Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Your Carbon Foot Print will Plant a Tree!
So for the Carbon Foot Print each person creates by driving to the Open Mind Eco Festival, (I am running the Vision Art Gallery as well as the Body Art Competition), the festival requests a donation at the parking lot which will then be used to purchase a tree in order to offset your carbon foot print! They are working with Carbone Boreal, whom will receive all of the proceeds raised in this endeuver.
Blast from my childhood....
When I was a kid I used to listen to the radio until I'd fall asleep, I used to love listening to this song when I'd hear it come on. I remember camping and imitating this song with my brother, we were pretty silly when we'd do it. I was reminded of the exsistence of this song when DJ Lady Ra posted it on her facebook.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Open Mind Eco Festival
The Open Mind Eco Festival is in 2 weeks! Please come out!
The following is an excerpt from one of the newsletters from the founder of the festival, Adam.
The mission of the festival is to create individual and global change by creating spaces to allow the blooming of our children’s hearts and the experience of a new healthy, balanced and sustainable way of living.
Organic Joyous Music, Conscious Workshops, Lectures, Yoga, Visionary Arts, Healing Area, Enchanted Forest, Lucid Cinema, Positive Ceremonies, Animations and Performances, Kids Village, Sweat Lodge, Giant Labyrinth. We never get bored at OpenMind!
August 9-10-11 and the morning of the 12th will be focusing on workshops, yoga, visionary arts, acoustic music, conferences, sweat lodges, healing area, labyrinth, performances and animations as well as other activities, which don’t involve amplified music (with the exception of a few hours of amplified music on Thursday evening).
Amplified music officially starts on Friday the 12th in the evening.
A "Celebration opening" ceremony will be held on Friday evening; this will mark the beginning of the more festive days, while still focusing on well-being and balance.
All activities on site are free, unless specified otherwise (very rare)
Consult the General schedule HERE or on our website at www.openmindfestival.com.
Crystal Lagoon Stage: Sunny Organic Music; World Music, Dub, Goatrance, Trance, Tribal, Progressive electronic, Psytrance & other positive and lively musical styles.
Cosmic Glade Stage: Ambient and Mystic Music; Acoustic and Djs; Downtempo, Psybient, Ethnic, Indian, Cosmic, Chants, Kirtans as well as other spatial and ambient music styles.
Consciousness Hut; Workshops, Lectures, Yoga; Many workshops and conferences on a variety of conscious subjects.
Healing Area: Cares, Healing, Meditation; A care-giving village, a small city of Well-being, a peaceful, calm, happy and natural place
VisionART; Visionary Art exhibition and Body Painting Competition
Giant Labyrinth; Initiatory "Labydream" day and night
Lucid Cinema; Conscious documentaries, visionary movies and projections
Enchanted Forest; A forest twinkling with magic, Ecstatic surprises, Pure contemplation
Animations and Performances; Stunning, fantastic and surprising animations and performances
Kids Village; An entire village is built and organized specially for our fantastic little ones!
Positive Ceremonies; Traditional and Neo-shamanic ceremonies from different cultures. Non-Invasive positive rituals of openness, joy and liberation.
Sweat Lodge; Traditional native sweat lodge from August 9th to 13th.
Temple; Grounding Space
Community Kitchen
Artisans and Restaurants village
Sustainable Mind Plan
OpenMind Eco-Festival; A Green Event
OpenMind is first and foremost a way to create the change in order to usher into a new, balanced, sustainable and healthy era ! OpenMind Eco-Festival is fully committed to sustainable development in order to create a positive impact on the planet and its inhabitants.It is only with the participation of each and every one of us that this vision can come true. In the "environment" section on our website, you can see how you can contribute and increase the well-being of our planet, our festival, and ourselves! You can also take a look at the sustainable development plan (Sustainable Mind) as well as the actions spawned by OpenMind in order to bring about our communal vision, which is to create a positive impact on the earth and its inhabitants. Together, we have the power to create change; joined we are much more powerful than the sum of each of us !
For more information please go to the main website: http://www.openmindfestival.com
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Field Trip!
I am passing on the following information on behalf of Serena and my respected teacher & friend, Ethan Murchie, who runs the Montreal Gong-Fu Research Centre.
New York Chinese Herb Farm Visit
When: The tentative date for the herb farm visit is Friday July 29th and Saturday the 30th (camping in rural upstate New York). Conferences & visit the medicinal herb farm. If you're interested, please contact Serena
(serena.emerson@gmail.com). And please invite anyone you know who might want to come along.
Here is the internet site: http://www.highfallsgardens.net/aboutus/index.html
New York Chinese Herb Farm Visit
When: The tentative date for the herb farm visit is Friday July 29th and Saturday the 30th (camping in rural upstate New York). Conferences & visit the medicinal herb farm. If you're interested, please contact Serena
(serena.emerson@gmail.com). And please invite anyone you know who might want to come along.
Here is the internet site: http://www.highfallsgardens.net/aboutus/index.html
Competitors Wanted! Artists, Body Painters & Face Painters
The Canadian Body Art Competition
Looking for:
For Artists, Body Painters & Face Painters
Looking for:
For Artists, Body Painters & Face Painters
If you are registered in the competition, you get the following:
- Guestlist: free entry into the festival for artist + model
- Free ride on festival bus from either Montreal or Ottawa
- Free snacks & drinks
- Prizes Include: $600, live on site Massage by Allison Ryan, gift basket from BAREFOOT WINES, & more.
- Prizes Include: $600, live on site Massage by Allison Ryan, gift basket from BAREFOOT WINES, & more.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Friendly Competitors Wanted!
The Canadian Body Art Competition:
A collaboration between
The Art of April-Anna and the Open Mind Eco Festival.
The Art of April-Anna and the Open Mind Eco Festival.
The competition will happen on August 13th & 14th during the festival. The festival happens in the Whispering Pines Campsite, just outside of Curran, Ontario from August 9th to the 16th.
Last year was the 1st festival, with over 800 ticket holders, this year will be even bigger! The competition is inside of the Vision Art Gallery, which will house the works of 19 artists plus a "virtual gallery" in the form of a slide show happening in the Projection Room.
Artists wishing to participate in the body art competition are welcome to participate for free and will also be able to attend the festival (August 9th - 16th) for free, as well as it is free for artists to take the festival bus from Montreal or Ottawa to the campsite. There are also prizes!
Documentary in the Works
James Anthony McElligott is a documentary maker based in Montreal, QC, who has spent the last several years filming both the world's top and unknown body painters. "The Fine Art of Body Painting: Behind the Paint" will be ready for release either in 2012 or 2013. Artists who have been included in this film are Bella Volen, Natasha Kudashkina, Margie Nugent, Einat Dan, Craig Tracey, Remix, Rachel Debor, Nix Herrera, Joy Carter & many more!
James will be filming the Canadian Body Art Competition at OpenMind.
Video-Blog: the Tea Party: 1st song of the night!
So I started listening to the Tea Party when I was 13 years old, they were a new band at that time, still promoting their 1st album. It's been a very long time and I guess some music just stays with you. I can't help it, I love their music and always have so much fun at the concerts.
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I didn't think I was going to be able to attend this concert, despite it being their reunion tour; but then a girlfriend generiously bought me a ticket as a gift so that I could attend! The universe consipired! I recorded only a few songs, here is one "ghetto" video of more to come.
I didn't think I was going to be able to attend this concert, despite it being their reunion tour; but then a girlfriend generiously bought me a ticket as a gift so that I could attend! The universe consipired! I recorded only a few songs, here is one "ghetto" video of more to come.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Mural at Melange Magique
I literally just finished the mural this afternoon, July 6th, 2011. Fifty-one hours over the course of a month, assistance from Ziggy and the cats; Luna & Tequila. The mural covers the 2 walls & a ceiling, hand painted with brushes & sponges. There is more to see then I can possibly show in these two photos, hence the video blog I made (watch below).
This was an intuitive painting process, the starting point was how to turn a yellow wall into a sky without loosing the yellow paint.... Sun, moon & stars transition from daytime to twilight. View a glimpse of the galaxies.
This video takes you over the process from start to finish, of how the mural developed.
Music by Melodic Energy Commission
Melange Magique: 1928 Ste. Catherine West
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Rainbows over Montreal
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I am very excited about everything coming together so far for the Vision Art Area of the Open Mind Eco Festival. I was able to raise $836. for the body art competition and the art gallery, which is very good for my first time throwing a fundraiser.
However, I do want to raise more money because I'd like to be able to provide food for the artists and I also want to be able to offer large financial prizes for the body art competition; but it's ok because I can work with what I have. But who knows what may happen next? This is a beautiful adventure this life, so really, who knows what beautiful opportunties might come next! Certainly I'll keep you posted!
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| I took this photo on thursday when I was riding bike accross the city during a break in the rain. |
So I can't tell you how busy I have been lately, you can tell because of the lack of blog postings. Officially I have discovered I am a work-aholic, it's all personal projects.I did 7 weeks with only 3 days off, working around 14 hours a day; it burnt me out, now I have to learn a healthy balance.
I was responding to the needs of the situation. I was asked to join the Open Mind Eco Festival as one of their volunteer organizers (I am curating and organizing the Vision Art area, so this includes an art gallery & body art competition as well as art jams) back in March, but at the time I was preparing to participate in a body art competition in Trois-Rivières organized by Les Productions du Grand Heron Bleu du Lac St.Pierre.
I was responding to the needs of the situation. I was asked to join the Open Mind Eco Festival as one of their volunteer organizers (I am curating and organizing the Vision Art area, so this includes an art gallery & body art competition as well as art jams) back in March, but at the time I was preparing to participate in a body art competition in Trois-Rivières organized by Les Productions du Grand Heron Bleu du Lac St.Pierre.
 |
| Valérie Blanchet |
After going over my goals for the art gallery & body art competition for the Open Mind Eco Festival, I realized in order to have a high quality presentation that I would need to organize a fundraiser. The fundraiser started off with an idea to do a "Chinese Auction", otherwise known as a "Penny Social", then I realized it would make sense to do a one day art show in order to promote and show what I was fundraising for, which then expanded into a one month art exhibition and the fundraiser became the vernissage (in English this is the party & opening gala night of the art exhibition).
The fundraiser (June 9th) was a great success and a beautiful event. Unfortunately our photographer had some technical difficulties and I was too exhausted, busy with hosting to take photos; so I have no event photos. But I will be hosting an Open House at Ahimsa Yoga Studio & Community Space on July 2nd so that people have an opportunity to come in and look at the current group art show I organized and also meet the artists.
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| Adriane Enns |
Anyways, to summarize what I started off talking about, I am exhausted but very happy. The photographs you see of the rainbows were taken the day I wrote this blog on the bike path.
I am very excited about everything coming together so far for the Vision Art Area of the Open Mind Eco Festival. I was able to raise $836. for the body art competition and the art gallery, which is very good for my first time throwing a fundraiser.
However, I do want to raise more money because I'd like to be able to provide food for the artists and I also want to be able to offer large financial prizes for the body art competition; but it's ok because I can work with what I have. But who knows what may happen next? This is a beautiful adventure this life, so really, who knows what beautiful opportunties might come next! Certainly I'll keep you posted!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Workshop Series: Face & Body Painting
Workshop Series:
Face Painting Fundamentals Workshop 1
Sunday, June 19th, 10am-5:30pm
$180. with no kit.
$200. with a basic face painting kit (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes & sponges not included.
See below for Package Deals.
The base for most forms of body art is to know how to be a good face painter, once you have the basic face painting skills, picking up additional body art skills is much easier. You need a basic understanding of face painting in order to work with other body arts. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon with a 1 hour lunch. You will learn the basics for both adult & kids. No prerequisite, open to everyone.
High Fashion Face Painting Workshop 2
Sunday, Sunday June 26th, 10am-5:30pm
$180. with no kit.
$200. with a basic face painting kit (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes not included.
See below for Package Deals.
Learn to apply face painting as a fine art with a high fashion edge. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon, with a 1 hour lunch.
Prerequisite: workshop 1. Alternative: show your professional photographic portfolio & resume to be considered.
Body Painting Fundamentals Workshop 3
Sunday, July 3rd, 10am-5:30pm
$180. with no kit.
$340. with a basic body painting kit (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes not included.
See below for Package Deals.
Learning to body paint the torso will prepare you for learning how to body paint the entire body. In this class you will have the opportunity to do more then one look. Learn to map out & prepare for a full head to foot body painting. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon, with a 1 hour lunch. You will need to bring your own model for the day, either a man or women.
Prerequisite: is workshop 1. Alternative: show your professional photographic portfolio & resume to be considered, your work must be of a very high calibre in order to be accepted without taking workshop 1.
Full Body Painting Workshop 4
Sunday, July 10th, 10am-5:30pm
$180.
If you need a body painting kit (those who buy the kit for Workshop 3 won't need to buy a kit), it's an additional $160. (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes not included.
Learn how to do a full head to foot body painting. This is a follow up to workshop 3. In this workshop you will learn to apply & use the preparation work planned out in workshop 3. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon, with a 1 hour lunch. You will need to bring your own model for the day, either a man or women.
Prerequisite: Workshop 3 & 1. Alternative: show your professional photographic portfolio & resume to be considered, your work must be of a very high calibre in order to be accepted without taking workshop 3 & 1.
Free-form Workshop 5
Sunday, July 17th, 10am-5:30pm
$75.
This is to wrap up all 4 workshops, this is an opportunity for constructive criticism and to problem solve any issues you ran into during workshop 4.
Package Deals
Do not include the kit, to add the kit, please add $160. for body painting, or an additional $20 for the face painting kit.
Package Deal #1
Workshop 1 & 2: Without Kit: $340 (save $20)
With Kit: $380 (save $20)
Package Deal #2
Workshop 1 & 3: Without Kit: $340 (save $20)
With Kit: $380 (save $20)
Package Deal #3
Workshop 1, 3 & 4: Without Kit: $500 (save $40)
With Kit: $680 (save $40)
Package Deal #4
All 5 workshops: Without Kit: $700. (save $95)
With Kit: $900. (save $95)
Face Painting Fundamentals Workshop 1
Sunday, June 19th, 10am-5:30pm
$180. with no kit.
$200. with a basic face painting kit (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes & sponges not included.
See below for Package Deals.
The base for most forms of body art is to know how to be a good face painter, once you have the basic face painting skills, picking up additional body art skills is much easier. You need a basic understanding of face painting in order to work with other body arts. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon with a 1 hour lunch. You will learn the basics for both adult & kids. No prerequisite, open to everyone.
High Fashion Face Painting Workshop 2
Sunday, Sunday June 26th, 10am-5:30pm
$180. with no kit.
$200. with a basic face painting kit (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes not included.
See below for Package Deals.
Learn to apply face painting as a fine art with a high fashion edge. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon, with a 1 hour lunch.
Prerequisite: workshop 1. Alternative: show your professional photographic portfolio & resume to be considered.
Body Painting Fundamentals Workshop 3
Sunday, July 3rd, 10am-5:30pm
$180. with no kit.
$340. with a basic body painting kit (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes not included.
See below for Package Deals.
Learning to body paint the torso will prepare you for learning how to body paint the entire body. In this class you will have the opportunity to do more then one look. Learn to map out & prepare for a full head to foot body painting. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon, with a 1 hour lunch. You will need to bring your own model for the day, either a man or women.
Prerequisite: is workshop 1. Alternative: show your professional photographic portfolio & resume to be considered, your work must be of a very high calibre in order to be accepted without taking workshop 1.
Full Body Painting Workshop 4
Sunday, July 10th, 10am-5:30pm
$180.
If you need a body painting kit (those who buy the kit for Workshop 3 won't need to buy a kit), it's an additional $160. (Make-up Forever Products). Brushes not included.
Learn how to do a full head to foot body painting. This is a follow up to workshop 3. In this workshop you will learn to apply & use the preparation work planned out in workshop 3. This is an intensive workshop over a 6 hour period with a 15 minute break in the morning & afternoon, with a 1 hour lunch. You will need to bring your own model for the day, either a man or women.
Prerequisite: Workshop 3 & 1. Alternative: show your professional photographic portfolio & resume to be considered, your work must be of a very high calibre in order to be accepted without taking workshop 3 & 1.
Free-form Workshop 5
Sunday, July 17th, 10am-5:30pm
$75.
This is to wrap up all 4 workshops, this is an opportunity for constructive criticism and to problem solve any issues you ran into during workshop 4.
Package Deals
Do not include the kit, to add the kit, please add $160. for body painting, or an additional $20 for the face painting kit.
Package Deal #1
Workshop 1 & 2: Without Kit: $340 (save $20)
With Kit: $380 (save $20)
Package Deal #2
Workshop 1 & 3: Without Kit: $340 (save $20)
With Kit: $380 (save $20)
Package Deal #3
Workshop 1, 3 & 4: Without Kit: $500 (save $40)
With Kit: $680 (save $40)
Package Deal #4
All 5 workshops: Without Kit: $700. (save $95)
With Kit: $900. (save $95)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Canada's body painting competition!
Please check the Curator's Blog I have started for the most up to date information! (click the link)
The Open Mind Eco Festival (August 9th-16th, 2011)
& The Art of April-Anna Present:
The Canadian Body Art Competition
The Open Mind Eco Festival (August 9th-16th, 2011)
& The Art of April-Anna Present:
The Canadian Body Art Competition
August 13th & 14th, 2011
Whispering Pines Campsite, Curran, Ontario, Canada
Whispering Pines Campsite, Curran, Ontario, Canada
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| Photography by Christopher Capicollo - Montreal, Canada |
Body Painting Competition:
Sponge & Brush,
Beginner & Professional
Saturday, August 13th, 10am
Body Painting Competition:
Airbrush, Beginner & Professional
Sunday, August 14th, 10am
Face Painting Competition:
Beginner & Professional
Styles: Kids, Adults, Fantasy or High Fashion
Sunday, August 14th, 3pm
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Enchanted Forest: Vernissage
"Enchanted Forest" - June 9th Fundraiser. 6pm-10pm Coctail & Chinese Auction. 6pm-10pm. Group Art Show.
Music & Entertainment By:
Balkan Beats by DJ Eliazar
Kyra Shaughnessy: Singer Songwriter
Story Telling by Hobbes
Harp & Song by Theda Phoenix & tba.
Belly Dance by Sharon Levinger. Baladi by Keera Sama.
Roaming magician Sébastien Talbot.
Cocktail sponsored by Barefoot Wines.
Location: Ahimsa Yoga Studio & Community Space: 5369 St. Laurent, Suite 240
Organized & presented by The Art of April-Anna for the Open Mind Eco Festival.
Chinese Auction: Cross between a silent auction & a raffle. This is the funniest type of auction you will ever go to! Any items you are interested in, you can place as many raffle tickets on that item as you want, each raffle ticket increases your chances of winning (every item is a seperate draw).
Items on auction include (more TBA):
- 2 Gift certificates from Allison Ryan Massage Therapy Montreal valued at $100
http://www.massagetherapyinmontreal.com/
- 1 Gift certificate from Montreal Gong-Fu Research Centre for consultation & tuina (chinese massage) valued at $70. http://www.montrealgongfu.com/
- Organic clothing from Advika valued at $250
http://www.advikaclothing.com/
- 1 Gift certificate for private lesson valued $60 from Sharon Levinger Belly Dance Performer & Instructor
- 1 Gift certificate valued at $100 (tarot reading) from Catharine Allan Clairvoyant Medium http://www.river-rain.com/
- 1 Gift certificate valued at $75 from Gaelle's Massage Therapy & Healing Services om.gaelle.tanguy@gmail.com
- 1 Gift certificate valued $50 from Lumanessence
http://www.lumanessence.com/
- 1 Gift certificate from Psychonaut
http://www.psychonaut.ca/
- 1 Quartz Crystal Singing Bowl valued at $250. from Andrea Ostiguy, Reflexologist/Naturotherapist http://www.westislandcrystaljunkies.blogspot.com/
- 1 Adventurine Necklace valued at $50 from Le Dragon Argente
http://www.ledragonargente.etsy.com/
- 1 Hypnotherapy session, valued at $90 from Ikra Centre
http://www.ikra.ca/
- 1 CD from Auresia Muse
http://www.auresia.com/
- 1 Sculpture "Egg Goddess", value is $50, donated & made by Lauryn Trimble
http://www.laurentrimble.com/
- 1 Dress with arm warmers from Gypsy Circus Clothing by Sandra Iannuccilli. Valued at $165.
http://www.gypsycircus.ca/
- 1 Gift Certificate for Radiesthesy session and Aura reading valued at $100 from Charme & Sortilège
http://www.charme-et-sortilege.com/
- 2 Tickets plus 6 meals for 2 at the Open Mind Eco Festival. 8 days, ticket value at the door is $175. per ticket, total value: $350.
http://www.openmindfestival.com/
- Gift certificate for $80 at Trance Plants: shamanic and medicinal herbs and incenses.
http://www.tranceplants.net/
- 1 Hula hoop valued at $50 from A-Muse Hoops
http://www.amusehoops.com/
- $150 Gift Certificate from Organik Santé Corporative for an appointment with the naturopath Émilia Sirois.
- $125 Gift Certificate from Elizabeth Johnston, Writer, Instructor & Coach for a one day screen writing seminar on Saturday, September 10th, 2011.
http://www.elizabeth-johnston.com/
- Art prints from the following artists: Elissa Baltzer, April-Anna, P.John Burden, and more!
- Home Cleansing Smudge Kit from Melange Magick, valued at $40.
http://www.themagicalblend.com/
- Tea & Colouring book from Yellow Bird Project
http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/
- Wine basket from Barefoot Wines
http://www.barefootwine.com/
- Beer basket from Beau's Organic Beer
http://www.beaus.ca/brewery/organic
More auction items to be announced soon! - MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
"Enchanted Forest" a Visionary Art Experience, Group Art Exhibition from June 9th to July 9th featuring the works of up to 30 Artists:
Plume (Richelieu, QC)
Aurel - Pumayana (Australia/France)
Chris Dyer (Peru/Montreal)
April-Anna (BC/Montreal)
P.John Burden (Maritimes/PEI)
Elissa Baltzer (PEI/Montreal)
Serene Daoud (Montreal)
Jacqueline Hana Tyracek (Vancouver, BC)
Adriane Enns (BC)
Lauren Trimble (Montreal)
Benjamin Wong (Montreal)
Valérie Blanchet (Montreal)
Gabriel - DJ Zen (Quebec)
Marie-Line Vasseur (Montreal)
Janic Losier
Lena Breijer (Montreal)Yasmine Desrochers
Valerie Lambert (Belgium)
Jonathan Lee (Toronto)
Cornelia Dudli
Allison Ryan
Cyens
Auction Tickets:
5 tickets for a recommended donation of $10
12 tickets for a recommended donation of $20
35 tickets for a recommended donation of $50
Free finger food. We ask for donations at the door and donations for the bar.
Why do we need to fundraise?
I am organizing a fundraiser to raise money for the art galleries & body art competitions. We need to raise prize money for the competitions, money for tools such as folding tables & chairs, outdoor canopy tents, food for artists and more.
For more information or to contribute (still looking for more musical acts, artists & performers), please email aprilanna@aprilanna.com
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Call for Artists Submissions! - Group Exhibition June 9th to July 9th, 2011
Call for artists!
Group Art Exhibition: “Enchanted Forest”
a Visionary Art Experience
June 9th-July 9th, 2011.
Location: Ahimsa Yoga Studio & Community Space.
Fundraiser for the Open Mind Eco Festival's
Art Gallery & Body Art Competition.
Vernissage: Cocktail & “Chinese” Auction:
Thursday June 9th, 2011, 6pm-10pm.
Closing party & fundraiser: tba.
Visionary Art at the Open Mind Eco Festival is any art that:
- Is influenced by philosophical or spiritual thoughts, and/or experiences.
- Influenced by nature (flora/fauna), ecology, surrealism, imagination and/or mythology.
- Art that seeks to influence or create positive social change, or to convey a thought provoking message that is intended to create positive social change; a vision or mirror of a healthier world.
- Is an expression of your inner sight; your personal view of a “window into the soul”.
Submission Deadline: Thursday, May 26th, 2011.
Due to some confusions for some artists, just to clarify: Submission Deadline is only for the small art show happening in June/July. I am still considering artists for the big show at the Open Mind Eco Festival in August, there is no formal deadline for the big show, when I run out of space, I will no longer be accepting new submissions.
Important Information:
1 piece of art per artist.
All works must be ready to hang.
Maximum Dimensions 30in x 40in.
Participation Fee $5. each, this pays for promotional material.
Each artist will be expected to help with promotions of the art exhibition & vernissage.
If your artwork sells, we take a 20%. Half of this goes towards the fundraiser & the other half would go to the studio space that is hosting the art exhibition.
If you are an artist submitting from outside of Montreal, you will need to be responsible for the cost of mailing your artwork.
HOW TO SUBMIT: Email
Title of your email should say “Art Submission”. Please include the name of your piece with a short description of the painting (please include the medium). If you have a website, please include this. .
Most importantly, please include a photograph of your painting in JPEG file format that is no larger then 800x700 pixels at a 72 pixel resolution.
Be sure to include your phone number and email.
Submit your application by email to the curator, April-Anna
aprilanna@aprilanna.com
Those artists accepted into the exhibition will be notified by June 1st, 2011.
About the fundraiser & the Open Mind Eco Festival:
The Open Mind Eco Festival is in it's 2nd year and will be happening from August 9th-16th at the Whispering Pines Campsite in Curran, Ontario. Last year's festival attracted over 900 attendees. With 2 stages (including 1 ambient stage), a children's village, visual art area, a labyrinth, performance animations, cinema, enchanted forest, healer's village, non-denominational spiritual ceremonies & free workshops with everything from arts & crafts to yoga.
The visionary art area is being organized & curated by local Montreal artist, The Art of April-Anna. There will be a large art gallery full of Visionary Art. This year will be the 1st year that we will introduce a Body Art Competitions; which will include a face painting competition, and body painting competitions for sponge/brush, & airbrush. There will be sections for beginners & advanced painters.
All artists who participate in the “Enchanted Forest” Group Art Exhibition will be considered for the big exhibition at the Open Mind Eco Festival.
http://www.openmindfestival.com/
About the Fundraiser:
We are raising money for the visionary art area at the Open Mind Eco Festival. What we need to raise money for includes: tent rental, prizes for the competitions, food for the artists, table rentals & other expenses.
QUESTIONS?
Email April-Anna: aprilanna@aprilanna.com
Phone: 514-243-4315
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Canada watches its democracy erode
I don't normally get involved in talking about or writing about politics, but truly, Harper really gets my knickers in a twist. I admit, I am part of the voting problem; I stopped voting ten years ago. Why? Because in 1997 when I was legally allowed to vote for the first time, I was so excited to participate in democracy, I celebrated, and felt like I was contributing some good to society. But then by the time I was in my early twenties, I became disillusioned, jaded. I didn't see that Canadian democracy was working for me as a citzien, I didn't feel like it was making a difference, and I didn't like the choices I had to choose from for voting.
QUOTE from "The Australian" newspaper.
Canada watches its democracy erode
ON Friday, the minority Stephen Harper government fell on a confidence motion by a 156-145 vote. Speaking to the motion, Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff attacked the government for disrespecting Canadian democracy and treating parliament with contempt.
The myth of Canada being dull is captured in the apocryphal story that in an international competition for the most boring news headline of the year, the winning entry was "Yet another worthy Canadian initiative".
Edmund Burke noted that all that was necessary for evil to triumph was for good men to do nothing. Canadians are certainly good and worthy folks, but they suffer an excess of civil obedience, politeness and lack of civic rage that could be harnessed to combat political atrophy. At a time when Arabs risk life and limb for political freedoms, Canadians seem largely apathetic about the erosion of their democracy.
The centralisation of power in the hands of the prime minister and political staffers - with the resulting diminution of the role and status of cabinet, parliaments and parliamentarians - is common to Anglo-Saxon democracies in Australia, Britain, Canada and the US, but the extent to which constitutional conventions, parliamentary etiquette and civil institutions of good governance have been worn away in Canada is cause for concern.
A minister told parliament she did not know who had altered a document that cut funding to a foreign aid group. Later, she admitted to ordering the changes, but did not know who had carried out the order. Lying to parliament, a cardinal sin of Westminster-style democracy, has become a political tactic.
Following rulings by Speaker Peter Milliken, for the first time in Canadian history, the government and a minister have been found to be in contempt of parliament for withholding information and misleading the house.
The Integrity Commissioner was so inept that she failed to uphold a single one of more than 200 whistle-blowing complaints. Forced out of office by the ensuing public outcry, she was awarded a $C500,000 severance package on condition that neither she nor the government talk about it. That is, a public servant paid by the taxpayer was financially gagged by yet more taxpayer money to stop taxpayers finding out what was going on.
When a foreign service officer blew the whistle on the Canadian military handing over detainees to Afghan security forces, in likely violation of international humanitarian law, the government tried to destroy him and refused to give documents to a parliamentary inquiry. The Speaker reminded the government parliament controlled cabinet, not the other way round.
After the last elections, when the opposition parties were close to agreement on a coalition majority government, rather than face the house in a vote of confidence, Harper talked the governor-general into shuttering parliament for a month until he shored up his own support.
When the time came to choose a new governor-general, Harper opted for someone who had carefully drawn up terms of an inquiry commission to exclude the potentially most damaging aspects of a scandal involving a former conservative prime minister.
Four conservatives have been charged with exceeding campaign spending limits in the 2006 election that put Harper into power. A minister used public office and material to pursue party-political goals of courting ethnic vote banks for the conservatives.
Having come into office on campaign promises of greater transparency and accountability, Harper has silenced civil servants and diplomats, cynically published guidelines on how to disrupt hostile parliamentary committees, and suppressed research that contradicts ideologically-driven policy, for example data that show crime rates to be falling.
Judges who rule against the pet causes of the government's ideological base are not immune to attacks from cabinet ministers.
Civil society groups that criticise any government policy or ideology risk loss of funding and hostile takeovers by boards stacked with pro-government ciphers.
Little wonder Globe and Mail columnist Lawrence Martin describes the government's "arc of duplicity" as "remarkable to behold". What remains unclear is whether this adds up to an indictment of Canadians' indifference to democratic rights being curtailed or of the opposition parties, which have failed to harness the silent majority's outrage.
As Canadians head for the polls in early May, it remains to be seen whether Liberal Party charges of the Harper government being obsessed with secrecy, control, spin and attack ads will resonate with voters. Until then, Oh Canada, we cry our hearts for thee.
Author: Ramesh Thakur is professor of political science at the University of Waterloo and adjunct professor, Institute of Governance, Ethics and Law, Griffith University
Excuse my oncoming rant;
I feel like it's a puppetshow of greedy, power hungry idiots who I wouldn't trust as far as I can throw them. So why would I trust any of these morons to actually do a good job and actually run Canada in a considerate, wise and efficient way? Do any of these idiots really think about the bigger picture and think "how can I acheive the greatest good of all?". I think the only bigger picture they think about is their own bigger picture.
I worked for the government for a year when I was 19 as an intern and had a window into the bullshit that goes on internally. The higher up the totem pole the person is, the less in touch with reality they are and the more power they have to make desisions that affect everyone. The people working in the field, who in the greater scheme of things are on the bottom of the totem pole, they are the one's who have practical ideas and advice about how things could be done better and all of their wisdom falls on deaf ears.
So this is why I stopped voting, I didn't like my choices and I didn't believe in the idea of "choosing the lesser evil", that is until Harper stepped in. Harper I want to see out of power, his most recent antics really get my knickers in a twist and if I ever meet that man in person, I'll be sure to give him a piece of my mind. Harper makes me realize the wisdom in my grandfather's advice, to participate and choose the lesser of the evils.
Maybe I'll vote for the first time in ten years; please, the higher powers that be, kick this man out of power and replace him with a good man, or better yet, a wise women. Let's have a miracle! Maybe there would actually be one genuinely good person who really thinks about the greater good, who would not have gotten squelched by the opposition but in fact somehow side-steps attacks and makes it into power and could actually make the world a better place.
Sigh.... oh idealism....
QUOTE from "The Australian" newspaper.
Canada watches its democracy erode
ON Friday, the minority Stephen Harper government fell on a confidence motion by a 156-145 vote. Speaking to the motion, Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff attacked the government for disrespecting Canadian democracy and treating parliament with contempt.
The myth of Canada being dull is captured in the apocryphal story that in an international competition for the most boring news headline of the year, the winning entry was "Yet another worthy Canadian initiative".
Edmund Burke noted that all that was necessary for evil to triumph was for good men to do nothing. Canadians are certainly good and worthy folks, but they suffer an excess of civil obedience, politeness and lack of civic rage that could be harnessed to combat political atrophy. At a time when Arabs risk life and limb for political freedoms, Canadians seem largely apathetic about the erosion of their democracy.
The centralisation of power in the hands of the prime minister and political staffers - with the resulting diminution of the role and status of cabinet, parliaments and parliamentarians - is common to Anglo-Saxon democracies in Australia, Britain, Canada and the US, but the extent to which constitutional conventions, parliamentary etiquette and civil institutions of good governance have been worn away in Canada is cause for concern.
A minister told parliament she did not know who had altered a document that cut funding to a foreign aid group. Later, she admitted to ordering the changes, but did not know who had carried out the order. Lying to parliament, a cardinal sin of Westminster-style democracy, has become a political tactic.
Following rulings by Speaker Peter Milliken, for the first time in Canadian history, the government and a minister have been found to be in contempt of parliament for withholding information and misleading the house.
The Integrity Commissioner was so inept that she failed to uphold a single one of more than 200 whistle-blowing complaints. Forced out of office by the ensuing public outcry, she was awarded a $C500,000 severance package on condition that neither she nor the government talk about it. That is, a public servant paid by the taxpayer was financially gagged by yet more taxpayer money to stop taxpayers finding out what was going on.
When a foreign service officer blew the whistle on the Canadian military handing over detainees to Afghan security forces, in likely violation of international humanitarian law, the government tried to destroy him and refused to give documents to a parliamentary inquiry. The Speaker reminded the government parliament controlled cabinet, not the other way round.
After the last elections, when the opposition parties were close to agreement on a coalition majority government, rather than face the house in a vote of confidence, Harper talked the governor-general into shuttering parliament for a month until he shored up his own support.
When the time came to choose a new governor-general, Harper opted for someone who had carefully drawn up terms of an inquiry commission to exclude the potentially most damaging aspects of a scandal involving a former conservative prime minister.
Four conservatives have been charged with exceeding campaign spending limits in the 2006 election that put Harper into power. A minister used public office and material to pursue party-political goals of courting ethnic vote banks for the conservatives.
Having come into office on campaign promises of greater transparency and accountability, Harper has silenced civil servants and diplomats, cynically published guidelines on how to disrupt hostile parliamentary committees, and suppressed research that contradicts ideologically-driven policy, for example data that show crime rates to be falling.
Judges who rule against the pet causes of the government's ideological base are not immune to attacks from cabinet ministers.
Civil society groups that criticise any government policy or ideology risk loss of funding and hostile takeovers by boards stacked with pro-government ciphers.
Little wonder Globe and Mail columnist Lawrence Martin describes the government's "arc of duplicity" as "remarkable to behold". What remains unclear is whether this adds up to an indictment of Canadians' indifference to democratic rights being curtailed or of the opposition parties, which have failed to harness the silent majority's outrage.
As Canadians head for the polls in early May, it remains to be seen whether Liberal Party charges of the Harper government being obsessed with secrecy, control, spin and attack ads will resonate with voters. Until then, Oh Canada, we cry our hearts for thee.
Author: Ramesh Thakur is professor of political science at the University of Waterloo and adjunct professor, Institute of Governance, Ethics and Law, Griffith University
Excuse my oncoming rant;
I feel like it's a puppetshow of greedy, power hungry idiots who I wouldn't trust as far as I can throw them. So why would I trust any of these morons to actually do a good job and actually run Canada in a considerate, wise and efficient way? Do any of these idiots really think about the bigger picture and think "how can I acheive the greatest good of all?". I think the only bigger picture they think about is their own bigger picture.
I worked for the government for a year when I was 19 as an intern and had a window into the bullshit that goes on internally. The higher up the totem pole the person is, the less in touch with reality they are and the more power they have to make desisions that affect everyone. The people working in the field, who in the greater scheme of things are on the bottom of the totem pole, they are the one's who have practical ideas and advice about how things could be done better and all of their wisdom falls on deaf ears.
So this is why I stopped voting, I didn't like my choices and I didn't believe in the idea of "choosing the lesser evil", that is until Harper stepped in. Harper I want to see out of power, his most recent antics really get my knickers in a twist and if I ever meet that man in person, I'll be sure to give him a piece of my mind. Harper makes me realize the wisdom in my grandfather's advice, to participate and choose the lesser of the evils.
Maybe I'll vote for the first time in ten years; please, the higher powers that be, kick this man out of power and replace him with a good man, or better yet, a wise women. Let's have a miracle! Maybe there would actually be one genuinely good person who really thinks about the greater good, who would not have gotten squelched by the opposition but in fact somehow side-steps attacks and makes it into power and could actually make the world a better place.
Sigh.... oh idealism....
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Chance Encounter in the Woods
This is an animated short by a very talented friend of mine, Serene Daoud. I love this short, I wish there were more with these characters! I want to know what happens next!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
"Being a live painting at the Body Painting Competition"
Being a live painting at the Body Painting Competition
By Learn to Create (Keera Sama)
Body Painting competition in Trois-Rivières
"March 18-19 was a body painting competition in a small town up the river from Montreal!"
"At the competition they took very good care of models and artists alike! They had a little heater for each model, it was awesome, usually people aren’t so considerate and as a model I end up freezing as I’m being painted. They made sure we always had water tea or coffee."
Keera Sama
By Learn to Create (Keera Sama)
Body Painting competition in Trois-Rivières
"March 18-19 was a body painting competition in a small town up the river from Montreal!"
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| Photography by Christopher Capicollo |
"On Friday we packed up and drove to a bed and breakfast close to the Eco-Salon where the event was taking place. It was sooo cute! The house is apparantly 100 years old, you constantly hear the wood creaking, it reminds me of a typical grandmother’s house."
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| Photography by Christopher Capicollo |
"SO let me tell you, being a body paint model isn’t super easy, you stand for many hours at a time (this time it was 6 hours, longest I did was 9 hours) while having your nearly nude body painted. You can’t exactly take a sitting break because your bum is covered in paint, lol. And once your hands are painted you can’t touch anything. At that point Chris {photographer}was a very good sport and fed me! I’ve learnt now to start stretching from the beginning, everytime the artist is turned away or taking a mini break, I stretch, dance a little, and it keeps the aches and pains at bay! It really helped because after the competition I was just tired, and my patience meter was completely out, otherwise no problems."
Keera Sama
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| Photography by Christopher Capicollo |
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Destino: Disney & Dali
Who'd have thought that Disney and Salvador Dali would hook up to create a cartoon? Apparently this lay hidden and unreleased for a few decades.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Spring!!
Lac Saint Pierre
If you are in the area this weekend; please come see the body painting competition this saturday being organized by Envol du Grand Heron Beu Productions, a non-profit organization who's goal is to protect and create awareness about the Lac Saint-Pierre nature reserve. Recognized by UNESCO, this is the largest wetland reservation in the world.
The theme is local wildlife, "fauna and flora". To participate, artists must have prepared detailed sketches and a description to submit to judges at the start of the body painting competition.
For more information, please see: PEGHB
Tsunami & Earthquakes
Indonesia, Haiti, New Zealand and now Japan. I knew people who knew people in Haiti, but this time I actually have 2 friends who are in Japan; one is Canadian, and one is a Japanese girl I met here in Montreal in 2006. I guess because I have friends there, it has become more personal when I see the video footage and read what is happening there. So when the earthquake and tsunami hit, she was the first person I thought of. Finally on sunday she emailed me; I was relieved and in awe to hear that she was in Sendei when the earthquake & tsunami hit, she survived!
But it's heart breaking to see the footage of how the majority of survivors are dealing with the situation as they process what has happened. I think everyone who survived has lost someone, in many cases many people. I can't imagine either being in person there faced with the daunting task of rebuilding. I can't help but wonder if it is not perhaps smarter to just rebuild closer to the mountains? I realize many people love living on the ocean but who knows how long it could be before there would be another earthquake, it is so close to such a major faultline, it is only a matter of time on account of that the plate tectonics are always moving, the contenants are reshaping themselves. Anyways that's just my two cents.
Either way, my heart goes out to them and I wish I could do something to help. The only thing I am able to offer is if someone in Montreal is throwing a fundraising event (hint hint wink wink) they should contact me, I would be happy to contribute my services.
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| VJ, Photographer & Film Maker; Marie Dietlin Make-up by April-Anna. |
Yeah! It's Spring! I love spring! Ok, so I don't trust that ol'jack frost is really gone for good, I know that spring is on it's way! The giant icy & snow brick on my back porch is finally melting to a quarter of it's size it maintain and often grew over bigger over the winter. My cat spent a half an hour outside in the sun (instead of trying to come in and out like a yo-yo every five minutes to warm his feet) and didn't ask in when he saw me! I love spring! I can't wait to start gardening!
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| Springtime Drawing by April-Anna; Pen & Ink |
The theme is local wildlife, "fauna and flora". To participate, artists must have prepared detailed sketches and a description to submit to judges at the start of the body painting competition.
For more information, please see: PEGHB
Tsunami & Earthquakes
Indonesia, Haiti, New Zealand and now Japan. I knew people who knew people in Haiti, but this time I actually have 2 friends who are in Japan; one is Canadian, and one is a Japanese girl I met here in Montreal in 2006. I guess because I have friends there, it has become more personal when I see the video footage and read what is happening there. So when the earthquake and tsunami hit, she was the first person I thought of. Finally on sunday she emailed me; I was relieved and in awe to hear that she was in Sendei when the earthquake & tsunami hit, she survived!
But it's heart breaking to see the footage of how the majority of survivors are dealing with the situation as they process what has happened. I think everyone who survived has lost someone, in many cases many people. I can't imagine either being in person there faced with the daunting task of rebuilding. I can't help but wonder if it is not perhaps smarter to just rebuild closer to the mountains? I realize many people love living on the ocean but who knows how long it could be before there would be another earthquake, it is so close to such a major faultline, it is only a matter of time on account of that the plate tectonics are always moving, the contenants are reshaping themselves. Anyways that's just my two cents.
Either way, my heart goes out to them and I wish I could do something to help. The only thing I am able to offer is if someone in Montreal is throwing a fundraising event (hint hint wink wink) they should contact me, I would be happy to contribute my services.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Recent adventures in April-Anna-Land
Recently I went with my awesome friend, Al Kray, to see her boyfriend's band play at the Wheel Club in NDG of Montreal, QC, Canada. I had never seen him play before, but I had heard many good things from Al and knew it would be worth the treck out into the cold, cold, blustery winter night.
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| Bloodshot Bill doll made by Al Kray |
"Bloodshot Bill n'The Handcuffs" are a rockabilly band that will keep your toes tapping and your face smiling, even if you aren't a fan of country western rock'n'roll.
The bass player was pretty fasinating, he was all over the place, spinning his bass like a twirl top toy, climbing on top of it as though to ride it like a skate board while also trying to play at the same time (he did a good job). The sax player and the drummer were equally full of energy, words do not do either of these men justice for the life they brought to their instruments and the excitment they created in the dancers.
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| Audience members enjoying a game of pool while watching the show. |
Their antics, while fun to watch, were difficult to photograph (keeping in mind I don't have a professional camera), hence the many ghost like hands I captured in many photos. Luckily I created a video blog for your entertainment (see at the bottom of this article).
Normally "Bloodshot Bill" is a high energy solo act that tours North America, Mexico & Europe at festivals and concert outlets. Quoted from his myspace profile:
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| Bloodshot Bill |
"Greasy Canadian has travelled ... all sortsa places too, from big festivals to tiny bars to trailer parks & truck stops...Tours mostly as a one man band, but has bands too...He is currently banned from entering the USA...Has put out a buncha music on his own, and has alot more comin'...Recently teamed up with Mark Sultan (BBQ) and released their debut LP, The Ding-Dongs...Also, recently teamed up with King Khan as Tandoori Knights, and released a full LP and a couple 7" singles...Has his own brand of hair grease, "Nice'n'Greasy", custom made for him by AGS, and it is without a doubt the best there is...Has a lotta side-bands you'll never hear ("thank god" sez you)....If he comes to your town and you want to make him happy, he likes spaghetti and meat alot, but not too much before the gig, please."
Thursday, January 27, 2011
New! Miniature Paintings turned into Pendants!
I am very excited to announce that I am now making miniature original paintings into pendants! Painting done in water colour & acrylic on archival paper with highest quality paints, sealed with a satin varnish. Many of the pendants are adorned with sterling silver glitter, copper or brass, Austrian crystal, glass crystals and garnets!
I have 10 finished and another 15 in the works, plus more to come. I have to finish taking photos and posting them but slowly but surely. I have one up for sale on my Etsy Shop right now, more to come!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
"Blast from the Past" - Push Play TV Interview
This is an old interview now, being approx. 2 years ago. But I don't think I ever posted the video up here on my blog, so I figured now was as good a time as any to share.
In the spring of 2009, I hadn't been back in the city very long. I had just arrived back in Montreal from my trip to Calgary to participate as the out of province artist for the Papa Wheely Association mutli-media art cabaret & one night only art exhibition at the Art Gallery of Calgary (the city gallery, which is also the biggest gallery in Calgary). I went down to a convention that I was invited to by Luca Vince Caltabiano, for an interview for his internet tv station, Push Play TV. I was interviewed by the lovely Jessica Elias, take a look!
In the spring of 2009, I hadn't been back in the city very long. I had just arrived back in Montreal from my trip to Calgary to participate as the out of province artist for the Papa Wheely Association mutli-media art cabaret & one night only art exhibition at the Art Gallery of Calgary (the city gallery, which is also the biggest gallery in Calgary). I went down to a convention that I was invited to by Luca Vince Caltabiano, for an interview for his internet tv station, Push Play TV. I was interviewed by the lovely Jessica Elias, take a look!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
All the sad things that make you remember why life is so very blessed and so very beautiful.
It was April 10th, my first morning back in Canada, having just arrived from Hong-Kong. There was a newspaper sitting on the table and on the cover was this beautiful image of a women with red hair, with her lungs painted on the outside of her body, and her arms were lifted up above her head to form the shape of a heart.
Immediatly I saw the image and thought that this is a lovely idea for a body painting. While at the same time giving me the shivers cause well I am not used to looking at people's lungs on the outside of their bodies. But something about this image was too beautiful to associate as being gore. I opened the newspaper to the article, and it was about the recent passing of Eva Markoort, a young women that many call a heroine. Her story is one that is too sad, beautiful, inspiring and full of messages worth listening to.
Regardless of the challenges a person might experience in life, there is something that everyone can draw from the messages of Eva Markoort's life.
Following is Quoted from 65_Red Roses & The Vancouver Sun.
"Eva Markvoort gave all her life away
The young actress with cystic fibrosis shared her life and her final weeks with the world
BY DOUGLAS TODD, VANCOUVER SUN APRIL 1, 2010
Beautiful, vivacious Eva Markvoort proved an accomplished actress in the theatre department at the University of Victoria. But when she began applying for roles beyond the campus, she often didn't receive the final call.
Directors told the talented actress they worried she would at unexpected times cough, have trouble breathing or not be able to show up for rehearsal, due to her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.
As Eva's disappointment expanded, film and theatre friends began telling the New Westminster-raised actress she was forgetting there was a far bigger role in which she should star.
The story of her life.
In the end, Eva became an icon of strength in the midst of suffering to countless people around the world: By fearlessly telling the harrowing story of what it is like to exist with the rare genetic disease.
Eva played out her role in many ways, including through the award-winning documentary made about her double-lung transplant in 2007, in which viewers literally saw inside her troubled body.
Eva enjoyed that the two-year-old film was called 65 Red Roses, since "65 red roses" was a child's malapropism for "cystic fibrosis." And she adored the flower. Organ transplants increased after the documentary aired.
Perhaps more impressively, in the past two years Eva connected with more than a million Internet readers and viewers through her blog, also called 65 Red Roses, by revealing in intimately frank detail what it was like each day for her to live and, as she would often write online: "love, love, love."
In the past six weeks, the tragically beautiful story of Eva's life came to a climax.
Eva decided to reveal to her worldwide community of Internet followers, which was particularly strong in Canada, the U.S. and Europe (especially Poland), what it was like to be a few weeks from death's door.
Eva's parents, Bill Markvoort and Janet Brine, talked about the remarkable short life of their daughter on Wednesday in their home in New Westminster, on what would have been Eva's 26th birthday.
More than 20 of Eva's friends, many from the theatre community, were coming to the Markvoort-Brine home later in the day to mark the anniversary, with a party.
Moving among rooms stacked with letters and cards from Eva's online admirers, Bill described the moment in February when their strong-willed daughter told them to gather around her VGH bed to make a video for her blog.
No one in the family knew what was going on. "She could be a bit imperious. A bit of a diva," said Bill. When Eva wanted something, she got it.
With the camera rolling and her family hugging close beside her, gaunt Eva suddenly began to talk about how she was soon going to die. Her agonizing battle was ending.
(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW THE VIDEO)
She loved everyone.
Within hours of the video going onto the 65 Red Roses site, a tsunami of affection swept through the Internet.
Eva's last spoken words to her web community immediately drew more than 150,000 page views, in less than 24 hours. Tens of thousands more people would click with each passing day.
They still are, even with Eva passing away last Saturday in Vancouver General Hospital, waiting in vain for a donor so she could have a second double-lung transplant.
* * *
The walls of the large living-room in Eva's long-standing family home in the Queen's Park neighbourhood of New Westminster were this week blanketed from floor-to-ceiling with cards, letters, drawings, poetry, prayers, paintings, collages, mosaics and other gifts from Eva's horde of far-flung well-wishers.
The living room included a bed, which was itself smothered with cards and gifts. This had been Eva's bedroom during her many rough months, in which she was linked up to tubes and ingesting painkillers and other medications.
Of the thousands of gifts that have arrived for Eva through the family mailbox, the most common image is a red heart, in every shape, size and variation.
Eva's death is making news headlines this week across Canada and in Europe.
"It's been unbelievable. It's so overwhelming," said Bill, vice-president of Probyn Log Ltd., sitting with his wife, Janet, principal of Peace Arch Elementary School, who spent the past seven weeks sleeping in Eva's hospital room.
Eva's parents have been reluctant to speak to the media, but decided to talk to The Vancouver Sun about their daughter, whose Internet life began four years ago.
That's when Eva began a private blog to keep in touch with others with Cystic Fibrosis, which strikes roughly one in 2,000 people, mostly of European extraction.
Due to the complex infectious nature of the illness, medical specialists strongly discourage people with CF from spending any time in each other's company.
But, after a while, Eva opened her site beyond the CF community, to the public.
At first Janet was against the idea. "But eventually I came around. I could see it was a real focus for Eva. It was benefiting her and others."
The page views and comments on 65 Red Roses began mounting at a feverish pace. Eva was having an impact far greater than expected.
In their living room, the parents told a few of the many remarkable stories about how Eva inspired an online network.
One story was of a suicidal U.S. woman who said she was "saved" after watching Eva online. The despairing woman couldn't help but be inspired by the strength Eva showed; living with someone else's lungs, which frequently become overpowered by mucous. The family ended up meeting the woman.
Another account of Eva's Internet influence revolved around the hundreds of letters she received from black students in gang-infested ghettos of Los Angeles. An L.A. school administrator had encouraged students at 18 schools to follow Eva's blog, from which he wrote they learned no one was "worthless," and they themselves became "more empathetic."
There were also many young men who fell in love online with Eva, confessing their unrequited desire to rescue the brave, sensual young woman from the unfairness of her terminal ordeal.
In general, Bill found young men and women responded incredibly to Eva's blog, in part because for many of them it was their first grave experience of the dying process, particularly with someone their age.
There were also, as expected, many, many patients and families struggling with cystic fibrosis who considered Eva a heroine.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Eva became a media star in Poland.
She was a top story on newspapers and on TV in the country of 38-million people, to the extent that a Polish TV crew came and filmed a story about her during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
The family, including brother, Hunter, and sister Annie, were asked to give a rough idea of what kinds of people had been sending the tens of thousands of comments Eva received on 65 Red Roses.
The family estimated about 10 per cent of the blog's traffic came from people struggling with Cystic Fibrosis. The rest came from "healthy" people, many from Canada, but with about 25 per cent from the United States and another 15 per cent from Poland.
Trying to understand the mystery of the Polish phenomenon, Bill had a few theories.
The documentary about Eva aired at least twice on Polish TV, which doesn't' have as many channels as in North America, he said. Nor does Poland have a health care system, he said, that can afford lung transplants. As well, "Eva" is a common Polish name, even while "Markvoort" is Dutch.
Bill and family believe, in addition, that Eastern Europeans may have a more open and healthy attitude than North Americans to difficult and "dark" themes, such as the life and death struggles of Eva.
Whatever the case involving the Poles, Bill found Eva's widespread Internet community astounding.
"I think the Internet is the most powerful thing imaginable. It provides immediate contact. It creates circles of friendship."
* * *
In addition to exposing her vibrant life and passions on the world wide web, Eva received many accolades in her short life.
Hearing of her troubles, the University of Victoria decided to rush through her bachelor's degree in fine arts in February, even though she had not quite finished her electives.
The House of Commons was told of her death this week. She had already received the Queen's Jubilee Service Award.
Meanwhile, the documentary, 65 Red Roses, continues to be aired around the world, including again this Friday evening in Canada on CBC.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as well, gave Eva its prestigious Summerhayes Award in March, for raising awareness. As a result of her online influence, the foundation will be switching much of its educational and outreach campaigns to the Internet.
(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW THE VIDEO)
Bill choked up as he read out a tiny sampling of the letters people have written Eva, including how she was "remarkable and strong." They thanked her for "giving all her love away" and being "one of the most beautiful people I've ever been able to know."
Bill and Janet said they feel a duty to respond publicly to the outpouring for their daughter. But, eventually, Bill said, the family will likely return to a more private life.
Just as Bill finished speaking, the mail carrier dropped another two dozen brightly coloured cards and letters through the family mailbox."
Some had red hearts.
dtodd@vancouversun.com
Read Douglas Todd's blog at www.vancouversun.com/thesearch
Immediatly I saw the image and thought that this is a lovely idea for a body painting. While at the same time giving me the shivers cause well I am not used to looking at people's lungs on the outside of their bodies. But something about this image was too beautiful to associate as being gore. I opened the newspaper to the article, and it was about the recent passing of Eva Markoort, a young women that many call a heroine. Her story is one that is too sad, beautiful, inspiring and full of messages worth listening to.
Regardless of the challenges a person might experience in life, there is something that everyone can draw from the messages of Eva Markoort's life.
Following is Quoted from 65_Red Roses & The Vancouver Sun.
"Eva Markvoort gave all her life away
The young actress with cystic fibrosis shared her life and her final weeks with the world
BY DOUGLAS TODD, VANCOUVER SUN APRIL 1, 2010
Beautiful, vivacious Eva Markvoort proved an accomplished actress in the theatre department at the University of Victoria. But when she began applying for roles beyond the campus, she often didn't receive the final call.
Directors told the talented actress they worried she would at unexpected times cough, have trouble breathing or not be able to show up for rehearsal, due to her lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.
As Eva's disappointment expanded, film and theatre friends began telling the New Westminster-raised actress she was forgetting there was a far bigger role in which she should star.
The story of her life.
In the end, Eva became an icon of strength in the midst of suffering to countless people around the world: By fearlessly telling the harrowing story of what it is like to exist with the rare genetic disease.
Eva played out her role in many ways, including through the award-winning documentary made about her double-lung transplant in 2007, in which viewers literally saw inside her troubled body.
Eva enjoyed that the two-year-old film was called 65 Red Roses, since "65 red roses" was a child's malapropism for "cystic fibrosis." And she adored the flower. Organ transplants increased after the documentary aired.
Perhaps more impressively, in the past two years Eva connected with more than a million Internet readers and viewers through her blog, also called 65 Red Roses, by revealing in intimately frank detail what it was like each day for her to live and, as she would often write online: "love, love, love."
In the past six weeks, the tragically beautiful story of Eva's life came to a climax.
Eva decided to reveal to her worldwide community of Internet followers, which was particularly strong in Canada, the U.S. and Europe (especially Poland), what it was like to be a few weeks from death's door.
Eva's parents, Bill Markvoort and Janet Brine, talked about the remarkable short life of their daughter on Wednesday in their home in New Westminster, on what would have been Eva's 26th birthday.
More than 20 of Eva's friends, many from the theatre community, were coming to the Markvoort-Brine home later in the day to mark the anniversary, with a party.
Moving among rooms stacked with letters and cards from Eva's online admirers, Bill described the moment in February when their strong-willed daughter told them to gather around her VGH bed to make a video for her blog.
No one in the family knew what was going on. "She could be a bit imperious. A bit of a diva," said Bill. When Eva wanted something, she got it.
With the camera rolling and her family hugging close beside her, gaunt Eva suddenly began to talk about how she was soon going to die. Her agonizing battle was ending.
(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW THE VIDEO)
She loved everyone.
Within hours of the video going onto the 65 Red Roses site, a tsunami of affection swept through the Internet.
Eva's last spoken words to her web community immediately drew more than 150,000 page views, in less than 24 hours. Tens of thousands more people would click with each passing day.
They still are, even with Eva passing away last Saturday in Vancouver General Hospital, waiting in vain for a donor so she could have a second double-lung transplant.
* * *
The walls of the large living-room in Eva's long-standing family home in the Queen's Park neighbourhood of New Westminster were this week blanketed from floor-to-ceiling with cards, letters, drawings, poetry, prayers, paintings, collages, mosaics and other gifts from Eva's horde of far-flung well-wishers.
The living room included a bed, which was itself smothered with cards and gifts. This had been Eva's bedroom during her many rough months, in which she was linked up to tubes and ingesting painkillers and other medications.
Of the thousands of gifts that have arrived for Eva through the family mailbox, the most common image is a red heart, in every shape, size and variation.
Eva's death is making news headlines this week across Canada and in Europe.
"It's been unbelievable. It's so overwhelming," said Bill, vice-president of Probyn Log Ltd., sitting with his wife, Janet, principal of Peace Arch Elementary School, who spent the past seven weeks sleeping in Eva's hospital room.
Eva's parents have been reluctant to speak to the media, but decided to talk to The Vancouver Sun about their daughter, whose Internet life began four years ago.
That's when Eva began a private blog to keep in touch with others with Cystic Fibrosis, which strikes roughly one in 2,000 people, mostly of European extraction.
Due to the complex infectious nature of the illness, medical specialists strongly discourage people with CF from spending any time in each other's company.
But, after a while, Eva opened her site beyond the CF community, to the public.
At first Janet was against the idea. "But eventually I came around. I could see it was a real focus for Eva. It was benefiting her and others."
The page views and comments on 65 Red Roses began mounting at a feverish pace. Eva was having an impact far greater than expected.
In their living room, the parents told a few of the many remarkable stories about how Eva inspired an online network.
One story was of a suicidal U.S. woman who said she was "saved" after watching Eva online. The despairing woman couldn't help but be inspired by the strength Eva showed; living with someone else's lungs, which frequently become overpowered by mucous. The family ended up meeting the woman.
Another account of Eva's Internet influence revolved around the hundreds of letters she received from black students in gang-infested ghettos of Los Angeles. An L.A. school administrator had encouraged students at 18 schools to follow Eva's blog, from which he wrote they learned no one was "worthless," and they themselves became "more empathetic."
There were also many young men who fell in love online with Eva, confessing their unrequited desire to rescue the brave, sensual young woman from the unfairness of her terminal ordeal.
In general, Bill found young men and women responded incredibly to Eva's blog, in part because for many of them it was their first grave experience of the dying process, particularly with someone their age.
There were also, as expected, many, many patients and families struggling with cystic fibrosis who considered Eva a heroine.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Eva became a media star in Poland.
She was a top story on newspapers and on TV in the country of 38-million people, to the extent that a Polish TV crew came and filmed a story about her during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
The family, including brother, Hunter, and sister Annie, were asked to give a rough idea of what kinds of people had been sending the tens of thousands of comments Eva received on 65 Red Roses.
The family estimated about 10 per cent of the blog's traffic came from people struggling with Cystic Fibrosis. The rest came from "healthy" people, many from Canada, but with about 25 per cent from the United States and another 15 per cent from Poland.
Trying to understand the mystery of the Polish phenomenon, Bill had a few theories.
The documentary about Eva aired at least twice on Polish TV, which doesn't' have as many channels as in North America, he said. Nor does Poland have a health care system, he said, that can afford lung transplants. As well, "Eva" is a common Polish name, even while "Markvoort" is Dutch.
Bill and family believe, in addition, that Eastern Europeans may have a more open and healthy attitude than North Americans to difficult and "dark" themes, such as the life and death struggles of Eva.
Whatever the case involving the Poles, Bill found Eva's widespread Internet community astounding.
"I think the Internet is the most powerful thing imaginable. It provides immediate contact. It creates circles of friendship."
* * *
In addition to exposing her vibrant life and passions on the world wide web, Eva received many accolades in her short life.
Hearing of her troubles, the University of Victoria decided to rush through her bachelor's degree in fine arts in February, even though she had not quite finished her electives.
The House of Commons was told of her death this week. She had already received the Queen's Jubilee Service Award.
Meanwhile, the documentary, 65 Red Roses, continues to be aired around the world, including again this Friday evening in Canada on CBC.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as well, gave Eva its prestigious Summerhayes Award in March, for raising awareness. As a result of her online influence, the foundation will be switching much of its educational and outreach campaigns to the Internet.
(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW THE VIDEO)
Bill choked up as he read out a tiny sampling of the letters people have written Eva, including how she was "remarkable and strong." They thanked her for "giving all her love away" and being "one of the most beautiful people I've ever been able to know."
Bill and Janet said they feel a duty to respond publicly to the outpouring for their daughter. But, eventually, Bill said, the family will likely return to a more private life.
Just as Bill finished speaking, the mail carrier dropped another two dozen brightly coloured cards and letters through the family mailbox."
Some had red hearts.
dtodd@vancouversun.com
Read Douglas Todd's blog at www.vancouversun.com/thesearch
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Just have to share some words of wisdom... Happy New Years Everyone!
I just have to share these words of wisdom, especially for anyone needing a New Years "pick me up". This video is by the make-up artist, Kandee Johnson. I couldn't have said it better, her sentiment is definately my sentiment. If only you knew the challenges I have conquered in my life; I would not have done so had I allowed myself to get bogged down in the mud. Please take a moment to listen & watch Kandee's video; beautiful words!
2011 will be beautiful! "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi
2011 will be beautiful! "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi
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