Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Showcase

 Recently I was the subject of a multimedia journalism project by Michael J Bramadat-Willcock with Tanja Van Møhsen (model), for Michael's final project in one of his classes at Concordia University.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

March for Earth Day in Montreal

"There must be some kind of way out of here," (Quote Jimi Hendrix)
Said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion,
I can't get no relief.
"There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
But you and I, we've been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late"

Attending the earth day march today was quite something. I have to say that's probably the biggest or close to one of the biggest marches I have seen in Canada... 
.

Seeing the people and overhearing scraps of conversations, heavy brows, a few light hearts but mostly alot of folks looking for hope and willing to speak out about the importance of protecting nature. 
.

I saw the Innu women speak, though I couldn't understand what they were saying, I definately felt it. You know what they are saying, even if you cannot understand the words, someone who walks for two weeks from the sub-arctic to come protest, you know they have something important to say.


 

I don't understand how they can continue to destroy the environment for what? It's insane if you really think about it. So we can have gadgets to throw away in a few years? So they can sell us something? So they can have gold and other precious minerals? Can we not just work with what we have, even if it ends up being a simpler life? Is that really so bad? To me it looks like they won't stop, they will just keep going to there is nothing left. What happens if there is nothing left? Do you really want to live in that kind of world? It's all because of this illusion, this game, called "money" and the "bottom line". Well the bottom line is that we are signing our death warrant if we don't change our collective ways now. 

 


 They showed pictures on the big screen of the region that will be affected by Plan Nord. I cried alot as I listened to the Innu women speak. I seem to be spending alot of time lately processing the horror I feel at watching our elite destroy our local & global ecosystem.
I gazed out over the crowd, as the incredible never ending march of thousands upon thousands of people walked on past me. I think alot of people attending the march, a whole 250,000 people, would agree that Our long term survival requires us to learn to live in harmony with nature, now. 
I wonder what our next step should be?


I marvel that the Innu Nation sent a delegation walking on foot to get here, these women walked for 2 weeks from the sub-arctic of Quebec to come speak to us in person.




We're running out of time...



These incredible awesome women from the Innu Nation walked all the way from their homes in Northern Quebec to come here to tell us in person, to please say NO to Plan North! It's not just their homes they are destroying, they are systematically destroying the earth and our future as a species... What sad and foolish future that would be, I pray that no further destruction to both our local and global environment happen. I pray for healing for the earth, for the two legged, the four legged, the winged ones and all of nature.
More information about the Innu Nation's Walk to Montreal, See Article Here: http://canadians.org/blog/?p=14637



Earth Day: Better Late Then Never

Wildlife of Lac Saint Pierre - Body Painting Test with Leatizia in preperations for the Competition in Trois-Rivierre
You know when I was 11 years old I tried to start a club which I nicknamed "ICOP" which was short for, "I see our planet crying, don't you?" in reference to both environmental and humanitarian issues. I wanted to be one of those children who manages to be a mover & a shaker in order to prevent the environmental nightmare we have on our hands today.

Stop-motion Body Painting Animation excerpt from Part 2 of "Protesting Oil: Please Don't Spoil" with Olga.
I could see with my young eyes and young experiences, what was happening and where this was headed if we didn't change course. All without the internet, and this was not influenced by the adults around me.

Now I am 33, and I am horrified with what is going on. But I have honestly experienced first hand many "little miracles", manifestation of intentions, visualization, of prayer, so it is these subtle magiques that gives me hope for our future.

Stop-motion Body Painting Animation excerpt from Part 2 of "Protesting Oil: Please Don't Spoil" with Olga
Humanity is like a child not understanding what mamma is saying when she says don't put your hand on the stove because it will burn, or don't touch the fire's flame, it will burn; but every child does put their hand on the stove or touch the flame at least once before they register what hot & burn means. It is that first hand experience that gives the words meaning & wisdom.
Stop-motion Body Painting Animation excerpt from Part 2 of "Protesting Oil: Please Don't Spoil" with Olga

Right now humanity, your hands are burning, do you notice? Are you ready to wake up? To be the change you want to see in the world? There is definitely no time like the present and it really is better late then never.

If you care about the environment, and believe that more needs to be done to help the environment recover & regenerate, you may want to consider joining the protest today in Montreal. The march starts at 2pm but there is live entertainment from over 100 artists starting at 11am at Place des festivals du Quartier des spectacles, à Montréal.
More information here: http://action.davidsuzuki.org/22-april 
More information in French: http://fr.canoe.ca/infos/environnement/archives/2012/04/20120421-173423.html

Stop-motion Body Painting Animation excerpt from Part 1 of "Protesting Oil: Please Don't Spoil" with Dean

Monday, April 16, 2012

Mother Nature

I have been absolutely "run off my feet" with my current art projects, at the moment I have been averaging one to two stopmotion animation photoshoots a week plus other activities. I am pretty tired but feel really satisfied. It's a happy kind of tired. Anyways, this is the reason for my abrupt blogging silence. Here's a teaser: "Mother Nature" is model, Tanja Van Møhsen.