Christmas Thoughts 2018

Dormant Orchard with Pine Winebreaker - Photo by M.L.Holton

Christmas is approaching. It's now Dec 17th. Parcels and presents have been made, bought and wrapped. Delivery has begun with visits to friends and family. It's a festive social time. More then anything though, this year, it's those who are gone that hover over the festivities. I miss my dear old dad a great deal. I miss his gentle good humor and considerate and competent ways. I am equally aware that this may well be my last Christmas with my dear old mum. Aging is a strange phenomenon because as much as our minds are alive and active our bodies do not have the same capacity to renew or sustain. Christmas seems to increasingly be a time to remember not only the cycle of life within the framework of the Christian faith, but Life's very natural limits. "INFINITY" and the "INFINITE" are grand thoughts, but, practically, everything in our day-to-day experience underscores how finite living and life really is. Life, as we know it, does end. Spring will, of course, come again, yet it will be a different spring ...

Season's Best to All.
Catch you on the flip side - mlh

Book Review of New Novel from MLHolton, TRILLIUM

Book Review: TRILLIUM - by MLHolton / Reviewed by A. Brindle

PLUS, A 4 STAR Silver Book Award from Literary Titan  - Received February 6th, 2019
TRILLIUM on Amazon. CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/Trillium-Margaret-Lindsay-Holton/dp/0992127289

'Meet & Greet' Golden Horseshoe Artist, MLHolton

All welcome: Come One, Come All!

Informal 'Meet & Greet' at A Different Drummer Books

in beautiful downtown Burlington. Friday, Dec 7th, 7-8pm. 

See you there!
TRILLIUM now on AMAZON  
 
UPDATE: Super fun to catch up with old & new friends at the book signing.
CLASSIC photo of MLH taken by Ian at Different Drummer ... Eyes Closed As Per Usual!

TRILLIUM - A new Canadian Novel by MLHOLTON

This epic family saga begins after three diverse men arrive to the North American continent. Set in the Golden Horseshoe region of Canada, one arrives by foot at the Niagara frontier in the 1750s. Another arrives by ship from the island of Sicily to the burgeoning Hamilton port in the mid 1850s. The last arrives from Dublin just before the outbreak of WW1.

Over 250 years the Hartford, Di Angelo and O'Sullivan clans hunker down into the wine-making district of Niagara. Nothing remains sacred as opportunists pursue lust, land and loot. Ancient taboos are broken - and all hell breaks loose ... 

Wine enters the picture too - lots and lots of wonderful, lip-smacking wine.

Canadian artist, Margaret Lindsay Holton, aka MLH, explores changing manners and mores in this tell-all romp. Part poet, part mid-wife, part futurist, part sage, word-smith Holton creates an unforgettable and imaginative portrait of Canadian living.

Author of two other novels 'Economic Sex' (1985) and the award-winning 'The Gilded Beaver' (1999), MLHolton has also crafted short stories and poetry. 

After writing and directing, 'The Frozen Goose' (25 min DVD, 2016), she produced a spoken-word & electro-pop album 'CANADADA:TAKE TWO' (2017) to mark Canada's sesquicentennial. Her earlier poetry books, 'Bush Chord' (2006) and 'On Top of Mount Nemo' (2002) as well as her five photography books can be found on her website. 

*E-pub Edition releases January 2019* 

**ORDER 'TRILLIUM' NOW**  

Amazon paperback now on AMAZON.CA

Facebook fan page: TrilliumNovel Twitter: @trilliumthenovel 

 ---

First PRINT review / Dec Issue - The Bay Observer, 2018

2ND Excellent Book Review via Thomas Anderson of Literary Titan, January 2018.
**** 4 out of 5 stars ****
"I cannot recommend this book enough."

Alumni of Influence Award - Margaret Lindsay Holton

Well, that's super NICE! 

Just learned that I am to be given an 'Alumni of Influence' Award by the University of Toronto, via Principal  Donald C. Ainslie.

Ceremony is in November, so miles away yet. But still, wanted to share the GOOD NEWS! 

So often, as an artist, we work away (because we MUST) with little thought of recognition or even sales.

When it all comes together - when others recognize the effort, large and small - it's an unexpected and very gratifying THRILL!

THANK YOU to WHOEVER nominated me! Your anonymity is beguiling: it will pleasantly plague me for the rest of my life! xoxoxoxo mlh :) 

August Company! Alumni Awards, UofT, 2018

Post Event - Press Links:

https://www.uc.utoronto.ca/news/uc-celebrates-7th-annual-alumni-influence

https://www.uc.utoronto.ca/alumni/alumniofinfluence/margaret-holton

  Received the following lovely trophy-vase too!

Sun Shadow II - Pinhole Photography by M.L.Holton

A three person show at  
The CARNEGIE GALLERY 
in Dundas, Ontario, Canada.

July 6th-29th
Drop on by! 

Opening Reception:
FRIDAY, July 6th, 
7pm 9:30pm. 

See you there! 
- mlh 

MLH OPEN STUDIO - June 3rd, 2018 - 3-5pm

Thrilled to be a part of Hamilton Arts Week, June 2 - 9th, 2018. 

Will 'represent' the Hamilton Beach Community 

via my lakeside studio. 

SUNDAY - JUNE 3rd, 2018 - 3-5pm 

Margaret Lindsay Holton 
OPEN STUDIO

EVENT LISTING: Visit spectacular lake-side ART STUDIO of multi-disciplined, award-winning Golden Horseshoe artist, Margaret Lindsay Holton. Known for her distinctive 'naive-surreal-folk-abstract' paintings & beguiling photo-collages, Lindsay's distinctive art has established her as one of the regions best loved & collectible artists. Provocative. as well as prolific, come see what she's up to next! 

Family Friendly. Light Refreshments on Site. 

Plus, access to Lake Ontario beach front out front.

MLH Paintings, Photography (pinhole & digital), Books, CDs, DVDs, cards & other MLH ephemera
 - available for review and purchase.

All Welcome! 

HASHTAG: #HAMARTSWEEK

Kindly note, if coming via car, please PARK on side street opposite Harry's Pub. 

Entrance to Studio is via SIDE DOOR on building. Ring Buzzer No. 3. 

(Barking dog is behind the door!) - See you then!

Hamilton  Beach Strip, Lake Ontario waterfront

 Can't make it? Not to worry, some items still available via my art shop page ... HERE.

SPRING - 2018

Nest - Watercolour pencil sketch by MLHolton

It's that time of year again when the ice melts and the snow recedes. Thank goodness. It hasn't been a hard winter, but it was getting a bit dreary and long. Luckily, the sun is warming up a plenty and it looks like, finally, it's over.  During the LONG HAUL, I've put my hand, head and heart to several new ventures ....

In particular, for this post, I wanted to show off some of my recent watercolour pencil sketches. I've never painted watercolours before, it's just never really appealed as a medium. BUT I do like the idea of sketching, then using the brush to amplify and/or highlight aspects of that sketch. It seems to be working out so far.

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE -  Get Out There!

Ships by MLHolton - Watercolour Pencil Sketches

Valentine's Day 2018 - from M.L.Holton

'Art Attack by M.L.Holton

There is so much hate and hurt in the world now - people lashing out, crying, and dying from injustice and justice. As an artist, in this year, 2018, and on this day, I consider it my on-going ROLE to declare that I too WITNESS, via my words and art works, that which defines, aligns and alienates us, humanity, from each other, and from our collective home, Mother Earth.

Today, I was honored to have excerpts from my album, Canadada: Take Two, included in this timely & insightful Australian podcast by DJ Lapkat. She has mindfully assembled a medley of spoken word and music that ADDRESSES us, humanity. 

Please, listen in - give it the due it deserves. Thank you.

La Danza Poetica - #60. Canada:Untold Stories

Via DJ Lapkat: 'We love you, Canada. Not only is your Minister for Transport an astronaut, your storytellers, poets, musicians and artists are gravity-defyingly-eloquent. La Danza Poetica #60 is an extended show, because I was enjoying myself so much, I could not stop. Moving from high-energy, activist hip hop and electronic dance music, into an extended ambient / spoken word mix with no interruption from me ... this month I bring you some stories, told in a time of reckoning, rooted in cultural expression, social consciousness, and Mother Earth connection.

 

Tracklist

Ziibiwan – Fast Asleep (I Will)
M.L.Holton – I care 4 U caribou (SPOKEN)
Brandon Wint – Brighter
Ziibiwan – Winter's Child feat. Wellspoke
Jb the First Lady – OOTG
Taboo / Mag 7 – Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL
Eivør Pálsdóttir – Trollabundin (Rise Ashen Rub)
M.L.Holton – The Inuit in me Speaks to the White (MUSIC)
M.L.Holton – The Inuit in me Speaks to the White (SPOKEN)
Mob Bounce – Vision Quest
Wellspoke – facts
Ziibiwan – Manitou
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Caribou Ghosts and Untold Stories
Quantum Tangle – Ikersuaq
Shane Koyczan – Inconvenient Skin feat. Tanya Tagaq & Kym Gouchie
Brandon Wint – My Body is Heavy with Histories
Francois Couture – Iceberg
M.L.Holton – igloo (SPOKEN)
Ziibiwan – North
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Laughing Heart
Brandon Wint – Impossible and Common
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – The Oldest Tree in the World

Read additional notes on this podcast via Lapkat's link: https://lapkat.com/ladanzapoeticaradioshow/2018/2/14/la-danza-poetica-60-canada-untold-stories

In Studio - Magic Hour, Georgian Bay by MLHolton

Magic Hour, Georgian Bay - acrylic on board, by MLHolton

This work recently returned to my lakefront studio, and will be here until the end of the month, when it will go back into storage. It's nicely framed, if I say so myself, in a silver wooden plain frame. Size: 25" square. -- If interested to view, please make an appointment -  M-F, 9-5pm. Thanks!