AGO Opening: Perfection is the Enemy of Done

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MEDIA PREVIEW DURING HANGING - A POX ON SLICK (AND IT WORKED!)

ROUGH NOTES (Of Course) FOR AN UNFINISHED BLOG:

Thursday morning launch for Julian Schnabel: Art and Film. It all started in typical AGO fashion. The curator, David Moo and the artist take turns at the podium in front of a conference room filled with journalists, videographers, art insiders, bloggers and me. Coffee service at the side. Pastries aligned on glass trays oh-so-perfectly.
58-year old Julian Schnabel is an American artist and filmmaker. In the 1980s Schnabel received international media attention for his "plate paintings"—large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates ( on display at the AGO). Now he is best known for his movies - he directed Before Night Falls, which according to Wikipedia became Javier Bardem's breakthrough Academy Award nominated role and the four-time Academy Award nominated The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. He has won a Golden Globe, as well as BAFTA, a César Award, a Golden Palm, two nominations for the Golden Lion and an Academy Award nomination.
His show, which opens at the AGO this week, reintroduces his art to the public.
The man himself was at the media preview. Funny! Schnabel all rumpled and dishevelled actually made Toronto journalists look well dressed!
Quotable quote: "“I like this town you have here,” he said. “It’s like Houston was years ago. (Canada is like) a computer chip run a muck!" Realizing that the audience might have interpreted what he said as an insult he explained: "50 years ago before the US went to shit!'
Big thing missing? No AGO CEO Matthew Teitelbaum(holiday) or retiring chief curator Dennis Reid (apparently no longer in the building).
After the 45-minute long official opening we all climbed into a bank of elevators and headed to the exhibition space. What a difference a floor makes. Formal morphed into Controlled Madness. Show not completely hung. Fork lift trucks -- Beep Beep as they back up (real turn off for TV crews!) -- move sculptures around the room. Installation experts were on ladders painting and hanging. Text panels were taped to walls.
The artist revelled in the chaos. He roared around the large space with a large media cloud in tow. " I won't take any questions until you have looked at my show for at least 15-minutes" he warned us. No time to ask questions, artist talked non-stop for the first half hour of the tour!!!
Perfection is the enemy of done - having a media preview in the raw state really worked, especially in context with an artist who specializes in producing work that doesn't look quite complete. You get a sense you are really seeing something before the rest of the world does.
Only draw back not everything up yet ... "One of my paintings was used in Ghost Writer". A film by Roman Polanski - "Problems with insurance, getting it off set and getting it here" people will see that in a week or two.
Of course this media preview during the hanging is something that I do at the McMichael all the time. Out of necessity. For all the coverage the gallery gets, Kleinburg openings are hard sell for journalists covering the art beat. Too far to travel. Group of Seven off their radar. In some cases journalists don't consider the McMichael part of their "beat" (still can't get a reply from Globe and Mail critic R Vaughan, doesn't respond to gallery emails or phone calls).
During the McMichael hangings the curator and/or artist can stay busy while we await visitors ( who don't always come).
Why was AGO so busy? No sure. Schnabel's connection with films and the Film Festival fast approaching? Or is it just that this is the first major "art" happening in the city since the G20 afflicted ROM Terracotta Warrior failed media launch earlier this summer?
Hard to say. But, AGO broke its own mold for this Media Preview. Judging by the positive articles in print and on the TV, it worked. Big Time.

CUTLINE: AGO technician prepares a wall for hanging. Right: Julian Schnabel in the middle of a scrum. Below. A plate. A plant. A blur. Artist's signature piece.

PanAm Games: Diversity Business Network Hosts “A World of Opportunity” Conference

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSITY-OWNED BUSINESSES WITH
TORONTO 2015 PAN/PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES
Diversity Business Network Hosts “A World of Opportunity” Conference

TORONTO, Thursday, August 26, 2010— Diversity-owned businesses will gain valuable information about how they can find opportunities related to the 2015 Games at the Diversity Business Conference | Toronto 2015 – A World of Opportunity, hosted by the Diversity Business Network in partnership with the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.
“The diverse community in Toronto is large, strong and critical to the success of our Games,” said Ian Troop, CEO, Toronto 2015. “We recognize the talent that exists and we are committed to involving these communities and their businesses and services every step of the way.”
Keynote speaker, Ian Troop, will be joined by John Campbell, CEO of Waterfront Toronto; Antonio de Santiago Executive Vice-President of Infrastructure Ontario; and Howie Wong, General Counsel of Toronto Community Housing. The speakers will outline opportunities and steps that diversity-owned businesses can take to be involved in the Games independently or in partnership with Tier 1 suppliers. Breakout networking sessions will allow attendees to meet each other and conference panelists.
“The Pan American Games and this conference represent a significant step in opening the doors for many diverse companies to play a major role in the economic development of our City.” said Courtney Betty, Chairperson of the Diversity Business Network. “By 2031 visible minorities will be in the majority in the City, with a purchasing power exceeding $150 billion dollars. It is critical that we empower these businesses to create win-win situations for all players in the economy.”

Centerplate, the leading hospitality provider to North America's premier sports stadiums and convention centres and a committed supporter of community and diversity, is the title sponsor. Other sponsors include the Royal Bank of Canada and Meyers Norris Penny (MNP). Meyers Norris Penny LLP (MNP) is one of Canada’s largest accountancy and advisory firms and a leading service provider to diversity-owned businesses.
The conference takes place Thursday, September 16, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. Registration is open online at www.enablediversity.com/toronto2015 or at 647.439.1693.

About the Diversity Business Network
The Diversity Business Network is the access point for companies, associations, organizations and governments to communicate, collaborate and develop strategies to maximize the opportunities for diversity-owned companies. In addition to identifying new business opportunities for diverse suppliers, the Diversity Business Network helps build the capabilities of diverse companies to expand their business and compete for global contracts, opening up a world of opportunity.
For more information about The Diversity Business Network, visit www.enablediversity.com
About the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
The Pan American Games is one of the world’s largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 42 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO). The Games comprise all Summer Olympic Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan / Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials and feature 48 sports in 17 municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14.
For more information, visit the Toronto 2015 website: www.toronto2015.org
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For more information, please contact:
Stephen Weir (stephen@stephenweir.com) - 416-801-3101
Diversity Business Network

2010 CALYPSO COMPETITION RESULTS

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Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA)
“KAISO 365” Calypso Monarch Finals

Toronto, ON, Canada: The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) hosted its 2010 “KAISO 365” Calypso Monarch Finals at The Imperial Oil Auditorium, Ontario Science Centre on Saturday, July 24th, 2010. This sold out event saw nine calypsonians compete for the title of OCPA’s 2010 Calypso Monarch.

A panel of qualified, volunteer judges awarded points based on the following criteria: Lyrics (max. 35 points); Melody (20); Rendition (25); Presentation (10); and Originality (10) for a total of 100 points. The order of merit was determined by discarding the highest and the lowest score per contestant. 2010 OCPA Head Judge: Lennox Borel.

The above judging criteria was used for OCPA’s Preliminary, and Final competition(s). The judges’ decision is final, and the Monarch results were announced at the end of the July 24th show. They are as follows:

2010 OPCA Kaiso 365 - Calypso Monarch Results

RANK - NAME (STAGE NAME - SOBRIQUET) - HERITAGE
1st Eulith Tara Woods (MACOMERE FIFI) - Tobagonian-Canadian
2nd Michael Thomas (REDMAN) - Grenadian-Canadian (2009 defending champ)
3rd Bryan Thornhill (STRUCTURE) - Barbadian-Canadian
4th Hamilton Alexander (The WEB) - Trinidadian-Canadian
5th Smokey Burke (SMOKEY) - Barbadian-Canadian
6th Guney Cedeno (GUNEY) - Trinidadian-Canadian
7th Zunaki Tuitt (NAKI) - Trinidadian-Canadian
8th Leslie Carrabon (DeCARRA) - Trinidadian-Canadian
9th Trevor Quammie (PENSHIONER) - Trinidadian-Canadian

In addition to a cash prize of over $5000, Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi) will receive a trip to London , England for its Notting Hill Carnival, and a trip to Atlanta for its 2011 Georgia Caribbean Carnival.

The 2010 OCPA Kaiso 365 Canadian Calypso Monarch Finals was carried live-to-air on Saturday, July 24th, 2010 on radio locally and worldwide via CHRY 105.5FM (www.chry.fm). Special guest performances were had from Young Rashida, and Akima Paul – 2009 London Calypso Monarch.

Nine other annual, special awards were also announced on Saturday, July 24th, 2010. They included:

BEST LYRICS
“Your Turn to Die” – Winston Maingot and Carlyle Bailey

BEST MELODY
“Your Turn to Die” – Winston Maingot

BEST PRESENTATION
Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi) for the song “Haiti Will Rise Again”

BEST VOCAL RENDITION
Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi) for the song “Your Turn to Die”

MOST ORIGINAL CALYPSO
“ Haiti Will Rise Again” – Lyrics by Winston Maingot and Carlyle Bailey; Melody by Winston
Maingot; Sung by Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi)

BEST COMPOSITION ON A LOCAL TOPIC
“We Watching You” – Lyrics by Bryan Thornhill

MOST HUMOUROUS CALYPSO
“It Ain’t Right” – Lyrics by Kenny Quammie; Melody by Mathew John; Arranged by Kenny
Quammie & Mathew John; Sung by Trevor Quammie (Penshioner)

BEST ARRANGEMENT
“ Haiti Will Rise Again” – Winston Maingot

PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi)

The "Kaiso 365" Calypso Monarch competition is presented by the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA), a non-profit arts organization (www.ocpacalypsoca.com). OCPA is a cultural presenting partner in the annual Scotiabank Caribana Festival (www.caribanafestival.com).

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Media Contacts:

Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates
Tel: 416-801-3101
Email: stephen@stephenweir.com

World's Best Steel Pan Orchestra Performs Today at Scotiabank Plaza Toronto

Trinidad & Tobago's SILVER STARS STEEL ORCHESTRA at Scotia Plaza
62 years of performing brings the LEGENDARY pan orchestra to Toronto

WHAT: Trinidad and Tobago's World renowned Silver Stars Steel Orchestra members will perform live at Scotia Plaza on Tuesday, July 27th at noon in celebration of their 62 years of success, joining the Scotiabank Caribana festivities. The Steel Band will perform in front of Scotia Plaza’s Adelaide Street Entrance.

ALSO at SCOTIA PLAZA:
While visiting Scotia Plaza to hear the sound of the Silver Stars, be sure to head down to the concourse level for an up-close look at last year’s costume winner of the Queen of the Bands competition. “The Source” is part of the Carnival Nationz presentation, “In Full Bloom – Fruits & Flowers” and depicts the sun in all its glory. Designed and built by Kenny Coombs, “The Source” is approximately 20’ high, 35’ wide and 18’ deep.

WHERE: Scotia Plaza, Adelaide Street entrance
40 King Street West, Toronto
(In the event of rain, please visit the concourse level at Scotia Plaza)

WHEN: Tuesday July 27, 2010
12 noon - 1 p.m.

WHY: Newtown based Silver Stars Steel Orchestra most recently took home the championship for the second year in a row at Carnival, claiming top title and prize at National Panorama in Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. Playing more of a Trinidad and Tobago Creole style of music, the Band is here in Toronto to perform in support of Scotiabank Caribana, and is the only Steel Band to hold a Band of the Year title in Mas competition.

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For more information: Livy Feldgajer Scotiabank Public Affairs, 416-866-6203, livy_feldgajer@scotiacapital.com

PHOTO: Silver Stars on Canada AM. Photo by sweir
YOUTUBE OF TODAYS CONCERT CAN BE SEEN AT:

Winners in today's Junior Carnival Parade - Scotiabank Caribana - Yorkgate Mall, Jane Finch

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS from the
2010 Scotiabank Caribana/Yorkgate Mall Junior Carnival Parade

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Over 1,600 children performing in 13 masquerade (or mas) bands took part in this morning’s Scotiabank Caribana/Yorkgate Mall Junior Carnival Parade. An estimated crowd of 5,000 watched as the children danced their way from the Black Creek Pioneer Village down Jane Street to the Yorkgate Mall at Finch Avenue.
The Parade is designed to give children a taste of what the (adult) Scotiabank Caribana Parade is like on Saturday, July 31st, 2010. As well, it showcases the Jane/Finch neighbourhood in a positive light. Each band in the parade was judged for a number of titles and prizes. What follows are the results of the competition (only the top three are sited below). Competitors have only 48 hours to contest these results. If unchallenged, they become official on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010.

2010 Junior Band of the Year
RANK – 2010 THEME/NAME – MAS BAND (BAND LEADER)
1st EXPRESS YOURSELF – IT’S PORTRAIT TIME – Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah)
2nd DISCO FEVER … AIN’T NO STOPPING US NOW – Toronto Revellers (Jamaal Magloire)
3rd SPARROW D’LEGEND – Carnival Nationz (Marcus Eustace)

2010 Junior King of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER, AGE – COSTUME’S NAME – 2010 MAS BAND THEME (BANK LEADER)
1st Fabian Lee, 9 – Portrait of Trinidad - A Tribute to the Mighty Sniper
– EXPRESS YOURSELF – IT’S PORTRAIT TIME – Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah)
2nd Malik Adams, 10 – The Arabian King – HOLLYWOOD: GLITZ AND GLAMOUR (Dexter Seusahai)
3rd Demeko Minott, 13– Come Dance with Me – DISCO FEVER … AIN’T NO STOPPING US NOW
(Jamaal Magloire)

2010 Junior Queen of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER, AGE – COSTUME’S NAME – 2010 MAS BAND THEME (BAND LEADER)
1st Destynee Charles, 11 – A Star is Born – EXPRESS YOURSELF – IT’S PORTRAIT TIME
– Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah)
2nd Celena Seusahai, 12 – The Glamour Goddess – HOLLYWOOD: GLITZ AND GLAMOUR (Dexter Seusahai)
3rd (tie) Paige Lewis, 14 – Queen of the Band – SPARROW D’LEGEND (Marcus Eustace)
3rd (tie) Toshada Benjamin, 13 – Two Worlds, One Destiny – WONDERS OF THE WORLD (Whitney Doldron)

2010 Junior Male Individual of the Year
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER, AGE – COSTUME’S NAME – 2010 MAS BAND THEME/NAME (BAND LEADER)
1st Darion Jackson, 5 – The Suns for My Sunflower – EXPRESS YOURSELF – IT’S PORTRAIT TIME
– Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah)
2nd Adam Ansil Ali, 15 – Boogie Night - Disco Night – DISCO FEVER … AIN’T NO STOPPING US NOW
(Jamaal Magloire)
3rd Maven Lee, 8 – Nyte Life T.O. – EXPRESS YOURSELF – IT’S PORTRAIT TIME
– Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah)

2010 Junior Female Individual of the Year
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER, AGE – COSTUME’S NAME – 2010 MAS BAND THEME/NAME (BAND LEADER)
1st Haley Prescod, 15 – A New Day Dawning – WONDERS OF THE WORLD (Whitney Doldron)
2nd Caneisha Edwards, 8 – Sweet Cherry – HOLLYWOOD: GLITZ AND GLAMOUR (Dexter Seusahai)
3rd Anastasia La Rose, 12 – Disco Diva – DISCO FEVER … AIN’T NO STOPPING US NOW (Jamaal Magloire)
A panel of volunteer judges adjudicated all contestants/bands using the following criteria: Visual impact (max. 20 marks); Authenticity (10); Creativity (20); Mas on the Move (10); Clarity of Theme (10); Presentation (20); and Craftsmanship (10) for a total of 100 marks. The order of merit is determined by discarding the highest and lowest score per participant.
“We would like to acknowledge that the unofficial results were announced incorrectly today at Yorkgate Mall,” says Sam Lewis, GM – Operations, FMC. “Please be assured that every effort will be made so that this occurrence does not happen in the future. Any confusion and/or inconvenience is sincerely regretted.”
The Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 43rd year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. The Festival Management Committee oversees the running of North America’s largest outdoor festival.
Corporate sponsors of this year's festival include: Scotiabank, The Toronto Star, Sway Magazine, Eye Weekly, CTV, CP24, The Federal Government of Canada, The Province of Ontario, The City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, Research In Motion (RIM)/BlackBerry, Mobilicity, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Ontario Place, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Public Library, Yorkgate Mall, Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex & Liberty Entertainment Group, Caribana™ Arts Group, The Caribbean Camera Newspaper, Toronto-Lime.Com, and GraceKennedy (Ontario) Inc.
The Scotiabank Caribana Festival office is located at 263 Davenport Avenue, Lower Level; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5R 1E9. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608; Fax: 416-391-5693; Email: info@caribanafestival.com.
For more information, please visit the festival’s official website at www.caribanafestival.com.

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Media Contacts:

Stephen Weir Alicia Sealey
Stephen Weir & Associates A.T.C. Heirs Promotions
stephen@stephenweir.com atchp@the-wire.com
416-489-5868; 416-801-3101 416-599-0664

Cutlines: Winners name, age and title won
Top 2 Photos: Parade Begins. Stephen Weir.
Photos of winners by Alicia Sealey:
Third from top • Fabien Lee, 9 – 2010 Junior Carnival King
Fourth From Top • Destynee Charles, 11 – 2010 Junior Carnival Queen
Second From Bottom • Darion Jackson, 5 – 2010 Junior Carnival Male Individual
Bottom • Haley Prescod, 15 – 2010 Junior Carnival Female Individual

TODAY: PHOTO OPPORTUNITY E-Pan to serenade in-coming tourists today: Greater Toronto Airport 3.30 pm to 4:30 pm Terminal Three

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
E-Pan to serenade in-coming tourists today: Greater Toronto Airport
3.30 pm to 4:30 pm Terminal Three

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: the flavour of Scotiabank Caribana comes back to Toronto Pearson. Come out and celebrate Scotiabank Caribana with E-pan inventor Salmon Cupid and his E-pan orchestra. They will be entertaining the airport crowds with an electronic steel pan performance. The performance will be from 3.30 to 4.30 p.m. in the international arrivals hall (meeter/greeter area) of Terminal 3.
The E-Pan looks like a steel drum but is actually a synthesiser. The inventor is Toronto’s Salmon Cupid who has begun locally building and exporting the instrument around the Caribbean, and will be leading a squad of pannists at the airport this afternoon.
Toronto Pearson is Canada’s gateway to the Caribbean, linking the Greater Toronto Area with business, family, and sunshine in over 20 Caribbean destinations. As the Scotiabank Caribana festival kicks off, Canadian and international guests alike are flying into Toronto Pearson to take part in the festivities. This year, the Scotiabank Caribana festivities start for passengers as soon as they step foot in the terminal. The media is welcome to cover this GTAA Scotiabank Caribana
The Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 43rd year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America.
The Scotiabank Caribana Festival Office is located at 263 Davenport Avenue, Lower Level; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5R 1E9. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608; Fax: 416-391-5693; Email: info@caribanafestival.com.
For more detailed information, please visit its official website at www.caribanafestival.com.

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Media Contacts:

Pet Marchan GTAA
Scotiabank Caribana Media Office
Tel: 416-797-8200 Tel: (416) 776‐3709.
Email: stephen@stephenweir.com Email: atchp@the-wire.com

MEDIA ALERT: Children's Parade this Saturday - Jane / Finch Toronto

CLOSE TO 2,000 CHILDREN WILL TAKE TO THE STEETS
JANE/FINCH – YORKGATE JUNIOR PARADE

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Parade starts at 11am

Mobilicity – New Sponsor. TTC adds buses for spectators
Registration numbers make this the biggest children’s parade EVER!!!

What: Children from 15 masquerade camps (including a Toronto police Mas camp for kids band) will be in costume and marching down Jane Street. Close to 2,000 children and over 20 float trucks and sound vehicles will be taking part in the Yorkgate Mall Junior Parade. Followed by a party in the parking lot with music, performances and the winner of the Yorkgate Idol
Why: The Junior Parade is a volunteer driven parade designed to teach children about how to celebrate the Caribana Festival. Traditionally held two Saturdays before the main Caribana™ parade.
Who: Children, Children, Children. Check website www.caribanafestival.com for a list of the bands
When: Kids arrive at 10.00 am. Opening ceremonies scheduled to begin at 11.00. Children will begin arriving at theYorkgate Mall by 12.30.
Where: The parade travels west on Shoreham Drive, past the judging point at 31 Shoreham Drive (in front of Shoreham Public School). The parade then turns south onto Jane Street where it will travel until Yorkgate Blvd. It will turn west on Yorkgate Blvd and travel south ending at Hullmar Drive. Once the parade is over, there will be entertainment, DJ music, food vendors, steelpan music and a market place in Yorkgate Mall’s car park – northwest of the Jane Finch intersection.
News: TTC adds service to get spectators up the parade route. Mobilicity NEW corporate sponsor for the parade.

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Media Contact

Stephen Weir, Publicist Alicia Sealey, Publicist
stephen@stephenweir.com atchp@the-wire.com
(416) 489-5868 Cell:(416)801-3101 (416) 599-0664 Cell:(416) 500-4349