Artblog

This is a detail from Mel Ziegler's In the Air. Ziegler got dozens of students at U of T's Hart House to inflate balloons and draw faces on them; then he placed the balloons all around the Hart House library. A month and a half later, they had wilted considerably, the breath inside them filtering back into the library's atmosphere. The piece was part of the Hart House Installation Collective show, which unfortunately I didn't get round to visiting until the last day. It was awesome! And you missed it! Sorry!

A couple of awesome things that you haven't missed, worth mentioning:

Do you remember all the lyrics to the Beatles' "Yesterday"? Not sure? Perfect! Brian Joseph Davis wants you to go to the Mercer Union Gallery before May 20, and record your inept, earnest, stumbling version of the classic tune in the booth he's got set up there. (He was paying people $5 to do this, but he has already run out of money.) The piece is called "Yester-duh". Brian is going to compile all the recordings into a kind of aural composite image of our inadequate collective memory of the most recorded pop song of all time. The resulting CD will be launched at a closing party at the gallery on May 24.

Also, Darren O'Donnell's conceptual performance collective thingy Mammalian Diving Reflex will be staging an event every weekend this month that you have to check out. Three words, people: Haircuts by Children. Exactly what it sounds like. Takes place May 6, 13, and 20 at salons around the city, and on May 27-28 at Harbourfront. Call 416-703-5491 for details, or to book an appointment: yes, you can get your hair cut by 8-to-12-year-olds, for free! Click the link to see a priceless photo of Coach House Press founder Stan Bevington being carefully groomed by fifth graders. Postcards and flyers advertising the event may also be found around the city; I can't find the text that appears on the postcard online anywhere, but here's what it says:

In the future, every child will be given a pair of scissors and invited to shape our destinies. In the future, every child will be granted full citizenship rights; invited to vote, run for office and drive streetcars. In the future, children will teach and adults will learn; a playground will be built on every battlefield; candy will be free and rotten teeth will be replaced at no cost to you, the consumer. In the future, children will be powerful creatures able to cross the street without looking both ways, and hold their breath underwater forever and ever and ever.