The mind is an incredible processor of information… A glance across a vista can connect disparaging points — otherwise unremarkable in themselves — thereby, by gestalt, creating something completely different to you or me. Things of shadows or play of light. Things familiar; Things strange. Things built long ago, by man, or time, that are decaying towards something new. Always, there is something remarkable. Always there is something beautiful… Either in symmetry, balance, or a path towards a focal point.
For a decade, Art Bell had the ears and minds of late night AM radio with Coast to Coast, his talk show exploring high weirdness of all kinds—from extraterrestrial conspiracies to doomsday scenarios, remote viewing, and Bigfoot. Sometimes, Bell himself became part of the “real life” X-files he addressed on the show. In 2018, a few years after retirement, Bell died at his high desert home (and former studio) in Pahrump, Nevada of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. But who was Bell? What did he actually believe and how much was he humoring his far-out guests? From a profile by Jesse Robertson in the Los Angeles Review of Books:
In what he termed “the Quickening,” a quasi-millenarian interpretive frame for Coast‘s diverse subjects, Bell observed that in “many areas of our lives the gravity of events seems to be intensifying,” leading towards monumental change at the turn of the century. “The world is not the same, not a place to feel safe in.”[…]
What exactly Bell believed was admittedly hard to pin down. He leaned libertarian but was a self-described “political mutt,” having supported Republican Barry Goldwater in 1964 and independent candidate Ross Perot in 1992, warmed to Bill Clinton, and enthusiastically voted for Barack Obama. Despite engaging with theories of illicit governmental activities at the highest levels, it seemed he could never decide whether governmental reform or abolition was the solution. Speaking to Skeptical Inquirer in 1998, he was adamant that he regarded Coast‘s subject matter as “absolute entertainment” that was broadcast for one reason: business.
On air, however, Bell developed sociological and scientific theories and detailed his own UFO sightings. Most importantly, he let people talk. He didn’t cut his guests off or interject unnecessarily — except when he interrupted white supremacist Tom Metzger to say, “I am married to a brown-skinned Asian woman. What does that make me?” To which Metzger replied, “A traitor to your race.”
Coast‘s participatory format allowed for folkloric narrative construction and community formation that transcended Bell’s role as its host. The ambiguity and, at times, contradiction between Bell and his programming didn’t change what Coast had become for its listeners — in fact, it was so in spite of it.
Glass net floats were used in Scandinavia long ago, but have been more associated with Japanese deep sea fishing boats since the early 1900s. It makes sense that many ended up adrift from nets on the Grand Banks, and landed on Newfoundland beaches. I don’t recall ever seeing these in the wild, but I know that my Mother picked some up somewhere along the way, and has a decorative net in her basement that includes a couple of these, and a lot of other beachy things that she collected from many beach walks.
Since I’ve been drawing things from old memories of Newfoundland, this emerged. As much I as disliked my last painting, I really, really like this one. The original 24 in. x 24 in. and a small 10-inch square section is shown below.
For the most part, I draw from my old memories. These are can be a bit foggy and skewed, but sometimes, vivid and definite. Memories that are always emotional, often joyful. Less frequently these days, there are memories tinged with the blur of sadness and fading regret. The gestalt of it all make for interesting colour, shade, and perspective (at least to my eye!). These faulty and beautiful memories are mine to embrace; to hide or share.
I am thrilled to have two of my original artworks donated to this fundraiser!
Le Bouclier d’Athéna tiendra la 27ème édition de sa vente aux enchères annuelle le 13 novembre à la Casa D’Italia (505 rue Jean Talon Est).
Vernissage et cocktail de réseautage : 15:30 – 17:00
L’encan d’art se déroulera par la suite.
Entrée payante à $125
Artistes en vedette Résidant de longue date de l’Ouest-de-l’Île de Montréal, les images de Paul Carter reflètent la beauté et l’interconnectivité complexe qu’il voit dans notre expérience commune, des grands paysages accidentés aux petits détails parfois négligés. Le travail et la carrière bénévole de Paul Carter ont nécessité de nombreux déplacements, ce qui a permis d’explorer le Canada d’un océan à l’autre, habituellement avec une caméra à la main. Cependant, son inspiration la plus profonde a toujours été sa ville natale de St. John’s, à Terre-Neuve, où il a passé des années d’innombrables fins de semaine et soirées à se plonger dans la beauté sauvage de la péninsule d’Avalon.
Fascinée par le jeu de lumière sur du vitrail Tiffany, l’œuvre de Paul dans les années 90 était d’un style plus primitif, utilisant l’encre et l’aquarelle sur un gros bloc de papier. Au cours des années suivantes, Paul s’est concentré sur sa photographie – mais alors que son appareil photo capturait les paysages qu’il aimait tant, il utilisait encore un carnet de croquis pour aider à mémoriser les petites choses, souvent oubliées, qui sont l’inspiration des œuvres d’art actuelles.
Ayant redécouvert sa passion pour la création artistique au cours des dernières années, et inspiré par ses souvenirs des régions rurales de Terre-Neuve, Paul a travaillé numériquement, à l’aide d’une tablette, avec les outils logiciels Procreate et Adobe Fresco. Son œuvre est produite en nombre limité sur du papier de coton musée de Hahnemühle.
I am delighted that two of my artworks will be included in the 2022 Shield of Athena Art Auction Fundraiser in November. Below is a section of one of the two pieces to be auctioned.
The Shield of Athena is a non-profit organization supporting victims of family violence in the Greater Montreal area. With offices in Laval and Montréal, they offer multilingual services by professional social workers, trained cultural intermediaries, and supervised law students. A shelter, Athena’s House, provides emergency housing to women and their children 24/7, in a safe and empowering environment. Across Montreal and Laval, the community outreach program provides information to men and women in their own languages.
NewFish contains my commentary and random thoughts about music, counter-culture, technology, faith, wretched excess, art, questionable government, and the ultimate interconnectivity of all things.
