Of Course We Can All Get Along

I took a long walk through the city last week in order to run some errands. My doctor advised me to walk 45 minutes a day. I was mainly in search of a 60” and 34” pine stretchers so that I could stretch, ‘Go Jimi,’ currently on display at Mojo Music. Photo to come.

Toose Art Supplies is a great, calm place across the street from University of Toronto on College Street West just East of Spadina. Sadly Toose Art Supplies was low on pine stretchers but they are currently having a 50% off sale on canvas. 

Woo hoo! 

For those looking for a great assortment of pine stretchers of excellent quality, please visit Daniel’s Art Supplies, aka Picasso’s on 430 Spadina Ave at Oxford. 

Call him at: (416) 597-1919. He also sells custom pine stretchers that are made to order.

I joked with the owner that I should have opened an art supply store. (My plan years ago, was to open one that sold environmentally friendly art supplies). I mentioned that I regretted not having done so. He extended his hand and offered to give me the keys to his store. He told me that he would sell it to me for less than $500,000 and would consultant for a few years after it’s sale. Nice guy. I offered to write him a cheque on the spot for 73 cents, the balance in my bank account at the time. We laughed.(I know. I know. I shouldn't focus on money. Love is the answer.)

Daniels’s Art Supply sells the best paintbrushes in the city! Be prepared to pay for them, though. For example, my favourite ¼” natural fibre paint brush retailed at $30 ten years ago and it is still the best brush that I own. I paid that much knowing the bristles would never fall out, and the handle would always feel great in my hand. The natural fibres also absorb paint evenly.

Simone Frank + Peter Sanagan

Peter at Sanagans’s Meat Locker was kind enough to support me in my efforts to travel to China for the art exhibition to participate in the 2013 Contemporary Art Exhibition by Shanghai Yude Exhibition Company. He didn't hesitate for an instant. Super nice guy who sells great meat for the carnivores out there, of which I am a proud member. Better to choose the organic, grain fed meats if including meat in your diet. The staff at Sanagan's can tell you more.
Click here if you support me too! 

I told Peter that the best turkey I ever prepared was purchased from his meat locker. I promised to return to buy some organic, free run chicken, and I will. 

This photograph was taken by a former Squirly’s waiter, I spent many a day and night there during the 90s, drinking coffee or red wine, eating some great food, reading the paper and writing poetry. That Lady, a Fine Art grad, had a career in activism and politics. She now works in PR.

Simone Frank + Anthony Richards

Thanks to the lovely ladies from Ingersoll, Ontario, who were kind enough to take this photo while shopping at Tribal.

Find Tribal on the West side of Kensington Avenue just South of Baldwin.

73 Kensington Avenue, Toronto.  

647 210 7015 | 647 627 6484 | 647 391 7015

Anthony, the owner, and possibly the most charming salesperson you will ever meet, has even recited poetry to me. One day we sat and played jimbe’s together. He knows the history and origin of everything in his store. He sells artwork created by local artists including OCADU students. He will offer you a sample of his line of organic, handmade beauty products to massage into your hands as you browse through the store. He boasts about the benefits of shea butter and has a way of knowing which product in his line will meet your needs.

I thanked him for always making me laugh and smile when I visit his store. As soon as I walk in, he cheers me up. I gave him a coffee print as I thank you. I told him that I wouldn’t hit him up for sponsorship… yet...

Here’s hoping he remembers me when his store is booming with customers as it should be. I get many compliments when wearing his fragrances, especially the coacoa. 

Now, they did a study years ago. The results were: Canadian men went mad over Vanilla fragrances in a lustful and sensual way, of course. My pal J told me that in Sweden, the same study found that Cinnamon was the fragrance of choice. In my own research, men with soul go nuts over Coconut. Guys and gals, let me know what you have found.

Tribal is a great place to shop for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Two body butters retail for $25.

Monsieur Rasta Pasta at 214 Augusta Avenue

Anthony told M, the owner of RastaPasta that I was going to blog about Tribal. Rasta Pasta has great prices, kind and courteous customer service, a sparkling, clean kitchen... of course I'll blog about Rasta Pasta. Generous portions too! Melt in your mouth meet. Yum. And great branding.

When you shop at Rasta Pasta, pick up one of the coupons below from the counter for a great deal on your second meal. 

Somehow I managed to leave with two. I'll have to play one forward.

Please tell the owner, M, that I said hello when you visit.

Now, to find Rasta Pasta, you have to walk through the Latin restaurant just North of Zimmerman’s. (That's on Augusta just North of Baldwin). Zimmerman's sells everything from inexpensive undies to chick peas. I once went in there and asked the owner where his underwear was located. He yelled to the salesperson in the middle of the huge store, "Show her the see-through ones! Show her the see-through ones!" I laughed. It's never boring in Kensington Market.

Model Citizen, is owned by an old pal of mine, Julian. He offered me his support in my fundraising campaign. Thanks, Julian! Click here to support me too! Model Citizen is filled with designs by Canadian designers. Check him out if you are in the hood.

My last stop was the candy store at Baldwin and Augusta. O, tells me that they may have to move. The owner is either 'going to', 'wants to' or 'has' sold the building. I suggested that he move to Forest Hill so that I don’t have to travel so far to buy my turbinado sugar. He insists that the rent in Forest Hill is too expensive. I told him that all things are negotiable.

Things in Toronto continue to grow and change but some things stay the same. I was able to catch up with Uncle T. We sat and had a cappuccino together and talked about travel plans, work and pals. Another fabulous old pal o mine. Please say a prayer for my new pal Ian who is under the weather. Uncle T tells me that they will be exhibiting work in his honour tonight from 6:30ish to 10:00pm ish at Propeller Gallery, to cheer Ian up. A fabulous way to revive a blue artist. Propeller is an excellent artist run centre to join. Call to verify this. Propellar Gallery is open Wednesday- Saturday: 12- 6pm and Sunday: 12- 5pm. Tel: 416.504.7142

I am still going to China. The timing might be different, but all things are negotiable. Uncle T, and a few others, think it’s a great idea to throw, ‘Drunken Storytelling Night’ at Grossman’s. How is that connected to exhibiting in China?

Well, the work that they have chosen to exhibit illustrates my path out of the frustration I felt after rejecting the advances of a man in a bar. The 'situation' lead to a bar brawl. A story I love to tell, not a love story. (There is a censored and an uncensored version). Also, written in the book, Etiquette Guide to China by Boye Lafayette De Mente discussing business deals and drinking. The author says that unless the reason is medical, one is expected to drink while negotiating. So I guess, I'll have to practice. Kidding! 

I don’t believe everything I read. I’ll let you know, when I return from China, if drinking during business transactions is a custom or a fib.

When Julian, owner of Model Citizen, asked me, “Why Drunken Storytelling Night?” I said.

“It’ll be fun. I’ll give an addiction therapist the microphone and ask them to speak about all the programs the city offers for those recovering from addiction. Then I’ll hand them a drink and then we’ll all get up and tell crazy stories. I’ll record it and, put it up on YouTube. Then for a million years your lineage will be able to look up that video when they are curious about you.”

“I’m in,” he said.

Please don’t drink and drive. And I don’t recommend that you drink to forget.

We’ll see what the owner at Grossman’s says! Baby I got your number... 

… and email address from your wonderful staff. Not like that, though. I’m not planning to hit on you.

Flow, Acrylic on Reclaimed Wood, 7"x10" | $95.00

A pause for the environment.

I was reading in ‘Our Toronto’ that the city’s Clean Toronto program began this month. There is still time to pick up free GLAD garbage bags and recycling bags at local civic centres, community centres, Pizza Pizza.

Look forward to some more fun events. I’ll be planning them solo. It didn’t work out with the PR rep/Event planner I hired. Anyone interested in filling his shoes can contact me via email. Hopefully, we will be resolving our professional conflicts at St. Christopher House. Back in the day, one could schedule an appointment with an impartial third party to resolve conflicts. I have contacted them to see if that service is still available. I don’t see it listed on their website. 

“Can’t we all just get along?”

Here’s one opinion by Douglas Noll, a full time peacemaker and mediator specializing in difficult and intractable conflicts.

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

by Douglas Noll

Recent advances in the neurosciences have established an irrefutable fact: Human beings are emotional, not rational. Nevertheless, on the strength of Descartes’ rationalist philosophy, the Enlightenment opened the doors to modern empiricism and led humanity into the Scientific Revolution. No one doubted the power of rational thinking to solve problems and unravel the mysteries of the observable universe. From these observations came the belief that humans were distinguished from all other creatures because of their rationality. To be irrational was to be something less than human.

This belief deeply influenced English and American law, foreign policy, and economic theory. Legal standards were set by comparison to a prototypical rational person. Foreign policy was based on the assumption that rational beings could sit together and work through international disputes and conflicts. Economists built an entire field of study on the assumption that consumers acted “rationally” in maximizing their utility. People engaged in peacemaking, from the interpersonal to the international level, assumed that despite the emotions of conflict, people fundamentally were rational.

The truth is that we are 98 percent emotional and about two percent rational. Thus, the assumptions underlying many disciplines and practices, especially peacemaking, need significant revisions. Much remains unknown, but the implications of the research so far demonstrate that we must be far more aware of neuropsychological factors of human conflict. These factors explain much about conflict behaviors. They also provide insights about new interventions in serious and intractable conflicts.

To understand how our brain deals with conflict, consider a simple emotional model. In this model, conflict starts with some problem. The problem is serious enough to cause anxiety, reflected in a feeling of insecurity. When anxiety or insecurity is first experienced, we have a choice between reactivity and reflection. If we do not make a choice, our default mode is to be reactive.

By being reactive, we might reject the problem, give up, or feel inadequate to deal with the problem. If the problem is persistent, we might struggle or exit. As the conflict develops, we perceive it as a threat, and we may blame, attack or withdraw. These behaviors constitute our fear reaction system. I like to call it our self-protective system. The brain systems associated with fear reaction are very, very old, dating back to the earliest vertebrae animals. Although highly adaptive in the uncertain and dangerous environment of 20,000 years ago, the system is largely maladaptive in our modern, complex culture.

If the choice for reflection is made, we have learned to reflect, relate, and relax. The insecurity arising from a conflict situation is recognized as pointing to a pathway of growth towards greater peace and self-realization. We are led by our curiosity to discover something new, find what is lost, or complete unfinished business. Success leads us to wholeness, authenticity, power and wisdom.

The path, however, is not easy. From anxiety and insecurity, we experience inadequacy (we don’t know what to do) and a drop in self-esteem (we don’t feel good about self). We ride on a broad emotional river and often experience fear of death, a drowning sensation, being shaky, or cold. Along this journey, our fear reaction system could pull us off the path of peace.

At the end of this emotional drop, we end in a calm pool that represents the essential peace within us. In this state, we hold an unshakable foundation of belief in ourselves. We are authentic; we are present in the moment. We exhibit a full spectrum of self as robust, rainbow colored, and multi-faceted. From this place, we can be compassionate, tolerant, exhibit loving-kindness, and embrace peace. This is what I have observed many people experiencing as they engage in conflict resolution and achieve peace.

Click here to read more:  http://www.mediate.com/articles/noll9.cfm

Many moons ago, Dr. Avenue Road recommended a series of books when I complained of frustration around conflict resolution. I highly recommend reading this series of books, especially for those employed in the field of design. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if conflict resolution was included in the curriculum of design programs.

Add caption

Consider purchasing:  Getting To Yes, Getting Past No and Getting Together. Authors, Roger Fisher and Scott Brown were/are affiliated with negotiation at Harvard Law School.

Love, Acrylic on Reclaimed Wood | 7"x9" | $95.00

Click here to support me in my effort to travel to China to exhibit my art!

Simone

simonefrank.com

Espressos on the house...

Above is a sample of the coffee print available with a donation of $50-99.00. Thank you to those who have already contributed at that level. There is always a way.

Thanks to your generosity, $750 has been raised so far. There is still an opportunity to donate and to receive gifts such as these in the mail.

Thank you so much for your contributions. Fundraising is still in effect.

Strum, was purchased the other day, from the music instruction hallway of Mojo Music.

Visit the store to check out the new Jimi Hendrix painting, 'Go Jimi,' hanging on the wall of the lounge. Pete and his staff make a mean espresso for folks who are interested.

I am in the process of creating a new video for Indiegogo. Thanks for all the feedback. I’ll start with the spiritual feedback first:

‘You have shown us your darkness, now show us your light.’ JW

Other comments were:

‘I liked it. It was very well done.’ SS

‘Bravo, Simone.’ MH

‘A lot of people are going through things right now. Let’s shift it a bit.’ MC

‘Nobody is going to pay for your niece to fly to China.’ TE

‘Revamp it with less concentration on what’s negative and more on what you hope to achieve by this travel experience.’ D

‘You should seek sponsorship by those who are in a position to pay back. Create a page dedicated to sponsorship.’ D

‘After having read [The Self Defense] page on your website, I have a new respect for your work. That you are able to put all of that aside, and carry on.]’ K

‘I will support you in your efforts to travel to China.’ BH

I had an interesting encounter the other day. I was browsing through Paul’s Ontario Furniture on 4747 Keele Street. This store has great modern and classic pieces of furniture at great prices. I fell in love with two chairs: one a French provincial chair, the other a Modern chair by Vogel. Vogel is a Montreal based furniture designer that went under, sadly. The upswing is that the prices are low on what remains.

I joked with Guiseppe, the man working there, a sofa bed he showed me would not fit through my door. He told me not to worry. He said that his company would take care of everything.

“So you’ll take the frame off the door if necessary?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll put the door frames back on?”

“Yes, yes,” he said as if tired of the questions that he had been frequently asked. “We will do all of that.”

“And will you move the chair to my new place when I am ready to go?”

“Sure.” Then he paused, as if he hadn’t meant to agree.

I nudged him. He looked over at me. I smiled and said, “I’ll make you an espresso if you do, and serve you key lime pie.”

“You make espresso! Beautiful. I will make you one now.”

This is what I love about Toronto. No matter how freezing it gets, you can always find warmth here.

Guiseppe walked slowly into a kitchen in the back of the store. I told him that I was about to go to Tim Horton’s for a coffee.

‘No. Don’t go there,' he said. 'When you want a coffee. You come here.’

I smiled.

We sat down in the lounge Guiseppe made in his store, in front of his old stereo, in a comfy a chair he may or may not sell. We talked about life, health, retirement, and premarital sex. He apologized for expressing his opinion when he realized I wasn’t married. Guiseppe, what can I say??

Guiseppe could be retired by now, but he chose to work, like a lot people have to once they examine their finances and the management of their time.

He promised to set me up with a really great guy. I give him my list: attractive (should have said, gorgeous), intelligent, funny…

He cut me off. “I know. I know,” he said. “I’ll find you a nice guy.”

Guiseppe, I have written you name in code here, to respect your privacy, but I certainly wish you all the best in your business and encourage those looking for a great deal on great furniture to visit:

­Paul’s Ontario Furniture at

4747 Keele Street East,

Downsview,

Ontario,

Canada.

They're closing. So best to get there quickly!

 

Ciao4now!

Simone

"There Is Always A Way" Dr. Avenue Road

I may have bored you with my troubles on the last Indiegogo page that I designed to fund raise for the Asian tour of my works of art in Shanghai, Nan tong and Chengdu.


Watch out for a new and improved video and some other fundraising events. I really hope that I can raise the funds to go there and blog about my travels.

It was Dr. Avenue Road who told me, "There is always a way."
Of course I believe her and you could too!

By the by, during a meeting with an amazing friend of Tyler's a fundraising guru, I learned about The Association of Fundraising Professionals, which is a great resource for fundraising. It offers courses, workshops and downloadable forms that will help you in your travels.


Ciao4now,

Simone

A pause for my cause

Hello.

I told you that I'd share some more about myself.
To watch the video on my page, please click Simone2China.

I also hope to see you at

Mojo Music Lounge
Thursday April 4, 2013
5-9pm

for

A Tribute to Whitney Houston and the Closing of Ella Fitzgerald.

Happy Easter!
Simone

Simone2China and Things on the Go...

Smokin' - (22.5"x30")

Solid - (22.5"x30")

Mid Toronto is throwing their annual fundraiser, Cocktails for the Community.
Come out and support Senior's in the City of Toronto.

I will be painting live for he function, and mingling through the crowd during the evening. It has always proven to be lots of fun.

Click here for details.
You can purchase ticket online,
have a couple a drinks, mingle and bit on
some really great donations from great businesses.

The two Jimi Hendrix pieces, Smokin' and Solid will be up for silent auction. Part of the proceeds will go to this worthy cause - taking care of the seniors at Mid Toronto.

I met some of them. It is so immensely important to me that the wisdom of old folks is respected and remembered.

Art Exhibition Opening & Fundraiser
Help Me, A Survivor 
Exhibit My Works in China

A Tribute to Whitney Houston & The Closing of A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald

Thursday, April 4, 2013
5:00pm to 9:00pm
Mojo Music Lounge
43 Speers Road
Oakville, ON, Canada
905-842-COOL (2665)



Whitney Houston was superstar born in Newark, New Jersey on August 9, 1963 to gospel singer Cissy Houston. She was talented, beautiful and successful in her career. Sadly she became addicted to drugs and according to her bio web page, passed away on February 11, 2012. She was unable to stay sober while still being a success. But as Kevin Costner said, perhaps she fell victim to “the unexplainable burden that comes with fame – call it doubt. Call it fear. I’ve had
mine. I know the famous in the room have had theirs.”
When I found references of her image on the Internet, some of them show her in the worst light – strung out. The images in the A Tribute to Whitney Houston exhibition show her at her best because we do fall sometimes and sometimes, but we should be remembered at our best.

It is with that spirit that I hope to travel to China this April. Leaving my complicated health history and stories off loss behind. I'm planning to ride an elephant there.

If you are able, please make a donation to the cause by clicking below.
Simone2China

Simone Frank was born in Toronto in 1970 and resided in Mississauga until she attended
Ryerson University. There, she achieved a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Fashion Design in 1993.
She is a Dean’s list graduate of Graphic Design from George Brown College in 2009. She also
holds a certificate from writing from Humber College, 2003.
She has been exhibiting since 1991 in solo and group exhibitions in Toronto, the GTA, Tokyo and also in St. Vincent, W.I. where her family is from. In Toronto she exhibited at Toronto City Hall.
Her gallery solo exhibitions were at BAND, Skeir Gallery, Artist Awake and A Space Windows.
Her work is part of the Chinese Canadian Business Association’s collection in Toronto.
In St. Vincent she had three solo exhibitions at Lambii’s Yatch Club on Union Island and Singer Gallery in Kingstown, St. Vincent. She has had solo exhibitions at Singer Fragipani Hotel in Bequai, which is owned and operated by the Prime Minister’s daughter. She was interviewed
twice on the radio while there.
In July, 2001, she suffered a near-fatal reaction to antibiotics, which lead to a 3 month stay in intensive care. She lives with Lupus, a chronic illness that affects the immune system.
She has received a Toronto Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant in 1994 and 1997 and the Ontario Arts Council Writer’s Reserve grant in 1997.
Simone Frank taught private art classes from her studio called Soul Designs for several years until she taught for the Toronto Board of Education’s ACE Program in 1988. That year she was also published in Litté Realité, then later in Word Magazine 2002 and Anonymous Cheese in 2006, which was published by the Mississauga Arts Council.
She resides in Toronto, Canada. She has been invited exhibit her work in China this Spring.

Simone Frank

Shameless Self-Promotion

Great news!

I have been invited to exhibit in China from April 28^th to July 10^th, 2013. I must work like crazy to raise the funds and welcome the support of an event planner that’s up for the task.

I was reminded of my accomplishments when I shared the news of my invitation with some new pals. We looked through each other’s old photos to get to know each other.

I put a photo album up on Facebook called, Shameless Self-Promotion filled with images of awards I received and projects I have worked on in the past. It was so well-received that I decided to post this blog.

In Kindergarten, I was the happiest during art class. Give me a bunch of scraps and I’ll make you something priceless. Thank goodness for art class and art teachers.

Now, although my parents were the strictest parents God ever created, they allowed me one type of freedom I loved. They bought me fabric so that I could make myself the most unique church gowns ever created for Easter and Christmas Mass. I can’t believe I’m sharing these with the world. Look out Armani!

From Kindergarten scraps in art class to these!

See some highlights below.

In the photo on the far right, I am sporting lovely beads. Yes, I did have beads on my braids. Knock your heart out Bo Derek!

They called me ‘Wind Chimes’,

those glorious folks from high school…

and still, I persevered.

In 1987, I received the Creative Writing award in high school. When I posted this on Facebook, my pal O, a Catholic schoolteacher commented,  ‘It’s nice to see a kilt worn at the proper length.’ I know all about the fantasies, gents. I don’t want to hear it.

In 1988, I was the first black person in my high school to be elected to Student Associated Council (SAC) Vice President. Way to go, Sister. Well, I felt it. Mostly from the Principal and the advisory staff, who gently reminded me of my place which sadly, was not to change the world, but to wear my uniform and to accept things as they were.

They made a special rule the year I decided to run for (SAC) that you had to be on Council for a year before you could be elected as President, so I had to settle for Vice-President. I was taken aside several times and spoken to regarding race in relation to my position on things. No, no, I lied. That decision had nothing to do with racial injustice at all. In a highschool of about 1600 students, less than 20 were black.

Maybe my pal H was right. He told me to be careful not to get shot off the balcony. But I persevered and implemented a couple of programs that stuck. One I was most proud of stopped students from breaking into the school dances by giving them the opportunity to set up the gym before a dance in exchange for free entrance.

The wealthy students on the Council could not understand that some families simply did not have five dollars to spare per child for a dance. Instead of explaining, I talked about crime reduction. The program went through. I hope that it still exists at St. Martin’s High School in Mississauga. The set-up program succeeded and the break-in’s stopped.

Despite that win, I thought that perhaps a person could do more to effect change by staying out of political positions and instead, reminding politicians of the change that was important during their time in office. Once I got in, I realized how many rules and regulations inhibited the progress that once seemed possible. I was gently reminded whenever I saw more. And eventually I gave up trying.

Today, my perspective may have shifted. Let’s just say, I wouldn’t turn down the position of Governor General if offered. I hear they get a pretty good pension.

(Make sure the job you get has benefits, people. You want to retire well.)

I’m the one in the crazy glasses on the bottom right, instilling change.

I made a couple of grad dresses in grade 13. Remember grade 13?? It’s now called OAC. I sold some tee shirts and jewelry and things at a flea market in the burbs when I was about 18 years old. That exposure lead to this fabulous job. A pal in high school hired me to paint these shirts for her co-workers.

I planned to study Interior Design upon graduation from high school, but my younger brother suggested that Fashion Design might be a better fit because I seemed to enjoy making clothes. For years, I regretted the choosing Ryerson School of Fashion over Interior Design. And if I had known how sexist the world is, I would have chosen architecture, law, medicine, economics or engineering. I achieved better marks in Math and Science than I did in the arts.

Here’s why I chose design. One day, my mother came home from another infuriating day at the post office. She was a Manager there, which means she supervised the supervisors. She turned to me and said, “Make sure you choose a job you enjoy, because there will be days when you will wish you had. Don’t end up like me.” She made lots of money and fought hard everyday. I miss you Mom and yes, I’m still listening.

I thought fashion design would be fun, so I pursued it. I graduated from Ryerson University, School of Fashion with a B-ish average in 1993. Might have been due to my patented practice of writing essays in cafés and bars with a Black Russian close by. Don’t attempt this! It makes it really difficult to get into a Master’s Program years later. I found that out the hard way and when I had to opt for College instead.

Here are some images from a photo shoot a co worker was kind enough help me with. These are clothes I designed, pattern-drafted and constructed while at Ryerson. One day I plan to produce a book called EGO of all the images that people have taken of me.

Make friends with photographer’s folks.

A musician pal o mine, commissioned me to paint a guitar he crafted 

from wood. Here’s an image of my main man Andrew, holding the 

painted product. Later he added strings and things to make it work.

In the 90’s, I would take any random job that had anything to do with art or painting as long as I didn’t break
any laws doing it. 

I always declared my income and always
will because I plan to always be
on the government’s good side.

I said, “Make friends with photographers.”

If you’re lucky, like I am, they will 

make friends with you.

 

Alex commissioned me to produce a painting of Grace Jones for the late, great Geohn Drewitt. I know he watches over me… and a lot of us… from heaven. Thanks, Geohn.

Truthfully, I have had many near-death experiences, but my favourite one was when I painted this 8 by 10 foot oil painting of Grace Jones in a tiny room above the Cameron House with the door closed. When I went home I had bed spins. It’s a wonder I survived.

A pal of mine who thought I was a beauty, asked me to model for her collection, Sim and Jones. Here’s a photo of me in an alley on College in the 90’s modeling one of her suits. I should have kept that jacket. I loved that blazer.

Together the ladies and Sim and Jones, an ex-boyfriend who shall remain nameless, and I put together a fashion show fundraiser for the benefit of the Single Parent’s Association at the University of Toronto.

I can’t find the photo now, but la piece de la resistance, was when my paintings, carried by models walked down the runway to this track:
Ayinde's Speech - Ayinde Jean-Baptiste

It is inspiring and wonderful. 
Stevie Wonder also does an amazing version 
of Redemption Song on this album.

You can find it on Amazon when you click here. 

 

You’ll recognize the black dress on the right as the one I was wearing in the triptych above. I created the one of a kind piece on the left. I painted a number of pieces of silk by hand and then stitched them together to create that gorgeous empire wasted gown. In those days I had dreams of selling garments for a million dollars each. I might revisit that. My pal who works at Barney’s talked me out of it. She said there was a lot of marketing and promotion, which lead to prices that high – that most designers who sold at that level had a few fragrances out and a track record of excellence. She didn’t say, but I’m sure she thought, it was elitist and simply ‘wrong’.

Still, I might revisit that. One dress or so a year at a million dollars.
Might be a nice life.

The Four Hour Work Week
Buy it on Amazon

I have yet to read this book. But it comes highly recommended.

I met a man at a zine festival who was ‘unusual’. He was bent and determined to make me his, even after having met my stunning, talented, gorgeous ‘boyfriend at the time.’ I was selling photocopies of images like these made from scratch board and ink. He was selling poetry. You can order a print of my illustrated comics like the one below from www.imagekind.com. You can also put ten images up on the site for free. Best to pay the piper, though.

 

A few times, I put installations in store windows like Pages. Boy do I miss that place. It was the best bookstore in town. I used to go in there and read my horoscope from every fashion and lifestyle magazine they had. It was wonderful. I rarely bought a magazine, but I bought a lot of books.

The owner supported local artists by providing them the opportunity to install work in his store window. We received a discount card for our efforts. He closed the store. As I heard on the radio, the rent went up to some unaffordable sum. I think he was ready to retire. Maybe he will become an MP. We joked one day about the pension.

The client from the zine festival commissioned me to paint his car and then was afraid to drive it because he feared he stood out too much in traffic. 

It’s a therapy moment. Last I heard, he moved to Vancouver.

I painted this in underground parking in the Annex 

in the dead of winter. I was freezing cold and had 

to do it in stages. Sadly, I don’t have a photo 

of the completed car. If you see the car in BC, take 

a photo and send it to me, please.

Here’s where the government of Canada saved me from myself. After leaving an HR position at Ticketmaster in a huff. I sued. I won. I was eligible for the Self Employment Assistance Program. Below is an image of me at the program-end tradeshow held at the YMCA. They interviewed me speaking about women in business. I said that we, women, were resilient by nature which made us perfectly suited for the rise and falls one encounters in business. If anyone has a copy of the interview, I’d love to see it.

I received a small allowance from that program, which carried me through while I set up Soul Designs. I made and sold applied art products with a concentration on using recycled, reclaimed and environmentally friendly products until I realized that it was probably a better idea that my art survived the elements. This Coffee Coloured Soul painting called ‘Fighting’, was rendered in coffee that I would have thrown down the sink.

I used to stop painting until I could afford acrylic paint on canvas. Then one day, I visited my pal R, and saw that she had painted a gorgeous image on cardboard. I realized that I if I could be creative as well as rich, I would go father. I bought a book on natural dyes from Pages, and off I went mixing up potions and storing them in the fridge. I even tried to paint with grass from the lawn. Grass stains are hard to get rid of, right. It came out yellow. Not a success. But the coffee stain worked.

But I still need a sponsor. Would someone like to be my benefactor so that my creativity is not limited by the art supplies that I can afford?

 

There isn’t much space in Luna anymore for art exhibitions, but it the art on those walls used to be fabulous. I was asked to exhibit at Luna after being featured on Roger’s cable. 

Click on Luna for a review on Yelp.

I taught art classes out of my studio for a few years. I would advertise art classes while I sold jewelry, bags, hats… lots of things. 

I also knitted the scarf I’m wearing. The yarn is from my favourite yarn dealer, Romni Wools at Queen and Tecumseth.

Make sure you check out the basement where the best deals are!

The hat in the photo was made from the scraps of a silk screening job gone wrong. I was hired by a pal at work to silk-screen tee shirts for his band. Now, get this! The ink I bought washed out when the shirts were washed, so I had to do the entire job again for free. I got on the phone to the fabulous people at Speedball who refunded the cost of the tee shirts, but I lost the revenue for my time.

I cut the ruined tee shirts into scraps and made hats, bags and a blanket. The unbleached cotton was purchased from Eco Fibre. A company that rescued cotton that was deemed ‘usuable’ from land fill sites and wove it into unbleached fabric. They were based in Vancouver. I’m not sure if they are still around.

I used to sell notebooks as well. 

 

I bought the books on Spadina, upon the advice of my pal A, from Sim and Jones. I made the covers at home via block printing with coffee dye.

One day I was mortified to learn that I accidentally left my journal in the café amongst the ones for sale. One of the waiters put it aside an assured me that no one had read it. As if?? My ‘boyfriend at the time’ worked in the bar next door. Sometimes messy handwriting is a good thing.

A woman I met at the Transac Club, where I used to sell, asked me if I would teach her son. INSERT LINK TO MAP. He was a student of the ACE Program. I interviewed and then landed the position. The ACE program is set up for high school students who had been kicked out of every school in the GTA. They all had criminal records. Even with one adult per student, it was still difficult to maintain an orderly class. I connected with the students through music. Hip Hop in every class played as we drew and sketched. I hope and trust that those students are all doing well and are living within the realm of the law. Remember what I taught you. Think up, people. Think up!

That year I was featured in a spot about artists that aired on Roger’s television. Here is a shot of me being interviewed on Roger’s cable. I wouldn’t mind another fifteen minutes of fame. Hello, journalists. I’m available for interviews.

Here’s why you should always take a photo of your work immediately after it’s completed. I told my favourite student/employee, (I know. I know you’re not supposed to have favourites. You always asked me and I and I refused to answer. It was you, D. I hope you become an architect as promised. At any age! People go back to school at 65, pal. Study hard. Maybe take some courses part-time. If it gets too tough, get a tutor. I did at GBC.) 

I told my favourite student/employee, that under no circumstances should he put ‘BTP’ on the wall that we were hired to paint within the realm of the Grafitti Removal Project, later called the Beautification Project. (The youth named the housing project he lived in, ‘Boultbee Town Projects’.) I left it up to the youth to complete the mural. I was on to the next gig and knew they’d do an amazing job without me.

Years later, my photographer friend and I took a walk up Jones just South of Danforth to see the mural and to photograph it. You can tell by my body language that I was devastated to see not only the tag, but that the blue touch up paint was rather unsuccessful.

I’ve almost recovered as is shown in photograph number two.

Soul Designs was all about fixing the world and healing the spirit.

 

Yes, the business was registered. As I said, those in ‘office’ and I are old friends. The mission statement was to create art and applied arts projects to heal the soul of the world.

Here is a shot of my first studio on Cecil Street on Spadina. I shared it with two other artists. When one of the artists decided to live in the building to absorb the rent of the occupant he had a conflict with, I left. It went from being a workspace to something else. I was no longer interested in sharing under those circumstances.

I moved the studio to Adelaide and then to Liberty Village where I painted all sorts of things like these frizbees below.

After Mel Lastman’s commented to a journalist while at the airport that ‘he was afraid of being eaten by Africans,’ which lost Toronto the Olympics. I installed some works in the windows of A Space Gallery at 401 RichmondStreet West. 

A Mecca of design studios, galleries and not for profit organizations. 

Anyone interested in becoming an artist should take a walk through there often.

The exhibition was called, ‘Mel is the Last Man I Would Ever Want To Eat’.

Now, I’m not positive, but often wonder if that might be the reason I never get grants from the Toronto Arts Council. He contributes funds to the organization.

This is what I mean by doing more by not running for office. Had I been in office, I would never have been able to illustrate Mel Lastman in this light. And I’m not certain I would survive the backlash of calling him out. But I could no longer accept the overtly racist comments that were being made by politicians in office. I was surprised that no one had organized a protest.

Shortly after that installation, I started to receive strange phone calls 

and noticed vehicles parked outside my building. I got scared and 

ran to the burbs to hide for a few years – to keep safe. I knew 

Hazel MacCallion would have my back.

I became an ACTRA member in the late 90s and can be seen in the background of many films and tv shows. My friends from NYC would call and report. ‘We saw you running down the stairs in the film Universal Soldier. You were the only black woman in a country bar. That was you, right?’

I have yet to be cast in anything I can shamelessly self promote. The closest I get to stardom on stage is this. A pal of mine, W, who worked at IMAX invited me out as his plus one for the viewing of an IMAX film that he formatted. Along with his co-workers, we visited the Fez Batik on Richmond Street West, which is now a homeless shelter or half way house. Not certain.

That night, they were having a lip sync competition. I had no interest in participating, but the IMAX staff was so excited. They chose their songs. They laughed about it. They urged me to participate. I declined. They pushed. I accepted. I chose my song. We drank. Fun times.

When the moment came to perform, they all bailed. But I held firm and I got up there and mouthed the words to ‘I Will Survive’  

like a diva who had just freed herself from the shackles of an institution.

It is the only time in my life that I have ever won first place and that was the semi-finals.

This image was taken by Tamara Zeta Sonowar Makhan. 

The photo is of the final performance. I came in second, but had the time of my life. I laughed. I cried. I received free tickets to see The Stones at Downsview Park, but I don’t like crowds so much, and was hustled out of those tickets. I also received a Molson’s jacket, which I think my cousin has now.

So, that’s a bit about my path through the arts. A walk on the sunnier side.

Carrying the name, Soul Designs attracted some ‘colourful’ clients and became an immense challenge to live up to ­–

all the issues,

all the politics,

product awareness,

spirituality,

moon cycles,

destiny,

had to keep up on my reading,

had to know what was going on in the world,

the universe,

philosophy,

colour theory,

psychology,

healing,

vibrations,

and then pets,

what about the animals,

the economy,

staying true to myself,

and the ooh la la of it all

that I eventually changed the company name to

Simone Frank.

Welcome.

Good things are coming.

Now, Listen, OSAP found me, so I have to pay off the small loan I incurred during the process of achieving a Dean’s List Diploma from George Brown, School of Design in Advertising. 

(My GPA went up because I switched from Black Russians to matcha. Do it. You’ll go father in life.)

Some other creditors found me too, the bastards. I always intended to pay. Just got sick and missed a couple of payments.

Then it all went sour, but it’s swinging back up.

Great news!

I have been invited to exhibit in China from April 28^th to July 10^th, 2013. I must work like crazy to raise the funds and welcome the support of an event planner that’s up for the task. For now, I have to do this one myself.

So if you’d like

To buy a painting,

your card painted,

a print of my work,

your flyer designed,

your grad dress made,

a mural on the wall in your baby’s room,

a mural on the wall of your business or school,

a wedding dress,

your pants shortened,

your leather jacket painted,

a men’s boustier,

a portrait of your child,

your guitar painted,

your walls painted,

your studio walls fabricated into an unforgettable design…

let me know.

I have less than a month to raise $20,000.

I may, as I said, revisit the million-dollar gown… but for now, prices are still reasonable.

Give me a shout or a text.

simone4king@gmail.com

No foolishness now.

Serious gigs only.

And no stalkers.

I don’t suffer fools easily, as my pal often tells me.

And I know how to dance Hip Hop.

(Inside story. More later.)

Gmail acts up sometimes.

If you think you’re being ignored, push through and send me a text.

I will respond by email at the very least.

Ciao4now!

Simone