thosespacesinbetween

recently i’ve be working with members of the vancouver public space network (VSPN) a grassroots collective that engages in advocacy, outreach and education on public space issues in and around the city of vancouver… notorious for doing some pretty fun and innovative stuff, the group has a number of key focus areas ranging from greenspace to transport and urban design… what caught my attention thou was their focus on the increased corporatization of the public realm, much of which is often in contrary to government planning regulations… corporatization refers to those adverts, billboards and shitty posters that corporates often use to market any number of products…

i feel i need to be clear here in saying that i am not against public adverting – some of which is innovative and enjoyable – rather the extent to which this should be allowed and to what expense, particularly if corporates are leaving up adverts or creating adverts well outside the prescribed regulations and councils aren’t doing their proper jobs… the expense on the public is usually that they have no choice as to what goes up and for how long… and yes yes the counter argument being councils are often under resourced…

couldn’t a better option be giving some power back to the local community to monitor the corporatization of space… maybe even in some instances, or at certain points in time, advertising space could be dedicated to the showing of public art, even better if prepared by local artists… think about it… and check out the story here and here in which a group of ‘urban activists’ (otherwise known as the Toronto Street Advertising Takeover or TOSAT) used public art to take back space… check the awesome images below and remember power to the people… with luv x

my friends the seabellies have just released their debut album ‘by limbo lake’ and it’s really really good…  in the words of the seabellies themselves “their music is rich and lush, full of ethereal electronic sounds, soaring guitars and darkened melodies”… so make sure you listen here and be amazed… i hope you enjoy… with luv x

vancouver i owe you apology… i feel like the sun has been shining and i haven’t wanted to give you the time of day… you have been nice to me and i have been a jerk… maybe its the fact you tend to hide your quirkiness oh so well or that you are not obvious and just ask for a little patience… some digging… and little persistence to show your true colours… there are parts of you i love and others not so much… yet i can’t deny that you are you and now have a place in my heart… i’m still not sure how much time we will get to spend together vancouver… or what the future may bring… but i’m glad to have met you.. met your people… and to thank my special vancouver friends for all that help along the way… vancouver you are awesome in so many ways… with luv x

wolf parade live at the vogue theater - 25 july 2010

PS finally thank you for the beautiful bike rides which have made me smile ear to ear… x

getting back to nature is something that can make you feel so so good… good friends… the open skies… adventure… beauty… serenity… the true qualities of life… just got back from an amazing 2 day hike… place glacier, british columbia… 1300 meter elevation… sketchy rocks… fallen trees… waterfalls… epic views… and now as i write this a peaceful sense of accomplishment… see some photos below… go hike… experience our beautiful planet… and please don’t ruin it for our kids… with luv x

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