Last nights I attended Fuse Magazine's Creative Cities launch which was strange on a number of levels. It was ironic, but I haven't decided if it was ironic in a good way or a bad way, that it should launch in the shadow of the soon to be condoized Abel Lofts. As I looked down Lisgar Street from the Mercer Union the two glowing signs seemed to sum up Queen West's current identity crisis. The first, in big letters said LSD (which stood for lighting and something I believe), the other one, right next to it, said Innergolf.ca. "Clive Robertson asks us to consider whether we’re Feeling Good About Canadian Art?, Kirsty Robertson explores The Creative Industries in Canada and Erin Morton interviews Terrance Houle about using humour to disrupt colonialist narratives. Also in this issue, Laura Paolini wonders what will happen if she falls while standing alone inside OCAD’s Sharp Centre for Design and Brendan Tang presents Kitbash.I found it a little odd that the launch event had no speakers, no presentations, just bare white walls (and people, good ones) - but I suppose, to end where I started, any odd left in Queen West should be preserved as an endangered species.
Reviews:
Mimesis and Memory in Dot Tuer’s Mining the Media Archive by Tabitha Minns. small leaves room for thoughts to grow by Amy Fung. The Holocaust visited: Paul Antick’s itourist? by Rachel MagShamhráin."
This Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Wrongbar, 1279 Queen Street West (Toronto) the Woodhands will officially release their new CD 'Heart Attack' and might even consider playing some songs from it. Holding down the stage while they decide if they feel like it or not will be DJ Howlermonkey and magician and mentalist Jeff Woods who has predicted that some people will meet, instantly click and form the "all girl post punk inspired" Machetes who will make their debut that night. You can find more information on the Facebook event page. (Ok, technically it's the same information, but you can see who's coming). For speculation and random cheering see Stillepost.
WHAT: Kindly donate:.If you know of other events, groups etc., please let me know and I'll pass along the info.
clothing-inner and outer wear;house hold items-from kettles to towels ; cutlery to toiletries; toys; all ages and sizes;coffee,tea, mugs;pet supplies. Just think: what do you NEED to get through the day?
BUSINESS DONATIONS: Please call Your local United Way.
Monetary Donations: Call your local Scotiabank "Queen Street Fire Fund"
"I've never seen a perfect building, but a number of things have been accomplished since the file first came across the desk of the city planner that I think make it a very good building,"and the developer (RioCan):
"We've worked closely with many different professionals including a heritage architect, and we think the aesthetics will be just remarkable,"It should also be mentioned that the Home Depot won't be at ground level. It will be on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a 7 story building at Queen and Bathhurst. That said, an American big box retailer simply does not belong on Queen West. Add a few more of them and you might as well take Toronto's core and drop it in any generic suburb.
I've added a new subdomain to the site to collect stories, thoughts and memories and to serve as a reminder of the downside of gentrification. Gentrification can mean many things to many people. For a community it can mean a huge economic influx, it can mean more jobs, cleaner, safer streets, affordable housing and increased economic opportunity. If it is done improperly though, as it is in Toronto, it can mean the death of that which attracted people to a community in the first place and for long time residents of that community it frequently means disruption, displacement and even homelessness. Visit abell.publicbroadcasting.ca for the full scoop.
