Mod Mischief

Chris and I had a great time this weekend volunteering with the crew from Flux & Fire while they were warming things up at Winterlude. Dian Carlo in a photo by Marc Desrosiers for Metro We hope the NCC invites artist Christine Irving and her team back soon. Ottawa could use more interactive art like this!

  welding the petals together The second weekend of our metal workshop in Toronto was a huge sucess. Chris and I completed a found metal flower and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out.   Pretty!   Someone said it was very Flaming Lotus Girls and I couldn't imagine a greater compliment. Unfortunately our humble flower isn't rigged for flame effects. Chris, looking like Prince Ronald but not minding me being dirty and smelly.

That ring of railroad spikes? I made that. Chris and I spent the weekend in Toronto rummaging through a scrapyard and playing with power tools. As part of a metal sculpture workshop, we're working on a found metal sculptural piece with a group of Ontario burners .   Sparks! Grinding away  (just look at how shiny I got those bolts!)

Winterlude kicked off today with fireworks and the usual NCC pomp and ceremony. Chris and I went down to Confederation Park to check out the ice sculptures after work. Spins & Needles had a awesome tree cozy installation set up in the park.  I also loved the "urban art" sculptures made from trash.

Chris and I had just enough time before the party on Saturday to take in a little bit of the Lumière Festival . I'm so glad we did! There were awesome upcycled lanterns... stilt walkers... with bubbles! And so many cute kids in costume. There was also some cool art. Gargoyle by Tick Tock Tom Next year we'll have to go back when it's dark.

The sleepy civil servant city that it is, Ottawa doesn’t really know how to party. But you have to give the capital props for trying really hard on Canada Day. Some fun things I did this July 1st : watched the Snowbirds flyby from my roof ogled some cool crafts in Major’s Hill Park Trying on a very expensive wool mask by Denise Richard Papier maché awesomeness by Marie-Josée Brideau marveled at the eclectic collection of buskers hung out on the Hill sporting patriotic colours body painting by Chris watched the fireworks!

When we weren’t busy snooping through some of the city’s more interesting buildings, Chris and I went walking through the New Art Festival (formerly known as Art in the Park). So much incredible art to look at! I only wish I could afford to bring some of it home. Hands down, my favourite stall belonged to Tick Tock Tom. Tick Tock Tom’s incredible metal sculptures look so alive. I can’t wait to see the piece that is currently in the works for this year’s Lumière festival .