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I keep coming across his name. I read his Biography on Marshall Mcluhan in the spring. I caught an interview of him on tvo.org in the past month or so; just last week he was in the Globe and Mail where he wrote a huge spread called “A radical pessimist’s guide to the next 10 years” with 45 tips and more. Then two nights ago I was at the Pen Center in St. Catharines and noticed a new Roots store opened up. I began scouting out the store and I noticed the name again. Douglas Coupland. This time it was Coupland’s clothing line called “RootsXDouglasCoupland”, a first ever for Roots and Coupland. I could hardly believe it.

Douglas Coupland, as you may know, is a Canadian author, visual artist and now clothing designer. He’s done a few public sculptures in Toronto and Vancouver that I know of, and perhaps he’s most famous for his book Generation X. (coupland.com)

The Coupland clothes that I saw were pretty unique and a refreshing change from what you’ve come to expect from Roots. I ended up buying a t-shirt with a graphical beaver on the front of it. I really do like Roots and was proud to host a couple iYellow Wine Club events at their Flagship Toronto store a couple years back.

I have to give Coupland credit. He’s got a great gig. It’s nice to see opportunities keep coming his way and that he takes them. I have to say that he’s been an inspiration for me, and I really like the diversity and number of things he’s been able to accomplish. I like to see creativity, like his, being rewarded. His stuff is real art, and it’s Canadian to boot. It stands out and is different. Kudoos to him. I look forward to what he does next…. I’m not worried to find out what, I’m sure I’ll read about it, or see it in a store somewhere.

Here’s a couple official videos on Coupland’s new clothing line. I like the second one quite a bit. Enjoy!

At McMicheal Gallery's Cemetery - Lauren & Bess Harris' Headstone

A few weeks ago I went with a friend to the renowned McMichael Art Gallery in the village of Kleinburg just north of Toronto for the first time. It’s a gem of a place. I noticed a picture in the gallery near the cafe of Pierre Trudeau and his son from way back at the gallery having fun. I felt very Canadian at that point, but yet very international too, and proud of it. I was in the right place. And I was grateful to be there.

I went specifically this time to see an exhibit called Following in the Footsteps of the Group of 7. This unique exhibit “trace[d] the work of Jim and Sue Waddington who have a passion for locating the actual sketching sites for artworks by members of the Group of Seven… Juxtaposing the original artworks with photographs taken by the Waddingtons in the La Cloche Hills in Killarney where these Group members camped, canoed, portaged and sketched, the show allow[ed] visitors to examine iconic images of the northern Ontario landscape and discover the real inspiration behind them.”

It was a very insightful exhibit and to top it off Jim and Sue were there that day too, the last day of the exhibit. Jim and Sue were at the exhibit often I was told. And they kindly answered questions and shared their stories. They told us to check out www.groupofseven.ca more more info and an interactive website featuring their work etc. Do check it out, you’ll get a feel for the concept.

I’ve been a Lauren Harris fan for quite some time now and also have certainly grown to appreciate the rest of the Group of 7 as well, including Tom Thomson (especially this time at the gallery) and Emily Carr.

The visit at McMichael was inspiring in many ways, but after that visit I knew I wanted and needed to get into the great outdoors and explore like the Group of 7 did, in the place(s) they explored. I’ve done some outdoorsy stuff in the past, but it has been awhile and it’s about time to renew that part of my life. Algonquin Park came to mind and was an obvious first step as I have never been.

Many of the paintings at the gallery were in the fall (with their beautiful fall colours) and since it was the end of summer when I visited McMichael I figured it was nearing prime time to go…so why not this Fall!

I suggested the idea to a outdoorsy friend of mine, and almost miraculously, it turned out he was  thinking of the same thing – going to Algonquin Park! I’m pleased to say that I’m going this weekend just a few short weeks since visiting Algonquin, and three of us plan to hike one day and do a canoe portage one day. We won’t be staying on the camp grounds this time around, but at a nearby motel.

In preparation for this trip I went on YouTube for some insights and came across a couple songs that I really enjoyed.  I thought I would share them here. Enjoy!

The “sand animation artist” in this video is Kseniya Simonova – winner of the 2009 Ukraine’s Got Talent tv show contest. The depicted scene, according to wikipedia, “portray[s] life during the USSR’s Great Patriotic War against the Third Reich in World War II.

Sand animation is a unique art form and storytelling technique that I’ve never seen before. It’s fun to watch and it has helped get my creative juices flowing again.

You can see more videos of Kseniya Simonova’s animations on monkeylog.com. Enjoy!

Interview with Kseniya Simonova: