Krystuccia

2011-12-08T22:50:00.002-05:00

I'm going to buy you LITTLE PRINTER in 2012!

The printer uses your smartphone's subscriptions to create a personalized, timely, beautiful mini-newspaper. (http://bergcloud.com/littleprinter/)

The Scandies and their eye candies

2011-11-30T21:36:00.002-05:00

Designed by Oluf Lund and Eva Paarmann for Lopfurniture, the Zquare lounge is made in walnut and steel and is shown with a mat of woolen felt balls.

Musical interlude of the week: Coeur de pirate

2011-11-19T20:12:00.004-05:00

Un album d'une rare beauté.

Artist of the week: Jannick Deslauriers

2011-10-28T15:11:00.002-04:00

Saw Jannick Deslaurier's "What's Left?" exhibition at Show & Tell. His art is incredibly ephemeral and dreamy.

Tank (cronoline, thread, 2010)

Typewriter (crinoline, lace, organza, and thread, 2010)

Sewing machine (crinoline, lace, organza, and thread, 2010)

Currently reading / currently loving

2011-10-28T15:09:00.003-04:00

My future husband wrote a new novel. 901 pages to go.

Musical interlude of the week: Björk

2011-10-28T15:06:00.002-04:00

I love this album despite all the negative reviews.

Artist of the week: Eva Wylie

2011-09-14T19:28:00.005-04:00

Embedded Threads (front and detail view)
Installation at Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA
Silk screen on the wall

Near Berserk (front and detail view)
Installation at the Philadelphia International Airport
Silkscreen on fabric, ink, paint

Images c/o the art blog and Eva Wylie

Musical interlude of the week: Lykke Li

2011-09-14T19:27:00.002-04:00

Currently reading / currently loving

2011-09-14T19:25:00.001-04:00

Artist of the week: Kyung Woo Han

2011-08-13T22:51:00.002-04:00

Kyung Woo Han's "Green House" (2009) installation is a spectacular use of placement, perspective, colour and wiring.

The Scandies and their eye candies

2011-08-13T22:14:00.003-04:00

These delicious button poufs are made by Mitab.

Currently reading / currently loving

2011-08-11T20:09:00.002-04:00

Musical interlude of the week: Capital Cities

2011-08-06T14:46:00.002-04:00

Artist of the week: Robert Montgomery

2011-07-10T13:17:00.003-04:00

Lovely and thought-provoking work by situationist artist Robert Montgomery. All images c/o artist's site.

Talent is timeless

2011-06-29T10:49:00.003-04:00

Saw Sade in concert last night. The set was beautiful, her voice was exquisite, and Torontonians were in LOVE with her (no small feat for this city).

The Scandies and their eye candies

2011-06-28T00:14:00.002-04:00

The Dustpan & Broom by Ole Jensen c/o Norman Copenhagen.

Musical interlude of the week: Yelle

2011-06-28T00:13:00.002-04:00

Artist of the week: Faile

2011-06-11T09:47:00.005-04:00

Fashion Chimps NYC
25 colour screenprint
Dimensions: 36 x 47.5 Inches (91 x 121cm)
Signed, Stamped & Numbered Limited Edition of 300 (2011)

Currently reading / currently loving

2011-06-11T09:43:00.002-04:00

Oh, Becker, where have you been all my life? Where?

The Scandies and their eye candies

2011-06-05T15:47:00.002-04:00

The iconic AJ lamp was designed by Arne Jacobsen for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Musical interlude of the week: Keren Ann

2011-05-16T11:09:00.005-04:00

I can't stop watching this video.

Artist of the week: Maya Hayuk

2011-05-15T15:32:00.003-04:00

"Soundsystem variant 3, 5 colour screen print, 23"X34", 2010.

Saw Maya Hayuk and Jen Stark's "Double Rainbow Rainbow" at Show & Tell. Maya's use of colour is simply delicious.

Musical interlude of the week: Cults

2011-05-10T01:23:00.000-04:00

Currently reading / currently loving

2011-05-10T01:18:00.002-04:00

Officially done with post-secondary classes forever and ever. Oh, it's confetti time!

The Scandies and their eye candies

2011-03-03T20:12:00.001-05:00

Frost – a futuristic lounge chair with classical references designed by Danish designers FurnID.

Currently reading / currently loving

2011-02-26T12:11:00.003-05:00

I'm only on page 8 and will probably remain on page 8 for quite some time since I'm inundated with a course assignment, a thesis proposal, a book chapter and a why-isn't-this-done-already literature review. The weeping will happen any day now.

On the plus side, I found Krauss' novel on sale.

The Scandies and their eye candies

2011-02-16T23:46:00.005-05:00

"A pendant lamp to let your treasured objects be exhibited and highlited beneath a light source. Spread the light and tales of your favourite things." c/o Hommin

Musical interlude of the week: Rose

2011-02-15T13:05:00.004-05:00

Une belle chanson et vidéo qui met l'accent sur de jolies couleurs.

Artist of the week: Laura Letinsky

2011-02-06T10:46:00.004-05:00

Untitled, #80, Hardly More Than Ever series, 2003

Untitled, #11, Somewhere, Somewhere series. Images c/o Women in photography

Let there be light

2011-02-06T10:43:00.003-05:00

Came across these beautiful glass pendant lamps while visiting design nomad (hello Elisa). Designed by Hanna Kruger.

Currently reading / Currently loving

2011-02-06T10:41:00.006-05:00

I know....I know....you're surely thinking "why does she have all the fun?"

The Scandies and their eye candies

2011-02-05T22:29:00.003-05:00

These hand printed ottomans "features different symbols from Norway, everything form furniture pieces found in a folk museum on the west coast of Norway to the iconic cheese slicer." c/o Amy Hunting

2011-02-05T14:14:00.003-05:00

Jean Paul Gaultier's MahJong Couture modular sofas for Roche-Bobois.

Musical interlude(s) of the week: Braids and Maryse Letarte

2011-01-24T08:49:00.002-05:00

Ni le feu, ni le vent - extraits by maryseletarte

2011-01-01T12:15:00.002-05:00

There is something so utterly haunting, depressing and frustrating about abandoned buildings.

Abandoned factory in China. Photographed by Edward Burtynsky

Abandoned Lee Plaza Ballroom in Detroit. Photographed by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre

Abandoned Château de Noisy in Belgium

Abandoned San-Zhr Pod Village in Taiwan. Photographed by Magda Biernat

Abandoned Stella Artois brewery in Belgium. Photographed by Wallace-morkitu

The Blue Hospital, Russia

Currently reading / Currently loving

2011-01-01T12:07:00.000-05:00

Artist of the week: Anna Krachey

2010-12-19T10:53:00.004-05:00

Cupcake, 2007, digital archival print, ed. of 10, 31 x 40 inches

From series Land/Landscape. All images c/o here

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-12-19T10:45:00.003-05:00

Pearl is a chandelier in the shape of a brooch. Designed by Asshof & Brogård.

2010-12-19T10:41:00.000-05:00

If (God forbid) I perish by drowning, let it take place here.

Let there be light. . .

2010-12-12T12:19:00.001-05:00

The Spica is designed by Iacoli & Mcallister.

Currently reading / Currently loving

2010-12-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

Artist of the week: El Anatsui

2010-12-12T12:11:00.000-05:00

Open(ing) Market, tin, paper, wood, paint.
Sacred Moon, 2007

I'm a relative newcomer to El Anatsui's work. I had the opportunity to attend his "Art Talks" at the AGO as part of a graduate course on culture and education. The Royal Ontario Museum is currently hosting a 40-year career retrospective of his work entitled “El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa.” The exhibition is beautiful and very much worth a visit. Images c/o the Torontoist and exhibition info can be found here

Musical interlude of the week: Still Corners

2010-12-12T12:08:00.000-05:00

Artist of the week: Judith Geher

2010-12-04T22:49:00.005-05:00

Rose, Acrylic on linen 36x48

School Girl, Acrylic on linen, 48x48

I'm beside myself with love for these amazingly rendered paintings by Judith Geher. The colour palettes and compositions are pure perfection.

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-12-04T22:37:00.003-05:00

Push is designed by What’s What Collective.

2010-12-01T10:55:00.001-05:00

The Babuschka Vase is designed by Feinedinge

Artist of the week: Dan Funderburgh

2010-11-28T11:25:00.003-05:00

Bone Saw, Laser cut illustration board w/ spray paint.
Framed 24" x 10" 2010 Edition of 1.

Hand Tool Repeat Screen Print. Edition of 75
19" x 25" c/o moco loco

Let there be light. . .

2010-11-28T11:10:00.001-05:00

Bluff City Lights by Jonah Takagi

Currently reading / Currently loving

2010-11-28T10:46:00.004-05:00

Hey colonial kiddies, did you know that the Scots invented Canada? Now what am I going to do with my books on how the Italians and Blacks "created" Canada or how the Chinese "discovered" North America?

Well, I'm now certainly motivated to write that academic article arguing against this type of "scholarship." Has no one heard of decolonization?

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-11-14T20:20:00.002-05:00

Decades by the immensely talented Wis Design is a "chest of drawers made out of discarded drawers, found and rescued from flea markets. A mix of different styles from earlier decades, with woods and knobs of various kinds, in a single piece of furniture."

Musical interlude of the week: La patère rose

2010-11-14T20:16:00.002-05:00

Artist of the week: Ashlie N Chavez

2010-11-04T00:30:00.004-04:00

All photos are from her amazing series Symbiotic, which is a collaboration with her sister about being an identical twin.

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-11-04T00:11:00.004-04:00

Photos from the cookbook Hembakat är bäst (Home baked is the best) from Ikea. I'm not kidding around anymore, I want Scandinavia to take over the world. Like every square inch.

2010-11-02T11:14:00.001-04:00

Since I've returned to Toronto and have (foolishly) decided to spend the next 4 years in school, my kind sister has taken pity upon me. She not only allows me to ramble on about assignments, but she's also kindly treated me to a Robyn Cumming print. I've admired Cumming's work for quite some time now.

"The series is titled Lady Things and each one is just that, a sort of feminine entity that hovers between a lady and a creature or even an object. I wanted to create something that acted more like a vessel within and upon which I could layer various iconic projections of the feminine."

On an unrelated note, I may have accidentally deleted a ton of the blog's comments while trying to organize the comment section. Something to do with incorrectly sending comments to the spam folder and forever deleting them!?

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-11-02T10:03:00.000-04:00

The Caravaggio T is produced by Light Years.

Currently reading / Currently loving

2010-11-02T10:01:00.000-04:00

Future plans will include. . .

2010-11-02T09:58:00.000-04:00

I plan on getting a dog the moment I graduate. A cavalier king charles spaniel, to be exact. I will name him "Maurice." His nickname will be "citrouille" (pumpkin). He will be bilingual. I may dress him up in silly costumes.

Musical interlude of the week: Jérôme Minière

2010-10-18T21:17:00.007-04:00

Avant la sortie de son nouvel album, Jérôme Minière a fait paraître 18 épisodes (plutôt d'un mélange d'intérêt et d'inquiétude) sur son site officiel.

1, 2, 3, allons-y d'un court exemple, celui du Jeu télévisé:

Prettiest wall unit

2010-10-17T14:25:00.000-04:00

Oh, colour yellow, I love you. I love you a lot. The wall unit is designed by Periphere.

Any Baha'is interested in an online book club?

2010-10-17T14:22:00.001-04:00

I must read this book, and I must find a few people who are equally willing to discuss this book.

"Based on a true story, The People With No Camel weaves two journeys of freedom: a ten-year old girl escapes Iran in 1981 with her family, due to the heavy persecutions they face as Baha’is, carrying nothing but three little handbags, new identities, and faith. The novel then takes a turn. The girl has become a woman and the narrative shifts to a brief parable. Infused with Persian mythical characters, the woman’s quest to save her dying forest turns into her own spiritual journey – the search for ultimate freedom."

2010-10-17T14:19:00.000-04:00

Guess who will be seeing Sade in concert next June? This little blogger.

Best academic article title

2010-10-17T14:17:00.001-04:00

Olive or White? The colour of Italians in Australia. (by Helen Andreoni, Journal of Australian Studies, 2003, 77:81)

"This is the story of how the colour olive, first linked to Italian immigrant workers in the later part of the nineteenth century, has changed from being a derogatory label to an ethnicity marker for those Australian Italians who do not want to be assimilated. Those seeking to assimilate have repackaged their Italianness to present themselves as ‘white’ or at the very least as Italians from what are seen to be the more prestigious parts of central and northern Italy. Those not wanting to assimilate have used the olive label to challenge the society of which they are a part. This article will look at how Italians came to be labelled as the ‘Dago Menace’, the ‘Olive Peril’, the ‘Greasy Wog’ and the ‘Olive Trash’, and will consider also the reactions of Italians and Australian Italians to these stereotypes."

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-10-11T19:28:00.001-04:00

The Hillside storage unit is designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune.

Let there be light. . .

2010-10-07T11:32:00.000-04:00

The Spinning Light is designed by Benjamin Hubert.

Artist of the week: Tokujin Yoshioka

2010-10-07T11:27:00.001-04:00

Snow / Sensing Nature
Exhibition, Mori Art Museum, Japan
www.tokujin.com

2010-10-07T11:23:00.001-04:00

School requires me to drag around an inordinate amount of articles and books. I refuse to wear a packsack (I'd rather throw out my back, thanks), and I don't like messenger bags. I finally found the perfect "school bag." I own a few M0851 purses (back in the day when they were called Rugby North America), but size-wise they are too small. So, here's the new addition to my purse/bag collection: the Twill flat front pocket bag (colour-wise I chose black on black).

Musical interlude of the week: Wild Beasts

2010-10-07T11:19:00.000-04:00

Currently reading / currently loving

2010-10-07T11:16:00.000-04:00

Staying, Feeling, Being Italian. Apparently, I've encountered the holy trinity of Italianness. What does all this nonsense even mean?

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-09-15T14:11:00.007-04:00

Oh, Marimekko, you've outdone yourselves. I so very love the Amalia dress. That fabric and design!

Musical interlude of the week: Summer Camp

2010-09-15T14:02:00.008-04:00

I've been cucurrucucu-ing over Summer Camp's spectacularly wonderful new EP. Their songs make me so very happy.

SUMMER CAMP - Round the Moon from Paddy Power on Vimeo.

Artist of the week: Özant Kamaci

2010-09-05T19:55:00.000-04:00

All images from his series "pause." (c/o booooooom and ozant)

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-09-05T19:51:00.002-04:00

The Duo Sofa for LK Hjelle was designed by the recently defunct Norway Says. Images c/o Andreas Engesvik

Currently reading / Currently loving

2010-09-05T19:46:00.007-04:00

Sherman Alexie is one of the few authors who can make me both laugh and cry over a single sentence. Nermeen Shaikh's interviews with leading scholars made for a fascinating conversation on feminism, neo-liberalism, and the global economy (to name but a few). La nouvelle bande-dessinée de cinéaste Diane Obomsawin est un receuil de 16 histoires courtes. Pink Mimi Drink est disponible chez oie de cravan.

Les courts métrages d'Obomsawin sont aussi disposibles en ligne sur ONF.ca. J'adore Ici par ici.

Musical interlude(s) of the week: Martha Wainwright, Liz Phair, Blonde Redhead

2010-09-05T19:42:00.002-04:00

While Pitchfork (and all their bearded + balding + bespectacled in 1970s frames writers/readers) would disagree with me, Phair's new album is worth a listen. I love the album cover.
Blonde Redhead's new album will be released on September 14th. In the meantime, their first single "here sometimes" can be heard here.

"I'm only here sometimes, Under the tree of life, I'm only good sometimes, To keep my time to go home, I'm only good sometimes, Under the tree of rain."

Let there be light. . .

2010-07-20T22:51:00.003-04:00

The funnel-shaped lamp is designed by Bevk Perovic Arhitekti for Vertigo Bird.

Musical interlude of the week: Karkwa

2010-07-20T22:46:00.007-04:00

Recently, Karkwa has been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize for their lovely album "les chemins de verre." Do I believe that a Francophone album has a chance in hell of winning? No. Simply given the fact that out of 50 albums that have been shortlisted during the past 5 years, only 3 have been Francophone and two of those nominations were for Malajube. Apparemment, ils sont les seuls musiciens francophones de valeur au Canada. And could the overall selection get anymore White?? Or did I miss the memo informing us that only White (mostly male) Anglos make noteworthy music in Canada?

Soirée de poche: Beach House

2010-07-20T22:41:00.002-04:00

If someone were to ask me to choose the "perfect band / perfect album" - from the melodies, to the lyrics, to the song order and length - that band would be Beach House and that album would be Teen Dream. This is the only band where I long to listen to their music at full volume on an infinite loop in an empty field while daydreaming. I love them that much.

"More, you want more, you tell me
More, only time can run me" - walk in the park

"I'd take care of you if you'd ask me to
In a year or two
I'll take care of you, take care of you, that's true..." - take care

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-07-06T02:02:00.001-04:00

Oh, to be a magical Swede. The Collect / Cabinet is designed by A2.

The most beautiful bathroom fixtures in the world

2010-07-06T01:59:00.001-04:00

"A new bathroom fixtures collection with more than 85 items designed by the Bouroullec brothers features this innovative washbasin combination above - with a faucet and spout built into a wall-mounted shelf." c/o mocoloco

Currently reading / currently loving

2010-07-06T01:57:00.001-04:00

I adore Banana Yoshimoto for a variety of reasons. The first being, she named herself Banana. + 47 points to her. The second being, I've never tired of her words since stumbling upon her work in high school. + 130 points to her. The third being, her writing style is deceptively simple yet carries so much beauty and depth. + 1954 points to her. The fourth being, one of my dearest friends (who coincidentally is returning to Toronto from Israel today for 10 weeks!) always reminds me that Banana's work is translated more into Italian than English. + 65789 points to her. The fifth being, she's collaborated with Yoshitomo Nara. + 769463 points to her.

Artist of the week: Daniel Shea

2010-06-26T13:59:00.002-04:00

Racine’s Party in the Park from Notions of Recreation Pt. 2

Slurry impoundment from the series Removing Mountains, 2007.

No Logo, 2009

The first image more or less convinces me of humanity's pending annihilation. Here's hoping for an alien intervention. Daniel Shea's work was discovered c/o Tristan Hutchinson's equally lovely site.

Currently reading / currently loving

2010-06-26T13:51:00.000-04:00

Let there be light. . .

2010-06-26T13:48:00.000-04:00

"The Italian designer Enrico Zanolli and Andrea Di Filippo DZstudio have imagined "Clamp", a hanging lamp whose shade is inspired by the dimpled Chesterfield sofas." c/o muuuz or dzstudio

Musical interlude of the week: Phoenix

2010-06-26T13:43:00.001-04:00

2010-06-26T13:42:00.000-04:00

Bassam El-Okeily's "The Narrow House" makes my heart explode. Is the structure not reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock in some ways?

Smart girls at the party

2010-06-26T13:39:00.001-04:00

Find more videos like this on Smart Girls at the Party
Smart girls at the party, which "celebrates extraordinary girls who are changing the world by being themselves" has returned for a second season.

My personal favourite is Ruby the 7-year old feminist, singer, actor, dancer, entrepreneur, skateboarder, and great friend. Plus, she has the best name.

Love This Webseries So So MUCH!

Best academic article title(s)

2010-06-26T13:37:00.001-04:00

Selling Canada to Canadians: collective memory, national identity, and popular culture (by Emily West, Critical Studies in Media Communication, 2002, 19:2: 212-229)

abstract: Two media endeavours, the Heritage Minutes and the CBC documentary Canada: A People's History , hope to serve as a corrective to Canadians' lack of interest in their history and to bolster national identity. However, the producers do not want to appear propagandistic in a country where there is conflict about what the shape of the nation should be. They accomplish this by appealing to the "on the spot" authority of journalistic representation and the emotional immediacy of dramatic story-telling. They also emphasize the multi-cultural and multi-perspectival nature of Canada's past. Ultimately these efforts exist within a larger narrative about the "story of Canada," where events of the past are framed in terms of their contribution or relevance to the present shape of the nation-state. In this way, these programs reveal their purpose and, as collective memory scholars might predict, press the past into the service of present aims.

Planting the nation: Tree planting art and the endurance of Canadian nationalism (by Michael Ekers, Space and Culture, 2010, 13:1: 95-120)

abstract: Planting trees under a piece-rate wage scheme is widely recognized in Canada as a veritable national "rite of passage" for young,White, middle-class university students and travelers. Canadian artists Sarah Ann Johnson, Lorraine Gilbert, and Althea Thauberger have received popular and critical acclaim for their artistic representations of the "tree planting experience" in Canada. In this article, the authors critically examine tree planting art—and its reception—and argue that it constitutes the most recent incarnation of art that links nature and nationalism together in the Canadian context. Following Catriona Sandilands incisive reflections on nature and nationalism in Canada, it is argued that the artists in question, and their various commentators, enshrine tree planting as an obligatory passage point through which White middle-class subjects can access both the "pioneering" moments of the nation and the promised greener tomorrow of Canada’s future. The connections made by the artists between nature and the nation are by no means innocent, as the authors aim to suggest, but rather, rely on a liberal-individualist account of labor in which the social dynamics of gender, class, and race are erased.

Artist of the week: Shelton Walsmith

2010-06-20T20:14:00.003-04:00

heaven and earth no.3, 36" X 36", 2009.
eartha kitt no. 34, 36" X 36", 2009. Images c/o sheltonwalsmith.com

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-06-20T20:11:00.000-04:00

The Hansen family desk (aka the most perfect desk)

Musical interlude of the week: Marie-Pierre Arthur

2010-06-20T20:10:00.004-04:00

Let there be light. . .

2010-06-20T20:01:00.003-04:00

"The Modo chandelier is designed to be versatile. A spoke and hub system allows the light to take on multiple configurations. All parts are custom CNC milled from solid aluminum." Designed by Jason Miller, images c/o ministry of the interior

Currently reading / currently loving

2010-06-20T19:57:00.005-04:00

I loved, absolutely loved, Mary Lawson's Crow Lake. Her first novel was stunningly contained and perfectly paced. I'm not too sure what to make of The Other Side of the Bridge.
Alas, I'm only on p. 41 of Gabriele's novel, but I'm beginning to favour the book cover over the story.
While Williams more or less details linguistic minorities in "favourable positions," (i.e. Québec, Gaelic Scotland, the Basque Country, etc), I found his book depressing. Although, the most utterly depressing book on language rights (and their necessity) belongs to Tove Skutnabb-Kangas. Her "Linguistic Genocide in Education - or Worldwide Diversity and Human Rights?" is not for the faint of heart. Quite frankly, I've always been fascinated by unilingualism (especially of the Anglo variety). I've encountered so many Canadians who wear unilingualism like a badge of honour and just assume that "English" is the "default universal language" (without questioning neo-colonialism or its consequences.) But, let's all move to Korea to teach ESL because that's surely going to make us all "one."

Artist of the week: Anastasia Cazabon

2010-06-13T20:18:00.006-04:00

Sublime photographs by Anastasia Cazabon and all from her series entitled “From the Secret World.”

Musical interlude of the week: Orange Orange

2010-06-13T20:14:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was Franco-Fête at the Harbourfront Centre. Orange Orange blew me away. Ils sont tellement unique et rafraîchissant. Vraiment une belle découverte.

2009-2010

2010-06-13T20:11:00.001-04:00

By Wednesday, I will have completed my first year of courses towards my doctorate. What astonishes me most about this year?

1. That I’m a doctoral student. I can only describe my life as the 8th wonder of the world. Really, if someone had approached me when I was 16.5 years old (or as a 21 year old undergrad who almost ended up on academic probation because I was far more interested in shopping than studying) and suggested I would be working towards a Ph.D., I would have laughed and considered that someone crazy. No one in my family has ever gone to grad school. My Nonni’s education ended in elementary school and my parents went to college.
2. I haven’t cried once (which has not always been the case regarding my time in grad school.)
3. I’m in love with my program (which contributes to the non-crying.) I love my classmates, my professors, my supervisor, my courses, and my graduate assistantship.
4. I’ve returned to Toronto.
5. I feel guilt-free 74.6% of the time when taking a few days, or a few weeks, or a few months when replying to phone calls or emails.
6. I’m living the life I actually want rather than the life other’s think I should have. I’m more attuned to what makes me happy, and I pay less attention to what people (and commercials) tell me should make me happy.

Currently reading / currently loving

2010-06-13T20:10:00.002-04:00

Artist of the week: Carla Accardi

2010-06-01T21:07:00.002-04:00

Red Whale (2006)
Negativo no. 8, 1955, casein on canvas , 47 1/4 x 33 7/8 inches

Currently reading / currently loving

2010-06-01T21:04:00.001-04:00

Oh. . .the title. . . the title alone does my heart and head in. LaRocque’s new book ought to be compulsory reading in Canada.

“In When the Other is Me, Dr. LaRocque brings a metacritical approach to Native writing, situating it as resistance literature within and outside the postcolonial intellectual context. She outlines the overwhelming evidence of dehumanization in Canadian historical and literary writing, its effects on both popular culture and Canadian intellectual development, and Native and non- Native intellectual responses to it in light of the interlayered mix of romanticism, exaggeration of Native “difference,” and the continuing problem of internalization that challenges our understanding of the colonizer/colonized relationship.”

Sometime ago, my dear friend Ana kindly sent me McCall Smith’s book. I finally began reading it over the weekend.

Lastly, I’m always looking for interesting book recommendations. But please, no self-help books (I will openly mock you), anything involving vampires, or thrillers (I find no entertainment value in stories revolving around murders).

The Scandies and their eye candies

2010-06-01T20:59:00.001-04:00

The Circle Lamp is designed by Monica Förster. (images c/o blueantstudio)

Musical interlude of the week: Andy Grammer

2010-06-01T20:46:00.004-04:00

A kind reader suggested I might enjoy Andy Grammer. Normally, I tend not to favour Baha'i-inspired or made-by-a-Baha'i music. Baha'is are like spiders. There's always one 6 feet away. . . with a guitar. . . and tone death pitch. And since the community is far too nice to suggest singing lessons. . . but I digress. Thankfully, Grammer is talented.