http://mondomagazine.net We're not geeks! Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:39:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 http://mondomagazine.net/2011/interview-daniel-kurland-of-the-raisin-gang/ http://mondomagazine.net/2011/interview-daniel-kurland-of-the-raisin-gang/#comments Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:26:56 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=11781 http://mondomagazine.net/2011/interview-daniel-kurland-of-the-raisin-gang/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2011/interview-ross-bonfanti/ http://mondomagazine.net/2011/interview-ross-bonfanti/#comments Sun, 06 Mar 2011 19:24:33 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=11638 http://mondomagazine.net/2011/interview-ross-bonfanti/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2010/contact-2010-an-interview-with-ruth-kaplan/ http://mondomagazine.net/2010/contact-2010-an-interview-with-ruth-kaplan/#comments Sun, 16 May 2010 15:16:21 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=9636 http://mondomagazine.net/2010/contact-2010-an-interview-with-ruth-kaplan/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/artist-profile-steven-laurie/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/artist-profile-steven-laurie/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:49 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=6031 By Carolyn Tripp "A friend of mine and I were sitting on the sidewalk one day," artist Steven Laurie explains, "and wondering out loud what it would take for people who didn't typically talk about art to be compelled to come into a gallery or be interested in a contemporary art show." The possibilities often seem stunted by the fairly insular environments that many art communities tend to foster. This is equally perpetuated either by design or lack of funds, and more often than not, a little bit of both. It's a conundrum that many artists choose, understandably, not [...]]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/artist-profile-steven-laurie/feed/ 1 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/interview-morris-lum/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/interview-morris-lum/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:40 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=5940 The commercial areas of Toronto's suburbs are weird and wonderful experiments in postcolonialism. In many ways, they're blank slates, plazas filled in gradually with a combination of big-box stores and shops and restaurants that are representative of the area's predominant cultures and ethnicities. Morris Lum calls them ethnoscapes. Here, he says, "you may encounter a Chinese restaurant beside a Caribbean roti house and a Tim Horton's." But as day turns to night, these car-centric areas of commerce grow quiet and lonely. It's in this still, brightly-lit period, in these "monumental signifiers of North America," that Lum documented New Cultural Topographics, a commentary on his self-proclaimed hybrid heritage. Lum is part of the first-ever DOC/now, Ryerson University's MFA Thesis Festival. Organized by its students, the festival celebrates work by the first graduating class of Ryerson's new documentary media program. The festival opened on Thursday, June 11 and runs until June 23. MONDO had a quick conversation with Morris about his series.]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/interview-morris-lum/feed/ 1 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/remember-whos-emma-punk-politics-and-place/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/remember-whos-emma-punk-politics-and-place/#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:00:32 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=5789 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/remember-whos-emma-punk-politics-and-place/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/torontos-project-165-made-a-deal-with-the-devil/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/torontos-project-165-made-a-deal-with-the-devil/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:00:22 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=5714 By Julia Baird Project 165, hub of the artist collaboration Methinks Presents, is buzzing with activity. Several people, including Ryan Ringer, the main instigator of Methinks, work on arranging sale items in the front gallery for a fundraiser that's four days away. People mill in and out of the artist studios. When I have trouble finding my pen, Ryan hands me one filled with pink ink and explains that he enjoys the invigoration of writing in colours other than blue and black. Pinpointing the essence of Methinks Presents is a tricky task, but the collective has something to do with all of the following words: surprise, inclusion, action, spontaneity, performance, disruption, sharing, and support. Ryan explains, "Methinks is about collective action and collaboration. There's been a lot of play, make-believe, and ongoing narratives." Methinks began in 2003 at the Ontario College of Art and Design with Ryan and Kevin Mayo. Eventually Kevin left for his own ventures and Methinks developed into a more collaborative [...]]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/torontos-project-165-made-a-deal-with-the-devil/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/fashion-profile-ns-designs/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/fashion-profile-ns-designs/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 05:00:31 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=5471 By Helen Fylactou Fashion designer Natalie Simms, with her perpetual smile and her bright red hair, is a breath of fresh air in the fashion industry. She first exploded onto the scene in 2006 with her own design company. Based out of Toronto, n.s designs draws inspirations from music and nature. Simms' street fashion designs can be worn right off the runway. The Hot White Night collection encompasses designs for men and women. Using light linens, and with a hint of bold colour, the garments are natural. The slim pants are [...]]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/fashion-profile-ns-designs/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/interview-daniela-vlaskalic/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/interview-daniela-vlaskalic/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 05:00:37 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=5400 By Matt McGeachy Last week, I sat down with Daniela Vlaskalic, who plays Sister James, a young, idealistic nun, in CanStage's production of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt. Vlaskalic is a newly minted Stratford veteran, a playwright, and a graduate of the University of Alberta. We talked about politics, religion, guilty pleasures, innocence, and, of course, Doubt. MONDO: In the director's notes for Doubt, Marti Maraden wrote that a good portion of play's allure comes from the fact that it's unresolved, and maybe can't be resolved. Was it important for you to come to a resolution for this play? If so, what was it? Daniela Vlaskalic: I think that Sister James really goes back and forth in the play. I really believe that after the scene with Father Flynn, she does believe that he's innocent. But once again, Sister Aloysius puts doubt back into her mind — she can't be certain. She's left like the audience. Sister James tracks what the audience is going through a lot of the time. She is constantly pulled back and forth between these two strong forces. Someone described her as the child of divorced parents, and has great love and respect for both, and so she also is left with doubt. Her certainty is taken away. [...]]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/interview-daniela-vlaskalic/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/flash-of-inner-beauty-an-interview-with-arline-malakian/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/flash-of-inner-beauty-an-interview-with-arline-malakian/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 05:00:58 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=5184 This is the final article in a series about this year's [FAT], Toronto's Alternative Arts and Fashion Week. By Helen Fylactou “Let your inner light shine. We can’t help being beautiful. Beauty is contagious” - Arline Malakian Arline Malakian has made an indelible impact on the face of photography. While breaking conventions, Malakian creates relationships with her audiences and moves past aesthetics to provokes ideas and feeling. In addition to her photography, Malakian has become a presence in mainstream fashion. She's looking for a way to empower people by having them explore their inner core.[...]]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/flash-of-inner-beauty-an-interview-with-arline-malakian/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/fat-interview-dj-daniel-wilson/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/fat-interview-dj-daniel-wilson/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:00:58 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=5062 Interview and photos by Helen Fylactou Performing both on the second and the third nights of [FAT], DJ Daniel Wilson kept the mood of the room vibrant and sexy. The perfect soundtrack at a fashion show propels the audience from feeling good about the show, to feeling fabulous about the show. DJ Daniel Wilson is that perfect soundtrack. Prior to the big nights, MONDO had a chance to interview him about life, music and fashion. MONDO: How would your describe your sound? DJ Daniel Wilson: A little all over the board, but a lot of electro. For [FAT] I will be changing it to suit the theme of the night, so Planet will be a little more ethereal house and vocal-based electro, while Gutter will be more glitchy with some punk and rock — I'll be able to let loose a bit more. MONDO: What DJs/musicians have inspired you? DJ: Oh gosh, a lot. Everything from Princess Superstar to PJ Harvey [...]]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/fat-interview-dj-daniel-wilson/feed/ 0 http://mondomagazine.net/2009/midence-oliu-in-interview-fierce-personified/ http://mondomagazine.net/2009/midence-oliu-in-interview-fierce-personified/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:00:02 +0000 art http://mondomagazine.net/?p=4875 By Helen Fylactou This is the first in a series of articles that will follow Toronto's 2009 [FAT] Alternative Fashion Week. With uncompromising style, Midence Oliu designs haute couture hats that are unique, fierce and exquisitely crafted. This radical designer's pieces can easily be compared to sculptures. Weaving between Victorian to 1930s to post-modern designs, Oliu has capture the imagination and the interest of both the editorial and commercial world. MONDO: How did you get into fashion? Midence Oliu: It was a natural progression. I have been drawing the second I was able to pick up a crayon. My first memory of fashion was watching an haute couture show on Fashion Television and not understanding it at all. I thought the whole thing was ridiculous. It wasn't until recently, about a year ago, that I started to really appreciate high fashion and started to follow it. What drew me in was the glamour, excess, and the drama of it all. MONDO: How did you get into designing hats? MO: I was fortunate to have taken a materials class in the program I was in at George Brown college. This was the turning point in my professional life. [Designing] was something I wanted to do for a while. I asked myself, how can I get into a Paris fashion show? I don't know how to make clothes, so I thought perhaps I could make a hat. At the time it made sense, but as time passed I found out that it was a difficult process because of [...]]]> http://mondomagazine.net/2009/midence-oliu-in-interview-fierce-personified/feed/ 1