Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader of Canada

 Today, I was reading a remark that Ms.May made before the introduction of new private members Bill into the House of Commons. Bill C-436 - An Act to develop and provide for the publication of indicators to inform Canadians about the health and well-being of people, communities and ecosystems in Canada.

This woman so 'gets it' vis a vis the current political climate in Canada.
She quoted United States Senator Robert Kennedy: 

"Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product...counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts [the] rifle and [the] knife, and television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.

Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry...the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning...."

In fact, Senator Kennedy concluded:

"--it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile."

Right on sista.   I vote GREEN

Royal Jubilee Celebration at Paletta Lakefront Park & Mansion: Hats & Hillmans

 A bit of a muggy & gray day at the Paletta Lakefront Park & Mansion for the Strawberry Social in honour of HRH Queen Elizabeth. A vintage hat collection that spans 60 years of HRH reign is on display upstairs, and, for the car buffs, vintage British automobiles grace the circular drive - from the humble Hillman Minx to the mighty Triumph Stag. A proper piper piped by the lake for added atmosphere.

... my favourite shot from this little outing ...

Cootes Paradise & Our Timely Transition - Part 1 & 2

Keeping my hand in on the writing, I recently produced a review of early native cultures at Cootes Paradise at the western-most tip of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes in central Canada.

For the writing part, consider 'this review', over on my writing blog at canadada.wordpress.com. And for the visuals, a few samples follow.

All and all, it was a fun & interesting assignment to try to IMAGINE this inland wetlands area WITHOUT the current & intrusive industrialization now so pervasive along its shoreline. Clearly, the 'balance' is way off-kilter. It continuously begs the question: is our on-going destruction of Nature really the net result of all our 'progress'?

Aside from perpetually pondering this, I did find some wonderful 'hidden' sites with a few very engaging characters ...  Enjoy.

Early village settlements around natural waterways confirm the 

500 year transition from nomadic 'hunter-gatherers' to sedentary horticulturalists.

(Graphs, above & below, courtesy of David G.Smith, archeologist University of Toronto.)

 Muskrat: in case you're wondering. A common food source 300 years ago, as in, 'muskrat stew'.

Wet your appetite? 

Head on over to the 

 article ... HERE

and just published on 

RaiseTheHammer.com

New Oil Painting: 'Fire in the Tepee with the Full Moon Outside'

oil on primed board

For Sale

contact the artist for size & price

End of Lakeland - VIDEO LINK

I've had a number of repeat requests to see the video from my spring newsletter. 

I've decided to post it again. Just click on the link below:

END OF LAKELAND

The music was composed by Avro Part (umlaut over the a)

entitled, 'Spiegel im Spiegel', a lovely piece of music.

This slideshow/video was created soon after I learned 

that my studio had been 'sold' unexpectedly in November of 2011.

 Somewhat surprisingly, I'm still here ... For how long, I don't know.

... we must count these small blessings wherever we can ... 

Enjoy.

New Oil Painting: Five Red-Wing Blackbirds in the Magnolia Tree

For sale: oil on primed board. 

Please contact zee artist for size & price.

Bruce Trail Conservancy Celebrates 50 Years of Volunteering

Despite periodic torrential downpours, 500 + intrepid volunteers, from Tobermory to Niagara, gathered to celebrate 50 years of the Bruce Trail. Suited up in 'all weather' gear, a massive BBQ got underway with entertainment by Juno Award winner, Ian Thomas,  & some gal whose bellowing pipes raised the rain spattered roof! On hand, with brief speeches, were Honorable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Sport for Ontario, and Honorable Ted McKeekin, Minister of Agriculture. But by far the most moving and witty speech was given by Dr. Philip Gosing, who, at 84 years of age, and one of the founders of the ever-wonderful Bruce Trail, recounted the 'early efforts' of getting this massive trail up & running ...

The Bruce Trail has been completely built and maintained by dedicated volunteers from the tip of Tobermory to the river's edge in Niagara. Akin in concept to the Appalachian Trail, the Bruce is dedicated to preserve & protect the globally unique biosphere of the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario.

I was, and remain, very lucky & happy to have served for 5 years as a Trail Captain volunteer on the Ian Reid Side Trail, (off the Bruce Trail that runs on top of the escarpment at Kerns Road & Dundas Street in Burlington.)  Ian Reid, a delightful & dedicated sprite, was one of the principal organizers of the 'Hamilton Chapter' of the Iroquois 'section' of the Trail. The side trail, named in his honour, is a moderately difficult loop up and down the escarpment face. It is a very familiar trail to 'locals', young & old.

All in all, the festival, held at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area off Governor's Road in Dundas Ontario, was a great and fun event - albeit it, a bit 'damp'. This occasion also stands as a key 'marker' of growth for the Conservancy. The Bruce Trail legacy has now been firmly established. Soon it will be up to the next generation to carry on this important NATURALIST philosophy & tradition - and work - of protecting and preserving this patch of 'wildlife' that runs throughout Southern Ontario  - for The Future.

I am mighty proud, and also very humbled, to be a part of this Great & Good on-going effort.

HRH The Queen, Her Diamond Jubilee & Some Idiot's Underpants

I was watching the wonderful BBC coverage of the River Thames River Pageant in honor of HRH The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and was kinda stunned by some relatively famous British actor remarking how he was wearing underpants to celebrate the occasion. What a yahoo.

Meanwhile, the Queen, the most stately & precious national 'pearl', is standing in the bitter cold & pouring rain during the final rendition of 'Rule Britannia'. The crowd, for the most part, had dispersed during the latest downpour. Yet, it is she and her 90 year old husband, Prince Philip, surrounded by her grandchildren, who stand stoic against the elements. By so doing, yes, they are honored, but more importantly, STANDING THERE as they do, they pay to tribute to the country that they - and she - so dearly love.

UNDERWEAR????  Psffffft. Dumb dufus. And honestly, BBC, sure, levity to gravitas, but come-on.
Who gives a rat's ass about some idiot's underwear??? 

Queen Elizabeth is truly a most remarkable woman. She has performed her 'duty' unflinchingly for six long & turbulent decades. A global leader and inspiration, she stands head & shoulders above some petty pouncing by a forgotten prat. Nota bene.

Tom Waits Narrates John Baldessari VIDEO

Another item to consider.

How BIG NAME contemporary artists 

collaborate & promote each other using 

MOD MEDIA

  -

Tom Waits Narrates John Baldessari: 

a Bio-Pic, on YouTube

 - HERE.

NEWS from STUDIO of MLH - Spring 2012

 'The Clearing', oil painting

Here it is, my spring newsletter for 2012, click on the link below:

 'NEWS from STUDIO of MLH'

As an added incentive this year I am adding a special 'SALE' item. I am offering the above 2010 oil painting, 'The Clearing' ( 'as is' in a simple black frame, 27"W x 20" H ) at 40% OFF list price.

It can be yours for just $3200. (CDN) 

I am doing this because I need to find a new studio soon. In simple terms, I need the funds to go towards a 'good place'. So, if you are here now, and do like what I do, please consider this, or another, purchase NOW. If you do buy the above item before the end of May 2012, I will absorb the taxes and the shipping costs (in North America) on this work alone. Contact me for payment details: mlhpro at hotmail dot com.

I also intend to have a late summer-fall auction, the MLH 'New Studio' Fun-Raising Auction, to raise additional funds for my 'new' studio space. If you would like to be on the mailing list for what promises to be a fun on-line event, please let me know. I'll be sending out more details about that later this summer.

Thank you for your on-going support!