For Immediate Release:

You are invited to the first art night by galleryjoao on Thursday October 4th 2007 at the Beaumont Studios in Vancouver, BC. 316 West 5th Avenue @ Alberta. 7pm

galleryjoao is profiling Marc Tyson Ewert.

Marc Tyson Ewert, Artist

Ewert uses a modern sense of design influenced by his Heltsuk First Nations heritage. He draws from elements of traditional First Nations art and culture as well as his Bulgarian heritage, combining these with pop culture references and social, historical, and political themes. Ewert's cross-cultural approach and melding of the customary and the contemporary, the old and the new, including the use of symbols in propaganda, result in works which often challenge pre-conceived societal notions. Among Ewert's future work, he will explore functional furniture art.

Ewert attended the Arts and Merchandising and Fine Arts programs at Langara College in the '90's to develop the creative skills that he began in high school. He has previously shown his work locally at the Yaletown Brewing Pub, 2006; Studio 88 Gallery, 2005; the Stanley Theatre Gallery Auction and the Andre Emile Gallery, 2002; as well as the Millennium Art Gallery, Fraser River Art Gallery, and Marion Scott Gallery. He has also shown his work internationally at the South Hampton Gallery in New York City.

galleryjoão

galleryjoão’s mission is to promote and facilitate the careers of multi-disciplined emerging and mid-career artists whose work is somehow rooted in the figurative while exploring cultures – whether they be ethnic, gendered, political; the culture of language or the culture of landscapes. Above all else, galleryjoão will be a dynamic space. A space to promote dialogue – between artist and audience, artist and society, me and you. www.galleryjoao.com info@galleryjoao.com

Camping - the good, bad and the ugly

Here's some photos of Beautiful BC on the August long weekend (top-beachfire, middle-the lake off Kilby beach campsite, bottom-Chehalis River: all in and around Harrison) when me and 2 of my galpals went camping. There was languishing in the sun, eggs made in pots, coffee brewed on propane (thank god for my Italian stove-top espresso maker), loads of laughter, sexual secrets revealed, friendly individuals who gave us directions, campsites, and firewood...and even a singalong!

There was also a crapload of mosquitos, girl-on-girl bickering over lost sleep and little patience, and the fact that we all feared for our lives on the Friday night when we were treated to a full-on onslaught of adolecent testosterone. They were really more like chained primates who for the first time were being let out of their cage - yelping and screaming until 3am - chainsaws giving way to illegal and dangerously large fires...sounds of retching vomit and loud indiscernable thumping bass coming out of their honky-tonk vehicles. I kept having visions of our ax being used against us to chop us up into little pieces and I'm sure everyone else in the campsite felt much the same - as no one, not one grown man or worried mother said anything to any of these kids - except my brave friend who went to try to reason with those on our side of the river to get them to quiet down and not egg on the more crazy ones across the river at the illegal site with the illegal fire. They were reasonable but continued to play their music for what seemed like an eternity - thank god I was a bit sedated with the bottle of wine that I had consumed.

This of course incited a mantra of hatred towards said individuals (needless to say we promptly left the campsite the next morning) and we had many messages we would have loved to give them and to whoever raised these children (actually in their early 20s I'm sure, but who clearly should not be allowed to actually go out and co-habitate in public, so therefore, children) ...something like:

'We're sorry your son did not make it home from his camping trip this weekend - we murdered him...rest assured that it was totally justifiable and we would recommend that if you have any other children exhibiting the same behaviour, that you cut their life short by doing the same'. That's not very Buddhist of me, is it? Well...it's probably best that karma get them in the end - karma is a bitch.

Rouge - really?

SOOOOO....apparently I was at Vancouver's premier event of the year (last years invite is the image as I could find no suitable pics available on the net and as we know, no pics of myself at the event will be posted) - the place to see and be seen....be treated like a VIP and experience a very unique event experience - "better than in years before" - the 6th annual Rouge party at Robson Square- an event that gets out the film industry glitterati and wanna-be's strutting their stuff for the Malcolm Perry's of this world.

The Straight published this blurb about the event on Thursday:

Industry types paint the town rouge
Movie Notes By Craig Takeuchi
Publish Date: July 19, 2007
A who's who of the local film industry will transform the Robson Square skating rink into a major networking event. The fifth annual installment of Rouge will feature a bevy of hosts, including actors Babz Chula, Jay Brazeau, Joely Collins, Suleka Mathew, and Gabrielle Miller; creative director Helen duToit and Canadian Images programmer Terry McEvoy from the Vancouver International Film Festival; Whistler Film Festival director Shauna Hardy Mishaw; Brightlight Pictures producers Stephen Hegyes and Shawn Williamson; BC Film Commissioner Susan Croome; Insight Film Studios CEO Kirk Shaw; Leo Awards president Walter Daroshin; media personality Terry David Mulligan; Urban Rush hosts Michael Eckford and Fiona Forbes; and numerous other producers, directors, writers, and industry figures.

I wonder where the press get their attendee lists? Not that I was really looking, but I did not see over half of the people mentioned above....I know for a fact Babz was at her soon to be daughter-in-laws/my good friends engagement party in Montreal...although Gabrielle did look fetching in her gold mini dress and Joely looked equally fab in her new bob and engagement ring...my "date" who was there to network, see and be seen, introduced us.

Now don't get me wrong, I was a teeny bit excited to see Will from Will and Grace, but really - does a Eric McCormack sighting make up for the fact that the dj was worse than a MuchMusic highschool dance party circa 1988, (Please lord, tell me there was some mix up or last minute replacement because no self-respecting Celebrities dj -as advertised-would have spun out the schlock we had to hear before the final hour when a tired but danceable top 40 line-up finally hit the airwaves) the balloon arches reminded my friend of a 1980s wedding he attended and the canapes looked as tired as the bar staff? They were generally overwhelmed and unable to deal with the meandering undulating line-up of desperate party-goers hungry for something to make their surroundings look better - myself included. And those teeny-tiny plastic wine cups? Seriously???? come on...this is the creme de la creme of the Vancouver film scene right? and we can't rent glassware??? or at least have nice throw-away cups? There may be people here from elsewhere - LA....or gasp! - Toronto! and this is what we got to give? That....and a really lame slide show of Rouge years past flashing before us on giant screens in the corners...the couches looked old...and the bathrooms - I suppose those could not be helped due to venue...but more could have been done...Although I love, love, loved the hoola-hoop girl - she was working it - shout out!!!!

Gotta say for $10 less, the All-White Party I attended in June had better food, better music, a better venue and better glassware!!! http://www.jetsetcrew.com/ and they didn't start out as real career-minded party planners...some of those organizers were there - wonder what they thought?

Thing is, I have heard nothing but great things about the event planners Richards and Chan - http://www.richardsandchan.com/ who certainly look they they put on good parties, are respected in their field and I am all about the fellow sistahs as entrepreneurs....so I blame the rain....something must have short circuited the party...lines were crossed, colour combos were replaced...dj's were temporarily 'auditorally' challenged....and noone was told that they should not show up to the party as they would otherwise show up to set --- i.e. in runners, dirty t-shirt and jeans - really - would it kill you to dress up once - it is night time-huh?

Thank god for being there with a group of people I enjoy most heartilly as that can make any situation fun...even the one that begins with "So?....what are you doing now?"...at times a painful and soul-searching question for the used to be full-time, now very part-time actor....but I had an A-list comeback...."Actually, soon I'm opening my own gallery - hope to see you there!" (insert giant Hollywood smile here ;-)

"Right now, you like me!"

OK - it's just a little post - the Sally Field reference is a bit over the top...but it's cool to be acknowledged by someone you don't know. Just goes to show you what your Mom taught you was right - be nice to others and they will be nice to you! Thanx Erin @ bridalwave!

So this is a little shout out from a shout out to http://www.thebridalwave.blogspot.com/ - who posted a bit of my rant on weddings - "The News" (posted July 3rd, below) on their own blog about everything 'weddings' and how to survive them - July 13th.

Once I digest the masses of food consumed at the Croatian Catholic wedding and bridal shower brunch events I went to this weekend, I will perhaps post about those...

Tattoos on the right guy...

Tattoos on the right guy are hot...even if it's not what you're into...even if you would never get one yourself (I have 2, thinking of a third)...tattoos on the right guy may inspire lust where there was none. Chances are they already have the right slate to begin with - cause tattoos on a less than inspiring body may inspire ickiness or just out right grossness - making your mind automatically race to the image of a jailed-lifer-up-for-parole.

If you want to show off the skin upon which you have said tatoo - it should be taut or sinewy or muscular on a guy - depending on your tastes...but it should make the mouth water ever so slightly...and the bigger the better...if you can rock the giant tatoo and still look like you haven't become one of those crazed tatoo freaks who are profiled on the Showcase Network- then I salute you...and I may even ask for your number.

Beckham is one of those, so is the tatooed man I've been spending some time with lately...I'm not posting his pic, but go ahead and lick your lips at these above...and don't tell me you wouldn't. Courtesy of W Magazine via http://www.laineygossip.com/.

The "News".

You know what it's about - you can hear it in their feigned nonchalant yet at the same time exuberant voice:

---" I have nnnnnuuueeewwwzzzz - call me!"

I am getting more and more of these calls - girlfriends with "news"...ahhhhaaa....Well, let's see -

Did you buy a fabulous new pair of shoes?

Get that job/part/position you've always wanted?

Are you travelling some place exotic or cutting your hair really short?

Getting a boob job/starting a fitness regime/getting that tatoo?

Redecorating your apartment/buying a house/moving to another city?

No. No, you are not. What you are doing - is getting married. Your news is that you are GETTING MARRIED. That is the News ...and it is good news - don't get me wrong...love weddings...luv them. In fact, been married - probably in the neighbourhood of ....oh let's say 400 or so times to about 8 or 9 different grooms ...Yep - been there....ooohhh ya. Done that -

IN PRETEND TONY'N'TINA'S LAND!!! www.hoarseraven.com/tony_n_tinas circa '96/'97. When we could all laugh along to the bridezilla and familial stereotypes that we all played out together ...but now those stereotypes are being lived out - albeit downplayed a wee bit and I gotta say that black for bridesmaids is pretty A-list....And I loooove my friends - especially this one. And really, was not ever one of those girls who HAD TO or PLANNED TO be married -with children (not sure I even want to have those) by a certain age...or ever! nop, not me...NE-VER! But you can't help but feel a teensy bit inferior - yes, inferior and shitty. Shitty that you are once again the guest and not the guest of honour. Shitty that another someone you know and love has found the 'one' and you barely know what the 'one' should look like...inferior in that everyone, everywhere has somehow found their way to this archaic and yet still very much sought after 'right of passage'...and you - you have not.

And you cajole yourself with platitudes that when they come along, it will be all that much sweeter, that at least you are persuing other avenues in life that are much more interesting and passion-driven than planning a wedding could ever be....and that you are way better off single - (insert diva air snap here) but what pisses me off the most is that I actually do believe that...I've always believed that. But when confronted with a marriage to witness (or many marriages this year) and applaud - it's hard to - say, perhaps plan an equally socially validating party for all your other life's pursuits - and no, birthdays don't count, everyone has those.

You can't register for the next stage of your life if it doesn't involve a piece of paper legally binding you to someone else - can you? Can you? Can I throw a party for embarking on a new adventure - my own business? Can I have flowers and music and gifts for that?...I'm sure that unless "the one" comes with a title like Baron or Duke or has scads of family money that I won't be doing anything even vaguely wedding-esque - even if we do decide to make it legal. In fact, yesterday I decided there will be no bridesmaids at all! Nop girls - sorry. If someone needs to sign something - that'll be my mom. We'll just show up one day and have done it ...and there'll be some sort of party with mixed CD's by D+G...K+A may sing a song, P may do a reading -perhaps of this post --- and we'll laugh and laugh and sigh - and then we'll all dance and eat - lots of food, seafood and an open bar

- Sidebar: what's with the no open bar at weddings people?!! I came, I got dressed up, I bought a gift, maybe 2...you provide me with booze - got it?

Ok, enough, I'm a little bitter and a little sweet today ...still sweet?...maybe tomorrow I will be more of my matter-of-fact self ;-)

Congratulations! A+D, E+M, J+P!!!

The Astounding Logic of the Male

All manner of talk to your girlfriends about a certain situation will never match the astounding logic of telling the same story to a male friend and getting their feedback...sometimes it's so out there in its simple, logical reasoning that it throws you for a loop! You think, it can't possibly be THAT simple - can it? But the truth is that it can be and when you go ahead and test this logic, you find out that it actually IS that simple. You were overthinking, overcomplicating, overcompensating and had overwhelmed your brain with all sorts of societal and personal precepts - that all you could see was the impending storm and not the fabulous summer that is predicted.

With that thought, I wish all a simply fabulous weekend -even though 'real-weather-wise' we are plauged with yet another rainy-mixed weekend not at all living up to the June of last year...when I alreay had a summery glow by this point...oh well will just have to purchase any one of those fake bronzers/moisterizers on the market these days to look great in my white dress tomorrow!

Killing it!