I grew up in the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and from the time I was somewhere between twelve and fourteen years old I was intent on getting out. Windsor was a dusty, grey hole - its only redeeming factor was that it bordered Detroit, Michigan, USA. That says a lot, as at that time in history I believe Detroit was the murder capital of the U.S. Back then, I thought, "Well, at least Detroit's interesting. And has great bands". Windsor had air that tasted like fertilizer and various Tim Horton's littered throughout the city. It took a decade or two for me to realize the incredible in Windsor. I grasped this mostly while away. For a city of a little over … [Read more...]
Photo Series: Wolf Eyes + CCMC At MOCAD, Detroit
Detroit's Wolf Eyes and Toronto's Canadian Creative Music Collective (CCMC) played the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) on May 21 to launch the 19th annual Media City Film Festival across the border in Windsor. The night also served as a launch party for the limited edition vinyl reissue of the 1978 CCMC Volume Three, a lost recording made available as a limited edition pressing of 500 copies after 35 years. In attendance performing as CCMC were Al Mattes, John Oswald and Michael Snow. From Media City's Film Festival Guide: CCMC (Canadian Creative Music Collective) formed in 1974 as "a composing ensemble united by a desire to play music that is fluid, spontaneous, and … [Read more...]
The Next Chapter: Windsor – Toronto – TBEX – Peterborough
I'm currently writing you amidst piles of my possessions. I'm downsizing. Again. I arrived in North America from Asia with two suitcases and two carry-ons and I've decided to drop back down to one suitcase and two carry-ons. I tend to find the process of collecting my items and my thoughts in anticipation of a change of locations as though I'm preparing for a little death. I make peace with my present life, I appreciate those around me and I get ready for a new chapter. In roughly two and a half weeks I'll board a plane and arrive in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange). The conference offers a venue for bloggers, writers, new media content creators … [Read more...]
Photo Series: Winter’s End
Where the two motor cities almost meet. Windsor, Ontario, Canada on one side of the Detroit River and Detroit, Michigan, USA on the other. As a kid growing up in Windsor, I was told that aside from the strong current, the pollution in the Detroit River would kill me. This was further punctuated by stories of pollution in Windsor's west side. I would hear tales of locals having to rewash the laundry they hung to dry as pollution, filtering in from Detroit's Zug Island, would contaminate their lives. I was thankful I grew up in the south central part of the city despite living outside of an industrial park. Rolling around in discarded factory plastic wrap and thinking the aqua … [Read more...]
Working Class Kids: Early 90s Skinhead Portraits
The following is Part II of a two part series of portraits found in a box under the stairs in my parents’ basement. All shots were taken with a Canon AE-1. I originally developed a number of these by hand. Part I, Antisocial: Early 90s Hardcore Portraits may be found here. I had a radio show entitled Hold Your Ground, that I believe began in roughly 1993 and lasted for approximately 7 years. I played punk, hardcore, oi!, streetpunk, seminal punk and anything of the corresponding lineages. The show won a couple of awards, I was featured in George Marshall's Skinhead Nation, and I met a lot of great people because of it. Here are some of … [Read more...]
Antisocial: Early 90s Hardcore Portraits
Spending some time in my hometown of Windsor, Ontario, Canada is eliciting some serious nostalgia. The following is Part I of a two part series of portraits found in a box under the stairs in my parents' basement. Part II, Working Class Kids: Early 90s Skinhead Portraits may be found here. All shots were taken with a Canon AE-1. The last photo was the only not taken by me (and I have no idea who did, but it was with my Canon). I originally developed a number of these by hand. I grew up listening to punk, hardcore, oi!, streetpunk, seminal punk....I lived in a house with three brothers, two of them being record geeks who listened to the above incessantly. … [Read more...]
Innovation: Jen Nardone on Barefoot Ballet / Pilates
Hi Jen. Please explain the concept of your Barefoot Ballet/Pilates class. This class includes classical Pilates mat exercises with a flare of ballet technique, as well as some basic ballet conditioning movements. It is a class designed for all; both dancers and non-dancers will benefit. It is an opportunity for everyone to experience the grace and poise a ballet class offers. Some benefits of Pilates such as toning, flexibility, improved posture and core strength, efficient movement and body/mind connection go hand in hand with ballet. They are very complimentary to each other. How did the inspiration for it evolve? With my roots … [Read more...]
Beautiful Simplicity and Evocative Polynesian Movements with Kelani Founder Ioana
Ioana is the creator of Kelani, a dance based class that infuses Polynesian movements with core conditioning. Sort of. It's more than that but difficult for me to describe. Perhaps the difficulty lies in the not having anything I'm aware of to really compare it to. Hence the following interview. Let's begin with an explanation of Kelani please. It's such a wonderful mix of movement, I always find it difficult to define when asked. Kelani is an exhilarating holistic Polynesian experience. Intoxicating tribal beats, evocative hip shaking, mind-body-spirit and lyrical grounded movements with an island twist will sweep you away leaving your body drenched & soul … [Read more...]
From Bangkok To LA To Detroit To Windsor
This was my original brain blast show up in my head and write it quick post that popped brilliant when I decided it was time to jet West: I know it's a country/city comparison, but who cares. I'm speaking in terms of where I am and where I'm going to be, population size is but a detail: Thailand - You can be close friends with someone for years before you find out they have two kids. Detroit - The guy standing behind you in line at White Castle will tell you about is ex-wife's nipple piercings. Windsor, Ontario, Canada, my final destination is a more subtle version of the latter. I'm looking forward to dipping in for awhile. Post … [Read more...]