Every time Catherine would turn on the microwave, I'd piss my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour

Happy Holidays this season from Beano and Boxcar.

Monopoly Repackaging Redesign

Oh please, let's hope this design becomes mainstream. My favorite game (which no one likes to play with me), gets a well needed face-lift courtesy of Andy Mangold. Too awesome!!

via cityofskies

Housepaint - Phase 2: Shelter

My friend Jeff pointed me towards this exhibition. Check it out. It's your duty!

From the ROM website "The Institute for Contemporary Culture presents Housepaint, the first exhibition on the subject of street art in a major Canadian museum. Drawing attention to issues of poverty and homelessness, this ground-breaking exhibition is a collaboration between ten street artists in memory of the former residents of Tent City. Each artist has painted a colourful canvas house in their personal, exuberant style. In addition, five artists will respond to the previous installations by creating an original new work in the gallery over the course of the exhibition.

Tent City, a shanty town that stood on five acres of undeveloped land on the shores of Lake Ontario, spontaneously arose in the late 1990s. Its residents were evicted without warning in 2002.

Curated by Devon Ostrom of them.ca, Housepaint will be on display until July 2009, at which point the canvas houses will be auctioned, with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.

For more information, updates on the exhibition, to register for the auction, or to add your own comments, please visit www.housepaint.ca"

Now open at the ROM until July 5, 2009 at the Institute for Contemporary Culture
Roloff Beny Gallery, Level 4 of the ROM in Toronto.

Favorite Albums of 2008 : Tobacco - Fucked Up Friends

Tom Fec of the Black Moth Super Rainbow releases his first solo album. 16 songs in just under 38 minutes. Short, but highly addictive.

Anyone that enjoys hypnotic and detached electronica will love this album. Bring it to your next house party.

Dirt (Featuring Aesop Rock)
Backwoods Altar
Grease Wizard

Why I am a Designer

sigh... the fine-art ambition still burns dimly.

Just say no to kangaroos

And to every other cute animal it seems? The people over at Fuck you, penguin, have a blog where they tell cute animals what's what.

So what offenses have these very cute animals committed you ask? Well, Camels are “played out.” Ponies “try too hard,” dolphins are “smug little shits,” and that “duck-billed asshole,” the platypus, is so weird that people can’t even agree on the plural form of its name. (“That’s because if you see two of these animals[?] together, the fabric of space and time will literally tear apart.”)

And the write up for the kangaroo above cracked me up: "Oh, I get it, Kangaroo. You're just hanging out, right? I bet if I asked you what you were doing, you would probably say you were "chillaxin'" or something. You probably think you look pretty cool, but I know better, Kangaroo, because YOU ARE AS A HIGH AS A KITE RIGHT NOW."

Funny stuff, for a slow afternoon.

via veryshortlist

First-Person Shoe-Ter?

Okay, okay -- so I copped this off of Best Week Ever. And it is much more serious when you replace the animated cat with the pair of shoes that was actually lobbed at the Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Ass On Your Way Out President of the United States of America. But I just had to share.

I've also stolen NYC comedian/producer/show host/blogger Jon Friedman's comments on the ordeal (which I am having quite the giggle over):

Questions That I Have for the Secret Service
(Jon Friedman, 23/6)

1. Shouldn't you have jumped in front of that shoe?
2. Shouldn't you have jumped in front of that second shoe?
3. Second shoe = the one thrown after being removed from foot after first shoe was thrown.
4. Let's say people had three feet. Would you have allowed a third shoe to fly unimpeded?
5. While the shoe was in the air, were you like, "Oh, its just a shoe."
6. Same question about the second shoe.
7. Do you think this is funny, "Throw a shoe at me once, shame on--you. Throw a shoe--you throw a shoe, you can't throw a shoe again."
8. Is there not "protection training" for lunatics launching objects?
9. Let's say there isn't training for that--but do they tell you that if someone does throw (or shoot) something to be on the alert in case they want to repeat this behavior?
10. Where were you?

BONUS QUESTION: Do you think the Iraqis want us there? (Hint: their journalists are throwing their shoes at Bush)

ABC3D :: might be the single most beautiful book you will ever own

My friend Karen pointed me towards, what might be the only book you should ever own. I will let her describe her experience for you.

"I bought one of the most beautiful kid books I've ever seen while in NYC. It's called ABC3D and it's a pop up alphabet book - all in black, red and white like a constructivist manifesto or something. Each letter is 3D, constructed out of paper. And the cover is a lenticular that alternates between a, b, c and d. For about five minutes I pretended that I was actually going to give it to my goddaughter but then I admitted to myself there's no way I'm giving it up."

Go buy it. Now. ABC3D by Marion Bataille

It's about time...It's about change? We will have to see.

Here is your cheat sheet to see what the past 12 presidents have done in their first 100 days in office. From FDR to GWB, tract the good and bad decisions that came out of these first few important months.

President-elect Obama speaks about change. Let's see if he can instill that message into his first 100 days in office. Stay tuned.

via Good is

The Preservation of Fleeting Moments by Adrienne Deboer

The work of South Dakota based photographer Adrienne Deboer will make you smile and yearn for your childhood days long gone by. She is a rare photographer who has the keen sensibility to capture the disconnection bewtween childhood and adulthood that alot of us seem to miss.

Adrienne Deboer is definitely one to watch for.

Learning to Love You More... November

Honestly -- Boxcar & I do have other resources -- other than wacky kid Miranda July's various and sundry projects, websites, books, etc. etc.! I just couldn't resist here...

It's November. For those of us who live anywhere that is not a perpetually sunny, shiny and toasty clime, November just sucks. It's dreary and cold and damp.

What better way to get you through those reclusive months ahead than to participate in Learning to Love You More 'Assignments'?!

Now I know that there are some of you who will eyeroll at this concept. "Oh, how arty" you might snicker. But do yourself a favour. If you don't feel inclined to participate. If you choose to poo-poo the whole thing outright -- at least check out the site and peruse the assignment submissions posted there.

That is your assignment.

If you don't crack a smile at least once... well... What's WRONG with you?!!

(The photo above was taken from Assignment #30: Take a Picture of Strangers Holding Hands. Some of my other favourite assignments include: Draw the News, Draw a Picture of Your Friend's Friend, Draw a Scene From A Movie That Made You Cry, Repair Something).

Toronto's own cutest-ever writer & artist Emily Holton has even contributed to LTLYM -- with her 'For Immediate Release: Emily Holton Eats Too Much Pineapple And Lies Awake, Imagining Heartbreak' response to Assignment #60: Write A Press Release About An Everyday Event. And as I plug Emily here, I realize that I have completely missed the Toronto launch event of her latest work: Dear Canada Council/Our Starland -- which took place tonight at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom! I'm guessing that almost midnight is pretty much too late to catch a literary event (collar pull).

“The Drawing Room” Curated by Audrey Kawasaki

If you find yourself on the West Coast this month, head over to ThinkSpace Gallery in Los Angeles, CA. Renowned artist Audrey Kawasaki has gathered together some of her friends to curate her first exhibition. “The Drawing Room,” and consists of Stella Im Hultberg, Amy Sol, Kukula, Brandi Milne, Brian Viveros, Catherine Brooks, Mari Inukai, Nomi Chi, Lauren Albert, Jessica McCourt, Julia Sonmi Heglund, Eveline Tarunadjaja, Meg Hunt, Irana Douer, Catherine Campbell, Lilly Piri, Amy Earles, Eric Thomas Bostrom, Joao Ruas, Laura Laine, Jason Levesque aka Stuntkid, Fumi Nakamura, Travis Louie, and Liza Corbett.

The show is up til November 29.

So many of my favorite artists in one room, I'm wishing I was in the position to jet over there this week! But alas I am not, so I've highlighted a few of the artists I wish I was able to see (why does it seem the most interesting art shows are not happening in Toronto)

Amy Sol

Catherine Campbell

Stella Im Hultberg

Evaline Tarunadjaja

and of course who could forget Audrey Kawasaki herself. One day I'd love to be able to afford one of her pieces for my walls.

A great movie you may have missed :: Billy the Kid

Jennifer Venditti’s documentary "Billy the Kid", is a surprising treat. The film follows a 15-year old boy, Billy, as he struggles with being a teenager, first loves and battling his own personal demons in small town USA. Shockingly self-aware, Billy tries his best to make sense of the world he inhabits. Anyone who has felt like an outsider during high-school, or like they never belonged in this world, will empathize with Billy.

The DVD is loaded with some great extras. A mini-doc "Pieces That Don't Fit" contains lots of extra footage and a follow-up with the present day Billy. This is just as watchable as the main feature. And for all you Miranda July fans out there, she has an essay that's included. And to not be outdone, Ryan Gosling makes an appearance with the director, on the audio-commentary.

I can't recommend this movie enough. A rare gem of film making like this only comes out once in a blue moon. A must-own!

billythekiddocumentary.com

Now that it has been decided ...

... it's up to Obama to put his money where his mouth is and actually change America for the better.

Artist to watch for - Chiharu Shiota

Like an infestation of spiders, Japanese-born/Berlin-based artist Chiharu Shiota wraps black objects from floor to ceiling in miles of black wool. I've only seen her work in magazines and on the web. I'm sure these installations are even more stunning and awe-inspiring in person. Shiota shows primarily in Japan and Germany. Let's hope she makes it over to North America some time soon.

Thandie Newton as Sarah Palin

We all knew that Ricky Gervais was funny. But Thandie Newton? Have just recently seen W. by Oliver Stone, one of my favorite characters from the film was Ms. Newton's portrayal of Condoleezza Rice. Her mannerisms and speech were dead-on. I still get chills up my spine thinking about that role, watching her move around the room like a possessed Praying Mantis.

The above clip is from The Graham Norton Show on the BBC. Ms. Newton and Mr. Gervais have a good laugh reading a script from an "already" made adult film (aka as a porno) called Naylin Paylin. I couldn't make this stuff up.

Enjoy. I can't wait for Ms. Newton's impersonation of Cindy McCain.

The actual script reading doesn't start til the 1:45 mark, but the opening bit is Ricky Gervais at his best.

via OnlyMagazine

From 2D to 3D

I stumbled across an article about this artist in some super fancy, expensive, foreign design magazine on the weekend. I'm kicking myself for not picking a copy up (or, at least, for not scribbling down the name of the mag). But I was wise enough to spend company time today, researching the guy online... And here's what I turned up...

Gwon Osang (b.1974 in Seoul) is a famous Korean contemporary artist. He is well known for groundbreaking works as a sculptor & gained widespread fame with his photo-sculptures. Gwon Osang takes photos of his subject in sections -- as a panoramic view of his subject -- and then models the photos in to a 3D representation of his subject. In the beginning, his sculptures were 'light' and were not molded to a solid construction, which made the sculptures very fragile. He changed up his process in favour of a more sturdy frame or structure -- which at the same time allowed Gwon more creativity with his reconstruction.

Apparently, Gwon constructs these models by memory & without his subject there to model from. Pretty freakin' amazing if you ask me!

Go to the Gwon Osang gallery for these photosculptures (series is called Deodorant Type)

Click on main photo in this post to link to interview & essay on Gwon's work.

Gwon Osang participated in an exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery this summer (ended Sept 21st -- sorry UK gang!), where he was artist in residence.

Photography is not dead

Having a "I love my computer moment".

Who doesn't remember the Polaroid?. Seems only like yesterday (actually Feb. of this year), that Polaroid stopped production. Now it can be found only in select stores.

Don't fear because Poladroid is here.

Poladroid creates Polaroid-style images from your photos.

Here's what you do:
1. Download the free POLADROID application and launch it (MAC only, sorry PC)
2. Drag & Drop your photos
3. Wait... wait.... wait or like the real thing shake the picture (this brought a smile to my face).

Then look at, download or print your "Polaroid" picture.

Too easy, too fun.

Via surfstation

Celebrating 100 years of the roundel

The roundel first appeared on Underground station platforms in 1908. The bar and circle, as it became known, comprised a solid red enamel disc and horizontal blue bar. These early roundels, framed with timber mouldings, were introduced as station nameboards. The new device gave prominence to the name of the station, and helped passengers distinguish it from surrounding commercial advertising.

If you find yourself in London this week, head over to A Foundation Gallery Rochelle School, where Art on the Underground have commissioned 100 artists to make brand new works of art that are inspired by the Roundel as a contemporary symbol for a world class transport system. Better make it fast because the exhibition closes this Thursday.

Visit the London Transport Museum for more information.

Via guardian.co.uk

Canzine 2008 & Panic Attacks: A Dreadful Combination

I've returned, bleary-eyed and spent, from an afternoon of zine/small press/DIY overload. Today was a day I look forward to each year with mounting anticipation. A countdown of days as the weeks draw closer. 10 more sleeps... 7 more sleeps... 3 more sleeps... 'til that eventful morning I wake up bright and giddy as a kid on Christmas morn' -- CANZINE DAY!!! YessSSSS!!! -- as I jump around and scissor kick and arm pump in my pyjamas, eyes wide with glee.

I am a veteran attendee of Canzine. A die hard. I know what to expect. Load up on brunch or a snack beforehand. Wear a light jacket or layers of clothes that can be stripped down and easily tucked away in to backpacks, bags or under armpits -- out of the way. Never assume that the couple bucks you took out at the ATM will carry you through. Make smaller change. Don't make eye contact with the vendors unless you want them to grip on to your gaze and break you with their humble artist wizardry -- their awkwardly lovable mannerisms and witty banter... You will break a hundred hearts while you are there if you do engage. You'll only end up buying some weirdo surrealist computer art or hand printed day-of-the-week toilet paper or militant vegan anarchist patch or other randomness not quite ever within your usual character.

And then there is The Heaving Masses... The elbows and arms and bums and knees brushing past you on all sides. At some point or another, you will grope or be groped, though not necessarily intentional. You'll get swished along in the tide, and you'll have to come back round again to get to where you wanted to go.

This year... This year... This year -- I had a lovely panic attack -- in the midst of it all. Not even 5 feet in the door. Funny thing is, I don't even think it was the crowd that triggered it. It just happened -- just minutes before -- on the way to the Gladstone. But there, just barely in the door of the buzzing Gladstone 1st floor, I felt the anxiety swell. The sounds around me fuzzed out & echoed -- like when you're at an indoor public pool & you can hear the voices and laughter and splashing of the swimmers blending in soundscape -- bouncing off the walls & the surface of the pool. You can't make sense of any of it. It's just noise... My hands were shaking like crazy. Hot & red.

What the hell?.. What the hell?.. Okay... breathing... breathing... Fuck.

Eventually (and only after one Bloody Caesar was consumed STAT), I cooled back to my normal self & was able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon -- shuffling past table after table of print-y goodness. And, occasionally, stopping for a yap about a particular artist's work. But there is one artist who I am always on the lookout for at these kind of events... and today, I swallowed my shy geek pride to say hullo to him whilst I bought up almost one of everything he had on the table... Aaron Costain (see picture above). Really, do, check out his stuff. Something in his illustration style always catches my eye -- from miles away. Which is quite the feat, since many of his comics are on the mini size and, well... small.

I only managed to squeak out a couple of comments & questions while I stood there, watching him sign the fistful of comics I'd purchased. I blushed a little as I heard the typical "I'm a huge fan" line bounce off my lips... Oh, gawd. I'm a dork... But I did ask him about one particular book I was buying: Calamity Coach ("A Non-Narrative Pictorial Sequence of Imaginary Events Designed to Discourage Even the Bravest of Souls from Vehicular Travel") . A series of illustrations of motor coaches in some serious accident situations. There are little two-lined rhymes underneath each one. Morbid as it was, it made me giggle, and I had to know why he decided to produce such an odd little thing.

There is a story, but I'm going to be a jackass and not post it here. Find out for yourself! What I will disclose is that the book was inspired by overwhelming dread & anxiety & cancelled vacation plans.

Anxiety? You don't say...

As an overall critique of the event, I would have to say that I think Canzine has outgrown the artsy expanse of the creaky Gladstone Hotel. No matter how many nooks & crannies or floors or rooms the thing occupies each year, it's a tight fit. And I think this is starting to work against the annual do. It's just too packed. There isn't enough time or space to lag back or dawdle through the line. No time to stop and finger through pages and portfolios, without causing serious traffic jams. And there were a lot of poor sods that got their tables stuck in the worst spots -- intersections and hidden corners. This one dude was almost half on half off a set of stairs. It was madness.

And can this not be a TWO day event?! A weekend thing? Pay your admission and be allowed to come back on any one of the days, at leisure? That might thin out the crowd a little. Free up some space & time to absorb and think. Rotate the tables a bit. Spread out the readings & workshops.

But I still love you, Canzine... Only how many more sleeps?..

it's the economy, stupid!

What most of the doom-and-gloom reports on our economy don’t provide is perspective—a historical survey of an economy that’s been through more than a few ups and downs in its day. Here’s a farsighted view of how our temperamental economic machine works, and a close-up of how it stands today. View

via Good is

here, there and everywhere

After long deliberation we have finally launched our blog. Stay tuned for the goods on graphic novels, music, books, magazines, world issues that concern us and much more.