Sixth session

A muggy afternoon, as predicted, one might say, by the choice of theme, which was interpreted variously by those who participated. Giovanna Riccio read two poems, one particularly memorable for its reference to "nice Italian girls" and how eager they were to enjoy "God's love." Celia Lottridge, recently returned from an awards ceremony in Austria, told us that she normally doesn't write poetry, but that the theme had reminded her of Kansas summers and hence inspired the poem she then read. Diane Bracuk entertained us with an essay on amber, a sample of which she was wearing as a pendant. Theo Heras noted some curious entries in the dictionary under "hot" (hot cockles, for instance) and improvised a circle game on the sentence "That's hot, honey." Bernard Kelly and Gil Gauvreau both showed videos. Bernard's was entitled "heat (ice)" and starred, if that's the word, a mason jar full of ice cubes melting to the beat of Charles Trenet's song "Fidèle." Gil's had a three-part structure, the first part depicting an ailing radiator, the second a key scene from Body Heat, and the third a full-on summer rainstorm. Courtney Fairweather, though unable to attend, submitted a fiery photo [see below].

Non-thematic contributions were also made, of course: Giovanna read several more poems. Diane read the beginning of a short story, the principal character of which was a yoga instructor and the location a swimming pool. Bernard read the first half of a dramatic monologue very tentatively entitled "En camaïeu." (What that technique has to do with marital discord, Manhattan architects, and the town of Rimini the author, for one, is hoping will become clear in the next instalment.)

In their own words:

Courtney Fairweather writes:

MOLTEN BRONZE: Walking around York University campus, I always gazed longingly through the two-storey glass wall of the sculpture studio. Thus, when I got the opportunity to become a student of the Visual Arts program, Foundry was the first course I signed up for.


The glowing cauldron of melting bronze and the ribbons of metal pouring into the moulds fascinated me. On the one hand, there was the shimmering beauty of this impossible liquid. On the other, there was the thrill of the danger. Dressed from head to toe in silver suits, only the professor and the technician were allowed to pour. One small move in the wrong direction, one tiny spill and a person could be incinerated.

Despite the danger, I was intrigued and one day when the cauldron was open, I approached. Before I could even press the shutter, I felt my skin begin to sear and my camera became hot. But I got my shot and then got out of the way … really fast.

---

Gil Gauvreau writes:


The interesting thing about photographing rain on a window pane using a telephoto lens is that it keeps the background in soft focus and as a result you get these abstract images. And with video they are constantly changing in an endless stream from frame to frame.


When being photographed, rain has to be backlit or it barely shows up.


Even a frame with the background completely out of focus displays isolated silvery patterns

Then again ... again

Okay, I take it back.

This is hot enough, thanks.

Umbrella in hand

Gil's comment on yesterday's post:

Hmm...you may have something there.

I too have been waiting for ol' Sol to make an appearance and brighten my video horizons, but without luck so far and the forecast sprinkles little hope in that direction.

I've never done a heat video carrying an umbrella, so we shall see ... .

Heat, in search of

As we draw near to the next session, I'm beginning to wonder whether I shouldn't have made the theme of the exercise "precipitation" or "rain" or "thunder and lightning" or "all wet" or something more of a match for the weather we've been having. My own expectations, of an inspiring heat wave or two, have been completely disappointed since the beginning of June. (Then again, beware of what you hope for. At least this keyboard isn't melting between my fingers.)

Photo: Getty Images

Stills from Gil's first home movie

Gil Gauvreau writes: Here are a few stills from My First Home Movie: A Tale of Two Cities (shown at the third session in April).

On my first day in Beijing, the entire city was drenched in a dense fog that obliterated everything, including Tiananmen Square.



However, the next day a wind from the east cleared the fog out, making the heart of the Middle Kingdom visible again.



On one side of the square lies the Museum of the People’s Republic of China. It is a gigantic building holding all the national treasures of China. However, a sign said the museum will be closed from 2007 to 2010 (i.e., during the Olympics), which I thought odd inasmuch as the official Olympics count-down clock stands right in front of it. It appears they have posted a guard to hold back the expected hordes of angry and disgruntled tourists.



Something I noted in Beijing was a distinct absence of portraits or statues of Mao. I did, however, find this one mounted at the back of a CD store. I am not sure that Mao would have been as amused as he looks here.



A true delight of Beijing is the Temple of Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC).



On the day I went, I was the only visitor to the Temple and found it to be one of the most serene places on earth.



There are several places where you can gain access to the Great Wall of China. I went about 50 miles outside of Beijing to get this particular view.

Heat, the theme of

A good day (a good hot day) to post a reminder: For our sixth session, later this month, in addition to the usual goings-on, I'm proposing a brief associative exercise to those willing to take part (i.e., it's not art school and it's not obligatory).

Bring a photo, a drawing, a painting, a video, a poem, a limerick, a (very short) story, a song, or any other form of expression that will, directly or otherwise, illustrate the theme "heat."

Be prepared to show and tell for about five minutes.

This is not a competitve exercise. (The applause-meter will be muted and the gold stars hidden.)