CJAM

With the call for walkers on this upcoming holiday Monday (May 18 at 9:30am), there was a lot of response.
Almost all positive.

You can’t take away the other side of this though…as I learned.
There are a lot of people who are angry with Eddie Francis and the city representatives (in general) with regards to their positions on the arts…and creativity. Kind of crucial when the event is called Walk for a Creative City.

The reaction, when negative, seems knee-jerk and severe, with instant refusal to sidle up next to our mayor. But with some retrospection, and understanding that this walk is at the same time separate and united with the Mayor’s (Windsor’s 117th Birthday) Walk, there are some who seem to be seeing the opportunity.

So maybe we go out and walk together, and we make a great display on our own behalf, and the news notices our creative masses.
Then nothing happens.
Gasp!
Making the effort to get together, and show that we’re capable of meeting on common ground without picket signs is a step toward our benefit.
Some may argue that they’re tired of being kicked while down. Some HAVE argued this.
I’m not here to argue.
I’m asking creative people to show their numbers for whatever reasons they may have, and to maybe make some connections to their creative brethren. At least we will be in a space where new introductions can take place and where we can take reflective pride in our numbers.

Boycotting removes your voice. It silences only those boycotting. Leaving those in your place to speak on your behalf, which no can do but yourself, is a weaker presence than showing yourself and making YOUR mark. Especially since many of the potential withdrawals know that there will be an unprecedented turnout, it really doesn’t serve their purpose by “saying something by being silent”. It just makes the arts (and its supporters) look like less than it is…which is not a wise approach, if you ask me.

Still looking VERY forward to the walk this weekend, and I will be inviting my entire local family to attend in support of their younger brother (me) and his wife (Jhoan).

It’s going to be a special day.

Tuesday May 12th, Adam Fox and I will be interviewing two very special folks on our radio show called Not In My Backyard. Pina Ciotoli of Windsor Endowment for the Arts (and Windsoreats.com) will be discussing how this walk came to be, her interest in the creative turnout, and what her predictions are for that event.

Those of you reading this in time, you can go to www.ustream.tv/channel/nimby-on-cjam and watch/listen to the show. Or you can simply turn your radio dial to 91.5FM in Windsor and Detroit to hear us.

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Who’s Dennis K. Smith?
You might know already, but I didn’t have a clue.

Dennis is a painter, teacher, and quite simply…one of the most fantastic people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

Not In My Backyard required another interview this week. February being Black History Month finds the city alive with events and shows highlighting the local black community and their history. With these events prevalent and in the greater-public eye, I stumbled across this event called Threads Through Time, presented by The Artists of Colour.

It takes place at Mackenzie Hall and The Common Ground Galler (same building) from February 6th until the 17th. Friday the 6th is the date of the opening party. I am, without a doubt, going to this, and I’m bringing my father, his wife Eileen, and possibly some other family member.

This exhibit will be hosting WORLD-CLASS artifacts from the underground railroad. To be more specific, they are quilts that were used to signal to the holder of the quilt details about the underground railroad…ensuring safe passage to Canada.

Apart from these quilts, there will be several works of art from Dennis K. Smith, his daughter Nicole Talbot, and several other professional and amateur artists of colour. And having been into Dennis K. Smith’s studio, I can tell you the quality of work he is producing is phenomenal.

Trained in fine art, Smith’s painting are all about stories. His affinity for history, personal and otherwise, is infectious and unavoidable when experiencing his work. A certain piece that he’s done, which was unfinished at the time of our interview is a mural of famous local and Canadian people of colour. The first black doctor, lawyer, The Real McCoy, and his own father are all featured prominently in this piece. It’s gorgeous. A who’s who of pioneering black Windsorites and Canadians is a patchwork of pride unmatched in any other painting I’ve seen.

Sitting with Dennis in his studio (gorgeous teaching space, by the way), drinking a fresh cup of coffee that he brewed up for us, we made an instant connection and spoke about the black community, the Artists of Colour community, and the importance of these showcases.

Here’s a HUGE video of the conversation I had with Smith, in his studio. TO see some of his unfinished works, and studio space, skip to the last two minutes of the video.

Click To Play

In the meantime, have a listen to our show from yesterday by CLICKING THIS LINK.
Our show is, as usual, 30 minutes long.
Did I mention that Adam’s interview was stellar as well?
Enjoy.

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Adam and I had a great show today.
I had to record my interview very last minute (yesterday), and edit it very late last night.
Maya Ruggles from FedUp Windsor Community Gardening, came to Phog last night so I could interview her, as she had knee surgery this morning, when I might have been able to do a phone interview. She was game for a phone interview, from home, no less than two hours after her surgery, but having had two knee surgeries (including something very similar to her procedure today) there is no way I would expect ANYONE to talk to me for 10 minutes after that gruesomeness.

The piece was maybe one of the best I’ve done since Adam and I started recording Not In My Backyard. I just got a real sense of groundbreaking, up-and-coming buzz around the work that Maya and FedUp is doing. It was great to talk with her and to get a greater appreciation for what they’ve done and for what lies ahead. I think I see some volunteering in Jhoan’s and my future with FedUp.

Adam interviewed Chris Mangin of Artcite over the phone, and discussed Art’s Birthday. No, not the dude, Art…but art, the expression. It’s having its 1,000,046th birthday this year, and is being celebrated at Phog Lounge. During the interview, I was surprised to learn that The Situationists (Socialist Parisian artists in the 60s) had a hand in how this event is celebrated. For those of you paying extra-close attention, The Situationists were the “originators” of psychogeography, something I’ve been involved in locally a bit, and would often travel through Paris with a map of London, TRYING to get lost in order to see the city from different eyes.

If you missed the show and you want to listen, go OVER HERE!!

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