5/19/12

I feel like it’s been a while since I did the loop. At least a month. A long month. It’s been a long morning, but gorgeous weather. I don’t know how people get any work done in this town. I start for Main St. I take Robson which I never take. i wanted to walk a straight line and this is as close as it gets. One of the scrolling footer quotes from Solnit’s Wanderlust speaks to how when provoked, you should walk away into the horizon until your anger subsides. Physically marking out the variation of emotions. That’s hard to do in Vancouver. There are no straight lines from the West End. No distance to mark and look back. I hear a cyclist get hit before I see him on the ground. I am glad I walked instead.

I make it to Access in no time. I make some notes about Vessel. They are written in blue ink with blue creases from my jean pockets and say: “I like the floor … Expressive! … Archival? … Imperfect perfections.” I only really remember Carranza’s chairs. They remind me of junior high.

In the alleyway across the street, BEFORE I DIE has been written out on a chalkboard slab against the fence. It’s like graffiti. Or a yearbook, which after all, gets filled with graffiti. It’s a junior high kind of day. Before I die dot dot dot various chalk colours have written  “see the world … go to university … eat more pussy … be with my family.” There is no chalk to be seen.

I spend all of 5 minutes inside the Western Front. Sans Song, curated by Jenny Walton. I will have to come back. This is the kind of work that makes you inhale. I was not ready to inhale.

It’s getting really hot outside and I step inside to Catriona Jeffries. Maya is already there and we take a closer look at Judy Radul’s brain.

5/26/12

I haven’t slept in for weeks. This feels awesome. Jeannie is staying over for a few days and is gone when I wake. My mother calls and sees if I am free for lunch. I am, but does she want to eat around 46th and Fraser? I wouldn’t mind checking something out over there. It’s an enthusiastic yes. There are good eats over there.

It’s another gorgeous Saturday. Nothing good can possibly happen in good weather. The glow of the pink and black alleyway courtesy of Instant Coffee is two steps before Ho Yuen Kee. This is all I have ever wanted. These green beans are a knock out. I take a look around before lunch, but I am not really there yet. I come back after lunch and sit and chat for a while. Mary Anne is there and she asks if I am cooking. I am wearing dark denim and a light coat. She is boiling in a summer dress. Jin is wearing denim chaps. Sort of. Michael is wearing desert boots. I don’t think there should be socks with this look. He thinks otherwise. Kelly takes advantage of the sale rack around the corner and dons an orange and white skirt. Creamsicles make summer official.

I head back downtown and walk into 221A with a bag of guava. Fierce!  Bitch, please. I missed all the openings and parties last night. Erdem Taşdelen is great. The hand-sewn sequins need to be seen in person. Alison is signing things and picking up beer. There is a porch party later. I have no idea what my plans are. Jericho is too far tonight. I should try to meet up with Jeannie at some point tonight. I make it to the four German curators doing their whirlwind tour of Canada. I realize then I learn more about each city through their Q&A’s than anything else. I also realize then that Oh, Canada was opening at that exact moment. I am thinking about all the Oh, Canadians finally being able to take a sigh of relief. The German curators are keen to go see it. But not sure how this will happen. I would also like to see it, but not sure how this will happen. I run into Hilke later that evening in the doorway of the porch party. We extend the conversation about Canada with her holding a can of PIL and me with a tall boy of Carlsberg and I am delighted that they went to Winnipeg. I am asked why I hold such an affinity to Winnipeg. It must be some form of loyalty and respect for the people I have met there. I know I don’t yet feel an affinity to Vancouver, but I do like being here when I am surrounded by good people.