Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod aren’t known for writing music with a political slant. When he’s not writing gorgeous western-tinged melodic songs, Adrian joins Brendan in the Vancouver band, The Fugitives, a four-piece composed of musicians who double as slam poets, writers, actors and hilarious accordion players (ok, there’s only
Continue readingAuthor: Amanda McCuaig
Art Threat: Banksy the Olympian
Bansky posted a couple new pieces to his site that comment on the Olympics. It also gives me a great excuse to share my favourite quote of his with you: “The thing I hate the most about advertising is that it attracts all the bright, creative and ambitious young people, leaving
Continue readingArt Threat: Representing Eisenhower – The ongoing dialogue around the design of the Eisenhower Memorial
I caught wind of a different kind of political art and politics of art this past weekend while reading the latest issue of Vanity Fair. As anyone who’s done any kind of planning in teams can imagine, building a monument can be a mighty task. As it turns out, the
Continue readingArt Threat: The Hole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
The Hole Truth comes in two parts: altered US flags and drawings on vintage police shooting targets. In order to create his first show at envoy enterprises, German-born, New-York based artist Brian Kenny created a series with the Hole Truth that reconstructs iconic objects in his effort to reflect on
Continue readingArt Threat: In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing – The ROM displays photos by Larry Towell, Donovan Wylie and "Afghan Star"
Those interested in the reality of Afghanistan and located in Toronto can take in the photographic works of Larry Towell and Donovan Wylie at the ROM along with a showing of the film “Afghan Star” this Wednesday, June 20 at 7:00pm. The photographic works tell the story of the troubling
Continue readingArt Threat: Pioneer Ladies [of the Evening] – Photos of incarcerated women are transformed
An exhibition at PLATFORM Centre for Photographic + Digital Arts in Winnipeg is testing the sexualized and gendered boundaries of our Canadian history. Curator Dr. Laurie K. Bertram has taken archival mugshots of Western Canadian female sex trade workers, taken from the Winnipeg Police Museum Archive, and reworked them into
Continue readingArt Threat: City of Vancouver launches Arts & Culture Policy Council
The City of Vancouver is now home to an Arts and Culture Policy Council which will advise City Council on civic programs relating to arts and culture. The creation of the council was announced back in February, but last week members of the council were finally announced. The 15-member council
Continue readingArt Threat: Wild At Heart: Keep Wildlife In The Wild – New Contemporary artists paint the endangered and beloved
Animals inspire, intrigue, and move people in a way nothing else can. Andrew Hosner and Amanda Erlandson gathered together a group of incredible ‘new contemporary’ artists for “Wild at Heart – Keep Wildlife in the Wild”, to touch on that connection while raising awareness about wild creatures around the world.
Continue readingArt Threat: Our “Emperor” Has No Clothes – Nude portrait of Stephen Harper sells for $5000
If an instant reminder of let-your-lesson-be-learned childhood story, The Emperor’s New Clothes, isn’t what comes straight to mind when you see Margaret Sutherland’s portrait of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, then … well… you need to read more children’s stories. The painting, called Emperor Haute Couture, is on display at
Continue readingArt Threat: How the West Was Won – Art of Nicola Verlato
Nicola Verlato’s “How the West Was One” is a visually striking series of oil on canvas that tells the tale of the culture clash between monotheism and polytheism throughout human history. Depictions of wild west cowboys versus natives, depictions of the sacred heart and more flare with brilliance in his
Continue readingArt Threat: Portraits of WWII Veterans From All Sides – Jonathan Alpeyrie shares 210 diverse veteran faces
The aged faces of men of many nations look into Jonathan Alpeyrie’s lens for his collection of 210 photographic portraits of men who fought in WWII. The goal behind his project, World War II Veterans, on display until May 12, 2012 at Anastasia Photo in New York City, was to
Continue readingArt Threat: One Month Later – How the 2012 Federal Budget Impacts the Arts
With the release of the 2012 federal budget one month behind us you’ve likely captured the gist of the budget – cuts to the CBC and none to the Canada Council for the Arts. Here’s a full breakdown of how the cuts (and non cuts) affect arts and culture in
Continue readingArt Threat: Music Monday: Paper Doll by Stef Lang
Stef Lang takes the uprising of women internationally against the pressure that consumer culture creates for young women (and undoubtedly for young men as well) to the pop scene with this great, dancable song that could easily contend with the same hits that push the “look” she’s speaking out against.
Continue readingArt Threat: Humour: The most vicious way to attack someone – Artwork of illustrator Zina Saunders
When I found Zina Saunders’ [pronounced Zai-nah] animations on Mothers Jones a couple weeks ago I knew I’d have to ask her for a chat. We got on the phone last week and by the time I was off I was texting my friends that she was one of the
Continue readingArt Threat: Step Right Up to See the GOP’s Amazing War on Women
Mother Jones’ illustrator Zina Saunders takes on the GOP’s oppressive and backwards stance on women in her illustrated political cartoon this week, in which you are invited to step right up and watch the greatest circus on earth – the 2012 Republican presidential campaign. Watch it over at Mother Jones’.
Continue readingArt Threat: Doonesbury “Shaming Room” too much for sensitive newspapers
Last week several newspapers censored the first of a series of Doonesbury comics addressing the current climate and discussion about women’s reproductive rights (specifically, in this case, abortion). The Center for Reproductive Rights has compiled a list of more than 60 newspapers who chose not to publish the strip, as
Continue readingArt Threat: Animals in the Hen House – Interview with Our Hen House executive director, Jasmin Singer
Back in January I posted an article highlighting a video about Sue Coe’s art that was produced by Our Hen House, a “Multimedia hub for people who want to change the world for animals.” Jasmin Singer, one of the founders of Our Hen House, immediately stood out as someone who
Continue readingArt Threat: New video of Michael D’Antuono’s art
Last month I posted an interview with Michael D’Antuono. A few days ago he sent me the above video, which is a beautifully narrated piece which outlines the background of his newest portrait series, Corporacy. An excellent watch.
Continue readingArt Threat: Portraits of a young girl influenced by the mainstream – Photographs by Jessica Manley
Currently a senior at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Jessica Manleybegan the project “Melissa” six years ago while still a high school student. She began working with her younger sister, Melissa, to explore the way media influences the understanding of ‘normal’ in young girls, and how
Continue readingArt Threat: Artist Profile: Interview with Michael D’Antuono – Artist challenges government’s monetary redistribution, and more
Michael D’Antuono’s work is striking. His background as an illustrator sets a foundation for a remarkable oil painting style – deep shadows all set among poignant messages. After years of being instructed what to draw, the contraction of severe tendonitis led him to lay down the pencils and pick up
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