Irish FlagHappy St. Patrick's Day
A.Shay Hahn
If you'd like to meet me on Friday at the Wilson 96 (615 College Str. just East of Grace) and see the work that's hanging there, I too will be hanging there and having a drink after work. Come on by!
Lady with Two Axes, Lady with an Axe
Old Havana is great, it's a crumbling beauty for sure. I really enjoyed the city, it's not overcrowded and you can get around on foot really quickly. Here are some things you should know.If you are young or even look young, you will have people UP YOUR ASS all the time, "Hey, where you from ?" means, "I am going to get close to you and annoy you." I had to just keep walking so I wouldn't freak out on anyone, that's why I look like this in these photos (see above). If you are old or look old, you won't get hassled as much. I've never enjoyed being rude as much as I enjoyed being rude in Old Havana.
You can also walk around and not be hassled, folks mainly approach you outside your hotel, but after you are clear, you're alright to head out without being bothered.
The National Gallery is a great way to kill an hour and a half, really enjoyed alot of the work I saw there, next trip I'll check theInternarional Collection, which is a separate building, I just wanted to see some Cuban art that wasn't a painting of an old wrinkly guy holding a cigar or Che Guevara or Castro.
If you see some musicians playing STOP and check them out, it is impossible to find a bad live band in Old Havana, stop and check out every band you see. I don't know about buying cd's, the live sound of Old Havana is probably hard to capture in a studio.
The air in Old Havana is polluted, it's not horrible, but you may not be used to poor air quality so don't exert yourself too much, take breaks from walking, especially from walking in the sun after breathing the air. Yes, we love taking pictures of the old cars, but it comes at a price.
You can totally crash the mini bar in a Cuban Hotel, it's that cheap, you can also buy beer in vending machines.
I would go back to Cuba next year for a vacation, no problem. It was great.
A.Shay Hahn
The Chairs By DayOnly about three more small things to finish painting before I am officially on vacation, of course there are three hundred non painting related things to do before I leave on said vacation.
A.Shay Hahn
Mariachi with Drums and a Washboard DevilI've had this long frame kicking around for a couple of years and could never decide on a triptych to put in it, upon realizing that Toronto has an insatiable appetite for paintings of Skeletal Mariachi I knew what I had to do. I also had this washboard Devil all on his lonesome and figured the two of them could use a friend. Hanging this today at the Wilson.
If you love the music of Tom Waits, be sure to try and catch this at the Theatre Centre http://www.theatrecentre.org/showdetails.php?id=104 I'm sure it's going to be incredible, I won't be able to go so I hope someone out there reads this and goes to check it out.
best,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com
Orange III (little black dress)I have been extended for the month of March at the Cameron House (408 Queen West) , so you have lots of time to head down and see what's there. I will also be showing work at the Wilson 96 on College n(615 College) in the month of March and will post photos soon of what is going to be there. I will not have work at the Press Club this month, but will post the name of the artist showing there and any links about them I can find.
The shoppe will be closed for a week at the start of March and I will get back in touch to answer any queries later in the month, if you are interested in buying a piece of course you can buy directly from the bar staff at either venue. Some fun things at the Wilson 96: Tuesday night Trivia is awesome! If you're a fan of trivia bring a team or join one when you're there, that usually starts around 7:30, Samantha Martin and the Haggard play on Thursday nights and are a great roots/rock/blues band, you have got to hear Samantha sing, it's a soulful, throaty howl that reminds us how few people can actually sing Rock n' Roll. http://www.myspace.com/samanthamartinmusicsite there's the link to her MySpace site.
You can join the fb group, "The Wilson 96" to find out about more events at the Wilson and here's a link to the Cameron House site to find out who is playing there in March, http://www.thecameron.com/
A.Shay Hahn
Head on down to the Cameron House today from 6-8pm for a great set of sing along, drink along songs from
Hang on St.Christopher
Woman with HammersI can't wait, I'm supposed to wait but I can't, I've just watched the first Two Seasons of Fringe and really enjoyed the show, Planetary meets a more amusing X-Files, what's not to love ? I never enjoyed the X-Files it was a long standing disagreement that I had with the entire York University Fine Arts Department, my argument was simple, "How effective are two agents that catch every disease that they investigate, get their asses handed to them in a first fight AND can rarely explain the unexplainable?!". Anyways Fringe is much better, there's alot more punching on this show, and I like that.
Trying to finish about eight pieces before I go on vacation, I've got about four days to do it, and I suppose I'll have to watch the Oscars too, when really, The Social Network is the best film of the year, period, and the more I hear people discuss the Oscars the less interested I am in them. The Vanity Fair Hollywood issue is out and I do enjoy reading that, if you've never read it in the past they've done great articles on the making of the Graduate, how the mafia was involved with the Godfather, bisexual turmoil on the set of Rebel without a Cause etc. great old Hollywood stuff, it used to be more known for the Annie Leibowitz star photo portfolio but it's been a few years since anything new or relevant has been done with V.F and celebrity photography.
Anyways, it's 6:48 Am and there's work to be done.
Cameron House comes down March First, check it out,
A.Shay Hahn
Mariachi (Guitara) Mariachi (Drummer)Here are two more Mariachi who are hanging at the Cameron House, if you go down today I believe you can see Chris Coole and John Showman playing, they are both incredible musicians from respective acts, New Country Rehab, Foggy Hogtown Boys, The Creeking Tree String Quartet, Crazy Strings etc. if they are there it's not to be missed. Last day to see the show at the Cameron House is the 28th.
A.Shay Hahn
Untitled 
MountiesIt's Mariachi and Devilish madness at the Cameron House, I can't seem to keep them on the walls or paint them fast enough, commissions for them keep coming in which I am very happy about but I need a break for them to finish an important commission.
Thursday come to the Cameron House to hear Ron Leary play. Wednesday you can see Josh Cockerill play in the front room from 6-8pm here's a link to Josh's myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/joshuacockerill
Here is the 2nd block in for a commission of a Globe piece, there are too others (see label "Come On Pilgrim"). I was really very happy to be asked to do this. The piece is 30 x30 inches and I rarely get to work this large. I'll have another photo posted tomorrow so you can follow it's development. Figure placement took awhile to get right, hopefully it will meet with approval, I tend to work all over the place when I paint, it helps me tie the tones of the piece in, and when working this large, I find it very helpful. It should be more difficult, but it isn't.A.Shay Hahn
The Red Devil Jug Band, Washboard Player, Gut Bucket Bass Player
The Firewatcher Is it Firewatcher or Fire Watcher ? Send me a message and let me know, hard at work a great commission to finish this week and some half finished little things that I've been working on since December.
You can currently see my work at the Cameron House, 408 Queen Street West Toronto and at the Press Club 850 Dundas West, and guess what ? They are within walking distance of each other, to see what is on display at each venue please scroll down if you hate words and love pictures feel free to join my facebook group, "the madcraftshoppe".
cheers,back to work
A.Shay Hahn
Fall Fashions (three skeletons)
Left: The Shadow Boys (are breakin' all the laws) SOLD, Cameron House Records painting Not For Sale, Dontcha Know There Ain't No Devil (that's just God when he's drunk) $160.00
Here's a link to the site for "My Side of The Country" a Canadian musical written by Grant Tilly, you can read about the creative team, hear songs from the show and follow the development of this very cool project that is using my "Canadian Girl" as it's logo. http://www.mysideofthecountry.ca/ . To see more of the "Canadian Girl Project" here at the mad craft shoppe just click on the label, they can be commissioned in all shapes and colours and environments.
The Night Tree 12x24 inches, acrylic on canvas framed $340.00, Fox with Fiddle $180.00,
Deep Sea Diver with Gretsch $260.00, Robot $260.00, Deep Sea Diver $220.00
Deep Sea Diver $220.00, Orange SOLD, Grapefruit $260.00
Untitled 12x 12inches, acrylic on canvas, framed $160.00, Dubble Bubble $260.00,
Queen of Birds, 20 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
The White Rowboat, acrylic on canvas, framed
Mariachi Sketetons 8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas,framed
SOLD
Piano $260, Lady with an Axe $220.00, Women with Birdhouses SOLD
Mariachi Sketeton SOLD, Fisherman $180.00, Waiting for the Lake to Freeze $340.00A.Shay Hahn
Mariachi (fiddle)
East Wall- A Quiet Place to Call My Own $160.00, Boy With Trumpet $160.00, An Idea is Like a Storm $180.00, Baseball Goon $160.00, Rescue Dog $140.00, A Cup of Crows $160.00, Rescue Dog $160.00, Man with Hammer $200.00
East Wall -The Sisters (the White Glove Test) $180.00, Rescue Dog $140.00, Canadian Girl $180.oo, Hot Love Cold Taps $60.00, Prometheus $240.00 (I think)
. West Wall- Last of the Snake Killin' Girls $340.00, Fencer $100.00, Deep Sea Diver $100.00, sign with my name on it, not for sale
West Wall- Raised by Plastic Wolves $340.00, Last Adventure of the Dog Faced Boys $340.00, Prometheus $340.00A.Shay Hahn
Cameron House Records T-Shirts are now available at the Cameron House $20.00 each, they come in a variety of sizes (don't ask me what those sizes are) and look exactly like the photo above. On the back of course is printed, "This Is Paradise".
Mariachi (Guitara II),Mariachi (Drums) Mariachi (guitara), Mariachi (accordion)SOLDI always have paintings of musicians at the Cameron House, I'll be bringing down the remaining Deep Sea Divers and the "Bremen" (Fox and Crow on bicycle) pieces to put up and I thought I'd do these smaller mariachi/Day of the Dead folks to keep them company, there will be two more posted, with a possible fifth either later on today or tomorrow.
UPDATE 2:55pm Here's the drummer!
A.Shay Hahn
UntitledSorry to have been away so long last week was incredibly busy with running back and forth to the many places I have art hanging to get some pieces together for a private showing. When you have work hanging in three places it can get a little crazy travelling all over town. But that's (almost) finished now and I have the weekend (thanks J.B) to get back to finishing work that is going up at the Cameron House on Tuesday.
Here is the first of three pieces from the sketch pages I had posted below. I don't have too much to say about it right now, but I did enjoy using some colours that I usually avoid, yes green and untainted blue and yellow I'm talking about you. I quite like the tones of the piece and the vibe.
I'll be posting what is currently at the Press Club later this eve and then photos of the Cameron House on Tuesday eve. Many thanks to Mitzi's Sister and the Wilson 96 for the chance to have some work hanging in January.
best,
A.Shay Hahn
