A round up of the best/weirdest things to do this weekend in Toronto…
Friday April 13th
Images Festival
The Images Festival is underway, having kicked off it’s 25th year this Thursday. Events ranging from film premieres, workshops, and panels run until next Saturday. Some events are free and some include pie like this panel with Eric Veillette, Abina Manning, and Paul Moore on Friday the 13th. If you’ve never been to an Images Festival event, consider taking in at least one from “the largest festival in North America for experimental and independent moving image culture” this week.
The Continuist
As a good friend recently pointed out to me, “all the artsy kids go to Ryerson now.” Ryerson has become a hub of artistic activity (imagine that!) and The Continuist seems to have it’s fingers in that pie. The ‘zine has been around in a digital and physical form since September 2009 and in it’s current incarnation is reaching out to not just students but anyone willing to contribute. And contribute they do. Each day sees multiple updates on the blog, and the content is good. The editors of the print version had their work cut out for them when it came time to cut & paste the third issue of the ‘zine. To celebrate the 3rd issue of the year and end of classes this Friday the Contiunist crew is throwing a loft party. PWYC and BYOB, the jam gets underway at 8:30PM at Studio 407 (263 Adelaide St W). Playing are The Family, Sam Cash, Attaloom and Undrummer.
Also happening Friday…
- Design Hope Toronto’s 7th Annual Silent Auction at St.John’s Parish Hall
- Columbia: Architecture in Transformation at the Design Exchange
- White Out Cancer Fundraiser at Stephen Bulger Gallery
- Anagram’s Last Stand at the Silver Dollar
- Mad Couture Catwalk – A Workman Arts/AGO
- SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival at Harbourfront
- catl in-store at Sonicboom later at Parts & Labour
- Japanther w/ Boys Who Say No + Absolutely Free (ex-MM/DD/YYY) at the Garrison
- Exclaim presents Memoryhouse at the El Mocambo
- Said The Whale at the Great Hall
- Yukon Blonde at Lee’s Palace
Saturday April 14th
401 Richmond
If you’ve ever wanted a backstage pass to check out what goes on at the artist-run studios and galleries at 401 Richmond you can join Toronto Arts Council Associate Director William Huffman in a guided tour that will end with a reception at Trinity Square Video. The tour is free and starts in the main lobby from 12:30-2:30PM.
Leave Your Phone at Home Day
Back in the day, before his division was bought by ‘the Japanese’, my pops worked for Nortel. Our family has always been a very technology and computer loving tribe. In 1998, at age 13, I was given a Motorola StarTAC instead of a curfew. All down the line I’ve upgraded as technology has progressed, to present day where I had an iPhone 3G on my person at all times. I’ve used it for everything from checking movie times to bus schedules to replying to emails when I’m away from my studio.
But those days came to an end in October when I went to San Francisco without my phone. It was the sort of trip where I was mostly alone, navigating my way from the airport to the Mission via BART, wandering around Haight-Ashbury for hours, trying to scope out the coffee houses I’d heard all about from friends and people the Internet over.
After the experience of asking transit staff for help, checking maps in bookstores if I was really lost, and generally not giving a lick if someone wanted to get a hold of me because I was in another country so who cares, I came back to Toronto and decided to ditch my phone altogether. I’ve been phone-serviceless since and it’s really not a big deal. Granted, I still carry my phone with me always, using it as an iPod and occasionally I’ll come into a pocket of wifi, but for the most part people know it’s Radio Silence once I leave the house.
What I’m trying to say is if I can do it, you can do it. For one day.
That’s what Provocative Penguin has been asking you to do in the weeks leading up to Leave Your Phone at Home Day (lovingly shorten to LYP@HD). It’s this Saturday and all you have to do is get away from your phone. Go about your business, read the paper in print, make plans ahead of time, and stick to them. Run into friends by happenstance, spend some time alone, lost in your thoughts without your second brain in your hand. Unplug from the hivemind and experience a day without a phone. Or go through the withdrawal.
Head to the Facebook event’s wall to see people’s paltry excuses for not participating.
Also happening Saturday…
- A.U.X presents: LOXY & VICIOUS CIRCLE
- The Isosceles Project CD Release Show at the Garrison
- The Sudden Impulse Film Festival Awards at the Projectionbooth
- White Lungs at Duffy’s Tavern
- Canadian Women’s Foundation Shelter from the Storm Empower Hour
- Exceptional Minds: Symposium on Art and Mental Illness in the 21st Century
- 2012 Wizard World Toronto Comic Con
- Project Breakwater preview screening at Innes Town Hall Theater
- Flea Market at the German International School Toronto
- Cancer Bats at the Horseshoe
- Needtobreathe at the Phoenix
- Pegi Young & The Survivors at the Great Hall
- Schlacht Hofbronx and Poirier at Dim Sum King
Sunday April 15th
- Crosswires #8: The Dreebs and Allister Thompson at the Garrison
- Papier Mâché Mold Making Workshop at Open Door Design
- Trampled By Turtles at Lee’s Palace
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Yuli’s PP [Artist Profile]
