'if' ...

Shadowy Line

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:06:56 GMT

Shadowy Line

... the movement of an artist from the world of practice often comes with great mourning & even greater reflection ... Pina Baush preserved her dignity and spirit with considered if not miraculous attention ... others not so ...

... the present media frenzy surrounding MJ allowed me to reflect on an aged post: "it is impossible not to contemplate with a shudder the shadowy line between art, ecstasy and psychosis."

. . . Cox in his "documentary" about the Russian born dancer Nijinsky The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky is quoted: "Nijinsky was a beautiful spirit. He went mad because of his love of mankind. We live in a world that has gone crazy - it is no wonder that souls like Nijinsky go mad.' Words as if spoken towards any artist humbled by their own demons & excesses of a hungry sensibility, extreme traumatic periods & victim of time and place.

... further darker evidence:

"Once we commit ourselves to a passion, noble or sordid, it is of no importance, we are certain to proceed from torment to torment. The very aptitude to endure them shows that we are predestined to suffer. We love only because unconsciously we have renounced happiness. The Brahmanic adage is irrefutable: 'Each time you create a new tie, you drive another pain, like a nail, into your heart.' - Everything that fires our blood, everything that gives us the impression of living, of being a part of being, inevitably turns to suffering. A passion is in and of itself a punishment. The man who surrenders to it, even if he supposes himself the happiest man in the world, expiates by anxiety his real or imagined happiness. Passion attributes dimensions to what has none, makes an idol or a monster out of a shadow ..." (Cioran | The Fall into Time |On Sickness p.137)

- See: Memorium

:: note ::... connections between Nijinski & Michael Jackson may seem tenuous but a spirit tortured not ...

10:06:56 PM comment [] . . Open firefly

mÈtis nation

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:36:39 GMT

mÈtis nation

John Ralston Saul makes the declaration we are a "métis nation" pointing as much to national identity as to a roadmap for our future. CBC Radio rebroadcast (originally aired in April '09) the 2009 UBC-Laurier Institution Multiculturalism Lecture The Aboriginal Peoples and New Canadians: The Missing Conversation (available for four weeks as July 13 podcast). His coterie:

"It's crucial that all Canadians cultivate an understanding of our Aboriginal heritage, and the role Aboriginal people played in the development of Canada," says Beverly Sabourin, Vice Provost (Aboriginal Initiatives) at Lakehead University. "Understanding our common history and our respective roles will help guide us into the future, allowing all of us to collaborate in building a "fair country."(Lakehead U Talk)

"In one of the strongest and most convincing passages in the book, he argues that the 'single greatest failure of the Canadian experiment, so far, has been our inability to normalize - that is, to internalize consciously - the First Nations as the senior founding pillar of our civilization. In such a normal situation, we would ask for their advice as a matter of course, look for the input of our First Nations on all the great questions of the day.'(Literary Review of Canada)

His critics:

"... extremely frustrating for a Canadian scholar"(Matthew Hayday | Pample the Moose)

"Saul deals well with a number of "truths" but his notion of "fairness" brims with misplaced self satisfaction."(Joerge Dyrkton)

Allan Gregg in conversation: John Ralston Saul - A Fair Country - See: Politics :: note :: ... insightful on the days before July 1 ...

7:36:39 PM comment [] . . Open firefly

testing

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:40:47 GMT

testing

Puzzles within puzzles. Last days to first ... look for a completely different thought somewhere in another time which passes between neither in ending or beginning ... see the connections ... an encounter with a word, a gesture ... a cut-up, a collecting, a re-start, getting on the wavelength ...
- See: Terms
:: note :: ... the village idiot/grasshopper/pilgim has spoken ...

10:40:47 PM comment [] . . Open firefly

test

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:50:19 GMT

test

every time i try ftp & switch back radio is broken

5:50:19 PM comment [] . . Open firefly

Shakespeare & Moliere

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:23:11 GMT

Shakespeare & Moliere

End of term high school student projects culminate with successful presentations. A filleted (25 minute version) of Shakespeare's MacBeth & a student translation of The Farce of Patelin by Moliere. We study the action of Shakespeare & the origins of Moliere. A great deal of independent work. Commedia masks, swords, props, costumes, light & sound with simple set allow for the exploration of image in time & space. The basement & the stage both used as rehearsed at the same time. End of year stress resolves into creative energy and a concentrated effort. - See: theater :: note :: ... congrats to all & wishing a wonderful summer ...

8:23:11 PM comment [] . . Open firefly

Alice

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:27:41 GMT

Alice

Presented by the E. D. Feehan Drama Club, Alice an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's 1865 classic Alice in Wonderland proved to be a savvy & skilled production of humour and delight. Director Pat Lengert must be commended for his astute manoeuvring of complex scenes and set changes as well as a sharp eye for economy of action. All actors rallied around his cartoonish style bringing depth and enchantment without losing any of the irony embedded within the text. The childish and whimsical images of this production transform the fantasy-ridden wonderland of Alice from a carefree or nostalgic escape from reality into imaginative distortions twined with the reality of childhood confusion. It is not illogical nonsense rather more the frustrations of youth making sense of the crazy "real" world. The students performed with boundless enthusiasm & intuition catching the allegory of the material with experienced innocence and most importantly with a sense of curiosity. Simple disguises of rabbit ears, top hats, hair band flowers and toques do nothing to conceal the inherent social criticism of ... well education. Great job. A little bit of song, poetry, riddle and a dose of madness left the audience craving for more. - See: Theater :: note :: ... pride in watching students take complete ownership for their work ... So why is a raven like a writing desk? Read To Catch a Bandersnatch(pdf) by Mark Burstein ... more pictures ...

9:27:41 PM comment [] . . Open firefly

The Big Five Zero

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:38:32 GMT

The Big Five Zero

Georges Vanier Elementary Fine Arts School presented The Big Five Zero a wonderfully crafted piece pulled from the hat of teacher/musician/artist/Impresario Jeff Cunanan & admirably directed by Alyssa Deacon this past week. Written for the 50th Anniversary celebrations we follow two clever students, Vic (Jodie Lysyshyn) and Gerry (Mikayla Reschny), as they discover the long rumoured hidden school basement with its treasures and spirits. Jodi and Mikayla carried the action with energetic performances well beyond their years, always fresh and cheeky. Their parents played with deadpan irony & tongue-in-cheek caricature by Renelle Hunter and Christopher Bantle, remember the good old days of good ol'Vanier. Along the way we meet Music Teacher Mrs. C (Sarah Twa), Secretary (Robyn Peiffer), Hippy Man (Joey Schatz), and the Ghosts of Students past (Jonathan Forest, Nicole Opsal & Jayne Barrett) revealing snippets of school history and lore. The ultimate challenge for the two students occurs in the classic Mephistophelean twist - if you're in the basement then you're here to stay ... at least that's what "They" say. When confronted in the basement dungeon by the ubiquitous "They", powerfully performed by ensemble Shannon Haughian, Madison Hart, Christiana Dingwall and Brittany Peacock, the two students seek salvation playing a game of cards and win. The reward turns out to be their completed assignment: a fully documented research paper on the importance of the Fine Arts program in the context of Catholic Education. Each grade presented a scene from the Grade 4/5 Heritage Celebration dance and the stunning Grade 8 Sock Hop dance both choreographed by Katie McGuigan-Scott to the brilliant music class key scene, the drama class skits and breath taking Grade 6/7 percussion performance culminating to a brimming stage of over a hundred enthusiastic students at curtain call. Current Principal Mr. Bauche made a guest appearance as the true Hippy man serenading all with "Blowing in the Wind" as proof and Mr. Cunanan himself, harmonica in hand backed by fine guitar and drum licks, led the bored Grade 7's in a gut wrenching rendition of the Georges Vanier Blues. The minimal set painted by the Grade 8's and Mrs. Martin served the action well and was fluidly handled by a smooth backstage crew (Angele Lalond, Gabriella Fortugno, Caitlyn Barton). Special mention goes to Light & Sound Co-ordinator Kaylin Flowers. The script blends stereotypical snapshots and defining moments of Georges Vanier with a comic ease allowing the talents of the cast to flourish. Precisely this mission of educating the imagination through daily observance and simple encouragement is ultimately the practice of this fine arts school. The matinee was graced by Mrs. Myrna Dedick who tirelessly served the school for so many years and as the program eloquently stated the piece was dedicated to the two pillars of the school - first principal Mr. Evan Lord and principal Mrs. Delores Switzer (Haberman) who nurtured and established the legacy that is Georges Vanier. The achievements of Vanier graduates have the belief and dedication of those two founders as inspirational source. Hats off to all and to Mr. Cunanan put your hat back on and we await the next creative act you have up your sleeve. - See: theater :: note :: ... only those who have produced a show with elementary students know the commitment required ... watching i returned to years ago when we presented City Without Love & Snow Queen, creating puppet shows at recess, and video projects ... despite the times they are a'changin' it seems to return back in on itself ... "Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils" -- Louis Hector Berlioz ...

6:38:32 PM comment [] . . Open firefly