FutuRéale Magazine - April 2011 by OMAR MURJI

FUTURÉALE April 2011 vol. 4 issue 4

www.futuréale.com

arts . culture . living

Oneal’s Poetry Corner (p.28)

LoveRhythms (p.38) It’s All About the Kids (p.10) Art For Our Sakes (p.22)

Cover Story: Fred Ewanuick

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Note From the Editor FUTURÉALE April’s Editor’s Note Wow spring is officially here-but you would not 100% know it yet. With this years wacky weather comes the newest edition of FUTURÉALE. This edition tackles some new subjects and we have some new talent. Also our head staff has been growing and we welcome Michael, Ankur, Kelly, Brian and Jess M. to the fold. It is hard to believe it is already April! All the snowblowers and shovels will soon be traded for rakes and lawnmowers. With the change of this season you will see some of the topics change gears too! Though not everything is seasonal there will be some great articles broaching the season. I am excited to present to you the April edition. Enjoy it, read it and share it. Thanks to our team for all their hard work and to all our contributors! See You Next Month

Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro

Online Content Editor Shawn Shapiro Executive Director Omar Murji Contact FutuRéale at: info@futureale.com www.futureale.com ISSN 1916-3215 FUTURÉALE FutuRéale Magazine is published by The Organic Press www.organicpress.ca FutuRéale Magazine is a proud member of the ONAMAP Network www.onamap.ca © 2011 ONAMAP Enterprises

Publisher Omar Murji Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro Layout Artists Michael Nguyen Rav Rawat Kelly Potter Layout/Tech Ankur Taxali GH Interns: Sarah Doktor Olena Protsiv Melissa Doyle Editorial Interns Anastasia Rokina Lindsay Romeo Olivia D’Orazio Jess Silver Kelly Potter Brian McLellan Jess Morton Olga Shugurova Contributing Editors: Karen Lam Russ Martin Kevin Hamilton Podcast Amanda Cupido Contributing Staff Poet Oneal Walters Contributing Writers Anastasia Rokina Lindsay Romeo Jess Silver Kelly Potter Brian McLellan Jess Morton Oneal Walters Sarah Doktor Olena Protsiv Maxwell Wynter Cindy Ng Man Him Christna Dun Jeremy Colangelo Karolina Wisniewski Marcus Pidek Craig Wilkins Mark Kinash Abby Plener

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Table of Contents

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FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

04 Mother Nature Cindy Ng Man Him 06 Turning a Passion Into Sweet Reality Christina Dun 08 Spring Reads Jeremy Colangelo 10 It’s All About the Kids Jess Morton 12 Toronto Show at Lee’s Palace w. Lukas Rossi and The Piggot Brothers Alexander Perri 14 A Look at Toronto’s Art Scene Karolina Wisniewski 16 Inside the Mind of Fred Ewanuick Sarah Doktor 18 Hidden Gems and Guilty Pleasures Brian McLellan 20 Eat For Yourself Lindsay Romeo 22 Art for Our Sakes Marcus Pidek 26 Toronto’s Top Ten Patios Kelly Potter 28 Oneal’s Poetry Corner Oneal Walters 30 Just Move Forward Craig Wilkins 32 History of April Olena Protsiv 34 Do You Want to Own Your Own Home? Maxwell Wynter 36 Crash! Boom! Bang! Mark Kinash 38 LoveRhythms Anastasia Rokina 39 The Eco-Chic Challenge Abby Plener

Photograph of Fred Edwanuick taken by Mitchell Parsons (www.mitchellparsons.com)

Mother Nature’s Chance at Liberty Making the world a better place by celebrating Earth Day By Cindy Ng Man Him Everyone has done at least one good thing in their lives, whether if it’s

always viewed her as benevolent and beautiful, despite not having technologies like today that emit carbon dioxide. Still, she was something to respect, not abuse. Unfortunately, those ideals were short-lived when a scientific reformer named Francis Bacon thought he could subjugate nature by the means of technology in the early modern period.

I’m not talking about helping someone in need, I’m referring to helping Mother Nature. Nowadays, our simple everyday tasks endanger her life (i.e. watching TV, taking long showers, driving around town), and that in turn will eventually be the death of us.

Bacon had this idea that dominating nature would benefit mankind. But in what way do you see this destruction as benefitting? Sure it may have helped mankind for a while, but now we’re paying for it. Consequences such as acid rain, withered flowers, polluted waters and climate changes are nothing more but the beginning of our destruction.

doing some volunteer work or donating some money to a good cause. But can we honestly say that we’ve been good to the world? I suppose the answer would be yes, but then I’d be lying. It’s one thing to show a person kindness and another to give back to the world.

Believe it or not, greenhouse gases are produced by practically everything we do, whether it is to create an item of clothing or using electricity. It’s the carbon footprint we leave behind after accomplishing an activity. They leave a huge impact on the environment and that impact can eventually affect the climate. Now Mother Earth wasn’t always mistreated as it is today. In fact, many past civilizations had

Fortunately, we are slowly rectifying our mistakes. Though the current damages cannot be reversed, our only hope now is to send an environmental awareness message to the world. And lucky for us, this had already been achieved by 1970 in the United States with an event celebrated on April 22, known as Earth Day.

During the first Earth Day, 20 million participants, lead by Wisconsin Governor Gaylord Nelson and Harvard University student Denis Hayes, were involved in teach-ins that addressed decades of environmental pollution. This outstanding success inspired the US Congress to pass clean air and water acts, and establish the Environmental Protection Agency to research and monitor environmental issues and enforce environmental laws. Twenty years later, more than two million Canadians joined the environmental movement along with 200 million other people from 141 nations, celebrating the first International Earth Day. To this day, Canada has contributed to thousands of events and projects, some of which range from private events hosted by schools, employee groups and community groups, to bigger events such as Victoria’s Earth Walk (5,000 participants), Edmonton’s Earth Day Festival at Hawrelak Park (30,000 participants), and Oakville, Ontario’s Waterways Clean-up (2,000 participants).

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Check out these top ten actions to help the environment according to Canada’s Earth Day website:

1. 2. 3. -

And yet in spite of all of that, it’s still not enough. The damage done to Mother Nature is far too deep and so the healing process will take some time. So if you really want to do something great, try volunteering for events concerning the environment or even start something on your own. Earth Day is a stupendous event to get people focused on helping the environment. It not only provides insights on what can be done to save Mother Earth from her eternal prison, but encourages people to keep on doing what they’re doing throughout the entire year. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was saving the Earth. It has to be recognized as a continual project that involves an entire world’s initiative. -M.N

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4. -

“Smart Shopping Buy what you need, not what you want Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores Simple Savers Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs Use aerators on faucets and shower heads Weatherstrip windows and doors Transportation Alternatives Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure Consider car sharing programs or renting Food Choices Choose local and organic foods that are in season, and support local food producers Eat less meat

5. -

Washing and Drying Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry

6. -

Heating and Cooling For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats

7. -

Close to Home Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible

8. -

Bathroom Basics Take short showers instead of baths Close water taps while brushing your teeth

9. -

Careful Cleaning Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water

10. Don’t Discard Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers”

Turning a Passion into By: Christina Dun Breaking the mould of traditional

sashimi, futomaki and California rolls, Thornhill native Jessica Schwartz has found her niche in the culinary world. The 25-year-old graduate of George Brown’s culinary management program took a simple idea and turned it into a full-time career. “I’ve always loved sushi, and I’ve always thought there should be a dessert sushi,” says Schwartz. The birth of Sweet Sushi began recreationally nine years ago, when Schwartz would bring her original roll, the Rainbow Roll, to people’s houses for parties. She became well known locally for her candy creations, until a friend suggested bringing the product to an event planner. “She said this is great,” says Schwartz, “but I needed to have more of a variety.”

overall effect.

Sweet Reality

Each bento box or platter comes with three dipping sauces, entirely made of candy. “The wasabi is icing and it’s not spicy at all. The soy sauce is chocolate sauce and the ginger is Belgium chocolate,” says Schwartz. “And it comes with chopsticks.” The products come in different sizes, ranging from three-piece loot bags, which cost $1.50, to extra large party trays with 100 pieces for $80. The signature bento boxes are also available, which have 14 pieces for $10.

“It’s wonderful when people call me and tell me they love the Cocoa Maki or the Rainbow Roll. That’s something I created,” says Schwartz. “So for me to make up silly names for things and people to actually use the names, who are complete strangers, I think it’s wonderful. It makes me so happy.”

With the help of her mother, she gets all the support she needs. And during busy times of the year, especially for holidays, she has extra hands to help her out.

And with the demand of her sushi rising and her business becoming more well-known through customers and media, Schwartz quit her full time job in April 2008 to pursue the path full of marshmallows and sprinkles and is satisfied with her decision.

Schwartz takes pride in coming up with the names for her creations.

But coming up with new ideas is a collaborative effort.

From the initial idea of a Rainbow Roll has expannded to include the selection expanded to include a wider range of sushi-like treats, including the Cocoa Maki, Glitter Roll, and Dynamite Roll.

In addition to the candy sushi, her company offers cheesecake pops, brownie pops, and gourmet popcorn, which have been popular among clients.

“Now I do this every day. I get the rewards because people every day will write me saying I made their party,” says Schwartz. “I think I deserve that because I work so hard, so at least I’m reaping the benefits.” Since then, she has continued to provide clients with delicious treats, a unique company, and flexibility, all with a smile on her face.

“The dynamite rolls, which have the pop rocks on the sides, explode in your mouth,” says Schwartz, “so they’re really fun.”

“I always try to give the best customer service that I can. Every time I make it, it has to be the best or else I won’t give it to them,” says Schwartz. “It’s my baby, so every time someone tries it, I put a lot of pride into the product.”

Not only do the sushi pieces themselves look realistic, but the presentation completes the

And in order to make her products available for a wider range of customers, she even offers

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a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g alternatives to meet specific health concerns. Her Sweet Sushi pieces are nut and gluten free and there is also the option to make it kosher, pareve, and non-dairy. “I’m very flexible because I want to accommodate. The only thing is that it’s not diabetic friendly. I wish it was, but unfortunately I’m still working on that,” says Schwartz. “I’m also

life Financial Corp., Holt Renfrew, and LG Electronics. And for Schwartz, the importance of charity is a key to her happiness. She has been a part of charities such as Juvenile Diabetes, Cook for the Cure, and Kids with Cancer. “I like to be in a lot of charities and I like to keep giving,” says Schwartz. “It’s something sweet to enjoy while they’re doing something good.” It is apparent that she puts her heart and soul into what she loves to do. And being able to fill orders of more than 10,000 pieces requires not only patience, caf-

going to try out using vegetarian marshmallows so I can be in specialty stores as well.” However, her passion for sugary treats didn’t always play a large role in her life. With a sweet tooth that didn’t begin until high school, Schwartz has still always felt most at home in the kitchen. “I didn’t even eat my own birthday cake. My mom would make me elaborate barbie cakes and everything I wanted, but wouldn’t eat it,” says Schwartz. “But now, all of a sudden, I get older and my metabolism slows down, and bam now I get a sweet tooth. It’s funny how the world plays with you.” Schwartz’s Sweet Sushi creations have been hits at events for companies including Manu-

made a Facebook group called ‘Sweet Sushi by Jessica,’” says Schwartz. “People just started hearing about it and it [now] has over 600 members. That’s basically how it started as a business.” The benefit of having a Facebook page has led Schwartz to getting in touch with other publications, such as the Toronto Star, the Thornhill Post, and the Canadian Jewish News. She has even sent orders out to Denmark and Los Angeles. “All of them have actually called me and they’ve tried my product somewhere. They’re the ones who contacted me,” says Schwartz. “So really, this is what I do. I just make it and people are hearing about it.”

feine and sleepless nights, but also a whole lot of muscle. “It’s really strenuous on the muscles and involves a lot of manpower, so I have to work out and keep myself healthy to be able to do this sort of thing,” says Schwartz, “because it’s actually exhausting.” Her strong work ethic is just one of the reasons why her home-run business continues to rise. In fact, this passion for learning was shown throughout her college experience. “I went to school, and I had to wake up at 5:30 every morning, but I did it with a smile on my face,” says Schwartz. “I’d go back in a heartbeat.”

Her products can be found in 40 different locations, including candy shops on Eglinton and bakeries in both Toronto and Thornhill. With hopes of someday launching in New York City, Schwartz keeps a smile on her face as she rolls Kellogg’s Rice Krispies into a pan of sugary crystals. Whether she is working on new products or dreaming of sushi in her sleep, Schwartz is always thinking of new ideas and is pleased with how far she has come. “I’m doing what I love,” says Schwartz. “I grew up in the kitchen, so this is where I’m happiest.” -M.N

She also credits a large amount of her success to the increasing influence of social media. “I started selling it three years ago when I

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Spring Reads

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Any road trips planned this upcoming spring or summer? If so, here are some great must-read books to keep you occupied By Jeremy Colangelo It’s April, and summer’s coming up, and with summer comes the omnipres-

ent possibility of road trips. There are quite a few people (myself included) who dread the thought of being stuck in a small fibreglass box for fifty hours as it shoots down a sundrenched, barren strip of tar towards who-knows-where. Almost everybody has been trapped like this at some point, so it’s no surprise that the road trip has been a popular plot in several books. That’s why I’ll be cataloguing my personal list of the top-five best road trip books. To qualify for the list, the book must meet three criteria: 1) it must have at least two protagonists, 2) there must be a road, and 3) they must take a trip on it. With that all set, here is my top-five.

Number Five: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien This one is going to be a bit contentious, since it isn’t what people think of when they hear the words “road trip.” This book does, however, meet my criteria, so I’m keeping it. The story (and the associated mythology) is a tad complicated, but it’s basically about a young man named Frodo Baggins who comes into possession of a ring, which is the power source of a long-defeated evil overlord named Sauron. The ring can only be destroyed in

the fire of a volcano located in the heart of Sauron’s lair, and so Frodo must journey to the mountain in a quest to save the world. There is much more to it, so I suggest picking the book up for a read. It would be higher on the list, if not for Tolkien’s rather florid prose style, which can obscure the plot at times. Another point against it is the near total absence of any three-dimensional female characters (the films had to make some major changes to fix that). These issues aside, this is still a fantastic book, well worth reading. Also, this book is the grandfather of the modern high-fantasy genre, so it gets points for that.

Number Four: On the Road by Jack Kerouac This is a classic of the beat generation, and any list of road trip books would be incomplete without it. It is largely autobiographical, telling the story of Kerouac’s three journeys across the United States in the late 1940s. Most of the characters have counterparts in real life. The characters Carlo Marx and Old Bull Lee, for example, represent Kerouac’s friends Allen Ginsburg and William S. Burroughs respectively (and if you don’t know who they are, go to a bookstore and fix that). Kerouac writes with a loose, breezy style, like he’s having a conversation with you. This

book takes you on a highly personal journey that takes you into a drug addled, jazz infused search for humanity. This book would be higher if it were not for it being – in my opinion – the weakest of the three great works of the beat generation. That isn’t a knock against it, it easily ranks among one of the best novels ever written, but I can’t think about On the Road without also thinking about Howl and Naked Lunch and how I liked them better. This is still a fantastic book, an excellent trip, and a great introduction to the work of the beat generation.

Number Three: The Road by Cormac McCarthy This is one of the most wonderfully depressing novels that I have ever read. The Road’s plot is simple: a man and his son wander down a dusty road somewhere in the United States. It has been several years since an unspecified disaster rendered most of the earth a scorched wasteland. The Man and The Boy (those are the closest we get to names) are trying to reach the west coast. On the way they have to avoid cold, starvation, and the insane gangs of cannibals that wander the streets. Its prose is sparse, with no quotation marks and very little punctuation. The whole thing feels like it’s trying to suffocate you, but in the best possible way.

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As with The Lord of the Rings, this book suffers from the near absence of fleshed-out female characters. However, unlike with The Lord of the Rings, I’m willing to offer it more of a pass on this issue (though not completely, as that would move it up at least one more spot) because it has very few characters and is rather short – whereas The Lord of the Rings fills three volumes and has a massive ensemble. Also, McCarthy is not very good at writing female characters, so I can understand why he wouldn’t want too. In the end, this is one of my favourite novels, so it sits very comfortably at number three.

Number Two: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson This is one of the most insane novels that I have ever read, mainly because most of it actually happened. Hunter S. Thompson was a journalistic pioneer who wrote the book based on his own trips to Las Vegas while investigating the death of a journalist at an antiwar protest, and while also doing research for a 250 word photo-caption that he was writing for Sports Illustrated. Yes, at the same time. Thompson’s protagonists (who are thinly-veiled versions of himself and the attorney Oscar Zeta Acosta) travel through Vegas while taking virtually every type of drug known to human kind. One memorable scene has the pair infiltrating a police conference and attending a drug-busting seminar, all done while on enough hallucinogens to trip-out an elephant.

Like all great road trip stories, this book is about the journey rather than the destination. The point isn’t the trip to Las Vegas, but that the trip involves a drug-addled Hunter S. Thompson, who takes you through the insane hotel staff, the giant bats, and the lizard people at the bar. It is a very strange and wonderful trip.

Number One: Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

That isn’t to say that he’s perfect by the end, that would be far less entertaining, but the crux of the story is Huck’s personal evolution. Twain managed to take a boring boat ride down a river, and turn it into one of the best novels ever written. Huckleberry Finn remains the definitive road trip novel, and is the seed from which every other book on this list extends. It easily tops my list. -M.N

This is the best example of a story where the journey supplants the destination as the story’s point. This is not simply a classic of American literature; it is the book that established American literature as a distinct body of work. It isn’t an accident that four out of my five choices are from the United States, the fascination with journeys and travel that you find in countless American works leads straight back to this book. A satire on the racial prejudices of turn of the century America, this book follows the eponymous Huck and his friend Jim – a young runaway and an escaped slave respectively – as they travel up the Mississippi and across a large portion of the United States. The book follows Huck’s character as he evolves from a self-centered and capricious brat, into someone more mature and self sacrificing.

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It’s All About the Kids – What it means to be at

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The Young Artist Awards

By: Jess Morton I first heard about The Young Artist Awards two years

ago. My younger brother was nominated in three categories and that spring he flew with my parents down to L.A. for the ceremony. He was thirteen at that time and today he works as a lead in a series on a major network. Despite how he’s been acting since he was about nine seeing him work in the industry over the years is beyond my comprehension. There is nothing more inspiring to me than seeing a kid in the film and TV industry because at times it can be hard to be a kid in the industry. Child actors take on huge responsibilities. Often a child actor doing full-time work on set doesn’t have much free time. There are scripts to read, lines to rehearse and memorize, and scenes to block. On top of the long hours young actors are required by law to complete their education. Actors are assigned a teacher and will often do their schoolwork in between takes and scenes. Their schedule is full and the work is challenging. To watch an actor as young as thirteen working on a set, doing multiple takes, and being one of the youngest people in the room is amazing. There are a lot of pressures in the industry that normally a

kid of thirteen wouldn’t encounter. They are thrown into a profession that is dominated by adults. At the end of the day when the lights are turned off and the first A.D. says it is time to go home, I look at those kids and know they do it all over again tomorrow because they love what they do. The awards ceremony for the 32nd Young Artist Awards took place on March 13th. This year twenty-three young Canadian actors were nominated in eighteen categories. Some of these nominations included: Alexander Conti and Alex Ferris for Best Performance in a Feature Film (Supporting Young Actor), Melody B. Choi for Best Performance in a Feature Film (Supporting Young Actress Ten and Under), French Canadian Robert Naylor for Best Performance in an International Feature Film (Leading Young Performers), Gage Munroe for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special (Leading Young Actor), Alexander Conti, Ty Wood and Cainan Wiebe for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special (Supporting Young Actor), Olivia Steele-Falconer and Brianna Daguanno for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special (Supporting Young

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Actress), and Jesse Camacho, Jacob Kraemer, Dylan Everette and Jason Spevack for Best Performance in a TV Series (Leading Young Actor). This year the Young Artist Awards split up various nomination categories into specific age groups. These added categories expanded the number of categories from twenty-five to forty-four. The Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role, Best Performance in a DVD Film, and Best Performance in Live Theatre categories were also split up by gender. These changes broaden the opportunity for young actors and actresses to be recognized for their dedication to their art. Maureen Dragone founded the Young Artist Awards in 1979. Dragone was a long-time member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The HFPA is the organization behind the Golden Globe Awards. Maureen Dragone had said that it was during her time with the Golden Globes that she was inspired to found The Young Artist Awards. She saw that young talent in the Film and TV industry was often overlooked in comparison to adults. Awards shows like the Golden Globes and the Oscars most often recognized adult performers. Dragone looked to put a change to young performers being left in the dark by creating an awards show just for kids. Maureen

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Dargone remains president of The Young Artist Awards to this day and continues to recognize more young performers every year. But this awards ceremony doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop at celebrating young performers by just getting bigger and better over the years. The Young Artist Awards is organized by The Young Artist Foundation. The Young Artist Foundation is a registered charity that was also founded by Maureen Dragone. Although those attending The Young Artist Awards need to purchase tickets the ceremony itself is a non-profit event. This year the tickets were a hundred and fifty dollars. The purpose of charging the nominees and their families to attend the awards show is to use the proceeds to fund The Young Artist Foundation Scholarship. The Young Artist Foundation uses this fund every year to give scholarships to gifted young artists who may be physically and/ or financially challenged. Without the young nominees that attend the awards other young artists might not be able to pursue their careers in the performing arts. Essentially The Young Artist Awards has kids helping kids every year. At the end of the day for these kids, whether they are walking the red carpet or not, it is about their love of performing. -M.N

Toronto show at Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Palace , with Lukas Rossi and the Pigott Brothers ( Sebastian and Oliver Pigott )

Photos taken by Alexander Perri

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A Look at Toronto’s Art Scene By: Karolina Wisniewski It is a fact often lamented that the Toronto arts scene leaves

much to be desired. But it can be seen in all facets of the city that what the Toronto music scene lacks in prestige and flashiness, it makes up for with quirkiness and sincerity. This also holds true in terms of its local arts scene. While we may not boast world class galleries that harbor masterpiece upon masterpiece, Toronto plays host to a bevy of smaller, independently owned galleries that showcase an astonishingly varied collection of lesser known local and international contemporary art. Skeptics will say that this doesn’t measure up to a world class institution like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Louvre; while this may be true, it is irrelevant. The measure of a city’s significance in the art world is not how many master works it has garnered over the centuries, but how it manages and markets the artists and artworks resident to. As such, I’ve taken it upon myself to round up some of the city’s most unique, interesting and exciting art galleries. Here they are, in no particular order. To note, I’ve omitted some of the obvious choices (the Art Gallery of Ontario, McMichael Art Collection) – not only are these overrated, they’ve got well paid PR reps doing plenty of advertising for them.

The Design Exchange Why it’s cool: Located in the heart of the financial district, the DX is housed in the old Stock Exchange Building. As if its renovated building and offbeat locale weren’t quirky enough, the exhibitions of the DX, while aesthetically innovative, are surprisingly casual and enjoyable to anyone – even those of us who are less than artistically inclined. Displaying all forms of design – from architecture to toys – the subject matter of the exhibitions at DX is decidedly refreshing Pros: The scope of exhibitions - from graduate students in local colleges to Norwegian crafts to Israeli house wares. Cons: The line between design and mass market consumerism is quite thin, and some (only some!) of the objects on display approximate unoriginal kitsch rather than groundbreaking and innovative design.

Justina Barnicke Gallery at Hart House

Why it’s cool: Although U of T seems to conjure only the most polarized of opinions – either it’s lauded as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the country, or it’s criticized for its stifling conservatism, questionable admission policies (that most likely aren’t

entirely void of nepotism) and overall snobbery. Normative judgments of the university aside, its all-purpose art centre, Hart House, are an undisputed gem. Showcasing wonderful live music and theater, Hart House is also a student lounge, with beautiful architecture rarely found in Toronto. The Justina Barnicke gallery showcases a revolving series of contemporary exhibits, many of which are thought provoking and conceptually rich, just in case you were to lose sight of the fact that you’re walking the halls of a world class university. Pros: Much of its permanent collection (including an impressive gathering of the Group of Seven’s paintings) are to be found within the halls of Hart House – an interesting curatorial choice that allows visitors adequately explore this beautiful building. Cons: Size. Encompassing only two small rooms, the high level of works showcased here will leave you wishing there was more to see. But alas, such is the case with many independent art galleries in Toronto. 401 Richmond Why it’s cool: Why isn’t it? No listing of Toronto galleries would be complete without 401 Richmond. A large complex encompassing almost an entire block, 401 Richmond is like a super-sized collection of dozens of art galleries all in one place. Hosting somewhere in the vicinity of 100 galleries, there is absolutely something here for everyone, and one of them is bound to the on the cusp of the next big thing in Canadian art. Pros: 100 galleries for the price of…none! It’s entirely free! The rooftop garden is one of the city’s best kept secrets. Cons: May be a bit overwhelming – where to begin? Take a look at tenant profiles on 401 Richmond’s website to help you decide. XPACE Why it’s cool: Its close connection with OCAD and common practice of showcasing student and emerging artist work afford XPACE an effortlessly cool vibe. The friendliness of the gallery employees, as well as their lively opening receptions make XPACE not only one of the most relevant galleries in Toronto, but a welcoming one too. Pros: The exhibition space in the basement, known as XBASE, consists of an unsettling yet fascinating enclosure complete with low ceilings and exposed brick walls, some portions of which date back hundreds

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a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g of years. Cons: There’s a relatively quick turnover of exhibitions – presumably, due to volume of interest – so don’t put off visits, the show you’re looking forward to may have run its course!

-M.N

Olga Korper Gallery Why it’s cool: As one of the most exclusive and influential art dealers in the city, it’s a matter of course that anything to do with Olga Korper will impress. Showcasing giants like Mapplethorpe and often mentioned among world-class art dealers, Olga Korper Gallery is an interesting and refreshing exhibition space Pros: The exhibition space is enormous, and its minimalist décor allows for the works on display to take centre stage Cons: Location. In the remote, uninteresting and sketchy area of Roncesvalles, you’ll feel like you’re in the forgotten end of the city.

Peak Gallery Why it’s cool: While some contemporary art may purport to have more depth and worth than it actually does, the work showcased at the Peak Gallery is certainly not to be counted among such instances. Full of sophisticated, varied and overall stunning works, the Peak Gallery is an oddity in that its enormous variety and breadth of works do not preclude quality. It makes absolutely the most of its offbeat exhibition space – especially the hallway-cum-exhibition space off to the side. Pros: The gallery owner is incredibly knowledgeable and supremely friendly. His dog often accompanies him to the gallery and makes free rein of the space, unafraid of guests and perfectly comfortable leaving his toys lying next to valuable artworks. Cons: Same as Olga Korper Gallery, they’re in the same complex.

Magic Pony Why it’s cool: Because it’s located on Queen Street West – otherwise known as the Mecca of all things hip and alternative. More seriously though, this one-stop-shop houses everything from rare art publications, to design house wares and fashion, to an exhibition space. The Magic Pony is delightful because it refuses to take itself seriously – where else in Toronto can you check out a contemporary art show and purchase cupcake shaped pillows on your way out? Pros: Even if you’re not there for the art, something in Magic Pony will catch your eye. Cons: Like the DX, Magic Pony at times finds itself on the precipice of kitsch-factor; but then again, it’s all part of the charm.

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Inside the Mind of Fred Ewanuick

By: Sarah Doktor

The past few years have been a very interesting time in Canadian television. Fred Ewanuick was a part of one of the most successful Canadian shows; Corner Gas, and he is hoping to continue his success with his new show, Dan for Mayor. Even through all the popularity Fred is still humble at heart, “I’m not famous. I don’t know what famous means. I think of Paris Hilton or something and I don’t want to be like that.” Coming off of the massive triumph of Corner Gas, Fred Ewanuick has ventured off solo to star in the hit show Dan for Mayor. Fred went from being a secondary character on Corner Gas to the main man. “I was pretty naive how much work it was, everyday, all day.” Fred explains that on his other projects he was only on set to film the scenes he was in and he didn’t really know how the show was going to look until he saw the final project. Fred starred alongside Brent Butt in Corner Gas for six seasons, while simultaneously working on Robson Arms for three seasons, along with guest appearances on several other shows and worked on several films before the creation of Dan for Mayor. He says that being the main character of a show is very different than any of his acting experiences before, “being there all the time you see a lot more. You get a better feel for the show. You see everything.” Fred began acting in college, by fluke. He was actually asked to leave an acting program because of his tendency to goof around. Since then he has worked hard to have a successful acting career, but having fun along the way of course.

killed by a bus. Season 2 will have Dan trying to figure out what to do with his new role. Fred explains that “he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing, but he’s trying.” He has to prove to everyone that he is capable of doing something; all the while everyone is humouring him. Fred’s character, Dan, is growing up; he knows he can’t just sit on the couch all day. “I want people to check out season 2. They really focused in on the characters and the comedy. I’m really happy with it,” said Fred. And how does Dan for Mayor stack up against Corner Gas? Fred says he doesn’t see the similarities, but he said that he anticipated the comparison. “I expected it, there’s no denying that would happen.” However, Fred feels they are two very different shows. He says Dan for Mayor is edgier; it deals more with relationships between the characters and their storylines carrying on throughout the season, whereas he says Corner Gas was good light-hearted fun where everything was settled by the end of the show. Dan for Mayor is not currently being aired in the US yet but Fred says that there has been more curiosity since the DVDs were released. Competition with American shows is always an issue for Canadian programs, however Fred did not seem too concerned with gaining popularity abroad, and appeared to be content with the success they are having on their home turf, but don’t be mistaken, Fred says Dan for Mayor is not strictly ‘Canadian’.

Fred once took an acting job that he wasn’t going to make very much money on because he knew there was a restaurant close by with amazing perogies.

“We wouldn’t promote it as Canadian, just comedy,” Fred said, “When we put that tag people expect more out of us. We try to do more with less. [Production values] We can match all that now. I’m always impressed with how well we do with what we have.”

Fred finished filming Dan for Mayor’s second season just before Christmas and it is expected to air sometime this spring.

Perhaps it is the chemistry between cast and crew members that allow for the success of the show.

Season 2 shows Dan settling into the role of mayor, after season 1’s mayoral race where he won by default when his only competition was

Although Fred said he doesn’t want to be cliché, he says the whole cast does in fact get along. He even says he misses the rest of the cast

Photo credits belong to CTV

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a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g when they are not filming because the majority are located in Toronto, whereas his home is, and always has been Vancouver. It is actually thanks to co-star Mary Ashton that Fred has taken up his latest hobby, and current passion: the ukulele. “She kept talking about it, making me jealous,” said Fred. So, when he headed back to Vancouver after they finished shooting season 2,he headed to the music store. He picked up a ukulele and started “mucking around” on it and hasn’t been able to put it down since. “It’s almost like meditation,” he said. He says that he goes to websites like Ukehunt.com to learn more. He also watches YouTube videos to get inspiration for new songs to play. Boasting one of his favourite videos is a teenage boys’ ukulele rendition of The Pixies ‘Where is my mind’. “I can almost play Radiohead all the way through!” he boasted, the excitement of a child sharing a new toy. “I can’t put it down. It has such a pleasing sound.” He also says that, “It’s taking over my life right now.” He says even when he is taking part in one of his other favourite past times, hockey, he is still thinking about playing the ukulele. “I play goal, and I’m thinking when I get home I want to try this song or this song...It’s always on my mind.” In the true sense of his humble self he admits, “It’s really fun, but I suck still.” Besides playing hockey, the ukulele and starring in Dan for Mayor, Fred says in his professional life he wants to focus more on the creative side of television and film production. He says he has been learning the tricks of the trade from some producer friends. Fred and his friends are currently working of a side project called Danny’s Walk where Fred will be using both his acting skills and new honed producing skills, and hopes to move forward with the project this summer. -M.N

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Hidden Gems and Guilty Pleasures By Brian McLellan Legend : Director’s Cut (1985) Dir. Ridley Scott Writer William Hjortsberg Starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry

The 80s were an interesting time for fantasy films.

Not only was it an era when low-budget exploitation films appeared in theaters next to A-list movies, it was also the height of air bladder, rod puppet and stop motion FX technology. That meant you could have a beautiful, big-budgeted fantasy film playing next to a small, low-budget piece of crap fantasy movie. Today, we’re going to be talking about each. Of the two 80s fantasy films we’re looking at, Legend is the more respectable film. It had a large budget and an all-star cast, including a then-up-and-comer Tom Cruise, a pre-Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Mia Sara, and Tim Curry. The director was none other than Ridley Scott. In 1985, Scott was just coming off of two enormous successes: 1979’s Alien and 1982’s Blade Runner, two of the most influential films of all time. Alien, and James Cameron’s sequel Aliens, went on to influence about a billion movies that had creepy-crawlies to attack screaming actors, and just about every bit of cyberpunk production design that came out during the 80s and 90s can be traced back to the look and feel of Blade Runner. Scott had the world in the palm of his hands, and with all that power in his hands he teamed up with scriptwriter William Hjortsberg to create a strange, luscious art film called Legend. So why was Legend largely forgotten? Well, the theatrical release was a butchered, re-edited version of the movie that attempted to take Ridley Scott’s self-absorbed artsy fartsy movie and turn it into

a mainstream fantasy film like Star Wars or Neverending Story. Well, it bombed in theatres, only grossing half of its budget. Like Blade Runner, the most common version of the film you can find these days is the much better director’s cut, so that’s the one we’re talking about now. The story plays out like an explosion at the fairy tale factory. Cruise plays Jack, a boy raised by nature, who must rescue his lady love, the princess Lili (Mia Sara) from the evil Darkness (Tim Curry), with the help of the forest’s fae folk. The movie is sumptuous, a treat for the eyes. Cinematographer Alex Thompson’s shots look like paintings come to life. The forest the characters is one of the most magical looking film spaces this side of Lord of the Rings. Meanwhile, Curry’s first appearance is so striking that I purposefully didn’t include screencaps of him in this article. He should be experienced first hand. That said, there might not be much here for someone who doesn’t care about visuals. The characters are vaguely sketched, the story is thin, and more than a few scenes tend to lag a little. If you’re not gazing lovingly at how incredible looking the film is, I can see how the go-nowhere dialogue between the two comic relief gnome characters can start to grate on your nerves. The best scenes in the movie are between Sara and Curry, when Darkness falls in love with the princess and the film becomes an homage to Beauty and the Beast, specifically Jean Cocteau’s film La Belle et la Bete. In fact, every scene with Curry and Sara seems to come from a different, smarter film, and it’s obvious that these scenes were crafted with real love from the filmmakers. For his short time in the film, Curry makes for one of the most memorable characters in movie history. And that’s really the problem with Legend as a film. It’s work as a series of interesting scenes, rather than a cohesive, satisfying whole. What you remember of the film is not so much the story but memorable moments, such as Sara’s first encounter with the unicorns, or a stunning tracking shot following her rushing through vast palace halls. While this review may sound like a criticism of the movie, I absolutely recommend it. If the rest of the film falls short of

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its better scenes, that’s only because of how rich those scenes are. The entire film is such a visually compelling experience that words can’t really do it justice. Instead, I advise you to see it. You won’t regret it. It’s worth seeing just for Tim Curry’s performance alone. Hawk the Slayer (1981) Dir. Terry Marcel Writers: Terry Marcel, Harry Robertson Starring Jack Palance and John Terry Words may not be able to do Legend justice but I think I’m up to the task of making an argument for Hawk the Slayer. Listen closely: When you watch this movie, you will high-five your buddies no less than ten, maybe fifteen times. It is a non-stop rollercoaster ride. As with Legend, Hawk the Slayer doesn’t really intend to say anything about the fantasy imagery it uses to tell its story. But, then, Legend is a big, intelligent, post-modern film made by a director known for making intelligent, post-modern films. You expect those kinds of movies to make artistic statements. Hawk, meanwhile, is a low-budget movie starring a lot of televison-caliber actors (and Jack Palance). Its only interest is delivering entertainment and excitement, and this movie never stops short of that goal. If Legend took its cues from the imagery of fairy tales and mythology, then Hawk takes it cues from a particularly silly session of Dungeons & Dragons. See if you can follow this: the evil Voltan ( Jack Palance) decides to lure his brother Hawk ( John Terry) to his doom by kidnapping the Mother Superior of a medieval church and holding her ransom. To defeat Voltan, Hawk must team up with his adventuring buddiest: a giant, a dwarf, an elf and a one-armed villager with a rapid-fire crossbow. Here’s the thing about Hawk and his friends, though. They’re unstoppable. All they do throughout the entire film is kick bandit ass, and Voltan’s entire army is made up of bandits. As you can imagine, Hawk the Slayer isn’t a very intellectual movie, nor is it particularly visually

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astounding, with bouncy balls substituting for magic spells, and most of the movie taking place in a cost-effective British forest. It makes up for this by having an incredible soundtrack and a pace that never slows down. Not a scene goes by that some bandit isn’t trying to rob Hawk or his friends, or Voltan isn’t shouting at his henchmen. The movie also throws in an elf who talks like a robot, a magical Mindsword that leaps into Hawk’s hand, and a witch who uses Silly String to immobilize her enemies. The movie also has Jack Palance going for it. Palance is one of the those actors who, like Michael Caine and Christopher Lee, can star in a hundred bad movies and still come out unscathed and respected. Think about it: He chewed up the scenery in career-killing movies like Hawk the Slayer and Gor 2 and he still got to appear in Batman. If half of the fun of this movie is watching Hawk and the gang find imaginative ways to beat up bandits, then the other half is watching Palance growl and snarl as he tosses knives into his own henchmen with wild abandon. In fact, I’m not sure why bandits even choose to operate in this forest. If Voltan isn’t killing you for incompetence, then Hawk and the gang are mopping the floor with you effortlessly. If this movie sounds right up your alley, then trust me, it is. Every time Hawk appears on screen and woodenly demands that some bandit drops his sword, you’ll cheer. See Legend, and when you want some brainless fun afterwards, watch Hawk. There’s a great double feature for you. -M.N

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Eat For Yourself Be beautiful inside and out by eating what you deserve. By Lindsay Romeo Take care of yourself, eat well and enjoy life. Here are some

tips on how to take care of yourself and make your body happy through loving foods, and how to solve problems using food as your superhero. Food can make you look and feel alive, and full of positive energy, but just make sure you play your cards right by eating the right kinds of food, at the right time, and for the right reasons. The right foods are waiting to come to your rescue! Should I eat and then sleep? No! Eat during the day for a fabulous sleep at night! It is healthy to eat larger amounts at the start of the day, and then gradually eat smaller amounts as the day carries on, as well, have a little snack before you hit the sack and you will sleep like a log. The more you eat at the beginning of your day, the more time you will have to burn it off. Food gives you the energy you need for the day. Go to bed with next to an empty stomach, so that your body will focus more on making your sleep worthwhile by restoring your body’s cells, instead of taking care of your digestion. Eat less at night for a good night’s sleep! Can eating the right foods make you even more gorgeous? Yes! It’s important to feel good, because when you feel good, you look good too! Smooth out your skin with foods that are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, herring, and trout. These lovely fish give oils to your skin that reduces redness and acne by treating the

irritated skin. These oils will keep your skin moisturized; don’t dry out your skin. Keep your skin lubricated and beautiful by eating these fish!

What food will protect me from the sun? Melons! Summer is coming up in just a few months, and with the new warm sun coming out of hibernation we should protect ourselves from upcoming sunburns. The trick is that juicy melons contain carotenoids, which help protect your skin from sun burns, although you should not solely rely on these melons for protection, use sunscreen as well just to be safe. What else does vitamin C do other than save you from getting sick? Attacks wrinkles and dryness! Kiwi, oranges and grapefruit all take the prize because these fruits are packed with vitamin C. Fruits with a lot of vitamin C excite collagen synthesis which is what helps fight against wrinkles and dryness. Is it true that dark chocolate is good for you? Yes! It will give you moisturized and softened skin. Dark chocolate adds more cocoa flavanols to your skin which hydrates it. But it is important to only eat a little amount. Eating a massive chocolate bar will just make you feel sick, as well as not feel or look very good. Think of dark chocolate as a simple pleasure to take in small amounts, this will let the benefits show on your skin.

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a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g Want a better smile by making it healthy? Drink milk! Calcium is the key to a healthy, strong and beautiful smile. Calcium helps out your jawbone and prevents cavities, which

leaves your smile glowing, so drink up! Now that your teeth are healthy; how about your gums? Eat broccoli! Broccoli will keep your gums beautiful and healthy, as will other vitamin c packed veggies. Want your dandruff to take a hike? The crumbling dry skin on your scalp is because of low levels of zinc. Oysters are the answer; they are filled with beautiful zinc. Although oysters are not the most popular of foods, so, other foods with zinc are dark-meat chicken, turkey, crab, dairy products and beans. So take off your hat and enjoy your happy hair. What food can I eat to boost my metabolism? Peppers! Get your heart pumping and metabolism jumping 23 percent faster for an hour and a half because of the spice of the pepper. Eat the pepper with a meal and let the heat work its magic. Are canned and frozen veggies just as nutritious as fresh veggies? Yes! Often times as soon as the veggies and fruits are harvested they are kept frozen, so all of the nutrients are then protected, and this sometimes can make these veggies and fruits more nutritious as they retain their original nutritional value where as the fresh veggies and fruit can age. Why do I always feel like I gain so much weight over the winter? It seems as if every winter our bodies collect fat and seem to keep it for warmth, but that is not what actually happens. What actually happens is our metabolism acts up in order to keep us warm in the colder weather, so in fact it is as if our bodies are doing the opposite

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from what we originally thought. The only way you would seem to gain weight in the winter is if there was a change in diet. Because of the cold weather you are probably munching on comfort foods, so when the weather cools down try not to change what you eat and you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pack on any extra winter weight. Can eating make you happy? Yes as long as you choose the right foods! When you eat you have to eat foods that will maintain your happiness over a longer period of time, rather than happiness that will only last in the spur of the moment. The foods that give us that instant happiness can brings us down right after the feeling is gone which leaves us wanting more, such as donuts, cookies, sugar, ice cream and so on. Eat foods that will give you long lasting happiness and will keep you healthy with a positive mood and feeling good about life. Eat foods that contain omega-3 oils, such as fish; and chia and flax seeds. Also eat nuts, green tea, fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay away from sugar and caffeine! -M.N

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ART

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

FOR OUR SAKES

Master Goldsmith Shao-Pin Chu By Marcus Pidek FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g IT’S A CHAIR! IT’S A DILDO!! IT’S JEWELLERY!!! You’re about to enter a dimension where boundaries vaporize in wisps at your approach. This is the mind of Shao-Pin Chu. If Shao can imagine it he will build it. And as they say, if you build it, they will come. Your vision floats through a high-ceilinged space of shiny glass cases that offer a strange eclectic vision of lovingly shaped objects that confuse the mind. Logic tells you these pieces don’t belong together in the same room. But when you remind yourself that they all come from Shao’s pristine imagination, you understand that they do belong. You are looking at things of silver, stainless steel, wood and gold whose forms are evocative and in your face with a confidence that makes you look back a second and a third time. Organically shaped knives, jewellery, unique chairs and a coffee table with a top of stretched stainless steel fabric. And a dildo. And no, Shao doesn’t run a sex shop but he does live out of the box. His signature piece, a fascinating ergonomically formed sterling silver salt shaker is on his business card for Shao Design. Not satisfied with just the one use of this almost living form, he wondered what else he could do with it. ( Something like, where would this do the most good, I imagine ) It was probably a short hop to fusing two of them together et voila! A sterling ami of evocative shape and proportions. After seeing that little chrome Moby Dick, it looks like a whale, sort of, I can never again hear the same way somebody asking, “Hey, what’s shaking?”. I suggested putting a vibrator in it with a variable audio device so the owner can tune it to sound like a revving Ferrari. The Grand Prix of Pleasure? The Turbo XXX? But I digress. An expert goldsmith, Shao mastered the traditional techniques for making any kind of jewellery imaginable, from earrings to wedding rings. His talent and experience are international. Shao learned sheet metal techniques in Taiwan, the skills of a machinist and a jeweller in Toronto and was hooked on furniture design in Europe by a British naval architect who took his family around the world in a yacht. He

won Best In Show in the Toronto Outdoor Art Show. He took his eyepopping furniture to trade shows in Europe. A man with a world class view of design and the use of non traditional materials, Shao continually creates pieces with such tight tolerances that they appear seamless. Really! At different times I had to pick up a piece again to find the seam or joint that he just told me about. He’s so good it’s spooky. The best part, though, is getting Shao to explain one of his pieces, especially one that has a function. The amount of thought and anticipation of design snags that he thought his way through to make this beauty of precision, in front of you, will blow your mind. If you’re ever lucky enough to take a class from him, you will grow. In my near six decades young, Shao is one of the best natural teachers I had the kismet to meet. He loves to explore new ideas with a joyful curiosity that infects you. Never satisfied with other peoples opinions he tries all the techniques he can find, until he’s sure he found the best way. With the patience of Job, he’ll find as many ways to explain a concept as you need, until you really get it. And then his joy is as high as yours when he sees that you just grew some more in your understanding and ability. A multi facetted man who lives and breathes excellence. And lives to exceed it. Shao is very concerned with the jewellery community and shared his insight with me. “SNAG – the Society of North American Goldsmiths – is having their 2013 conference here. It is very significant that Toronto is hosting it. People are coming from all over North America to see what Toronto has to offer, even what Canada offers. What’s Toronto all about? What’s the best of Canadian jewellery? Where to go? Not to gift shops to buy something mass produced somewhere else. No. Zilberschmuck, one of the few jewellery galleries in Canada and the only one in Toronto, is of significant value in the jewellery community. So, it seems reasonable to have Zilberschmuck included as part of the features of the conference. But it’s not. It was excluded, by the local organizers, because it’s outside of the downtown core by ten kilometers. If people traveled hundreds of kilometers to get here, why wouldn’t they travel another ten kilometers?”. Good question, I think.

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g We’ve had discussions, before, about sustainable designs. Making something that is owned, used, even loved by its owner, their children and their children’s children. Shao explains, “For example, you make something with a piece of wood that took three hundred years to grow. Will this thing you make last five years or three hundred years? If it is kept and even used for hundreds of years, then the Earth has a chance to regenerate. In jewellery, designs are all different and personal but you should bring out the best of who you are and utilize the material in the most effective way. I would always give my best approach to the material for its best use to present the beauty of the design and the material itself. For example, you have fifty grams of sterling silver and you cast a few pieces and move on. They mine more silver and you make more products, maybe seasonally.” Shao reminded me of when I managed a small jewellery factory in the Dominican Republic. We made various lines of pieces mainly for sale to tourists sailing the islands on cruise ships.

use it and take it to others. I asked him to explain why he helps so many. “To create a better environment for them and myself. We all must survive – find a job and live. We can try to create an environment to support what we do. Therefore I share my ideas and knowledge so others can enjoy them and have a better capacity to accumulate skills and knowledge. This also creates an environment that eventually, hopefully, will happen – with more people doing things that I do. This makes for more confidence; maybe people will stay in the trade longer, do well and build a stronger community. Once you’re strong your voice gets heard and people will pay attention to what we’re doing. When they hear what we’re doing, they’ll be curious and investigate crafts people and artisans. They’ll discover the pleasure they get from hand crafted pieces. We’ll have more buyers and eventually make a living and survive better. We try to make the market bigger by helping people understand the uniqueness, the value of what crafts people and artists create.”

“Good design should never be about fashion. It should go beyond a frame of time. Put yourself in your work with your best skill and your piece will have some value. Value is different from person to person. This justifies why artisans exist, so you can see their names on a piece. It’s not just a product. Go to an artisan for something unique. There’s a portion of their life in it. How many can they make in one lifetime? Not many. That makes a piece worthwhile to obtain, because it’s limited and unique. We feel special about a special piece. We don’t need that many new things. We can have a few things we really enjoy, be it jewellery, beautiful drinking cups, whatever. We enjoy craftsmanship every time we use it and so our children will enjoy it because it has value. To nature and the materials we’re using, we are giving our respect. Think about how materials are extracted – with a lot of effort, even damage. It takes time to make something beautiful. You can put in thirty percent of that energy and make something mediocre or put in a hundred percent and it takes more time but will be appreciated and passed on.” This drives Shao in his approach and work to do his best.

“People are distracted by so many products. They’re all pretty but they break. They keep spending more money on things that break. Therefore, it’s important to create this environment.” “Also, the skills that I acquire through the years will die with me. So I’d rather share to let people know about it and dedicate themselves so they can pursue and use these skills and knowledge.” “You can’t always just learn from a book. You must see how things are done to get it, watch and get a better idea of it all.” Do you have a special piece of jewellery in mind that you just can’t find anywhere? What if you could go to a man who could make for you that beautiful bracelet or wedding ring that is the only one of its kind in the world? Just the way you see it in your mind. Wouldn’t it feel special? Vroomm, Vroomm! -M.N

Shao shares his knowledge and expertise freely with anyone who will

Toronto’s Top Ten Summer Patios After a long cold winter, everyone looks forward to celebrat-

ing the summer the best way we know how…by soaking up some rays! Toronto is filled with many restaurants and pubs that have beautiful outdoor patios to grab a cold drink. Whether you want to people-watch, catch up with an old friend or listen to some live music, Toronto’s got it all.

Panorama

Patio with the best view: Located on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre in Yorkville, Panorama’s patio has a breath-taking view of the city. This sky-high wraparound patio has a heated, sleek and comfortable lounge that would make for a perfect date or a relaxing outing after a hard day at the office. Panorama is also known for their extensive cocktail menu.

The Fifth Grill & Terrace

Most romantic patio: If you are looking for a romantic date spot, or an intimate environment to celebrate that special anniversary, check out The Fifth Grill. The spectacular view of downtown Toronto makes their patio known as one of the best. The heated terrace is filled with trendy and inviting décor with a log fireplace to keep warm. The patio has romantic live piano music to listen to as you indulge in the classic steakhouse menu, along with some special French cuisine items.

The College Street Bar

Best patio hangout: Located in the Little Italy district, this well-know pub is popular to a younger crowd. The College Street Bar gets busy on weekends as people are drawn to the live music and cozy, heated, woodsy patio. The pub is known for their rustic Italian cuisine and delicious seafood dishes. It’s a great place for casual night out with friends.

By: Kelly Potter

Cadillac Lounge

Best Patio Pub with Live Music: Looking for a pub with live music and a huge patio to work those dance moves? The Caddy is recognized as Queen Streets largest patio that covers 4000 square feet. The patio is heated and has a few televisions hooked up outside so that you won’t miss out on any of the performers inside. The Caddy hosts many shows that will get you on your feet or entertain you as you sit down to enjoy a beer and some grub. Most performers are from the rock genre which matches the 1950’s rockabilly décor.

Utopia Café & Grill

Patio with the best pub grub: College Street’s Utopia has an outstanding 70+items listed on their menus, on top of their fantastic brunch menu. The restaurant has a casual environment with great homemade food within an affordable price range. Guests have the option of sitting in the café or out in the sunshine on their four-season patio. Since 1995, Utopia has been known for their tasty homemade burgers, sandwiches, burritos and salads. If you aren’t the meat-eating kind, they also offer a vegetarian option for almost every item on the menu.

Allen’s

Best hidden gem patio: Tucked away and hidden on Danforth Avenue, this backyard patio sits beneath a beautiful old weeping willow tree that is well-known to the local customers. Allen’s is a neighbourhood favourite because of its location and excellent patio grub. Known for traditional Irish breakfasts and St. Patty’s Day celebrations, the patio is also a cozy spot for catching up with a friend over some drinks during the warmer months.

Joy Bistro

Most relaxing patio: Joy Bistro has a quiet, warm, candle-lit interior that is perfect for small intimate gatherings. The cozy and elegant restaurant has a menu filled with affordable prix fixe dishes. The beauti-

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g ful park side Bistro has two ground level patios with capacities of 40 people and 114 people. On the second floor there is a terrace patio.

Black Bull Hotel & Tavern

Best people-watching patio: Located on the corner of Queen and Soho, Black Bull is naturally placed in a cultural and touristy area. Many people enjoy sitting outside in the tavern’s large street side patio to watch over the tourists and trendy shoppers. The Black Bull is becoming more popular towards students because it is a very casual place to relax and grab some beer and tasty chicken wings in the nice weather.

Madison Avenue Pub (The Maddy)

Best summer party patio: If you are looking for the perfect place to party with all your friends, then The Maddy is your best choice. With five levels of rustic, cozy patio, live entertainment and 150 draft taps to choose from, you will never want to leave! There are 12 bars all together and 5 of them are located on the patio, so you don’t have to wait long to get a drink and you can still enjoy the great outdoors. There are several pool tables, and over 50 televisions and a great crowd to keep you entertained. The weekends are very busy and the pub tends to be filled with U of T and other college students enjoying the cheap pints and food, so make sure you arrive early!

Squirley’s

Best patio with cheap drinks & pub grub: Situated on Queen near Niagara, Squirley’s is a great place to grab some cheap food and drinks over some great conversation with friends. The inexpensive drink list has an assortment of specials to choose from like their 19$ Sunday pitchers and pizza deal. The pizza is great, but Squirley’s is well known for their tasty chicken wings! They have a cozy indoor patio with heat lamps for those colder summer nights. Keep warm on the patio as you try a few of the menu specials that won’t disappoint! -M.N

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Poetry Corner

Oneal Walters

With his third book titled “Frozen Stare: The Childhood of a Young Poet,” under his belt, along with a monthly newsletter and an annual Women Inspirtational Poetry Contest, author Oneal Walters has turned to poetry as an outlet to express himself, and to inspire those around him. Through poetry, he empowers and inspires people in hopes of instilling societal awareness. His area of interest is in Women’s discourse and feminist issues. He discovered his passion for art early in his life and decided to pursue the path that has led him to where he is today. With a friendly face and a cheerful voice, Oneal provides the audience with personal insight on how he got started, the creative process of writing, and what he has been working on.

Within the soil sprouted poets and these poets grew to pierce through the soil’s layers, leading others into the world. These poets or first comers produced poetry and their words multiplied upon the surface of the earth. All who emerged with an established craft were given publications like FutuRéale and OW News to submit to. All who were recognized as talented were able to submit their works to book publishers. The world for poets had limitations but it was filled with bountiful opportunity. And the heavens saw that this was good. Poets are not made to be alone they are to couple with publications, stages, online social networks like Facebook, and video sharing sites like YouTube. In becoming one with these avenues the poets will become diverse and visible in many streams of social media. So a law was given to poets, to multiply even further, the most talented will lead the others to a higher elevation of poetry and visibility. And the poets looked at each other and waited. Some became spoken word artists. Some became novelists. Some started a publication as I have done. Some became book publishers. Upon the soil were many poets, fancy ones, tall ones, short ones, quiet ones, loud ones... and many more. The talented poets continued to elevate their poetry

Oneal Walters’ 3rd Annual Women Inspirational Poetry Contest, write the poems that will become inspirational! Submit your poems at www.onealwalters.com/contests.html

stop domestic violence against women! Virgin

and other poets followed. Poetry is often regarded as an underground art by non writers. Poetry is published in The New Yorker which is a main stream publication. Irving Layton, my first love for Canadian poetry was an icon in Canada. Spoken word was on Def Poetry Jam. Poets have elevated the craft of poetry greatly. On March 15th I received an email from a trusted associate, a president of her publication, informing me that Oprah of O magazine introduced her first ever Poetry Edition. We all have seen the power of Oprah’s influence on an author’s visibility and book sales. She has developed a loyal and faithful audience over many years. This edition which I recommend each of you to look into is another avenue for the talented poets to take in their quest to lead the rest to a higher level of visibility. I applaud the Oprah show because it was through this show that I was able to hear about Maya Angelou. This poetry edition will allow others to also see more poets who would not normally be readily accessible. And the heavens looked and saw that it was good.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

He wears a uniform with a torn pocket, nametag hanging on his left side; he holds a picture frame in his right hand. There’s no beautiful picture within its borders. Staring at the grey background, his head is lowered below human salvation. “Marlon,” a girl’s voice is heard in the house. He turns towards a closed white door, opens and enters it, closing the wooden door behind him. The room is black, lifeless, ‘and then there was light’, almost as if God entered the room. He kneels down. He sees a pink book, half covered by the flowery bed sheets, as it lies on the floor; a perfect balance of night and day. He overlooks the evenly stacked board game boxes and the open electrical plugs, no computer is here. Lying on the dresser near to the window is an opened Bible, a math textbook, three-ring-binders and a calculator. He hears again, “Marlon,” the voice is yet further away. Opening the pink book; he turns to the first page and reads about, “the boy who removed my soul.” He skips through the dirty white pages and sees folded and crossed out pages. He reads a sentence on the last page, “Hell is a barren body that is cursed with daily pain.” Flipping to the center of the pink book he reads, “September 17, 2008. Today it wasn’t him, it was me. He is so hard to please and always mad. 7pm is when my heart stops and I get sad. I can’t leave, I don’t know where to go. He came in through the side door and left his brown boots on the floor. I was motionless. I don’t know what-not-to-say. Don’t know what triggers him. Was this all my fault? God, why am I younger than him? Why did he drop out of school? He yelled about not getting a raise, about his boss blaming the recession. He yelled after smelling the hamburgers. He was so cruel this time, so loud. Then he was very silent. I apologized.

He said he hated me, that he would kill me. Said I had no friends, that he’s my only friend. Then I said no. His face went blank then vengeful, pushing me, I slipped and fell backwards, my head slamming against the wall. He twisted my arm ‘til I thought he would break it. I asked him to, “please stop”. But he didn’t. He blamed me and said that you made me do it. All I did was cook him hamburgers before he came home.”

Just Move Forward April is a great month to plan your summer project. Your summer project. Your friends will tell you they are doing nothing this summer, but poke and prod a little and you’ll find that we all have our little projects in mind. Perhaps this is the summer you read all the novels of Chuck Palahniuk, or maybe you’re building an organic garden in your back yard. You might even be that one person in a city of three million planning to sew the green dress Scarlett O’ Hara wore in “Gone with the Wind”. In Toronto, the cinema city, it should be no surprise that summer is the time when many budding young filmmakers plan to make their own short films. Three summers ago I set out to make a short of my own. It was a great experience and I learned a lot, but I did not end up with a film. I had a script, a producer, a director, three actors and a location to film in. But that final step, filming, just didn’t happen. It is incredibly important for you to plan and prepare for your film shoot. But if your goal is to produce a short film this summer, then you have to go beyond the planning stage and shoot your film. I sat down, via skype, with an old friend, Brendan Gall, who five summers ago was a struggling actor and playwright working in a bookstore in Toronto. His summer project in 2005 was to film a feature he’d written the year before. You may know Brendan from his work as Gary in CBC’s “Men with Brooms”. If you follow the Toronto theatre scene you’ve no doubt heard glowing reviews of his Dora nominated plays, “Alias Godot” and “A Quiet Place”. And this past fall “Wide Awake Hearts” played to packed houses at the Tarragon Theatre. If you still

By: Craig Wilkins

don’t recognize him, go to youtube and type in “speedo gum”. Yeah, that’s Brendan rocking the red Speedo at the opera for Trident Splash Watermelon. When I sat down with Brendan he was in Calgary performing in “300 Tapes”, part of the 2011 Enbridge playRites Festival. It’s hard to think that just five years ago he and his old friend from college, director Matt Atkinson, set about filming “Dakota” with a feeling of desperation. “Dakota” was eventually screened at the Bloor Cinema in front of friends, family and potential distributers, where it was picked up by Mongrel Media. It played the Canadian festival circuit, winning the special jury prize at the Winnipeg Film Festival and is now available at Zip.ca, Amazon, and other fine video retailers. Your indie short might not achieve this sort of success. That may not even be your dream. Whether film making is a dream, a goal, a stepping stone to something else, or just a whim, you want to have a finished product at the end of the summer. I wanted to find out how two book store employees turned a summer project into a feature film success. “Don’t get hung up thinking there is a right way to do something. Make mistakes and learn from your mistakes, just move forward.” This was Brendan’s answer when I asked him for some final advice, what he would tell you if you were to ask him about your movie and how to go about making it. I wanted to call this piece “Shoot First and Ask Questions Later”, but as catchy as that might be for a title, it really trivializes the learning that goes along with something as involved as film making. “Just Move Forward” not only makes a better title, it makes a great philosophy for film making and life in general. The story of “Dakota” might help you with your own film, but always keep in mind that you should continually be moving forward. Originally Brendan and Matt had planned on filming a short. They had met at Humber when Brendan auditioned for a short film Matt was directing. The decision to shoot a feature was inspired by Dov S-S Simens’ book, From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film and the idea that there really isn’t that much more work involved in making a feature length film than there is in making a short. A feature also benefits from having more avenues of opportunity to find an audience. Or, to quote Brendan

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a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g directly, “the distance from nothing to short is much greater than short to feature.” A movie begins with the script. Brendan spent an entire year working on “Dakota”. If your goal is to write a script this summer and then film in the fall, or even 2012, then spend your summer writing and rewriting. Make your script the best it possibly can be. A big budget or talented actors can dress up a poor script, but it will never be good. A great script for your indie film can make for a great movie, even with the smallest of budgets. If your goal is to film a movie this summer, long or short, then get writing. Make your script the best it can be in the time you have. No script is perfect. In the history of film there has only been one perfectly written movie, “Casablanca”, and even that has that horrible added in later Paris sequence not written by the Epstein brothers. Don’t worry about perfect. Just move forward. The real fun to any film is in the shooting. It doesn’t last long, even for movies with huge budgets and big stars. For your own independent short it might be just a day, or weekend. For “Dakota” the shoot was 2 weeks of long hard days. For cast and crew, Brendan and Matt did what most young filmmakers do. They looked around them to see who they had in their circle of friends from college and high school who could help. Almost the entire crew was from Humber, friends of Matt’s, and the cast was made up of Brendan’s friends from theatre school and high school. You probably already have friends who would be happy to help with your movie. If you don’t, or you need a director (maybe because you need a decent camera), go down to Humber, talk to one of the film school profs and they’ll likely point you in the right direction. The two members of the crew they couldn’t fill from their circle of friends, Makeup and Continuity, were found at Mandy.com, another good option for your film. While for my own short, we chose a director largely because he had his own hi def camera, you honestly don’t need a fancy camera. As Brendan mentioned, ever since “The Blair Witch Project” people have had an appetite for this cinema verite. And the technology has grown to a point where last year’s “Catfish” was filmed using various cameras, many cheapo consumer brands, that gave it a real feel that is becoming more and more acceptable, especially amongst younger viewers.

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Location for an indie film shoot is always a concern. You should adapt your script to a location you know you can get. Shooting indoors in one location is the easiest, though you might want to show an outside shot, so think about where that is going to be filmed. “Dakota” seems to be filmed in a big beautiful house in the suburbs, but was actually filmed on Bathurst, north of Bloor in Matt’s apartment. They could control the sound and shoot any time of day or night. Outdoor shots were added later showing a bigger house. After a full year with the script and planning the shoot and a busy two week shooting schedule, all that remained was the editing. “Dakota” is beautifully edited. If the first time I watched the film I was taken with the writing, the second viewing had me mesmerized by the edit. Matt Atkinson not only directed “Dakota”, he edited it on Final Cut Pro. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Matt, but I imagine he felt a great responsibility to deliver the best cut of the film he could. In my opinion, he succeeded. I recommend getting your hands on a copy of this wonderful little film to see what you can do with very little money, but a lot of love, a whole lot of hard work, and… “don’t get hung up thinking there is a right way to do something. Make mistakes and learn from your mistakes, just move forward.” I just want to thank Brendan Gall for helping me with this article and wish him luck as he sets about work on his own summer projects. He’s writing a TV series for Much Music called “Highland Gardens” about a bunch of twenty something kids living in LA, a “Melrose Place” without money. He and Matt are co-writing a feature script called “The Wild Society” which is being developed through Telefilm and the CFC’s Comedy Lab. And because that just doesn’t seem like enough work for the summer he’s also turning Macbeth into a modern suburban nightmare. Best of luck to Brendan and to all of you with whatever summer projects you decide to work on. One final thought, wouldn’t it be cool if this labour day instead of buying back to school supplies you were popping corn for all your close friends gathered to watch your first film!

-M.N

History of April By: Olena Protsiv

Each month events happen that change the course of history. These events can be small with minimum impact or large with a significant impact. Let’s take a look at some of these events that have changed the way people behave or the way that society has changed.

First Loyalists Arrive Apr 1, 1776 - The first United Empire Loyalists - 1124 refugees from New England - arrived in Halifax,

NS. Another 40 000 or so followed them to NS and to Quebec. The immigration resulted in the formation of New Brunswick and Up- per Canada.

April 24, 1779 -- The North West Company is formed in Montreal to compete with the Hudson’s Bay Company in the fur trade.

April 1, 1865 - First Canadian April Fools’ Day on record celebrated by British troops and Canadian militia at Fort Poisson d’Avril.

April 9, 1917 -- The Canadian Corps attacks German positions on Vimy Ridge in France, a key piece of land held by the Germans

April 26, 1918 - Women in Nova Scotia are granted the right to vote in Halifax, Nova Scotia

April 9, 1932 - Toronto Maple Leafs sweep New York Rangers in 3 games for the Stanley Cup. Toronto, Ontario

April 2, 1947 - First cocktail bars open in ‘Toronto the Good’. Toronto, Ontario

April 28, 1967 -- Expo 67, a world’s fair built on the theme Man and His World, opens in Montreal.

Baie du Ha! Ha!, Québec

since 1914. Six days later, fighting ends with the Canadians victorious despite the loss of 3,600 troops.

7.)First cocktail bars open in ‘Toronto the Good’. Toronto, Ontario

3.) Toronto Maple Leafs sweep New York Rangers in 3 games for the Stanley Cup. Toronto, Ontario

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Buying Your First Home A Step–by-Step Guide to Buying Real Estate in the GTA

So you’re out of University, with a huge student loan and you think that you’re not ready to buy real estate. You’re probably wrong. Stick with us and over the next few months we’ll show you why.

Owning real estate is considered by most persons to be a necessary step toward creating individual security and building wealth. However, for most ‘first time buyers’ it is often also a daunting and formidable prospect. This article is the first of a series intended to de-mystify the entire real estate buying experience. Each article will provide information that you should have in order to secure financing, determine your budget, shop for a home and build a team of professionals to ensure a smooth and trouble-free experience. Let’s start with the first basic question - why should you want to own real estate? There are a number of reasons but the first and most basic reason is that it is always better to save your money than to give it to someone else. Everyone has to live somewhere. This means that either you’re paying rent, paying a mortgage, or living with someone who is doing one or the other (such as a parent). If you’re in the third group sooner or later you’re likely to be forced into group one or group two. If you’re paying rent then you are paying out money that you’ll never see again. You are of course exchanging it for something that you value i.e. a roof over your head. But the money that you pay in rent is paying off your landlord’s mortgage, i.e. helping to build his or her wealth. This money could just as easily be helping to build your own wealth. This is the crux of the matter and is the reason why, everyone who is able to should seek to own their own home. When you own your own home the money that you pay to someone else for rent now goes toward paying for your own home. Some of it is used to pay the interest on your mortgage loan but most of it is usually used to pay off your principal (pay back the money that you borrowed). This portion becomes yours; it is your equity in your own home and over time will become the source of your own future wealth. This can work for you in a number of ways and we will show you how you can use this to become a millionaire, almost regardless of your level of education or salary. Your home increases your equity (wealth) in two ways. The first we have already looked at. As you pay down your mortgage the amount

that you owe on your home decreases and the amount of your own investment increases. If the value of your home does not change you are still ahead of the game as you have converted your rent money into equity. But the news gets even better. Every year, from as far back as the 1930’s, the value of the average home in the GTA has increased by 4% to 6%. In some parts of the GTA this average has been closer to 8% or higher. Yes, there have been some bad years but anyone who buys and holds property for a reasonable period of time (5 years or more) is, based on historical fact, likely to see an increase in the value of their property that is higher than the rate of inflation. So when you own your own home you are not only converting your rent money into equity but you are also likely to see an increase in the value of your equity at a rate that is faster than most other “safe” investments that you might consider making. However, this is just the start. In future articles we will show you how to convert this equity into a line of credit. Then you can buy a second house, and a third and fourth. Now you are the landlord, using others’ rent money to increase your own wealth. Or you can convert your equity into a larger house, while paying the same mortgage every month. Perfect if your plans include a growing family and a nice suburban house. Let me state here that everyone should try to buy their own home but not everyone can. There are many stories about persons who have stretched their resources too far and really got in over their heads when they made their home purchase. This has caused many potential home buyers to hesitate about making their first step into the market. This should not discourage you. Persons who got in over their heads were either overtaken by events beyond their control (such as a sudden drop in income or ill health) or were badly advised by their real estate team when they made their purchase. Stuff happens, and even if you’re renting, events beyond your control can make paying your rent a difficulty. However, you do have control over who your advisers are. These are the members of your real estate team. In future articles we will provide guidance on picking the members of your team as you go forward. Your team will consist of the following persons. A mortgage specialist – A good mortgage specialist will not only help you to get the best possible mortgage for your circumstances but will let you know if you are ready, financially, to buy your first home. He or she will let you know of options available to you such as using money

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a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g in your RRSP as part of a down payment and any government incentives available to first time home buyers. A real estate sales representative – You should not consider buying a home, without one. The real estate agent is required by law to look out for your best interests in every step of your home purchase. A good agent will be able to help you to build the rest of your team, help you to find a home that suits your lifestyle and budget, negotiate the best possible deal for you and is the lynchpin that ties the work of all the other professionals on your team together. A good home inspector – We always recommend a home inspection, regardless of the age or the size of the home. As stated in our free report entitled 10 Deadly Mistakes Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home, trying to save money today can end up costing you tomorrow. A qualified home inspector will detect issues that many buyers can overlook. This is likely to be the biggest investment that you will make and you do not want any surprises. A real estate lawyer – The lawyer is responsible for checking on the bona-fides of the property you purchase, managing the transfers of funds between you, your bank, your seller, your seller’s bank and the government, and finally registering you as the owner of the property. In future articles we will take you through the work of each of these professionals as we go through the steps involved in home ownership. It’s a great journey; welcome aboard! Maxwell Wynter, B. Sc., MBA is a Real Estate professional working in the GTA. He and his team have helped many first time home buyers realize their dream of owning a home. For more information Max can be reached anytime at info@themaxatremaxteam.com. -M.N

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The first and most basic reason is that it is always better to save your money than to give it to someone else.

Crash! Boom Bang! It’s Summer Movie Season By Mark Kinash

Ah, it’s almost that time of year again. The temperature is getting

warmer. The days are getting longer. The trees and flowers are back in bloom. And a young man’s thoughts turn lightly to....movies! Yes, school is out for summer, and along with it those pretentious, arty films about mad ballet dancers and nerdy billionaire social pariahs that line up the multiplexes during late fall and winter just in time for Oscar voters to take notice. I mean the most hyped film of the last few months was about the former King of England trying to get over his speech impediment. Please! Where’s the fun in that? To quote Tommy Lee in the theme to 1996’s early summer release Barb Wire summer movies are always about things that go “boom over here, boom over there, boom everywhere”. As a lifelong film geek, my first memories of summer movie season date back to 1984, as I was looking forward to some time off after the rat race grind of Grade One. (I still suck at art projects involving glue and scissors.) I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by those fascinating displays of little green gremlins with big toothy grins and even slimier green ghosts that were EVERYWHERE you looked that summer. Yes Gremlins and Ghostbusters ruled my 1984. (Coincidentally

enough, they even opened on the same weekend of June 6th.) Maybe if George Orwell was focused less on fascist government havoc, and more on aggressive film marketing and product placement aimed at a young male demographic, his prophecies of the year would be more on target. I mean who could forget that catchy Ghostbusters theme which was heaven to a 6-year old because it was so easy to comprehend and sing along? “Who are you gonna call? Ghostbusters!” My nonstop off-kilter rendition of that song drove my parents crazy. But to trace the early genesis of summer movie season, one would need to go back even further to 1975 when the original summer blockbuster Jaws opened, directed by a then young and unknown director named Steven Spielberg. Jaws changed the way movies were distributed by opening on a wide number of film screens (approximately 500 but that was way before the dawn of the multiplex). Also before Jaws, Hollywood spectacle consisted mainly of epic historical films (Ben-Hur), big-budget musicals (The Sound of Music), or panoramic Westerns (True Grit, Rio Bravo). But those were starting to peter out in favour of films that were a little scarier. The last Hollywood blockbuster prior to Jaws was The Exorcist. Jaws became the perfect prototype for the summer blockbuster because it was thrilling (like The Exorcist) but

more fun and it wasn’t gory enough to earn an R-rating so kids out of school could see it. Still, I wouldn’t recommend showing it to a 5 year old. After sneaking a peak of it on TV after kindergarten I was too afraid to swim in the kiddie pool without scanning for dorsal fins first. (Water wings were no protection against sharks either.) Spielberg soon copied his winning Jaws formula with the Indiana Jones series, which Roger Ebert used (in a review of the 2nd Jones film Temple of Doom) to coin a phrase that became synonymous with summer movie: “The Bruised Forearm Movie”. “That’s the kind of movie where your date is always grabbing your forearm in a viselike grip, as unbearable excitement unfolds on the screen. After the movie is over, you’ve had a great time but your arm is black-and-blue for a week”. High praise indeed, but can any films this summer reach that bar? First off there’s yet another Transformers sequel (Dark of the Moon which opens July 1st). Franchise series usually grow tiresome by the third installment (Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter notwithstanding). And yes, the second Transformers film had a lot of explosions but no momentum, and a serious lack of wonder, imagination and fantasy that went into the first movie (which was most likely courtesy of producer Spielberg).

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g Good thrills start with a solid story and franchise director Michael Bay is more focused on how many effects he can cram into a scene over any sense of plot needed for an audience to care about what’s going on. Yes, Revenge of the Fallen was one of the biggest hits of 2009, but how come I can’t find anyone that actually liked it? Next there is the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean film (May 20) which is subtitled... oh who the hell cares anymore? Again the first film was a pleasant surprise, with a remarkably witty anti-hero in Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow, but the franchise soon ran its course quickly, this time with a needlessly convoluted storyline in Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End (At Wit’s End would have been a more suitable title). Nothing in that Disneyland ride suggests a quadrilogy that clocks in over 10 hours. Speaking of seemingly interminable franchises, the 8th Harry Potter film ( July 15) finally brings the franchise to an end. No surprises here as the book already gave away the ending almost four years ago. And nothing about Harry Potter screams “summer” either, as a few of the instalments were released in the dead of winter. Still, Warner Brothers wasn’t willing to give up the series without a fight by extending the last book into two movies. I’m sure Harry Potter would generate a consider-

able amount of interest if I was still ten years old, but I refuse to acknowledge that J.K. Rowling’s wizard epic is anything but wellwritten children’s literature. Now where would the summer be without a big,dumb, loud comedy? Hence, the highly anticipated premiere of the Hangover: Part II (May 26). I realize I’m in a slim minority of moviegoers who thought the first one was unfunny, but then I also thought National Lampoon’s Animal House, Wedding Crashers and Old School were unfunny as well, so I guess the frat-boy scene was never my thing. But at least the first film had an amusing cameo by Mike Tyson, which would have been more surprising if his best part hadn’t been given away in a million TV ads before the film’s premiere. The next instalment was rumoured to top that with a cameo by either Mel Gibson or Bill Clinton playing themselves, until it was revealed that the socalled surprise cameo role was given to Liam Neeson playing against-type as a tattoo artist. Sounds unlikely to top Mike Tyson, but then nothing for my money still beats guilty-pleasure laughter more than Caddyshack, so what do I know? Thor (May 6), Green Lantern ( June 17), Captain America ( July 22) have eluded the feature film treatment to date, but are finally coming to a theatre near you this

summer. However having three high-profile superhero films released so closely together might result in overkill. Isn’t the market for buff men in tights over saturated as it is? Especially when yet another X-Men spinoff prequel (First Class) drops on June 3rd. Out of all these I have my highest hopes for Thor, being that it’s directed by the magnificent Kenneth Branagh (Henry V, Hamlet) and the trailer looks fantastic. However, I’m tired by the cheesy way that Paramount is using Thor as a stepping stone to next year’s over-hyped Avengers film by having supporting characters tie into its Iron Man and Incredible Hulk franchises. This degrades the film by not allowing Thor to stand on its own apart from other Marvel series. Of course, wildcards like Apollo 18 (April 22) and J.J. Abrams’s Super 8 ( June 10th) could become sleeper hits, although their studios are wisely keeping the stories a secret. This is a wise tactic to distinguish them from a summer full of sequels and heavily-hyped comic adaptations. Of course, since both movies are shrouded in mystery it’s hard to comment on their potential at this point. But I remain optimistic... ....after all a good summer movie is only one bruised forearm away. -M.N

LoveRhythms May we disregard results. May we put aside the excep-

tions to the rules. May we be ignorant of thousands of studies. May we dim scientific explanation. May we forbid the clouding of our judgement by statistics and psychological research. The world has seen enough assumptions; enough biological survival theories and evolutionary developments. We need not more attempts for the fixing of that which is broken, or that which cannot be fixed. We justify our connotative dislike for those who cheat, or those who lie, with choice. Why choose betrayal and lies over an honest approach to an unhappy relationship? It seems that we are growing careless in restricting our own urges, our own over analytical approach. We replace it with self-indulgent thoughts and actions that, sometimes regrettably, betray others. If we know it will hurt them, why do it? This doesn’t put any participant of unfaithful activities in a category that degrades them to untrustworthy material. People make mistakes; genuine mistakes. Cheating can be a fundamental, emotional risk we take to establish or further social relationships to feed our humanistic urge to be effective people [1], or it can simply be a sexual drive that we unnecessarily defect in unrelated cases to have meaning because of its perceived association with emotional health. It’s quite frustrating evaluating in circles the same notions that tumble through biases to get back to square one, having only a more educational approach to a question that will still be unanswered 1000 words later. [1] It has been implied that one of the fundamental contributing factors to infidelity is the yearning to have an effect on another individual. Romantic relationships, in particular, create a sense of possessiveness and territorial behaviours over a partner. When an individual ceases to have an effect on their partner (their actions do not institute a strong enough reaction or any reaction at all), they feel a sense of neglect and inattention, which in turn acts as a catalyst for unfaithful behaviours.

Maybe our useless exploration of it serves a purpose. Maybe our growing understanding of un-understandable concepts feeds our inclination that yes, maybe we will never know. But is that really so depressing? The point is this: We cannot justify cheating with abusive partners or addictions to sex. We can be secretive, we can be discreet, and nonetheless sometimes it might not harm anyone at all. In fact, perhaps the one or two cheating experiences makes one realize how important their partner is, and the deep regret and guilt felt only reaffirms committed feelings. Sure enough, perhaps it never happens again and it is happily ever after. Regardless, it still happened. We know the implications. We know the consequences. We know how to get into it, and we know how to avoid it. Cheating shouldn’t excuse itself with unsatisfactory relationships or sexual habits. A human being is capable of all things. We are genuine, messy, irrational, unreasonable, organized, conflicted, strategic, and emotional creatures who will never be understood. Our strongest power, second only to knowledge, is choice. The choice to stay, the choice to tolerate, the choice to forgive, the choice to deny. We will get hurt, we will be lied to, we will triumph, we will fail, we will experience life in the most unorganized and inconvenient way possible. We will suffer, and we may even break. But without these things, we would cease to be human.

-Anastasia Rokina

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Green goddess Should the eco-conscious care to be eco-chic? As the

fashion industry becomes increasingly concerned with environmental issues, it’s clear that “going green” is very much in style. However, many still question whether ardent environmentalists should include sustainable fashion among their top priorities. Do designers really care about their high-heeled carbon footprint, or is “eco-chic” just another fad? How do we reconcile our desire to be sustainable and limit our consumption, with the joy of the frivolous impulse-buy, and the need to buy new items while keeping up with the latest trends? There are definitely many designers working hard to temper our shopaholic tendencies with some serious eco-conscious. Unfortunately, there is a price for using more sustainable fabrics, alienating the eco-friendly among us who may not have the luxury of supporting such companies. These brands often receive criticism from those environmentalists who believe that ecologically-sound choices should be made available to everyone - not just those who can afford it. A trend that we can all get behind is supporting vintage clothing stores. Second-hand definitely doesn’t mean second-rate as Canadian cities across the country boast a wealth a fabulously retro finds. Not only do these stores provide the most affordable eco-chic choice, but some argue that it is also the most sustainable because it eliminates the environmental cost of producing new clothing, while preventing these pieces from retiring to a landfill. Alternatively, there are many online shopping sites such as www.fahionandearth.com which seek to connect users with the most stylish and least expensive green clothing Canadian designers have to offer. While having these items delivered to your home from across the country does incur more environmental costs than visiting the retailer yourself, the company’s thorough environmental policy ensures they limit their carbon footprint as

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

By: Abby Plener

much as possible. But what does “green clothing” mean anyway? Usually, it means using alternative fabrics that can be produced more sustainably. The production of conventional materials like cotton causes incredible amounts of pollution, harming the soil with all the chemicals and pesticides included in the process. Examples of green fabrics include bamboo, hemp, soy, as well as organic cotton and wool. While the ecological footprint and affordability of each of these resources does vary, they are all produced with less chemicals and have a higher level of renewability than average fabrics. For example, some are skeptic about the use of bamboo because its production still requires the use of some chemicals. Additionally, organic wool is especially expensive because its production costs are so high and the industry is so small. Thus, for those consumers who can afford it, supporting these industries can be a meaningful way to promote sustainability by creating a greater demand for these products, especially if they are willing to search for the “greenest” of green fabrics. The following article from Green Living Online provides extensive insight into the relative sustainability of each of various green materials: http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/ guide-natural-and-eco-friendly-fabrics. You can also visit www.the-ecomarket.com for a full directory of Canadian eco-friendly clothing lines which incorporate green fabrics. The millions of choices we have to make as consumers can be overwhelming, and is definitely not made easier as we are bombarded by over-indulgent shopping partners and clever advertisements telling which choice they think is best. But being a consumer can also be a powerful thing – an opportunity to redefine what consumerism looks like by limiting our oh-so-fashionable carbon footprint.