Mariachi Acoustic Bass and Controversy at the Cameron House

Mariachi! (Acoustic Bass)

7x9 inches, acrylic on board, framed

$80.00

Here's some news from Kevin Quain in regards to an incident last Sunday at the Cameron House, I have no opinion on the matter, as I wasn't there, but I thought you may enjoy reading an account of what happened.You can find other links and updates about the incident on the internet, normally, I'd post them but I've got alot on my plate right now.

This past Monday April 25th, Alex Hindmarch, a DJ at Q107, went on the air and offered listeners $107 to show up at the Cameron House this coming Sunday May 1st, to disrupt my band's performance by shouting out his name. He attended our show the previous night, and although he said he enjoyed it, he was offended at being asked to put money in the jar that is passed around to collect wages for the band. He declined to do so. He was also offended that his party was asked to be quiet, or to move to the back room. They declined to do that as well.

Our audience appreciates a quiet room and our attempt to provide that shouldn’t have come as a great surprise. When they entered the Cameron, they passed by four signs that said the following in bold lettering: "You are cordially invited to attend our show in the front lounge, from 9:00pm to Midnight. Out of respect for your fellow patrons, those not attending the show are invited to enjoy the comfort of the historic back room. Your consideration is greatly appreciated." And just to make this expectation even clearer, each member of his party received show programs that contain the same text in bold lettering on the front. The entire audience shouted at them to be quiet, but they insisted on staying and continued to disturb the audience until the end of the set

You may well ask what kind of person would stay in a room knowing they were disturbing everyone else there. I wish I had an answer. But such people exist and they do show on up Sundays from time to time. We make the best of it, and sometimes all we can do is laugh and include them in the show. Which sometimes makes them angry.

Which brings us again to Alex Hindmarch. I play music for a living, sometimes literally for nickels and dimes. I mention this not to elicit sympathy or complain about my chosen profession; on the contrary, I love what I do and I'm committed to it. But I wonder: do I really need to be taken down a peg by Mr. Hindmarch, and more importantly, by a communications corporation, because I asked for a bit of quiet to make some music? I don't mind someone giving me a bad review. I am pretty awful sometimes. And I don’t mind someone suggesting that I'm a disagreeable individual (which I most certainly am nearly all the time). But the idea that Corus Entertainment would encourage and underwrite the disruption of a performance by an indie band who have plied their trade for 16 years in a small 60-seat family-owned venue, seems a bit unfair. If Mr. Hindmarch's use of the airwaves strikes you as odd, unfair or a bit mean-spirited, I do encourage you to share your thoughts with Corus Entertainment. Ask them to what extent this person's actions reflect their core values. It's important to let the parent company know what their "brands" are up to. I would also encourage you to get in touch with Q107 directly and ask them for clarification on Alex Hindmarch's "contest"? Contact information is provided below.

One final thought: if our show is going to be interrupted, why don't we hold him to his word* and shout his name next Sunday, count heads, and ask that he write a cheque (potentially for thousands of dollars) to Sick Kids Hospital? It's a thought.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope to see you somewhere, sometime soon.

Cheers,Kevin Quain

Corus Entertainment Contact Information: Magda KrpanCorus Radio416-479-6054magda.krpan@corusent.com

Lorraine ZarbCorporate Communications416-479-6129 lorraine.zarb@corusent.com

Q107Main Reception416-479-7000* One of Corus Entertainment's "Core Values", listed on their website, is : "Accountability: We do what we say we’ll do - no excuses."

Globe and Mail Mention

Currently on the easel.

‎"Hahn’s creamy paintings of axe-wielding, storm-swept ladies are as Canadian as a hangover cure (but far more appealing)."

Thanks R.M Vaughan for the G&M mention of the show at the Wilson 96. Sometimes it pays to google yourself. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/rm-vaughan/geoffrey-pugens-vigilante-women/article1956675/print/

Cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

Big News over at Any How Town

Hey folks, hop on over to the "Any How Town" blog, we've got good news.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

AWOL Gallery Square Foot Show

Here's all the info that you're going to need to get yourself to AWOL Gallery's "Square Foot" show, the Lower Ossington Theatre is a lovely sky blue colour, it's on the West side of Ossington and AWOL is a bit of a baby food ochre it is also on the West Side, The Lower Ossington theatre has large windows so if you are standing on the west side you may miss their signage, I did, and I have to go there tonight and improv paint with the National Theatre of the World, if you don't know who they are, you obviously don't pay attention to the cover of NOW magazine.

So above are the two pieces I submitted to the show, and you can buy them unframed and at a higher price if you go check out this show, it's an amazing sight to see.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Brief History of the Chicken Toss

"Chicken Toss $1"

8 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$140.00 each

can be personalized

Here is a brief history of the Chicken Toss as written by Corin Raymond, the man credited with bringing the Chicken Toss to The Cameron House, if not all of Ontario.

"The Chicken Toss originated, as far as I can tell, in Alberta. It travelled from there to a few key places, namely Texas and Manitoba. Jason Nowicki of The Perpetrators was the first to introduce The Toss in Winnipeg, where it has gained cult and community status thanks to John Scoles at the Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club at Main and St. Mary.

One year, Times even had a fifty foot rubber chicken float in the Winnipeg parade. I've often tossed the bird at Times, and also at The Auditorium in Nanton, AB. The birds that fly in Wpg. all come from the same magic shop in Calgary. I remember Hayes Carll telling me that one time, while on tour in Texas, his crew tied a knot at one end of a towel, dampened it for weight, and used that to have a late night toss in the corridor of their hotel. The Toss can live without the chicken, but if you're doing a sanctioned round, you need the golden bird.

Rules of the game: the bucket sits 21 feet from the fowl line, and tossers toss from behind that line. It generally costs a dollar a toss, and whoever buckets the chicken gets the $$ in the pot. No folding the bird, no overhand tosses. It's like lawn darts, but with a chicken and bucket. It's not as easy as it looks, but it's definitely as fun as it looks. It's highly addictive. John Scoles gave me a bird when I was visiting Winnipeg and he even wrote on its thigh 'High and Lonesome Certified'. I brought that chicken to The Cameron House and we had some amazing tosses (and more to come!). Since Cosmo took over the bar he and his friends have been keeping the game alive and there are some true champs in that gang. And the love continues to spread.... that's a short history of The Chicken Toss as I know it."

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

What's up Mr. Fox ?

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

8 x 10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$100.00

Easily one of my favourite films of the past year and a DVD that cheers me up every time I feel a little stressed, I decided to pay tribute to Mr.Fox by painting his portrait .

Just wanted to show you that it hasn't been all posters around the studio, the way my time has been working out is that I've been painting Deep Sea Divers during the day and warming up for them by starting a smaller piece like the above Mr. Fox, which is then finished over a couple of days.

I've been using this method for a couple of weeks and it seems to work. So, the day is something like this, get up for 8 AM or so, do "warm up" paintings until about 12 Noon and then paint through until 6 PM, break for dinner go to the Press Club and draw posters for two hours and do notes for paintings for the next day. I am also currently designing an album cover / back cover / T Shirt concept that is actually a photo based project which is a nice change and involves some computer button pushing, had a meeting with the client during last night's tsunami and they are very happy with the work, can't post anything yet, but when the album comes out I'll let you know about it. Not only is it a great concept, the music is really good.

I also have two smaller commissions that have come from doing the above, Mr.Fox piece, I'm meeting with another client this evening to discuss a large scale commission and I am going to the shop all day to build frames.

If you would like to see me working live and in person and you have nothing to do on Canada's Birthday or the day after Canada's birthday you can come and visit me at the FRINGE Festival where myself and five other painter's will be working in the alley beside Honest Ed's for the Fesival event "Pretty Things". The FRINGE is now in partnership with Mirvish Productions and they have moved the Fringe tent from it's usual home at the Tranzac Club to the Parking Lot of Honest Ed's to make people aware of the switch they have hired some painters ( The actor's had to hire the painter's to get attention, that cracks me up )to do some large scale work, 4' x 8' to be exact, to catch the eye and guide folks down the alley to the tent. We'll be there from 6PM to about 9PM on Thurs. and Fri. I'll be the guy sitting down guzzling Vitamin water.

I love the Fringe, lots of friends work for the event, run the event, perform in the event but I just have to say this and I'm not stepping on any toes here, I am getting paid to "perform" but I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to finish a Four Foot by Eight Foot painting in 6 to 8 hours. I'm fast, everyone knows that, you can see it by how much work I post here, but man, I'm not that fast. I do detail work, it takes me over four hours to paint a whale that is 8 x 12 INCHES. Whatever I paint becomes the property of the Fringe or Mirvish and can be used in promotional materials/fundraising, but this painting is too big for me, give me a 4 x 4 or something. I also think that a vertical 4 x 8 painting won't fit in most homes and a horizontal 4 x 8 painting is longer than the average couch. 4 x 8 is the size of a standard theatre "flat" or "wall" so really, that's what we're using, probably because they were free, and the idea of scale appealed to the organizers, but really, I won't be finished. I'll post photos of my progress, I'll probably bring a bag of muppets to sell on the side too.

So things are really busy around here.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

In case you think we're resting.

So it's the middle of the show at the Cameron House, we've got about two weeks left until it comes down. I had hoped to be posting some photos here this morning of new work that is hanging there for you to see. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera down with me, so I'll have to post them Monday or Tuesday, which means another trip to Queen and Spadina, no problem I have a shopping list of stuff that I need to stock up the studio. I'm in the middle of two commissions right now and will be hard at it for the next couple of days, you probably won't see anything here until Monday, so I figured that I would post some news/schemes to tide you over until I come back. That's right, I'm going to write some stuff here for a change.

I often write about my love of multiples, collections etc. I went into the shop for a couple more days last week and built TWENTY THREE of these little black frames, I'd done a bunch for the end of the Press Club show and people loved them, they just flew off the walls, I'll work on about four at a time and then start posting them here for you to see when, "Come On Pilgrim" comes down, don't want to confuse anyone who may think that these will be there if you go to the Cameron House. What I'd like to do with these is have them all prepped for the Press Club Anniversary party, which is TWO DAYS of some of the best music in this city going for 48 hrs. straight, it's a bloody brilliant music marathon and I'd like to have 28 of these on display and just sell them off at $40.oo each, that's the second weekend in July, if memory serves.

One significant way my life has changed in the past three years is that I rarely listen to music unless I'm out, I just don't play music in my home anymore, I find it too distracting, I've discussed this here before but as a result when I hear a song that I like I play it to death like a twelve year old girl (no offence to any twelve year old girls reading this). I have already begun sourcing poses/tones for the next show I'd like to do, and the entire thing hinged on the lyrics listed below, here's a youtube link also. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec3rCamoyQs .

Funny that for a guy who doesn't listen to music two of the past three shows take their titles from songs/albums. What I'd like to do when I get about ten of the pieces finished is have an advance showing at "Musa" which is one of the best "first date" restaurants in this city, (and a kick ass brunch if you can get a seat on the patio in the summer), it's located across from the Press Club on Dundas West. If you've never been, I don't know what you're waiting for. This will probably happen in October or November and what I mean by "advance" is that it's not going to be a series that I show at the Press Club in December, it's going to be for one year from now, for a show in May, it's going to be expensive, all framed 20 x20 pieces, done in oil and worth every big bad penny, I hope to finance my winter to finish more work for the show by selling the first ten in advance, call me crazy, but if what I have in mind is successful you'll be glad that you heard about this early.

"Come On Pilgrim" is up at the Cameron House until the end of May, message me here for commissions and general inquiry.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

"i don't really need to see,so i don't need to see

so i'll paint,i don't know, i'll paint it black.

i don't need to see,i don't see how you see out of your window,

i don't need to see, i'll paint mine black.

i don't know me and you don't know you,

so we fit so good together cuz i knew you like i knew myself.

we clung on like barnacles on a boat,

even though the ship sinks you know you can't let go.

i was talking like two hands knocking,saying

'"let me in, let me in, please come out."

black glass, dirt-based soap,tell yourself what you know.

my friends, oh my friends,

bury your head i'll help you bury your plans.

hard hit, hard to miss, problems are what a problem is.

my light came up quick, call it your asterisk,

buried ina boys. in a boys first book of the stars

saw it as satellite, constant unblinking as,

buried in the bottom of a bottom of a brackish lake."

"barnacles"

Ugly Casanova

High Park Alternative School

On Friday I was invited to speak to kids at the High Park Alternative School, a really great event that was put together by parents of students there. Professional artists of every stripe, dancers, harmonica players (Jerome Godboo! Oh Yeah!), choir leaders (Daryl Huggins! Oh YEAH!), visual artists (people with lots of time in the afteroon, ME! Oh YEAH!) were brought in to speak and answer questions, show their work,demonstrate techniques etc,etc. for the youth.

I had a great time with the kids, the only thing I had a problem with was that I was not used to talking for three and a half hours straight, now, if you know me you'd think, "But when we hang out, you don't shut up." Well, gentle reader, stand at the front of the class and talk for three hours straight, it's not like a conversation with the pauses and sips of coffee, the thinking etc. it's straight up talk and answer the question. This is something that I used to be good at, but since it's been awhile my skills were out of shape. I still had a fantastic time and sincerely thank the school and S.Bramer for inviting me.

New work has been put up at the Cameron House, I'm going to be there on Thursday from 5-7 pm, if you'd like to see the show and hang out. I will also be posting new work this week that will be replacing some things that have been sold. If you are purchasing a piece and picking it up Thursay, please let me know by TUESDAY. So I have something to fill the spot that you are vacating.

talk soon,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The SUNDAY CHALLENGE! reposted from facebook for your enjoyment

THE SUNDAY CHALLENGE IS HERE!!!!!Who has the better disguise ? Bird Disguised as Cat (Left) OR Cat Disguised as Bird (Right) to Vote, tag yourself on the side that should win.Results to be posted TONIGHT!thanks to Ian Philp and Meghan Thompson for suggestions

The SUNDAY CHALLENGE! began as a conversation between myself and Ian Philp ( see: Milk Run, The Press Club, Jay Clarke and the Jones) at the Press Club, I was talking about how some paintings of mine are purchased instantly, whether it's the day I hang them or if someone sees a photo online and how unpredicatble it is, who knew that a tea cup full of Deep Sea Divers or a Desperado riding a chicken could be so popular. That you simply can't know what people will like, or even will comment on, that some events/ social media become wildly popular while others never get off the ground. You're better off doing your own thing and let people find you, how do some bands become popular while others languish. etc. etc.

At some point it was said, "What is more popular ? A Bird disguised as a Cat ? OR a Cat disguised as a Bird? Well, we decided to find out, and the SUNDAY CHALLENGE! was born. I proposed I plant a seed and then do the paintings and then find out 1) If people even care 2) If they will vote/ debate 3) If someone would buy the work without prompting.

I posted the status, "What is more popular ? A Bird disguised as a Cat ? OR a Cat disguised as a Bird?" On Thursday or Friday and received several comments, one being, "Aha aha ha ha ha ha ha!" which I took to be a good sign, but also there was a very important piece of information from M. Thompson, that the Cat disguise HAD to be of an Owl - well with that kind of interest there was no turning back, I started painting.

I finished the pieces early Sunday morning, I even got up early on Sunday to make sure they were (pretty much ) finished.

Here is the Highlight Reel of the day the first SUNDAY CHALLENGE! was posted

11:00 PM - The SUNDAY CHALLENGE! is posted

12:06 PM - Bird as Cat has a strong lead at 4 - 2

3:40 PM - Our First Tie 5 -5, strangely among the sexes, B.as C has received no MALE votes

4:45 PM - Cat as Bird takes the lead at 9-7 votes

6:30 PM - It's a 10 - 10 tie at this point I've received 3 OUTSIDE votes from either mad craft shoppe members (which is the group I run on facebook, it has 980 members), friends of friends, or people who have been annoyed in the newsfeed, also other paintings in the "Come On Pilgrim" photo album start to get tagged as people I'm not "friends" with on fb

7:45 PM Cat as Bird pulls ahead to a strong 13 - 10 lead and holds it.

8:00 PM Cat as Bird wins 13 - 11 and the first SUNDAY CHALLENGE! Enters the History Books.

11:00 PM one more vote is cast.

QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK

Well right now I'm in the middle of painting new work for my show at the Cameron House which I'm hanging May 2nd, I would like to do at least one more SUNDAY CHALLENGE! this month.

Would you participate ?

Do you think others would participate ?

I was surprised to start to see people ringing in that I did not know, that maybe were members of my facebook group, "the mad craft shoppe".

Were they asked by a friend to vote ?

Why do you think that happened ?

If you would like to purchase either/both of the paintings featured in this weeks SUNDAY CHALLENGE! they are $ 140.00 each/ $160.00 framed but as a SPECIAL SUNDAY CHALLENGE! Deal you can have them BOTH framed for $300.00 all the best, hope to hear your thoughts/ feedback today

A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

What I'm doing tomorrow

Wait, there's no painting here!

Just to a quick note to say hello and post a couple of things, this is what I'm doing tomorrow at the Carlu

http://www.canadianstage.com/donorevents

I have been asked on occasion to paint for events, I don't find it too stressful. I was hired by HRDC Canada one summer to paint pictures in the lobby of The HRDC building at Yonge/Sheppard and at City Hall, so I work and people ask me questions about what I"m doing, if I'm starving, point out that I missed a spot etc. and generally vocalise their discomfort with being in the same room as someone in the arts.

If I were to hold an event like this I would have a table of guys who fix your laptop for free, but that's just how I think.

I am looking forward to promoting the show at the Cameron House in May, handing out business cards and doing some painting. I will be sure to take some photos of the event and the Carlu so you can pretend you were there sipping champagne with the Swells.

Here's a link to the Carlu site so you can look around and listen to some smoky trip hop

http://www.thecarlu.com/thecarlu.html

I hung the piece, "Untitled (the Hammer Team)" at the Garrison yesterday, I was going to hold it back from display until the show at the Cameron in May, but I knew it would look really great in the space so I took down the two 20 x20' and put it up, I forgot my camera but will get a shot next week, I've got to sell that baby, it would make everything alot easier until the show in May. I am going to do a couple more large pieces with the globe as a focus, expect them sometime next month.

all the best, buy some work

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

News, Announcements, links etc.

We are currently exhibiting some work at Fleur de Lis Interior Design which is located at 294 Eglinton West, near Avenue road, if the name is familiar it is the firm owned by Peter Lunney and Eric McClelland whose work and advice frequently appear on City Line.

Here is a link to their site

http://www.fleurdelis.ca/

Here's a link to a "view it.ca" site that features one of my murals as a selling point to rent the apartment, who knew. Thanks to Sarah Uyede for the link

http://www.viewit.ca/vwExpandView.aspx?ViT=54694

A.S Hahn

more to come

News etc, more to come

Three birds

acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame, 9.5 x 9.5 inches

price TBA

First up here's the link to the article on the Liberty Boot Company from Saturday's Globe and Mail.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090426.wINClibertyboots0425/BNStory/incubator/
I've also added another link down below, "Adventures in Schnooville" is a wonderful, personal blog kept by a modern dilletante named Schnoo, it's a good read, her honesty is to be admired.

The event on Saturday at Grateful Head will be rescheduled, probably in the first week of June due to unforeseen unforeseeenstances, stay tuned to this space as more is known, the work is still there, hours and directions are listed in a post below.

We hang the show at The Press Club on Sunday, I'll be adding more images to the blog this week, really looking forward to this party to celebrate the past four years of hard work, really I've been working as a professional painter since 1996, but it's only been the past four years that I've been able to say I do this work "full time". The Opening is Saturday, May 9th from 6-10 pm, it will be a hootenanny,bring friends, the patio will also be open so we can chill outside if it gets a little too busy indoors.

In brain news I will be painting and listening to Hamlet over and over again, current thoughts are that the next show, at the Cameron House in November (that's right facebook no more pesky invites for awhile) will be based around, inspired, motivated by the melancholy Dane, not sure how, but it's a strong gut feeling. There may be sketches cropping up here through the summer.

Also welcome to the world Jack Vincent Sutton and Dekker Quinn Kozak-Goebbels !

There will be more news throughout the day as I get caught up on things around the Shoppe
A.S.H

Anniversary Party at the Press Club and other locations

Patsy Cline

20 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas

four hundred dollars,

from the show "Pop Goes the Cowboy" (see info below.)

It's coming folks, the mad craft shoppe will celebrate their 4rth Anniversary at The Press Club (850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning) on the 9th of May from 7-10 with a "Salon" style show of many works old and new and incredible celebratory prices. Lil' Jimmys Chicken Pickers will be playing. It's gonna be a hootenanny, stay tuned to this space for more news.

Pop Goes the Cowboy at the Cameron House, March 29th - May 4rth, Opening Reception April First from 6-9, with Col. Tom Parker and The Rattlesnake Choir.

Grateful Head, new and old works, April 1rst - May 29th, right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park on Dundas, see posted hours below.

The Done Right Inn, works from Silver, hanging there until they come down, which may be never, Queen West right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.

NEW ADDRESS

Hey there Shoppers, the shoppe email account that is here, madcraftshoppe@hotmail.com, has been discontinued due to internet piracy, please contact me at madcraftshoppe@live.com from now on, sorry if this causes any inconvenience.

Thanks to all who came to the Opening, it was a roaring success with great music by The Wanted, all kinds of little yard apes running around and smiles, laughter and compliments, I'm very touched. The show continues at the Cameron House until the 28 th of November.

all the best Shoppers,
A.S Hahn

Countdown to Sunday

Hey there Shoppers, I forgot to post that the Great, Great Rizdales are playing that aft/eve at the Cameron, they're the pride of Guelph/Hamilton/Toronto you're going to love their country double vocal stylings, check them out online.

Work that has sold: if you were caught sleeping at the wheel here's what's SOLD already

Man With Hammers (Hephaestus)

Woman With Crows

Woman With Buckets (Poseidon)

that's about one a day since the show went up, not bad Shay, not bad, let's do twelve more.

Also, I'll be adding all my notes on the show to the site this week along with some new blog links to Fountain Gallery, Army of Dude (which is an online blog by aUS soldier in Iraq) and my friend Michael Segui's blog (which he has to add some more content to!)

see you at the Cameron on Sunday Shoppers, God Bless America

A.S Hahn

If this is your first visit

Here are two other pieces that I am going bat shit crazy trying to conquer for the show "Silver" which will be at the Cameron House for the month of November, the Opening Reception is Sunday, November 9th from 4-7:30 ish pm. The first is titled, "Prometheus - for my Mother" and the second is titled, "This is Not Quite Right Is It?". If you have any comments or advice on the work, they would be appreciated.

As a materials note I do not use Lubriderm in my paintings, I got a new tattoo, so smarten up you circus animals. It's of a Hula Girl, it is very boss, relax Mom.

If this is your first visit and you are looking for, "Ladies of the Flowers" click on the "Fables" label at the side bar, same with "Small Towns", "Canadian Girl" etc.

If you are looking for children's letters, look for a picture of Children's letters on this site and click the link provided. No I'm not being lazy, this will just give you a chance to see some of my other work. The link is at the "Mirvish Pedestrian Sundays" Post.

Welcome to the Shoppe you can email me , A. Shay Hahn here,

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Things that moved me this week.

Absentee Landlord

Sorry it's been so long since the last post Shoppers, it seems like it's been ages since we've spoken, I've been working on three or four things at once and finishing some commissions and there just hasn't been time.
To quickly answer some viewer mail, Tracy from Ann Arbor asks, "Long time reader, first time emailer, I love the Shoppe,but I just have to know, what do you look like Andrew Shay ?
Well Tracy, this is what I look like right now (see picture above) .
Actually I'm kidding Tracy, this is where the I sit all day, as you can see I'm just finishing new work for the "metaball" online zine that will be shown at the Starbucks at Queen and Claremont through the month of February. This is a new series called "Small Towns" and we hope you and your cat "Black Magic" can make the trip from Michigan to check it out and have a cup of tea.
I promise you if anyone ever takes a flattering picture of me I'll be sure to post it here, believe me I've tried, I think my camera is stuck on the Ugly setting.
I also have to admit I've been slow to post since I started reading E.L Doctorow's "the March" I've been reading certain passages over and over again. And I've been distracted by Ghostface Killah's "Fishscale" which I've been playing over and over again (track 3 will make you dance like a fool,thanks Shiv). And watching "Studio 60" on the web, I have to tip my hat to Sorkin for the episode "the After Party (episode 6)" it made me all teary eyed - yes TV made me cry, but before you laugh you watch it and see what happens, that was some excellent writing. Back to work, don't be afraid to send more questions my way Shoppers!

God bless, Ellis (welcome to the world little man), The Walker/Martins and the drunk guy who got caught in the chimney in Bracebridge

all the best,

Andrew Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@hotmail.com

the year in review

2006 The Year In Review mad craft style

Best Film - Lady Vengeance, three movies for the price of one really, a third act twist that has to be seen to be seen to be believed, humourous touches throughout, a stunning film experience, no doubt soon to be remade and destroyed by Hollywood with Renee Z., Nicole K. Charlize T. and some other Yutz fighting for the part when it should really be left alone to be what it is.

Honourable Mentions, The Departed (which I haven't seen but no one will shut up about so it's probably pretty good), Thank You For Smoking (except for that creepy kid whose in every movie these days)

Biggest Let Downs Talladega Nights (not as good as Anchorman, not even by half) Any of the " New Noirs" Black Dahlia or Hollywoodland (relationship destroying films)

Best Music (Songs) The Cold War Kids -St.John, Okkervil River- Another Radio Song and For Real, Be Good Tanyas- One Thousand Tiny Pieces, Gnarls Barkley -Crazy (why not) , The Coup-Laugh/Love/Fuck , TV on the Radio -Wolf Like Me, Cadence Weapon-30 Seconds, Jon Rae and The River-Nothing To Do

Best Album- Cat Power the Greatest - The Title says it all, not a weak track on the record and that seems almost impossible for most artists to achieve these days. This is dinner with a woman, a glass of wine with friends, time spent alone. A wicked achievement, if I had a five disc changer, I'd put five copies of this album in it (two purchased, three copied). Well done Chan Marshall!

Honourable Mentions - Rock Plaza Central- Are We Not Horses - This has everything, it's a gypsy, folk, rock, cornucopia kitchen sink concept albumwith hand claps and a children's choir, how you follow this up is beyond me - most would release a shitty Trip Hop Record so let's pray that they don't. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat- Fantastic, with the exception of "Handle With Care" cover that people seem to love, but I think is weak, this is the album Amy Millan wanted to release instead of.... (segueway!)

Biggest Let Down- Amy Millan- Honey From the Tombs- I love women singing hurtin and drinking songs , but this misses the mark and before you bite my ears off Tyson Style let me state that I am a fan of Stars - more songs like"Celebration Guns" and less songs like most of this album.

NEXT SHIT- Cold War Kids- Keep your ears out, "Robbers and Cowards" was an outstanding album in 2006. Corin Raymond - Hardest working man in Toronto, from promoting great bands from Winnipeg to touring all over, great work Corin, let's hear that new record already! Johnny Marr has joined Modest Mouse!

TRENDS (Limited to Three per Category)

Biggest Trends of 2006 - Babies!- These little things were everywhere in 2006 and I think it's great, not those overpriced celebrity babies, I'm talking about good old fashioned middle class babies. Avocadoes- These things were (also) everywhere in 2006 from album covers, to posters and home decor - well done avocadoes! We didn't know how much we loved you until 2006 You Tube- Who the Heck watches TV anymore ? Go away TV we've had enough, we'll make our own.

Biggest Trends that Should Go Away - Goose Down Vests- This isn't Aspen people buy a proper coat already. TShirts With Shit All Over Them- These things just make people dizzy when they try to talk to you so take em off, most of them look like a plate of baby vomit with a bad skull tattoo stuck on top and an eagle wing sticking out of the side. Coffee - Useless, just plain useless, don't drink it for two weeks and feel how much energy your body actually has inside of it and you'll also be at least Forty Dollars richer I have to tell you folks that you are stuck in a vicious cycle (I'm gonna get hated on for that one).

Trends for 2007- Buying Canadian- Let's all get more involved in our local economy from produce, to artisans, to recording artists, we have to get behind this. Also the homeless of Toronto deserve some of our time, we've sent alot of dough overseas for charity, let's take a good long look in our own backyard. Electing the Pizza Oven at Dufferin Grove Park to City Council- It's obvious that local politics could use an actual inanimate object in a place of power, we've had enough pretenders. Art Galleries- These things deserve to be the avocadoes of 2007 - think of the fun we could have if there were more than three people in one of these things at a time!

(Sneaking in Under the Wire - Hot Chocolate ! Go drink some tomorrow it's 2007!)

Man of the Year- Dictators ! These guys really kept us on our toes in 2006, so much on our toes that we couldn't deal with the possibility of more war and hurt so we stupidly gave our time and attention to Jen and Vince, Angelina and Brad, Tom and Katie, Brit and all that shit instead of trying to deal with Kim Jong Il, to that Iranian Guy whose name is too messed up to write, to all those shit heads with children's armies in Africa, Rumsfeld (A Dictator who steps down!) . The Dictators really let themselves be known this year but we were watching E!talk instead.

Honourable Mention- My Dad, Warren Buffet, Sam Ferrara,

Woman of the Year- Pregnant Women !- From eating Activia and dancing in a park together, to driving me to a Wedding, to being on the cover of every magazine every month Pregant Women really represented in 2006! And not only that but then in 2007, a baby comes out! Pregnant women are like a living Kinder Egg, beautiful outside and a toy inside!

Honourable Mention- My Mom, Constance Rooke, The singer from the Pussycat Dolls (That would be amazing if in 2007 she became some kind of pregnant Dictator.)

Best Book- I didn't read a book that was published in 2006 this year, so I can't add to this list, most things I read were published in the 50's and earlier so they don't apply.

Best Sports - Catching more than half of the World Cup Games, the World Cup Kills. Zidane stood up and said, "Enough out of you" I think we all learned something there.

Quite a year, this post will be expanded soon.

Type Inspiring Title Here

First on the boards, thanks to all who came to see "Lost Houses" many thanks to Cindy M., Paul S. and all at the Cameron House,friends at the Opening, those who purchased work and for kind words from all, it was a very personal show and now it's on to the next projects ...ones that are focused on pure fun.

Oh Alphabet Shoppe, I am sorry to have neglected you for so long, to rectify this grand faux pas for the next few weeks we will be shifting our focus over to the Alphabet Shoppe,
(go to http://www.thealphabetshoppe.blogspot.com and add to your favourites)
to create the next series of paintings "the GTAlphabet" and I have to thank T.W for this suggestion.

Since I've been walking these city streets daily I've been remarking on "fixtures" in our city and they will be the next series of paintings - if demand is high enough I may post some of the work here too, but it is more of an "Alphabet Shoppe" project. This will also be a "Request" series, once I get the first few up, I think everyone will like to play along with me, as the Alphabet Shoppe is a place for the kid inside all of us, in the spirit of "explodingdog.com" (great site) I'll take your "Commissioned Suggestion" and render it for you for a fee.

Also in the playbook for Late January at the Alphabet Shoppe -

I've been away from writing for awhile and through this time I've been steadily building my collection of Children's Book Illustrations and rereading favourite books from my youth (no not my misspent youth, that's all Bukowski and Jim Morrison bullshit I'm talking about the youth before that, the formative years) and will be guiding you along as I write and illustrate my first book for kids of all ages. So there's another reason to keep visiting. I plan on it being a fun book with big busy pictures and lots of colour, like Mercer Mayer or this other guy who I really like - what the hell is his name ? Sergio Aragones meeting E H Shephard, Theodore Geisel arm wrestling...you'll see.

Someone very special to me once remarked that I do more than most, I have to admit to her and you that for the past eight months I have let that slip - I became lazy, let others down,energy levels dropped, too much time for idling, drinking and becoming a thing that I hate. These new projects should make me feel more like the artist I was - except for the constantly drunk, chainsmoking parts of course, that's over.

These past two months I've learned alot, I've been feeling things clearly for the first time in a long while, dealing with my anxiety and social phobia from a sober perspective. In this time I've only heard two shit head comments from people I know, and I realized something - I don't actually know these people , and they certainly don't know me, they're just bar people and they can go fuck themselves, I'm on to better things.

Before I go, people have said they like the "God Bless " section more than the blog entries so...

God Bless The Buchan Family, Jim Millan, Will Scheff, Suss3it and Denis Leary
(except for the "abusive lesbian "subplot in Season Two, total waste of time)

best to all,

A.S Hahn

works from Lost Houses still available by contacting madcraftshoppe@hotmail.com