Sunshine,lollipops...and chalkboards

At long last my chalk pastels get to see the light of day again.  I think I'll try to do more of this.  Of course I managed to turn it into minimum wage - perhaps that's my hidden super power...no matter what the job pays I can somehow reduce it to $8 to $10 an hour when all my time is factored in.  Oh well.  I have had a few situations where that wasn't the case and I didn't go below $20 an hour. 

The next step is to compose my own sign for Hutson Artworks in chalk and start getting my work out there.

Alrightie world...here I come.  And this time I mean it.

Splitting

I went to see TwinB's former doctor here and I learned a new term: splitting.
Update 07/17: when I looked up 'splitting' in regards to BPD it refers to the black and white thinking typical of the disorder...and I already knowed that so I don't know what the doctor was talkin 'bout.  Must be something but I suspect it goes by a different term.
I was in there to find out how to access files that could be sent to Alberta so's the kind folks who work with Persons Of Challenge could get her on the AISH.  (assistance for the severely handicapped)  She doesn't need them for any income supplement at present but it would be nifty if they could cover her $200 a month meds and to step in if she relapses at some point.  The doctor agreed that she really should have some ongoing mental health care and that he would find notes and assessments that would prove her eligible.
Her one stipulation was that it not include borderline personality disorder and after a lengthly debate he was able to assure me that he could swing it in the bipolar direction...which he considers a more stigmatizing label, oddly.
As he glanced over her history he noted that borderline PD had been suggested as far back as 2000 which would have been her first hospitalization.  He listed 4 features they'd identified to support this, though it wasn't applied to her since she was only 14 and no firm diagnosis is normally made till age 18.
One of the terms he mentioned was this 'splitting' thing which is where the professionals don't all agree on the diagnosis - splitting the team - so they view the patient as being disruptive even though they're not present. 
How convenient.
If someone decides you have BPD and someone else thinks they're on the wrong track well that's just more proof that you have it.
*smacks forehead*

Oh Canada!

Here's the Luso Canadian float rocking out to some Portuguese tunes.  Despite the forcast for showers we received absolutely perfect weather!  July 1st is our 'big day' here in Kitimat and it's a great place in which to spend it.  Could barely move when I got to the later festivities at Riverlodge.

One of the Spirit of the Kitlope dancers sporting a blending of cultures look.

There's our 'Duaniki' in blue!  'Ours' as in Mount Elizabeth Theatre where he volunteered as a tech through his entire high school years and then this past year while he was waiting to arrange entry to BCIT. 

The final number of the performance was The Friendship Dance - one of the dancers graciously granted the little girl at her side the opportunity to particpate and to truly celebrate the genuine spirit of the dance.  Got me a little choked up!

Dance Impressions

We put on a show today!  Reception for the Dance Impressions exhibit at the Mall...complete with Madame Mayor, cake, coffee...mmmm!...big honkin' piece o' cake.  (been a while)
Leah came in from Smithers in May for Dance Month to give 7 different elementary school classes a 45 minute workshop in hip-hop and stomp.  I then presented these classes with an oil pastel workshop where we first looked at rhythm in nature, the various styles that artists have used to depict dance and dancing throughout history and had a discussion on how we might present our own versions of what dance feels like for each individual.  Was a pretty cool concept to spring on students from grade 1 to grade 5 or 6 - they all caught on and sometimes were even able to invent an interesting title for their piece.  I encouraged them to think up descriptive and provocative words or phrases rather than use the first and most literal thing that came to mind.

Graffiti Group

    There she is...Tanya...community activist and outta control volunteer. 

She's the one who dreamed up this little scheme and dragged me onboard as artistic advisor. 

Of course I end up painting.

She organized priming of the wall yesterday, allowing students to wade in to slap up some primer.  I ran from child to child, frantically giving brief tutorials on the best way to use a tray and roller.
You wouldn't believe all the pointers one has to ...well, point out until the task is analysed and tecnique assessed.  I appreciate the value of having the kids invested in the mural and am thrilled that Tanya was in charge of that stage.
(no one ever wants to see the inside of my brain when confronted with the inefficient and sloppy application of paint.)
     When Tanya and I returned the next day to paint we noticed that Grad 2010 had found the freshly blank wall to be irresistable and I took great satisfaction in obscuring their work, a mere 12 hours after its application.  This took me around the corner with some impromptu spheres/bubbles while Tanya went to work on the background colours of the main wall.  It's about 100 feet long.
     I must get busy on a sign thanking sponsors and listing the artists who will be featured (i.e. welcome) on the mural, especially our star, Jordan who'll be doing authentic graffiti style work and who shouldn't be confused with the riff-raff.
     Then I'll go see if we had any more visiters last night.
   

Load O' Bullarama

The inukshuks down in Strawberry Meadows are currently sporting cowboy attire.  And that's about all that's sporting about it in my humble opinion.  I would really love to enthusiastically endorse anything by the fine Oviatt family who really are a wonderful asset to our town but...but...Bull-arama involves bull riding/harrassment of the genital binding variety and Ah jes' don't take kindly to that sort of thing.
Hey - I LOVE a good steak now and then but I'm happier knowing that the creature who supplied it lived a contented life and died a good, quick death.  People have argued that this is no different than what goes on at farms and ranches all the time.  Granted, but a few select steers aren't singled out for continual abuse day after day for the frivolous amusement of a predator species.

This is all in aid of the Snow Valley Riding club (horsies) and will include a fundraising pancake breakfast for the SPCA (kitties & doggies).  So....why are we tormenting these social mammals to raise money to better care for those social mammals??
The faux steer skull on the hat is ironically fitting for this situation.
Do unto cow as you would have done unto doggie/horsie/kitty.

New Mural

Couldn't get in close because it was a small room. Completed this in 1/3 less hours than I had originally quoted so...a not too, too small mural for $210 for 7 hours. I surprised myself at how few hours it took me. Which is a nice surprise. Should be some spin off bidness from this project which would be what I was hoping for. Clients 100% happy.