Work in Progress

TT here. To keep myself from going insane and stop myself from  finishing my latest play  I have begun a new cushion.  Here it is and I will  take more pics as it grows.

Rogues at Canteen

One of Priscilla's devoted followers, Ally, is in town to see the latest incarnation. We met up with her  at Canteen and she gave the show the thumbs up! She also gave TT a quick photography lesson and a lovely book on how to fill it with petrol and get it to work properly. She took this photo of us on the new machine

Art Gallery of Ontario

TT here. Had a wonderful afternoon with Ms Fiona Reid at the above establishment. I  particularly loved the Henry Moore retrospective and the magnificent edifice itself designed by Frank Gehry.

This is the Italian Gallery which was sponsored by the Italian community.  It housed a fantastic sculpture exhibit which reminded me of the Michaelangelo works in Florence..the ones I think called The Slaves...pieces of bodies trying to free themselves from the white marble.  The sculptor, Guiseppe Penone, has created branches and limbs trying to break out of huge planks of wood mostly on the wall opposite the windows but we were not allowed to photograph them.   The main feature in the corridor was a tree trunk which has been carved to reveal a tree inside.

The Frank Gehry staircase that climbs seven stories up the interior of the gallery.

There was one artist who really moved me with his work. His name is Lawren S Harris. He was a Theosophist and hence fascinated by the triangle. The Trinity. So icebergs are  ideal subjects.

But there was one in particular which hit a chord. This is very strange and other worldly. The print does not capture the real power but here it is.

Why would we frightened of this? 

Shary Boyle is a ceramic artist who creates beautiful nightmares. This is particularly disturbing piece. It is a sort of spider woman caught at exactly the time she has spotted her next meal. Me?  Boy do you know how fast she can move!!

Occasionally the projections on this figure would stop and she would become benign and calm and almost friendly. Then on would flash the weird garden, the wheeling bat and the eerie mask of a dangerous fairy.

The Henry Moore outside the gallery. Toronto has the largest collection of Moore's external pieces in the world.

The rear of the gallery looking out onto Grange Park. The blue is actually the glass wall of the building and the second of the Gehry staircases hangs on the outside. 

Max Ferguson

If you happen to be in NYC between now and Dec. 4, be sure to visit Gallery Henoch (555 W. 25th St., galleryhenoch.com) to see the exhibition by my favourite new painter, 51 year old  Max Ferguson. His paintings of Coney Island, New York City streetscenes and nightlife border on photorealism (the pic of Bobby Short at the Carlyle is a knockout) but although he uses photographs as a jumping off point he actually paints at least three or four coats of oils over his own original sketches to achieve his stunning results. And if you think that requires the patience of a saint it helps to know he's got clinical Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Spice Roots at Spice Route

After the show tonight there was a birthday celebration for Keala.  She can now vote. The sumptuous feast was held at Spice Route on King St West.  It was a vast orange- lit hall with fantastic art from the East, a floor to ceiling trickle fountain and great food.  The  best bok choy I have ever eaten and battered bananas to kill for.

The outdoor area with fire feature.  It was left to itself this fine cold night.

Our table was down the end where all that light is.

Our birthday girl demurely sends love to the world. Jacquie sends out another message and our very generous host, Garry McQuinn eggs them on.

Sheldon and Gaz don't know which camera to favour.  They were popping like corn..the cameras.

Tad and Nick dreamily pulsate over their calamari.

Will and Tad take a second for the paparazzi then back to the Malay beef.

Staci also documents the night  - for Perez Hilton?

Sated and content we reflect in the flame garden.

Happy Birthday,Keala.   We love you!

Home is the hunter

Here is Sheldon viewed from our balcony as he strides home after his last show of the week
And if Hitchcock had seen Priscilla then he would have filmed him so.

Wartsnall

In response to one particular follower's request I attach my first self portrait. This has been airbrushed and pixil washed to the power of one thousand.  I will do a shot of Sheldon and me in our glad rags later today. We are going to a surprise party tonight. One of the cast has a birthday.