Wood Dragon from out current show at my gallery at 222 Spadina
I'd asked my artist in advance if he had any work related to the concept of the Wood Dragon in anticipation of Lunar New Year. He didn't, but he did have this little heirloom art piece from his grandmother to stage and shoot in time.
His opening was on the 11th, the Sunday of the weekend the Chinatown BIA had booked the concourse level of this mall for celebrations for the New Year. I think we were able to lure in a few festive revelers with our handy-dandy popcorn machine, but our two events ultimately ran more parallel than cooperatively. It was really something, though, to hear the drums and dancing just outside at the same time as we had an indigenous guest (and one of the models in this artist's photography) give a land acknowledgement and smudging ceremony.
The Year of the Wood Dragon is said to symbolize honesty, stability, honor, magic, and wealth. I sure hope our Dragon comes through for us!
We get some very very interesting guests here, randomly. Last week, a fellow came in - elderly, Philippino, thick accent, and very generous about repeating himself for me. He told me a story about his father, surviving the Japanese Bataan March across the Philippines during World War 2, of which all but ten thousand people forced to participate were killed. A soldier saw him drawing and was impressed by the quality. He survived because he drew the Japanese soldiers portraits in between movements. He also told me, Asian noses are much easier to draw than white noses, on account of the height.
Today, I had a guest come in and talk for a good 45 about divine providence, mythology, and the power of seven. He spoke of dragons and trickster gods, and upon seeing my clown paintings, told me that I'm doing the work of a Prophet or an Oracle. He said that all Mythologies have a trickster, one who breaks things up, an element of chaos. To be honest, I could never flatter myself to think that I am anything like a Prophet or an Oracle. I think working in the arts just brings very interesting people my way. People who find inspiration in the unknown, and see coincidence as more.
We get such interesting people here. Can't wait to see what comes next!
As ever, if you like my artist, or whatever I've got going on, you are more than welcome to tip us (in my name). I split everything 50/50 with whoever I've got showing!
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