Next stop on the CIRCA exhibit tour, world class gelato shop, Solferino’s.

Eight 12×12″ photos from CIRCA are up NOW and the exhibit will run until May 31st!

Opening event: Instead of another swanky late night opening, let’s kick spring/summer off right with an afternoon of art and ice cream. Mmmm.

Join me, Saturday, April 28th, 2007, from 3-6pm at Solferino’s (38 Wellington St East, Toronto, ON).

For more on what makes Solferino’s so amazing visit blogTO.

Books will be avail on the 28th.

Filed under: annoucements, circa on April 18th, 2007 | No Comments »

For years I passed this mural for “Valentino’s”. It had outlived it’s namesake, but still remained lively and odd, sparking a now usual discussion about the looks on the faces of the characters.

The mural depicts a masked Zorro-like horseman and a woman (helpless prisoner?) at a flagpost. He appears to be riding in to rescue her (or something) but they were never making the eye contact you’d expect. They were looking in different directions which always just seemed off.

This week, passing by I looked over to see their faces and my commentary changed forever as I found a window has been put in the wall right where the dark beauty once looked out before her rescuer/captor.

I suppose, if anything, it’s even more mysterious and ridiculous now.

Full colour photo posted at DoubleCrossed.ca.

Filed under: Toronto, the disappearing city on March 30th, 2007 | No Comments »

The El Mocambo in Toronto is one of those places that appears humble (if not a little run down) to the unknowing passerby, but is wildly rich with history, legend and rock n roll tales to tell.

If the El Mo was a person, it would be a ragged old man, wrinkled from whiskey and years, shouting his stories at you though you’re only a foot away. And you, you’d just smile ’cause the stories are great and you know damn well he can’t help it. Those ears were blown at least some 30 years ago.

The El Mo opened in ‘41, the palm tree neon rose up in ‘46, and it’s been rocking (mostly) ever since. If you want to hear it in action, pick up Love You Live, the 1977 hit double record by the Rolling Stones… all recorded here.

Years later, in 2001, a city that seemed to have forgotten about the El Mo, suddenly awoke in panic when news hit that the legendary bar had been sold. Panic ensued, but it changed nothing and the doors closed soon after as it was turned into a dance studio. (Better than a Pottery Barn or something equally painful, but still…)

Plans were to move the spirit and the palm tree to a new location. A year later though, money stepped in and El Mo was revamped and restored at the same Spadina Ave spot.

The vintage neon was restored later on as well, and now, in 2007, it shines brightly over the loud-mouthed but appreciative crowd hanging around outside.

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My own memories of the El Mo are all a blur of noise and silhouetted figured dancing (or bobbing) in the darkness. Thinking way back, I remember being 16 years old and there for a punk + ska showcase a friend Sam had organized. Less Than Jake, Tuesday, and other bands whose names I’ve since forgotten filled the dirty little bar with sound, as another less-awkward teenager taught me how to dance — or ’skank’, as it was — to the music.

Photo taken March 2007.

Read more on the history, closure, and subsequent re-opening of the El Mocambo here.

Filed under: Toronto on March 24th, 2007 | 1 Comment »

Jack’s Barber Shop, in the Summerhill area of Yonge Street, doesn’t call much attention to itself. The window is clear of lettering or neons and the signage is flat and simple (nothing flashy, that’s for sure) but inside is a wondrous little trip into Toronto past.

The vintage Hanson-brand barber chairs are pale blue and proudly show off intricately detailed steel foot-rests, which though they show their age, and no less charming.

The first seat by the window definitely catches the eye as you pass on the street. As is visible, even in the small image above, it’s the most decorated. Wallpapering the space around the mirror are many worldly dollar bills (even a Canadian Tire dollar for good measure) and right in the center sits a nameplate… OLENA.

More photos of Jack’s appear on Flickr.
All taken in March 2007.

Filed under: Toronto on March 5th, 2007 | No Comments »

I was interviewed last week by a reporter from Ryerson University’s, Ryersonian.

We talked about the project and a bit about my work (and relative history as a photographer and alumnae). It appears in the campus paper this week.

If you’re interested, you can view the article online .

Filed under: circa on March 5th, 2007 | No Comments »

Attending the Come Up To My Room exhibition at the Gladstone Hotel this weekend, I came upon the work of Covello Reesor.

This furniture designing duo presented an exhibit called, The Common Chair, featuring the chair you see above.

Their inspiration? The furniture traditions established by early Ontario pioneers and craftspeople. To re-create this timeless “common chair” design, they collected scraps of hardwood from Toronto area studios and manufacturers and got to work the old fashioned way. Each chair (there are 40) is assembled at random and, therefore, unique.

Filed under: local tradition on February 25th, 2007 | No Comments »