Holly Simon's blog
Positive Space as Clean Space
- Posted by Holly Simon on February 13th, 2009
I thought this short video of an artist who makes graffiti using water on dirty surfaces was pretty cool. The English artist, Paul "Moose" Curtis, has an elaborate website all about his work worth taking a look at. It looks like the work is of very high artistic merit. People say Calgary is a clean city (and I won't argue with that) but is it too clean to try this here?
Culture House in Buenos Aires
- Posted by Holly Simon on November 13th, 2007
Another
quick note from South America: I found a culture house in Buenos
Aires, care of Lonely Planet and confirmed by a hip, young porteña (local woman) walking her dog. It´s called El
Catedral. If you were every lucky enough to go to The Night Gallery in Calgary,
then you´d love this place. It’s located in a warehouse just outside of the
centre of Buenos Aires. It’s cavernous filled with art and eclectic furniture
with gigantic chandeliers with red lights, vegetarian food, and a big dance
floor. We drank the local beer, Quilmes, and watched stylish, young
couples do a sensuous tango lesson. It was mesmerizing… Check out the photos on this
website. I hope the link works!
Chillin´ in Chile
- Posted by Holly Simon on November 13th, 2007
Writing on
location from Curico, Chile. It´s a small city two hours south of the capital, Santiago. Curico is not unlike the Okanagan, surrounded by vineyards and orchards. (The wine is cheap and delicious… and so is the fruit.) It´s spring here: the sun is shining and I´ve slathered
sunscreen all over my fair skin. I´m staying with a visual artist whom I met several years ago when studying art in Spain. She has regular exhibitions and teaches art and yoga by day (not at the same time). I´m here on vacation but our work at Calgary Arts Development never escapes me. There´s nothing like a trip to South America to offer some perspective on development in general… Read more »
Re-Inventing TV
- Posted by Holly Simon on October 30th, 2007
Over and above back-to-back arts events for 11 weeks straight... I find myself in a particularly exciting week book ended by me in a bumble bee suit at the Grave Gala 
and a flight to Buenos Aires. In between, I had a flash adventure in Regina, Saskatchewan, for the 22nd Gemini Awards. (I hardly even watch television. When I do watch, I watch The Hour or Corner Gas.) I had a line on good seats through a friend and I couldn't say no... 
George was his usual attentive, humorous and provocative self. Somehow, a show about television, became about relevancy and response to the Canadian condition. The humour became a little more real. (I hope you saw the "Saskatchewan IS flat" skit - not the correct title - written by Paul Bates, I think.) This was the first Gemini Awards that was open to the public (which hopefully foreshadows the open and transparent future of Canada). The day ended with a party in the (haunted) Hotel Saskatchewan lobby with a crowd of young and smart Canadian television makers. Besides feeling a little star-struck, I'm reminded of the constructive threat our generation provides to the status quo. P.S. Many thanks to George and his friends for the hospitality.
Humbled by Hip Hop
- Posted by Holly Simon on September 25th, 2007
I left the comfortable environment of the Kensington Pub,
last night, to go to my first (ever) Hip Hop dance class at SAIT. Stepping into the
mirrored studio, I suddenly wished I hadn't declined the
pint at the pub beforehand. Surrounded by fearless, young students (many with dance
experience, by the way), I spent an hour blushing compulsively, tripping over
myself, and laughing my way through the body waves. It was a humbling
experience. I see the need to practice in my living room or in a local dance
club near you. So watch out, Calgary!
Speaking of hip hop, did you know that one of the two actors in the last (fantastic) show at The Grand, Sizwe Banzi is Dead, is also a Belgian rap star? Check this out! His name is Pitcho Womba Konga and he has a website and a MySpace. When I was testing out my Hip Hop moves at Broken City last weekend, the DJ played one of his songs, which I thought was pretty darn cool. Read more »
Ad-Hoc Art Tour of Eastern Canada
- Posted by Holly Simon on August 29th, 2007
I usually make a yearly trip to my childhood home of Summerside, PEI, taking in as much arts and culture as I can manage between beach
trips and card games. This trip, ending last week, reminded me again of what a
small art town Canada
is... Read more »
CalgaryVenues.com is Live!
- Posted by Holly Simon on June 22nd, 2007
CalgaryVenues.com went on line yesterday! This is a brand new resource for connecting artists and producers to venues. We're asking venue operators to add or edit their venues on the site. It's completely FREE. Just head to
http://www.calgaryvenues.com and create an account. It's easy.
As a brand new tool, there are bugs to work out as we go. Thanks for getting involved, testing the site and providing feedback. If you own/run a venue, get your info in there! Many thanks to the hard working guys at Evolvs for crunching through the code and design. It looks great, I must say!
We'll be featuring venues who send us stories about their space to feature@calgaryvenues.com. Questions? Email: info@calgaryvenues.com. Read more »
Romance is Alive and Well at C-Jazz
- Posted by Holly Simon on June 22nd, 2007
I didn't know the voice of Terra Hazelton until last night at the C-Jazz show at Ironwood. Wow! She's a fantastic performer who would make Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong proud. She played with the charismatic and quirky Polyjesters. One of the musicians (sorry, I don't know his name!) can make the sound of a trumpet with only his lips among other bizarre talents. Calgary's charming Matt Masters opened up for Terra with a rock-a-billy jazz fusion. (You heard me.) Great show! Ironwood has such a great atmosphere for these kinds of shows. Matt and Terra are playing again tonight at 8pm at Southwood United Church. It's a lot of fun. http://www.calgaryjazz.com for the details.
Be sure to tell Terra, "Welcome Home." She's returning soon to her home town of Calgary after living in T.O. for a number of years. (Notably, playing with Jeff Healey.) Read more »
Time is Money for Art
- Posted by Holly Simon on June 15th, 2007
ht I participated in Timeraiser. The event combined two of my favourite things; visual art and social responsibility. The concept involves a silent art auction with art purchased from local artists (that’s right, purchased from, not donated by). Instead of bidding money on the art, you bid your future volunteer hours at the charity of your choosing. I earned (or will earn) a great painting entitled "Hawaiian Summer Series 2" (shown left) by Lindsay Love (represented by Swirl Gallery in Art Central). After I volunteer a certain amount of hours next year, I’ll take home my painting! (It’s worth every minute...)
TimeRaiser is an event by the Framework Foundation in Toronto. This event has been held in Toronto for a number of years and has also been in Calgary twice now. The website boasts that Timeraiser has generated 26,464 volunteer hours, engaged 1,100 Canadians, supported the efforts of 120 voluntary agencies, and invested $110,000 in 120 Canadian artists.
The idea is brilliant (and well received in a strong visual arts city with high volunteerism like Calgary), Victoria’s Lounge on 17th Avenue is a superb venue (although not the best lighting for art) and the party was very cool… You should join me in attending or submit your artwork next year... Read more »
Joel Plaskett Emergency
- Posted by Holly Simon on May 15th, 2007
Joel Plaskett and his band, Emergency (Halifax, N.S.), are playing at The GRAND tonight in Calgary. I would go except it’s been sold out for weeks. Instead I took a Monday night road trip to Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon in Banff. With songs from their recent release of Ashtray Rock and more, they put on a fun show. Peter Elkas from Toronto opened for them.
Plaskett brought a warm, friendly east coast music feel to the small Rocky Mountain town. Of course, most of the people in the bar were Maratimers living in Banff and a few of us stragglers from Calgary. I’m all over the Canadiana lyrics, especially the east coast associations as I spent my childhood out there. Four of the songs on this new album refer to snow or winter. It doesn’t get much more Canadian than that. I’m so darn proud to be from this expansive small world of a country: Canada. Joel Plaskett reminded me last night.
- Excerpt from the song, LIGHT OF THE MOON
