via my loves at Howl! Arts. Photo by Thien.

While working on the Patrick Watson website I ran into a strange photoshop bug that produced these intriguing images. It’s really a pity I can’t reproduce the error because I find them quite beautiful!

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And it’s diamonds and gold for the idiot sons
All the privileged thieves gonna make things run
Well I believe in heart and apocalypse sound
You kick em in the head and you kick em when they’re down
And you don’t serve them
You don’t serve them
You don’t serve the people…

Most days I wish my work could work. Simply work. To provide the means for me to survive, comfortably, in good spirits, and in the company of others. This is a difficult wish.

Some days, and most nights, I wish my work could heal. Could in some way repair the damage done to this world (perhaps by my other work). Could in some way repair me. Provide catharsis from the things that ail me, from the sickening loneliness, from the lack of beauty. This is harder still.

Tomorrow, I wish not to work. Tomorrow is May 1st, 2012. Helicopters drone in the sky tonight. Tomorrow, I will be in the street. With you, without work.

The last few months here in Quebec have been tumultuous ones, with a massive student movement taking to the streets on a near daily basis to oppose tuition increases, and in doing so, giving birth to a ” Printemps érable” that is drawing the links between broader social justice struggles and a firm rejection of the logic of austerity economics.

These are inspiring and challenging times, and as the unrest causes the social and political landscape to change, so too has the visual landscape of the city. Montreal is seeing red, the colour of the student movement, with giant banners hung from balconies, red squares popping up on all surfaces, telephone poles wrapped in red cozies, and countless other creative interventions visualising solidarity with the students.

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My first post as a contributing editor to Art Threat is up, a short piece on artist-run centres in Québec supporting the student strike movement.

I’ve been deeply inspired by the students here in Montréal and played a (small) role in initiating the mobilisation of local artist-run centres to support them. The initiative emerged out of a discussion held at Skol in the context of Artivistic‘s Promiscuous Infrastructures exhibition/occupation. The show has proved to be an extremely interesting tool in drawing links between cultural and activist spheres (we also helped out with this amazing street intervention), and here’s hoping this is just a sign of things to come!

Additionally, for my concerned clients, LOKi design will be joining the strike. Sorry, no work ’til Friday!

The last time I did this, people seemed to really enjoy it. So, for your viewing and browsing pleasure, I present a carefully curated series of images and inspirations to mark the end of the shortest-longest month.

Images link to the original sources.

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…for our upcoming show at Skol. Letterpress printed by Kiva at Popolo Press.

Previous teaser here.