First up, check out the wonderful work of Montreal-based artist and illustrator Kirsten McCrea. Her illustrations have recently graced the covers of the Winterhouse designed Poetry magazine (I’m so jealous and impressed!), and having had the pleasure of hanging out with her a bit lately, I can tell you that there are great things on the horizon for this talented and prolific lady.

I recently finished teaching my third course at Concordia University, a portfolio class for graduating students. It was a challenging class, but I’m quite happy with the results and think that my students were as well. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find the time to properly document their very well crafted print portfolios, but here’s a selection of their portfolio websites: Gaia Orain, Catherine Wakim, Zacharie Delavertu, Emmy Huot, Rebecca Rosen and Stefan Spec. Great work guys!

Hillary Rexe, friend, editor and much-needed project manager for the next issue of 2356 has launched her personal blog. Check it out, and visit often for her cunning insights into literary culture and other assorted miscellanea.

Along similar literary lines, Concordia student Emma Healy has started the incongruous quarterly, “an online literary magazine devoted to publishing unpublishable things.” The submission deadline for their inaugural issue is June 4, 2010, so send them your words ASAP!

As summer approaches, there’s much in the works here in my little studio on Parc ave.: I’ll be updating soon with a long-awaited portfolio and identity refresh, aiming to get the next issue of 2356 out by July, working on a political poster exhibition and the branding of a new language arts centre in Parc Ex. On top of all that I’ll be turning 32 this weekend!!! Stay tuned!