Super! Natural!, 2009, oil and acrylic on wood panel, 96 x 144 inches
No rainbows cresting over misty waterfalls.  No soaring peaks at sunset.  Canadian artist Kim Dorland gives us a decisively unsentimental view of nature in his new paintings at Freight + Volume Gallery on West 24th Street in New York’s Chelsea art district.  Cheekily titled “Super! Natural!” after an old Canadian advertising campaign, the show presents landscapes rendered in an almost radioactive palette. Indeed, the riot of colors not only makes the eyes swim, the sheer weight of oil …

“I don’t know much about Art, but I know what I like.” This phrase, repeated countless times in one form or another, was actually coined over a century ago.

A perfect balance of rocks, elements, wires and strings. These are the mobiles of Montreal artist Stephen H. Kawai

One of the most unique things about Montreal vs other cities is its array of cultures, languages and without a doubt their absolute hunger for music. The character and diversity in all its flavour has created a special birth ground for many artist in all disciplines but music has always held true. Is it any wonder why Bon Jovi, Supertramp, Roger Waters, Rush have always make a stop here? No, because there is no wonder.

I truly believe  artists have the power to suggest change through their performances, messages and mediums. In the harshest of times, in all walks of life people turn to art as a reminder and savior of cultures; and the beauty we are able to share as humans. What better gift can we give as a society than to be the voice for people who cannot speak, to enlighten and entertain people while they are at their worst moments. We are artists and we have that power to change.
~CAS Admin~
This is …

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra rolled into town this month and not a moment too soon. They came just in time for the Christmas holidays. This was the first time I ever attended this show and with all the hype it had it’s moments. Technically these guys were great. An impressive approx. 30 piece band rocking and riffing away on Christmas carols and famous classical scores in a heavy metal style.

I’m definitely not one who attends tribute bands but The Australian Pink Floyd blew me away…again. I’ve seen them before doing the “Dark Side of the Moon” but this time they were coming to town to recreate Roger Waters masterpiece, “The Wall”. At first i was hoping for the actual recreation and reenactments of the original concert with cardboard or Styrofoam bricks that would eventually cover the who band followed by its eventual collapse. Instead they performed the whole album accompanied with up to date 3D visuals from the original …

Montreal’s STARS took center stage late last month at Montreal’s Metropolis.

photo courtesy of CTV
This is a personal commentary about Canadian Idol and perhaps I’m outta line when I say. “YESS IT’S OUTTA HERE!”…but only for now.. I was just informed that Canadian Idol will not be on air for 2009 due to lack of garnering enough advertising revenue through these tough economic times. I know there is an abundance of fans who will miss the program, but it’s nice to take a break from all these mundane reality programs showing off decent to extremely terrible performances. Don’t get me wrong, it is …

(Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images Europe)
A few days ago I had the absolute pleasure of watching a Canadian icon perform on stage at Montreal’s Bell Center.