with a glimmering hope it may have a chance to become fruit and begin to rot. None of which was important to the first human that gazed amazed at it’s vivacious form and colour. I will spend my last dollar on flowers, and flowers are free.

Everyone has their requirements in life. I don’t require a can opener. I am doing just fine with my 1 knife. I can not collect too many mirrors or vases. Candles. Plants. Television-less yet online. Today none of these possessions can matter- they need to be expendable. Abandon-able. Unattached to me.

Without is not a sad place as one may assume. It is a place of plentiful potential that one must choose to be in in order to remain. It brings with it the fat belly of Buddha, and requires great discipline.

Rain paints the industrial east side in a reflection of the pewter cloud that’s trapped above. Days have begun to model themselves after the trains, trucks and ships loading and unloading. The low cloud cover has made me short sighted. Somehow in finding the world simplified by necessity I’ve opened up the potential of shining a light into the fog. My backpack is light. The way forward is clear. The answer needed to ignite the nitris is also the first rule in Italian racing: never look back.

Creatively bursting at the seams, creative bruises make me flinch. I’m building a whole new team from chapter 1, ground up. It’s a team of 1 to start. We can’t build on mud and broken windows so we’ll have to excavate. That’s extremely painful when you’ve come to like the garden you’ve planted and the crazy animals that were once friends. If we don’t start on level ground everything will keep falling down, so it stands to be extreme. I’ve already dug the hole.

The Other Day on the West Coast < It's a new dawn, a new day, a new life

Happy Social Media Week

I walk the rain soaked streets of East Vancouver wearing sunglasses. It's the only way to bear the lingering stench of miserable mistakes of my youth that hang in the air with memories at every turn like the piss stained pants of an alcoholic.

I can email and text while I walk my dog and spend some time memorizing the muzak loop waiting for Bell Customer Service to sort out my jugular. The trees that line these streets are old, and I remember I've walked this way before.

I consider all the leakage of my mobile bill which still doesn't give me enough usage to not incur fees. I remember a time when I didn't regard airtime. The data and texting is disguised as unlimited but it hikes my fees significantly for the privilege. My 80 page phone bill listing all of the texts they don't reveal makes me wonder if the unlimited privilege matched my usage or my usage matches my allotment. The same thing happened with my first cell phone bill 15 years ago. It's a steep and expensive learning curve sometimes.

All the while that I carry all of these mobile fees on my gypsy back my biggest struggle of the past few months has been lack of connectivity. The true luxury of life seems to be in accomplishing a space where one can print scan and email in one fell swoop. The thought of sacrificing my services, of trimming my excess? The idea seems daunting to even consider. Being unconnected is a major depletion.

To not be able to pick up my phone and ask it any question I may have conjured. The fact that I have access to the 400+ people I have made contact with over my 5 years living in Facebook from all walks of my past and present- all in the palm of my hand at any time of day or night anyplace within a sniff of a satellite. Any address, location, or service I may need provided by Google Maps with directions, a panoramic view of the street, photos people have taken, and reviews blogs votes likes and dingbats, all by our great cataloguers of the universe: godggle

In the face of financial failure and even with the fortitude of foresight, it's this ability I won't abandon. At any cost.

My intricate text conversations that have become facets of friendships that connect me to people in a new way, a new language. To have to budget that time?

Entertainment at every red light; every bus stop. Touch, toggle or keyboard? All at once? No problem. Try doing that on a $30 Nokia. I've researched and arranged entire shoots while riding shotgun (and getting roadsick). I can skype while I'm driving (not recommended). All of this was just science fiction when I got my first email address a dozen years ago.

I don't mean to be offensive towards those who truly cannot afford this extravagance. Somehow in all of my financial mess, this expense has become truly defined as essential. I work in media. If I couldn't scan your barcode what would that say of my abilities to problem solve software that you edit your beloved project on? I spend as much if not more money on communications than I do on food.

And I can't see any other way. What has become of me?

Powell/Victoria

Steel and Engines

drive the waterfront

Brutishly choreographed

Strength is all that’s required here

The objective obvious:

work as much as the day allows

there is always more to do

and complaining won’t help

Rumbles layered with ringing bells

Sea birds’ Glee and industrious smells

The trains keep passing passing past

and the last won’t ever be the last

Time reminds us

the truth is overstated

Thoughts keep drifting backwards

but the past is overrated

Remember dreaming of now

That wasn’t long ago, friend

Habana

If you want to see the real Cuba, there are not many ways better than to make friends with a Cubano. I hardly speak Spanish but my pigeon speak is better than his English. When he slows down and explains things I understand what he means often without the words.

The real Cuba is not so easy to take. He is so proud that he can get everything Ba-Ra-To! and we trade off on buying things since touristas can pay for quality while Cubans can not, and often the price for Cubans for the equal value is just a fraction. However, this standard is a challenge for me, while I grin through it. It’s so fun for him to spend my money, and I’m happy to let him: habla suave.

Absolutely it’s against my better judgement. I follow him to his family’s farm after travelling by bici-taxi, car, bus and then taxi. No one would know if I dissapeared. Of course it is insane. Somehow I can trust him. Maybe it’s his aggressive adoration.

Cubans are obsessed with things and although they have no capitalism, they most definately have commerce. There I am, this tall blonde beacon of a currency they aren’t able to earn, but here it is well within their grasp. Senor Havana’s relationship with material things and superficial esthetics is remniscent of high school days.

And that is how the Cubans live. In near poverty while remaining so absolutely sophisticated. Because it wasn’t always like this. You can see it in the epic colonial architecture now crumbling into the streets.

He introduces me to his family. They speak too fast for me to understand even the smallest bit of Spanish. It’s all pronounced differently anyways, and I feel dumber than I am. Smoke definitely makes it difficult to speak Spanish.

He introduces me to his friend who speaks English.

“I used to live in Florida but I came back here in 1983. I think I’m going to go back. It’s not good here, this isn’t a good place to be.

• I like it here

• That’s because you don’t live here. Is he your boyfriend?

• No.

• He’s a good man.

• Is he? He seems like it.

• Be careful.

• That’s what everyone keeps saying.

• He’s a good man. Be careful, because he’s a good man. Know what I mean?”

It’s hard to not notice how this chills me to my toes. He’s completely hijacked my trip but has proven at every turn to be trust worthy and genuine. If perhaps also a little overly enthusiastic.

Everything about him is very fast. Everything about him. I beg him to slow down in every way. He personifies Habana perfectly.

I don’t smoke good cigars or drink good rum or lounge in the sun doing nothing. Cubans don’t do that so I didn’t either. Affluence doesn’t seem like something enjoyable to be proud of here. But my Cuban friend found me a better deal on good cigars and rum to bring home with me so I had more money to spend with him. He didn’t have to steal from me. He could work my cash from my fingers with such skill, I was glad to have some stashed away.

Yet I also felt I should have spent it all while I was there because I can earn more, they can’t, and I won’t be back again for some time. And now here I sit with no money. So of course it’s more complicated than that.

But while I had the opportunity I did let him talk me out of a pair of my pants, my running shoes, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, deodorant and telephone. I returned home to find that these precious artifacts were all duplicated in the things I shipped home from Montreal. In fact all of these things were so abundant here. As is the delicious air. Ah Victoria, you really are the best city I’ve ever visited.

Sky's the Limit for Sky's the Limit

After almost secretly collecting stamps in my passport for the past year for www.skysthelimittv.com the hosts have officially gone public with the travel series.

Last January a crew of 6 traveled to Australia to film a show we had a loose concept for. By the time we headed back to Canada we had decided what the world may enjoy is a series for Business Travelers, filmed in a documentary style, profiling cities that are Arts and Business centres, and looking at the people who live in them that are accomplishing things in their various fields.

Our vessel for this story was the only known component heading into this curious scenario. Our two hosts are talented young professionals who so often find themselves traveling the globe for various aspects of their careers. It became a perfect fit.

Levi is a composed character and a tactful businessman. He has found himself President of one of the only profitable pulp mills in BC due to its unique employee-owned model. We realize people don't get especially excited about pulp itself, but the concept of employee ownership is pretty exciting when we see how well its working. Through Levi's meetings around the world, the audience learns about business etiquette and other customs of the various countries.

Suzanne is probably pretty close to polar opposite from Levi, yet she seems to compliment him perfectly. Since she's traveling as a professional photographer, we see a less formal view of these cities and get further into the local lifestyle/ arts & culture side of things. She is the reason Levi doesn't travel like most lone business travelers: airport to hotel room. Suzanne brings him to see the must-see sights that tell us even more about the city, and any business traveler can fit into a limited schedule.

Suzanne also gets a chance to interview incredibly fascinating personalities as she shoots portraits of them for various purposes. Chefs, fashion designers, film producers, musicians all talk about the city they work in and their professional philosophy.

Monday's article was the cover page of the Nanaimo Daily News, was reprinted in the Times Colonist, the Province and several other blogs and publications. The only tragedy? The slugline: "Vancouver Island businessman and Maxim hottie in TV series"

I can't help but feel this is offensively sexist. Modeling is a part of this charming and talented young woman's CV but it's unfair to profile her in a way that sees that as all she is. She is so much more than beautiful, yet the headlines would rather craft another Pamela Anderson because it makes for better user generated comments online.

The other slugline they chose was: "Reality series based on young professionals."
At least they're both more accurately seen as young professionals, but it is not a reality series, nor is it solely based on them. According to the readers response comments, this also makes for good fodder as one person after another wonders why the world needs another reality show. I have to say that I strongly feel that the world does not need another reality show.

This is a very exciting stage as we build our online community of people around the world who are reaching for their dreams. Our trailer is now online and a longer demo will be released in early January. Our next episode we're filming will be in Toronto and Montreal in February, so please connect with us on our Facebook/Twitter/Linkedin on the website for live updates and opportunities.