Lilac Memories

An Early Intuition

I was struck by this beautiful stone house late last spring. There were a lot of contrasts that attracted me: the light grey walls with the dark outlines around the windows, the lilac bush's spontaneity and curvature alongside the rigid architecture of the building, the swirls under the balconies contrasted with the railings. Besides, it looked like a great study on dark charcoal drawing against a more colorful pastel palette.

After taking numerous photos, at various angles, I managed to come up with this cropping that seemed to work.

Here is the end result.

Yet, this year, while I walked along the street (Gerrard Street, just blocks away from Yonge), I came to this shocking discovery! The house was being demolished. And the beautiful lilac trees were gone.

I guess you can call it an early intuition. But, I'm very glad I took the time to make some kind of recorded memory of this understatedly beautiful house and its lovely Lilac trees.

Makes one wonder though, who gets to decide which building stays, and which one goes. I assume that the empty space will soon be filled by a bland high rise.

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Lilac

Temptations

Lilacs are the flowers of late May and early June. It is tempting to pick them from the road-side and park bushes. But, I will settle for photos instead.

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History Repeats Itself

How Islam is making a stealthy comeback

The Beautiful Byzantine Hagia Sophia, now under Muslim Turkey. Notice the Arabic calligraphy depicting sections of the Koran

Hagia Sophia is one of the most important, and earliest of the Christian churches. It was originally built during the 4th century in Constantinople – albeit burnt down and rebuilt in the 6th . When Muslim Turks conquered Constantinople, not only did they change the city’s name to Istanbul, but also converted this great church into a mosque.

Although now Hagia Sophia is a museum, there are some eerie reminders that it still really is in Muslim hands, especially with those discs of calligraphy in Arabic script scattered around.

This occurred in 1453. Yet, right under the eyes of European Catholics, Muslims are converting churches into mosques.

In Belgium now, illegal immigrants, with the blessings of Catholic bishops, are seeking refuge in churches.

But not only that, they are converting those churches into mosques.

Left, Muslim refuge, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Brussels.


Right, closeup of the banner showing Arabic script "Allah"

At least the Byzantines put up a fight. When will the Catholic bishops realize their supreme error?

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Exposing the Da Vinci Code

Christianity's Openness is no Match

Father Raymond De Souza has a great point in his National Post editorial yesterday (unfortunately, the article is not on line):

Faith does not require great intelligence, let alone academic credentials. It does require common sense, or better, a common wisdom. Indeed, the great liberating power of Judeo-Christian revelation was that it freed man’s transcendent character from the oppressive world of pagan religion, with its secret knowledge, godlike natural forces, arbitrary powers and fanciful myths and legends. The great innovation of biblical religion is that it is accessible to the common people[my italics].

The article also posted this Titian painting of a penitent Mary Magdalene.

Penitent St. Mary Magdalene, Titian. 1560s

The Da Vinci Code's secretive and exclusive position is slowly being exposed.

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Western Betrayal

Once is fine, but repeatedly?

It is interesting that two key women are in the news more or less at the same time.

Michaelle Jean, Canada's Governor General, is finishing up a trip to Haiti for the new president's inauguration. She received "royal" treatment there by her fellow-Haitians (no matter her actual citizenship, it is clear that she identifies herself with her former country).

And Ayaan Hirsi Ali, famous script-writer for the film that got director Theo Van Gogh assassinated, and outspoken critic of Islam’s treatment of women, is leaving the Netherlands for the United States.

Both women have been part of deep controversy. Jean’s nomination to her Governor General post started with surfacing videos about her associations with Quebec separatist leaders. Ali’s more recent controversy surrounds her fake application (false age, name and country of origin) to enter the Netherlands as a refugee.

Yet, what I find most striking about these two women is their apparent lack of loyalty to the countries that admitted them. Jean constantly identifies with Haiti, and Canada comes second place in many instances. Islam, and particularly Muslim women, have been Ali’s primary occupation. In fact she is leaving the Netherlands to the American Enterprise institute as, I would assume, an expert on Islam and women.

With these constant disappointments, and I would say betrayals, why are western countries so easily charmed by these women?

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Is the Governor General Haitian or Canadian?

Her Quick Trip Back to Haiti

Michaelle Jean, the Governor General who should really be occupying a behind-the-scenes role, is in the news yet again.

In a world full of symbolic reminders (her exact words are "we live in a world that needs symbols”), she is returning to the country she fled, to attend the inauguration of the new Haitian President.

She also says: “Sometimes symbols change things".

I wonder if that is her goal for Canada? By changing Canada’s symbols, is she trying to change Canada too?

Perhaps, people’s motives really are subconscious. Here is the Coat of Arms she presented for her governor generalship. Almost all the symbolisms are Haitian, from the false goddesses to the reference to the black slave. And our coast to coast to coast has now also included the Caribbean – in Jean's best of all possible worlds.

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South Park's Characters!

It is a very funny show!

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Cartman .....Starvin' Marvin .....Ike .........a Canadian ...... Chef

It's too bad Chef (of the school cafeteria) quit – the voice over actor, that is, due to disagreements over South Park’s portrayal of Scientology.

But, we have a new Chef in “The Return of Chef”.

And since when has South Park been easy on anyone?

There’s little Starvin’ Marvin from Ethiopia (or somewhere "out there") who mistakenly arrived in South Park instead of a promised watch for his "foster child" type sponsorship, and who eventually (and happily) returns home (via the FBI!).

And how about all those Canadian jokes...and faces – as in all Canadians look the same – with two half circles joined together for a face.

But then, they call Kyle’s little adopted Canadian brother Ike “Some kind of genius”.

And Starvin’ Marvin was no match for chubby Cartman, even in Cartman’s own home.

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Chicken Soup

Andy Warhol’s Clever Canning of the Human Condition

(Andy Warhol's Small Torn Campbell's Soup Can (Pepper Pot), 1962 sells at $11.8 million at yesterday's Christie's auction house.)

Behind every modern artist is a (once) dedicated illustrator. In fact, Warhol started out making advertisements for I. Miller shoes and Christmas cards for Tiffany’s and Co. before he became famous with his commercial-laden Campbell’s soup cans.

His Small Torn Campbell’s Soup Can (Pepper Pot) is perhaps one of his most painterly renditions of that infamous can. Unlike his regimented, streamlined and silk screened representations from photographs of famous stars and other figures, his Small Torn Campbell's Soup Can has a personal, and delicate touch. He used pencil and paintbrush in this case.

Ironically, although for Warhol it must have been a deliberate irony, his iconic illustrations became paramount advertisements for himself, making him rich and famous.

And even more ironic, the fame generated from his series of Cans has led to their freedom from the shelf.

Campbell’s soup cans imagery are now all over the place, from billboards to get well wishes. Perhaps Warhol tapped onto something. But wasn’t that ‘something’ there before he even got at it?

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Aubrey Beardsley's Unintended Effects

Art After Conversion

From Aubrey Beardsley's "Le Morte DArthur"

Aubrey Beardsley is perhaps one of the surprise hidden influences in many graphic and illustrative arts. His sinuous figurers, dark themes and perfect lines make for beautiful drawings.

Vogue used his style in their early 1902s fashion illustration. And recently still, I came across this publicity for a Black Crowes concert.

With the hedonism and dark (gothic) themes that many illustrations seem to borrow from Beardsley, I wonder if any of them realize that he converted to Roman Catholicism near the end of his life, and possibly regrets many of his nefarious themes?

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What Price...

A Scream in Pennies?

Lithographic version of Munch's "The Scream"

The famous Munch "Scream" is still silently, but now invisibly, wailing its discontent.

It was stolen in broad daylight from the Munch Museum (along with another Munch piece "The Madonna") in August 2004.

Two people have now been charged $122 million in the hopes that they might disclose the location of the painting.

I just wonder if the price has been jacked up as an incentive for truth-telling?

The interesting thing is that there are actually four original versions of the painting, in various museums and private collections, and countless lithographic copies from an original by Munch.

Does the price of a painting decrease if there are other similar ones like it?

On an unrelated story:

How much is a penny worth?

Well, the Canadian 1 cent was worth a whopping 2¢ – double its value – pre 1997 because it was predominantly made of copper, a metal whose price is reaching record levels.

Post-1997, 94% of the penny is steel, and its intrinsic value is 1/10th of our one penny.

So, how would you rather trade for a million dollar painting? In copper, in steel or ... at the price of a penny?

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Climbing Mountains

To Be Somebody

'Tis the season for documentaries. TVOntario, Ontario's regional television station, aired a short story on one of the most popular documentaries from last year called "The boys of Baraka".

Twenty inner-city Baltimore pre-teens were chosen to spend a couple of years in the Kenyan country-side near Mount Kenya. They were to participate as students of an experimental boarding school. Needless to say, they were all black.

The extracts played by the TVO story were endearing and funny. Even in moments of sadness, there is a sense of charm about these young boys.

Here are some quotes from the boys:

"It's sad, that somebody else gotta take care of me, and my father, who can't, 'cos he in jail."

- "Look at the clouds!"


- "Dang!"

"We're going there so when I grow up, I be somebody."

"I didn't know it rained in Africa!"

"I would like you to send me some gum, some soda, some chips, and some candy."

"Something better than the cat, a hedgehog. See?"

"I'm in Africa. What else can I say?"

- "I'm going home...I didn't know it was going to be like this."


- "You cannot walk all the way from here all the way down to no airport!"

Final scene of Richard, hauling his brother Romesh's packed bag back into the building.

Postscript:

The school shut down a year early because of terrorist scares in the country.

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