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I’m glad you dropped by. Please stay for a while and let me introduce myself.

If you’d like to connect, just send me an email to maryinvancouver @gmail.com and I’ll get back in touch as soon as possible.

To see photos of my art and projects, do visit my website at: http://marybennett.net

Fringe So Far

Wednesday morning update: 22 Shows and counting…

Tuesday Shows: Go/No Go – Great. Can’t wait to see it on a main stage with circus performers, especially the clown doctors.

A David Lynch Wet Dream – I liked it. It’s weird. But I like weird. https://www.straight.com/listings/events/958156

Slumber Here – Yes, and I’ll go back for another dose. Midsummers Night Dream in site-specific format. Delightful

5-Step Guide to Being German – Thumbs down from me. Too many jokes that are of the variety: A Bavarian, a Muslim and an Australian go into the bar. A friend used to stop her kids and say: OK, say that joke as a Canadian, a Canadian and a Canadian… and her kid would say: But then it’s not funny. Her point: it probably wasn’t then! Besides anything else an average Fringe show is 60 minutes not 90. So since I felt this was below-average, 45 minutes would be enough. I hadn’t realized it was so long (although it felt that long), so missed seeing the next show I’d hoped to get in.

Monday Shows:

Ain’t True and Uncle False – I agree with the positive buzz. A feel good piece.

Everybody Dies in December – I’m now an official Nancy Kelly fan.

Hyena Subpoena – again the Buzz is right. Except this is the kind of text I wish I could read afterwards. Catherine Kitt is great. Here’s a youtube video with an excerpt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbJviK8j6hY

 

More Fringe shows

Top pick for yesterday was Katharine Ferns is in Stitches. But be aware if you are or ever have been a feminist let alone abused, battered, depressed … you may well find it very distressing as well as very funny. Important, I’d say.  I’d planned to do another

If you ponder the nature of the Life, the Universe and Everything, you’d enjoy the Immaculate Big Bang. Probably some interest and knowledge of world religions makes it funnier.

I loved Your Princess is in Another Castle with the Roller Derby Saved My Life performer, Nancy Kelly. My friend said she liked the other show: Everyone Dies in December so much, she was disappointed in this one. New word: fe-man-ist – because feminist is so not gender-neutral. I thought the guy playing slam poet/prince charming was excellent.

The buzz (yes, the buzz is well under way now) told me to go see Field Zoology 101. Loved it too.

I like to check out the site-specific shows mentored by the Only Animal, so did 2/3 of Waterborne BLUE program – and then headed to Katharine Ferns at Performance Works.

All in all, a great non-volunteer day at the Fringe.

I’m actually loving standing in the rush lineups chatting with other volunteers and performers.

So… that’s 15 Fringe shows and counting.

I was going to try to find links to reviews for all of these, but you can google yourself, right?

If you have comments – add on facebook…

 

 

September 10th post

1. 50 Shades of Dave
2. Indefinable Soul
3. The Euphio Question (Kurt Vonnegut)
4. A Night at the Rose Coloured Discotheque
5. Beaver Dreams
6. The Inventor of All Things
7. Shadowlands
8. Periscope

All good. If you can only catch two of these, go for 50 Shades of Dave and Shadowlands (closes Monday)!

First vollie year without a super pass or kick-ass pass. It’s OK.  Just requires different strategies. You need a Plan B and sometimes Plan C. For RUSH pass volunteers – just go for the large venues. Lots of fun conversations in line-ups.

Yesterday: Sold out Bombay Black and OBIT. Probably at least Bombay Black will continue after the Fringe somewhere. And probably no chance of rush tickets at Arts Umbrella, esp An Arrangement of Shoes and Andrew Bailey’s show.

 

 

After Images from DOXA

For the fourth year, I volunteered at DOXA: Documentary Film Festival. Contributing 24 hours of volunteer time, one gets a pass to see as many screenings as you can possibly fit in.  In my case, that was 20. More if you count the “shorts” as separate films. I’m sure the film makers would want them counted separately, so make that 30.

On Sunday, the final day, I went home after my volunteer shift. I’d planned to stay for Manifesto, but felt “psychic overload” and possibly a cold coming on as well, because of a 12-hour film viewing/volunteering day on Saturday. Last night I slept 12 hours (off and on) from 6 to 6.

And now I’m trying to process aftershocks or after images. I’ve always been an active dreamer – and as a child couldn’t separate my dream life from waking life. I regularly visited my Auntie Elsie in Denmark and to my sisters’ embarrassment would give people an update on playing jelly bean games and eating orange sandwiches if asked how was I?

So perhaps I overdid it. I’m experiencing post-documentary stress syndrome. Some specific “stills” keep flashing on my interior screen.

The yellow markings on the asphalt from “For My Mother.”

Rita stuffing chocolate into her apron from “The Grown-ups”.

The man who’d previously yelled, “Nein! nein! nein!” to the woman trying to learn to use her computer, then weeping with frustration when he couldn’t make his own work (“Digital Immigrants”)

The young man who wore a suit to school and inspired by Regis switched from white shirt to red from “Swagger” dancing down the street and considering being a drug lookout.

So many more.

Enhanced by hearing filmmakers and panels talk about the issues and the people and the footage left for, for example, “Mermaids 2” or sequels. The audience members often had ideas for follow-up films. We wanted to know: what happens next? We wanted to know more about individuals we were fascinated by. The little girl who voices her fear of Mickey Mouse and Barbie. Sabrina who unsuccessfully ran for office in West Virginia.

We can follow up on some – The students who successfully get past the rigorous admission requirement of La Femis – in Claire Simon’s Le Concours – will undoubtedly produce films that might arrive at DOXA in future years.

On the sidelines of the films themselves, I met some interesting global citizens. Young people in Vancouver for limited times find DOXA a possibility for a volunteer experience, since many other organizations require a four-month commitment. Several fellow volunteers I met could easily have a documentary made of their experience and the context of their being in Vancouver.

Has anyone done a documentary about DOXA volunteers? Perhaps volunteers from years past have gone on to be more involved in documentary film making.

Is anyone filming for a documentary on what the Green Party holding the balance of power in the upcoming (probable) minority government may mean for democracy in BC?

What now? I’ll go to the volunteer party next Sunday. I’ll volunteer again next year. I’ll share my enthusiasm for the impact of documentary films with friends. In Le Concours one of the applicants said they’d considered politics or was it law, and decided that film making could change the world.

I’d love to hear comments or corrections …  Did you do DOXA this year? What was your experience?

 

 

 

 

Next Playdate series starts March 9

My next mixed-media basics workshop starts March 9. Thursday evenings 7-9:15pm

http://opusartsupplies.com/how/workshops-classes/19839/mixed-media-basics-playdate-mary

We have fun together making art.

 

Fake Nooz? Incomplete and irrelevant perhaps

I thought I’d weigh in on #fakenews.

I think covering an election rally when the election was several months ago is #fakenews. Or at least irrelevant, but that’s perhaps an elitist word. So I’ll be part of the hoi polloi and simply say #fakenews.

I think a news item that REPEATEDLY tells me that only 12 of the 14 leadership candidates were at the debate but spending most of the news clip on only one of the two no-shows – no mention of even the name of the other one is #fakenews. Or at least incomplete and biased. None of the 12 who are showing up were mentioned by name!

Hello! news people.

#LOL – new hastag Also #progressiveswhocareabouttheconservativepartyleadershiprace

OK, So I’m betting my proposed hashtag #LOL for Leitch and O’Leary. As in, let’s have less #LOL on my facebook feed, will be catchier than #progressiveswhocareabouttheconservativepartyleadershiprace but so far no one’s proposed something shorter that says it. I’ve rejected #progressiveconservatives as I’m #progressive but not #conservative.

But I *am* concerned about the CPC Leadership Race. After all, all of us will be impacted by the Leader of the opposition.

So I’ve been following coverage and feel there’s too much #LOL. imho. fwiw. btw.

Here’s an edited (just shortened not changed) email exchange I had when I objected to what I saw as an increasing coverage — esp with photos of #LOL or #OL in particular.

Read from bottom up. Otherwise it makes little sense.

I feel comforted. And looked at some of your other columns online and see what I perceive as more balance there.

May it be so!

Take care,
Mary

On 2/6/2017 11:25 AM, JOURNALIST wrote:

It is not similar to the coverage of Trump. He was on every  American’s TV, on many channels, 24/7. Most Canadians would not recall there is a Conservative leadership campaign on right now.

But the point is that writing occasional political columns about a candidate is normal. That’s what I do in every leadership race. Putting them on e-talk and morning shows is not.

—–Original Message—–
From: Mary Bennett [mailto:maryinvancouver@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 1:58 PM

Subject: Re: no more O’Leary and Leitch features please

Thanks for your quick response. You are not the only journalist I’m sending a message to.

And I hope it will not be similar to the US coverage, but that’s what I’m seeing so far across the board.

Take care,
Mary

On 2/6/2017 10:55 AM, JOURNALIST wrote:

Thanks for your note Ms. Bennett,

I understand your sentiment, but I think it is misplaced. It’s one thing to bemoan the attention that Donald Trump got in constant coverage on 24-hour news channels and in nearly every medium. It’s another to moan about an article about a leadership candidate’s performance in his first debate. I write columns about politics, and that includes writing columns about aspiring prime ministers and candidates who might win the leadership of one of the country’s major political parties. Mr. O’Leary is exactly that. It’s not unusual. It is relevant, and it’s not gratuitous. And it’s not comparable to the wall to wall live coverage of Mr. Trump.

Regards

—–Original Message—–
From: Mary Bennett [mailto:maryinvancouver@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 1:18 PM

Subject: no more O’Leary and Leitch features please

Re: your column along with the 5×8″ photo of my least favorite candidates.

Although I don’t vote conservative, I’m aware that the Leader of the Opposition has impact on the country and at least the media. I watched the entire CPC debate and have been following some of the candidates.

IMHO O’Leary and Leitch are among the least suited to this role and many of us are bemoaning the attention that Trump got through media in the months leading up to what many of us thought was an unthinkable election, inauguration and executive orders left and right.

PLEASE START FINDING NEWS AND PICTURES OF SOME OF THE OTHER 12 CANDIDATES.

So far my favorites are Michael Chong and Lisa Raitt with Deepak being the most adorable.

Andrew Scheer who I don’t agree with on much is the candidate who has received the most endorsements by fellow MPs.

Surely professional journalists can find something newsworthy beyond those two!

Louise Bunn’s Salon on Poetic Landscapes

Louise Bunn and I will have a shared art exhibition in January at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. 

Louise is working on paintings inspired by alchemical processes and my work will be the series that I’m calling: It May Be a Sign (but what could it mean?)

I’m eagerly awaiting The First Signs by Genevieve von Petzinger about the 32 geometric signs found in caves that go back before the beautiful paintings by mammals.

The Creative Neighbours Salon on October 23 will feature Louise talking about “Poetic Landscapes” and I of course will be there as well as one of the hosts for the series.

RSVP is very much appreciated so we can plan as space is limited.

 

Make a Skeleton; Dance With Your Skeleton

I made my first skeleton several years ago, just after we put PETE the Polyethylene Bird to rest 9RIP, PETE).

The second milk jug skeleton will be easier, but this guy has gotten thumbs up from my neighbours. When the wind blows, he’s particularly charming, I think.

Hoping my neighbours are giving out treats for Hallowe’en as I’ll be at the Cemetery for All Soul’s and I do think it’s a little misleading to decorate and then not be home to answer the call of “Trick or Treat”.

Hmmn. Maybe I could put a pillow case out by the skeleton to invite donations of treats!

Now I invite you, your friends (and your milk jugs) to a workshop to learn how to make your own.

Register here for the Tuesday, October 25, FREE workshop at Kits House.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/halloween-milk-jug-skeleton-with-artist-mary-bennett-tickets-27736920877

You need 7 milk jugs to make a whole skeleton, but if you have only one, you can make a skull. Come along and help others and learn how to do.

Tip: If you have a favorite coffee shop, they might put aside their milk jugs for the day and you’d have enough just like that!

(That’s what Tammy did. Thanks Arbutus Coffee.)

 

And then, bring your skeleton along to out Post-Hallowe’en/Samhain Circle Dance at the Unitarian Church, 49th & Oak, on Tuesday, November 1st.  At this time of year, the veil between the worlds is thin and we honour our ancestors. We’ll  have a table for an ancestors’ shrine, if you’d like to bring a photo or object of remembrance.

 

Here are some detailed instructions:

http://okscribbler.blogspot.ca/2009/11/milk-jug-skeleton.html

A Milk Jug Skeleton is a Fun Recycled Craft Decoration for Halloween

 

 

 

Peripeteia by the Elegant Ladies Collective

Google tells me: “Perepeteia” is a sudden reversal with negative effects or when a Greek hero realizes everything he believed in is wrong.

There’s a site for explaining literary terms. Who knew? http://literaryterms.net/peripeteia/

I’m looking forward to the site-specific play by the Elegant Ladies Collective at the Fringe tonight at 6:30 pm at Ron Basford Park on Granville Island.

Tickets available here: https://tickets.vancouverfringe.com/shows/peripeteia/events

 

 

Vancouver Fringe opens tonight – See you around the Island?

Oooo! Can’t wait for the opening night to catch a couple of minutes of a bunch of different Fringe shows.

Not to mention the first glass of beer at the Fringe Bar.

Then Friday I do two shows and 3 on Sunday. I’ll be posting my reviews here.

My first one is a site-specific one for the always creative Elegant Ladies Collective.

Hope to see you around Granville Island.

Nice article about the labyrinths at the Unitarian Church

Just got an email from a friend saying they’d seen the article about my role with the two new labyrinths at the Unitarian Church.

Here’s the link to the Vancouver Courier article.

There are two new labyrinths in town, thanks in part to Mary Bennett, who says that although walking a labyrinth can be a form of meditation, it’s also a process with a beginning, a middle and an end.   Photograph By Dan Toulgoet

– See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/community/meditative-labyrinths-come-full-circle-in-vancouver-1.2333416#sthash.UK2aCKBv.dpuf

The church’s family program “Messy Church/ Make Dinner” is going to be focused on tending the “Living Labyrinth” this Friday night. I’ll be at the Fringe, so can’t attend, but I’m delivering calendula seeds and bulbs to our program director, Kiersten.

Open to all – families with young kids but also elders and singles often join in the fun.

Here’s a description of the monthly program: http://vancouverunitarians.ca/ucv/ongoing-messy-church-make-dinner/

And a link to the event, if you’d like to come along.

https://www.facebook.com/Vancouver.Unitarian.CYRE/

Questions? call 604-261-7204 and ask for Kiersten or send an email to dre@vancouverunitarians.ca.

And yes! your bulbs for fall planting are very welcome!