I heart my Apple default weather widget, and although I try others, I come back to it every time. For example, who wouldn’t love the melting sun icon that lasts all summer in Brooklyn, the fat happy snowflakes, or the disintegrating particles of sparkling white atmosphere? Today I looked up Winnipeg’s weather because my whole family is there right now, except for me. It’s a good thing I couldn’t make it…as best I can tell from the visual iconography, in two days Winnipeg will be obliterated.

Fanatic, a solo show, opens at 1708 Gallery in Richmond, Virginia on February 1st.

From the press release,
“This exhibition highlights work from the past five years which can best be described as culture-jamming.

In Mcdonald’s recent work spanning video, web art, performance, and photography, she addresses the American cult of celebrity, the fantasy that buoys extreme fandom, and the mechanisms of “fear as entertainment” at work in horror films. The presence of her image in the work serves not as a self-portrait, but as a projection of universal emotions such as desire or fear. In “Me and Billy Bob”, she digitally manipulated romantic scenes from Hollywood films starring actor Billy Bob Thornton, creating a soft critique of celebrity obsession. In “Screaming”, she inserted herself into popular horror films such as The Shining and Alien, screaming at the monsters to scare them away or blow them to smithereens. She confounds the traditional roles of “victim” and “predator”, or “star” and “fan”, to transcend cinematic conventions. In “Horror Makeup” she applies makeup on a daily subway commute, transforming herself into a zombie.

Caitlin Jones, of Rhizome, writes that her “work is distinct from many other artists also concerned with the cinematic. Not simply interested in issues of narrative, time, space, or the like, Mcdonald looks specifically at the genres romance and horror and how these constructions become a part of our own experiences” (Rhizome, Oct 8, 2007). ”

Fanatic, as in fan addict.

Speaking of Famous Sperm, or infamous as the case may be, for a cool million you can purchase the ejaculate of one Vincent Gallo. The offer carries heavy terms though, and be advised that “The purchaser must find another surname for the child.” We can’t tolerate any unauthorized Gallos running around, now. Dana Wyse’s packets, at 10 Euros apiece, are a better bang for your buck - think how many celebrities you could clone for the same price.
Vince’s details here: scroll down to the bottom but on the way consider the less pricey evening escort option for chicks only.

I have been waiting for this my entire adult life, it’s better than a happy pill. Artist Dana Wyse, who hails from Vancouver and lives in Paris, makes countless products which promise instant creativity, fame, orgasm, pilot skills, showers, Afros, television appreciation, Canadian-ness, belief in god, and practically everything else your heart desires. Think of all the time you’ll save. She also makes Grow up to be Gay play kits for kids, Goldfish Resuscitation Powder, and Genuine Celebrity Sperm kits featuring the likes of Mikhail Gorbachev. All packaging circa 1950. Run don’t walk, here’s a French article on her magic pills.

I bought a plastic and crystal chandelier on EBay for a new interactive video. It’s fabulous but unfortunately part of it broke. After much trial and error to fix the broken limb, my studiomate helped me hang it today. I’m pretty sure it’s haunted, or will be when I’m through with it.

I am officially too old for one box of candles, Yippee! But who wants to ruin a perfectly beautiful cake with gazillions of candles and fire? This may be the only cake I have had with my name and a heart (thank you Beckley), and the Capricorn is eternally practical.
Here is a link to my friend and fellow artist Jo-Anne Balcaen’s website, in Montréal. We were born on the exact same day, in the same year. Happy birthday Jo-Anne!

In Miami last month, I ran into fellow Winnipeger Diana Thorneycroft. I missed her work at Photo Miami, because a day of beach laziness, iguana tracking, and stone crab was a far more attractive offer than another marathon session at the art fairs. Later I visited her website and came across her 2006 photographic series featuring Canadian Martyrs.

My favourite is Martyrdom of the Great One, where Gretzky is torn asunder amidst a flock of terribly calm Canadian Geese. Yesterday I watched a few documentaries about Gretzky while researching a new video, and learned that number 99 was the only number ever retired from the NHL. I also found that the great one doesn’t have a lot to say, and barely blinks. The lions and tigers are priceless, not everyone is aware that Canada is home to these beasts.

Pictured above, Martyrdom of the Great One.