The best line of the week happened at our arts marketing lunch, where we hooted about the "audience benefits" of being anyone 50 or younger in the crowds of most "major" arts events. "You'll feel like a teenager again!" was the motto - since you may well be up to 20 years younger than some people there. And hey, ageism begone.. there's a ton of laughter under some of that white hair. Well, especially when you ruffle it a bit.
I'm not exactly a big crowd fan - but I think it's getting better. Still, the donor dress-up nights like those of Weds and Thurs were really quite charming - with or without the free food and wine! If you're one of the innerly shy such as I am, repeat after us, selves: "You wouldn't worry at all about how you come off, if you knew how little others were actually ever thinking about you.
Weds. night it was Member Appreciation night at the Agnes. Fabo style, a huge turnout and lovely, donated wines and food due to the hard work of a stellar committee (although the overwhelming turnout made it bad news for moderate latecomers such as ourselves, who ended up at fast food afterwards.) The shows are great at the Agnes right now and there has been a decision that the new "gift shop" focus is on the art rental programme and the strong catalogue collection. (Okay, I still want a wider range of cards to buy...especially from locals... but I suppose a real painting for as little as $30 something a month is very cool. What if every business in town were showing the work of a local artist? For that little a month, hey - they should have a tax break or something. Or get listed on somebody's website. Or everybody's. Should we start a movement?)
Thursday night, sadly had to miss the Abject Nature talk, because I was suddenly invited to the Kingston Prize in the Grand lobbies. Now, for all the fretting and backstage drama, all sets of parties should be terribly proud. It's a gorgeous setting, the lighting was fine enough ...(okay, too bad they have to shroud a couple of portraits for the kiddie show that's on) and the portraits are really tremendous. I keep taking portraiture classes, because I love the challenge of capturing people ---and see nothing at all wrong with portraiture being considered art, particularly considering the ENORMOUS skill and patience that portraiture requires. There's certainly a range of styles and approaches, ranging from the small work of Roselina Hung, a couple of fascinatingly- referenced works, including Jennifer Campbell's After the Flood (she should sell it to Margaret Atwood...) and the highly dramatic Familial Ties by Tammy Salzi. The monochromatic winner, Personal Surveillance by Andrew Valko, surprised me - not for quality, but because I "assumed" it would have been done by someone as young as the subject. Very interesting. GO see!
For a wee change of pace, we hit The Mansion, to listen to a few groups, including local faves Reuben DeGroot and our young friend Corbin Murdoch. I like it there. Although there I find I'm self conscious about my age...and flat shoes. "It's always something." BUt the Mansion makes me remember all the good things about being young -and keeps reinforcing respect for the young who have smarts, energy, and artistic talents. They're pretty tolerant of oldsters too. (It's upstairs where the good stuff happens, and has comfy chairs.) PS limestonecity.com gives a pretty good listing of bands playing in town...
Finally, congrats to Hennie Marsh, who got both Honourable Mention and 1st prize in Acrylics for her works in Cornwall's Focus Art juried show. Check it outL www.art-muse.blogspot.com
Hot off the press, think ahead for Tone Deaf 8, the always adventurous Festival Of Adventurous Sound Performance, from Oct. 23-31. It's happening betwixt Modern Fuel, The Artel, Sydenham United Church and at The Agnes. www.tone-deaf.org
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Your relationship is quite good if a man make you feel like a teenager.
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