Local Herald issue 3

SEEP. 3

Volume 4, Issue 3

MARCH 15, 2013

THE HeraldLocal

W e s t E n d ’ s C o m m u n i t y P a p e r

THE HeraldLocal

W e s t E n d ’ s C o m m u n i t y P a p e rTh

e Ar

t Iss

ue -

It’s

all a

bout

art

!

“I say YES when your bank says no!”

Artist Callard practices multi-media approach

pg. 2 - MARCH 15, 2013 - localheraldmontreal.com

Bram Eisenth

al - The Loca

l Seeker

The Local Herald, West End Montreal EditionVolume 4, Number 1, MARCH 15, 2013The Local Herald does not accept responsibility for errors,misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions andstatements of our columnists are not to be presumed as thestatements and opinions of The Local Herald.

Art is so very subjective. One person’sart = another’s trash. I keep thinking ofthat painting at the National Gallery ofCanada in Ottawa, artist BarnettNewman’s Voice of Fire, a single paintedline (actually, three adjoining lines,one of cadmium red flanked by two of

ultramarine blue) on canvas that they purchased for ascalding $1.8 million. While I think the buyer was alunatic, I am sure that someone among the throngs whohave seen it simply adores it. And it DID hang in theBuckminster Fuller-designed American Pavilion at Expo67, a geodesic dome that is still onsite today, so Isuppose there is intrinsic historical value there, as well.

I love the work of late comic book artist Jack Kirby (whocreated almost every iconic old-school superhero, fromSpiderman to the Fantastic Four and Captain America…and please don’t buy into Stan Lee’s aggrandized super-ego), yet I’m sure many consider it archaic garbage.

In November 1999, I raced through Amsterdam’sRijksmuseum, the sole time I have been there, to see thefamous Night Watch, completed by Rembrandt in 1642. Ihave rarely been so enraptured by a painting andRembrandt’s stunning technique manipulating light andshadow will stay with me forever. It was worth almostmissing my flight home to see – and I say “almost”because I needed to get home quickly, as someone wasliterally dying for my return - though I cannot make thesame claim about my experience with Voice of Fire.

I look at the work of the acclaimed “father of modernphotography,” Alfred Stieglitz, and consider itbreathtaking, yet modern photographers may believe it’sold and irrelevant. Stieglitz, who delighted and inspireduntold numbers of talented creators with his photos fromthe end of the 19th century until his death in the mid-20th century, was himself wed to an American artisticlegend, Georgia O’Keeffe. I love her work, yet how manyof you think all she painted were floral patternsresembling vaginas?

Speaking of vaginas, let’s monologue on the subject ofgood taste. Many people consider art smut, yet whoamong us is the ultimate arbiter of good taste? Art iswhat you think of it. They say that when you start an artcollection – and I think aficionados should start buyingpieces they can afford when they are very young andbuild from there - buy what you like. It doesn’t matter ifit’s a shocking nude, a landscape or a solitary line oncanvas. If you like it, own it. People may not share yourtaste, but who cares? YOU like it and that’s all thatmatters. Kids become adults when they really stop givinga damn what others think of them.

The theme of this issue is art and some of our columnists

Managing Editor: Bram Eisenthal Creative Design: Julia Lucio - [email protected]

OUR CONTACT INFORMATIONFree Classifieds and Advertising: 514-975-7745

EMAIL: [email protected] localheraldmontreal.com

Head Office: 327 2nd Street E. Cornwall, On. K6H 1Y8

are sharing their affection for it with us. Who knew, forinstance, that Father John Walsh has not only achieved suchsuccess and respect as a Catholic priest, but is such atalented artist as well? “Wow, what incredible work!” was myinitial reaction. Yours?

Our striking cover is by our talented 21-year old cartoonist,Alex Callard, who is going to make it big-time someday orthere is no justice in this world. Now there’s a goodinvestment… catch him now, while he’s hot… andaffordable. We also bring you some bios of a cross-section ofWest End artists you may or may not have heard of. Werespect artists here at The Local Herald and so, with thisissue, we pay homage to you all. Be proud of what you do,whether you are rich, poor or middling, thanks to your God-given talent. We can’t all be rich, but we also can’t all begreat.

From time to time, we run a column called Achieving Artists,written by a particular West End artist and generally abouthis or her work. If you yourself are an artist or if you knowsomeone who is, there’s space for you at The Local Herald.We welcome you. And we thank you for your continuingcommitment to a very under-appreciated field.

Two more West End restaurants bite the dust

Old news by now, but I just heard about it as I write thisevening, is that that Carmine’s on Cote St. Luc Road ishistory. That’s too bad. Not only was it quite good everysingle time I ate there, but its loss leaves a huge void in thelocal restaurant scene. If there was ever a time for the newowners of Cavendish Mall/Quartier Cavendish to sign aviable, quality restaurant, it is now. If it’s good, and a familyestablishment along the lines of Pumpernik’s (rather thantrendy like Sternz Rhapsody or ridiculous like the year-oldChili’s and that short-lived smoked-meat “hut” I can’t recallthe name of ), the place can draw crowds from all over theWest End. It ’s time you started leading the businesscommunity, new Mall owners. The other place to close – andthis is what I have been told, even though the tables are stillset and the lights are on at night – is the recently re-openedAgoura on Somerled. I ate there once, was totallyunderwhelmed and never went back.

EDITORIALSOne man’s art…

localheraldmontreal.com - MARCH 15, 2013 - pg. 3

Whether you love it or generally think youare ignoring it, art makes the world goround. One person’s trash: Another’streasure. But it seemed prudent to payhomage to art in this issue, if for no otherreason than to stress how important art –and artists – are to our lives. No matterwhat the HarperConserva t ivesmay believe, artIS essential…can you justimagine howbland a world thiswould be withoutit? Even a personwho is critically ill can still appreciate niceart in a world gone very bad for them.That’s why today’s palliative care facilitiesoften surround dying patients with beautifulthings to look at… while they still can. Ithelps, somehow. It soothes.

We start with another talented young artist(remember Dylan Kotansky, who gracedour cover just two issues ago?) who hasblown us away with his ongoing cartoonstrip, Power Theatre. Alex Callard is just21, but as you will see and hear, he’s got themojo and ability to ratchet his craft up manynotches during what is sure to be apromising and exciting career.

Alex was raised and educated in the WestIsland and “in my elementary schoolyearbook, I cited wanting to be a cartoonistwhen I grew up.” Unbelievably, judgingfrom the quality of his work, however,formal training did not come into play as ameans of developing his craft. “I’ve justalways had blank paper and a pencil in myhand, particularly in high school… much tothe agitation of my teachers. As a kid, Iwould create – from drawing comics, towriting stories, making videos and evenexperimenting briefly with video gamedesign - using anything I could get myhands on.”

Alex was fortuke nate to have parents whohave supported his career dream from dayone, contrary to those who push their kidsinto their personal dream careers. “They’vebeen unrelenting in their support of mycreative endeavours,” Alex concurred. “Myparents have always been the kind of peoplewho want me to be happy and healthy and,if my passions included art, to take itseriously.

“While they always encouraged me to spendtime playing outside and being sociable,they also didn’t limit my (mass) mediaconsumption as strictly as some parents do,provided I maintained good grades and ahealthy lifestyle.”

His growingyears werealso notnecessarilythe samethat most

kids enjoy.“I've always been drawn to

people in creative positions who reallyput themselves into their art,” Alex pointedout. “I was never the kind of kid to havesports stars on my walls.”

Exposure to the outside world through massmedia has been a good thing for those of uswho admire Alex’s Power Theatre strips,which require him to know what’s going onaround him. He doesn’t deal with oneparticular theme, as seminal strips like GaryTrudeau’s Doonesbury often have, but thereis always some cultural reference or jokeinherent in almost every strip. “I wasfortunate enough to go on a lot of vacationsand to have traveled often as a child and Ithink that helped shape my view of theworld,” Alex admitted. “I have alwaysimagined some kid in a city halfway acrossthe world reading one of my comics andconnecting with it the same way I did.”

For now, PowerTheatre is Alex’sregular gig, ashe balancesschool (thegraduate of Loyola High andJohn RennieC E G E Pcurrently attendsC o n c o r d i a ,where he isenrolled in

Communications, with a Specialization inVideo) part-time work and the life of a 21-year old.

“Power Theatre has been my attempt atdrawing a comic strip. I initially wanted tocreate something on the web and I starteddoing a lot of non conventional style strips,trying to find my voice,” Alex told me. “Iwas always happy with the art, but it has

Artist Callard practices multi-media approach Story and Photos Bram D. Eisenthal Illustrations by Alex Callard

Cove

r Story

also been really great practice learning towrite jokes. When I started doing the strip forThe Herald, I switched to a dedicated threepanels and having that restriction has beenreally helpful for learning how to craft a storyin three images.

“When you have too much freedom it canactually hinder your work, whereaslimitations force you to make creativedecisions.”

To keep his options open – and also toperhaps avoid the trap many artists fall intoby working alone - Alex has also startedmaking movies, we note with no lack ofanticipation. “I've never been one to settle onone particular medium and stick with it andwhile I love to draw, it is a very solitaryexistence,” he concurred. “I like to work withothers and I'm currently trying to pursue acareer in video or film work because I like towork within larger communities. That beingsaid, I don't think I'll ever stop drawing and Ilove to have something I can control frombeginning to end, something that reflects whoI am. Who knows where I'll end up?

“I've been trying to learn to code in order todesign apps, working on my cartoons, my artand making and editing videos. Wherever Iend up, I just want to be doing something Ican be proud of and that others will connectto.Finally, what about his method? How doesAlex come up with his ideas on a regular

basis?

“It's really a wayfor me to drawthe world as I seeit. It's not meantto be anythingmore than funnyobservations inan almosts u r r e a l ,e x a g g e r a t e dworld. As far astopics go, I jotdown ideaswhenever they

come to me and hope I have something goodwhen it comes down to drawing a strip. To betruthful, a disproportionately large amount ofideas come to me in the shower.”

Then keep a bar of soap handy at all times,then, Alex, and stay squeaky clean. Here atThe Local Herald, we appreciate your talentmore and more with each passing issue.


Proud to be Canadian: Anti-Bill 14 Rally attracted600 participants from all demographics

by Bram D. EisenthalThe Local Herald

On February 17, 2013,Montreal Anglophones,Francophones andpeople representingethnic minorities held arally the likes of whichhave not been seen inthis city in many, manyyears, decades even. Asa protest against thePQ’s proposed Bill 14,

meant to strengthen Bill 101 and furtherdivide the non-separatist-leaning community from its historic rights in thisprovince of Canada, the rally was held on a bitterly-cold Sunday in front of theMontreal offices of the PQ leader, Premier Pauline Marois.

I can say with completecertainty that it attracted some600 enthusiastic participants,though media reports tallied thenumber at between 150-200, aridiculously low-balled estimateto those in attendance. Therewas, however, one lone separatistprotester, who stood on the otherside of McGill College Ave., wavinga Quebec flag. A large policepresence and impressive voluntarysecurity team assembled byFacebook’s Unity group likelydissuaded anyone with notions ofdisruption from turning out.

And the rally brought together peoplefrom all demographics and even regionsas far off as Ottawa, Cornwall and Toronto, Ontario.Organized by thegroupsPutBackTheFlag.com and Unity, it was a huge success, spurring on future

attempts to preventthe demise ofQuebec’s Anglophonecommunity at thehands of the PQ. Mostimportant, it servednotice to separatiststhat they had a fighton their hands, thatd i s m a n t l i n gcommunities outsideof the majority-French milieu wasnot going to be acakewalk.

Speaker Beryl Wajsman, well-known local editor, publisher and activist, garneredthe loudest applause from supporters when he spoke about the place of QuebecAnglophones in society. He also warned that the alienation of those against thePQ message would portend consequences: “If we have no say, we won’t pay!” heshouted, striking up a chant in the large throng of supporters. Seemingly a thinlyveiled reference to the concept of tax revolt, this was potentially the first timethis subject has been broached publicly.

Mary Bray and Chris Cameron, representing the executive of the Cornwallchapter of the group Language Fairness for All, or LFA(www.languagefairnessforall.org), drove in to participate.

French-Quebecer Steve Theverge, who has been actively involved in livelyFacebook discussions regarding opposition to Bill 14, pointed out that this was“not just an English issue” and was uniquely a Quebec one, in his point of view.

Jimmy Kay, chairman of the Unity group, deemed the rally “a huge success…. We got themessage about the dangers of Bill 14 out to Quebecers, as it proved to be a mediacircus. It made the front page of the Montreal Gazette and Le Devoir, plus it gotcoverage across Canada. The phones are still ringing,” stated an overtired-but-exuberantKay. Longtime Gazette columnist BillBrownstein was among the exuberantcrowd.

“Our goal is to create an awareness ofthe issues and also to convince theLiberals and CAQ (Coalition Avenir duQuebec) to vote down Bill 14. If theCAQ is truly the right-of-centre party,as they claim, then this bill needs to bevoted down. It will affect the economyin a negative way and hurt smallbusiness. Also, Bill 14 hearings are awaste of taxpayers’ money.”

One person in attendance has really worn his heart on his sleeve, even though he hasnot lived in Quebec a long time. Immigrant Mohamed H. Amin was at the SocieteAssurance des Automobile du Quebec (SAAQ) in Decarie Square with his wife and 2-year old daughter when an employee discriminated against the former for speakingEnglish, insisting that she speak French in Quebec andembarrassing the family in front of a roomful ofpeople. This story at that branch is not new. Imyself have witnessed hostility from staff againstEnglish-speaking clients. “I saw everyone watchingus being discriminated against without saying aword,” Amin told me. “Everyone seemed to beeither brainwashed or they enjoyed staying silent.”

So, Amin started a small project of his own, I AmNot Insane, I am a Limited Edition, a series offilmed interview shorts the goal of which is toensure that what happened to him does nothappen to others. “I did this simply to speak outloud,” Amin said. “To say to people in Quebec andto those around the world that, in Quebec,discrimination is a culture. Democracy here isnothing but a phrase, a card they are playing with.

“I plan on going to every shop and every other place where there is this culture ofdiscrimination and asking if people have been harassed by the OLF (Office de la LangueFrancais). From an immigrant’s perspective, if I had known this before – if they had signsat Quebec’s airports warning us Enter at Your Own Risk - I would never have comehere. Being here in Quebec in 1913 is like being in Germany in 1939… it’s as simple asthat.

“Coming from the Middle East as Ido, I admit that we don’t havedemocracy, that it is still being bornthere, but we have never pretendedto be democratic whilediscriminating against others.

“Quebec is the worst thing happento me ever, but it is the land of mydaughter now and I have to standfor her rights.” Amin was at therally, managing to grip his videocamera with frozen hands,interviewing participants.

The Second Cup on McGill College helped everyone keep warm and also provided hotcoffee to anyone who needed it.

Another rally is planned for Tuesday, March 19, this time a bus trip culminating in aprotest to be held at Quebec’s National Assembly the day the vote is planned on Bill 14(see the ad in this issue of The Local Herald for further details).


CUISINE

Remember that oldfamiliar phrase sooften uttered inmoments of severehunger pangswhen homecooking doesn’t

even enter the sphere of reasonablepossibilities....”Let’s have Chinesetonight?” And off you go, taking thatone small baby step into a fast foodnight that hints at the joyful guise ofthat ubiquitous won ton soup, chowmien and sweet and sour spareribs.

A couple of weeks ago I had that sameyearning, but not for the typicaltemplate of Asian food thatpredictably leaves you hungry just anhour after eating!

Despite its name, Soy is about as farremoved from your day to dayChinese food as foie gras is from anordinary slab of liver. I must admit, inthe spirit of full disclosure, Soy is mostdefinitely my favourite Asianrestaurant in Montreal. Despite myconfessed predisposition to Soy,however, I assure you that I can stillmaintain my unwavering objectivitywhen tasting and commenting ontheir food.

The menu at Soy, under the very skilfuldirection of co owner and chefSuzanne Lui, offers a wide array ofAsian dishes representing a largeswath of Asian cuisines. The maincourses are offered either as a la cartechoices or as table d’ hotes incombination with a soup or salad andyour choice of an appetizer. The tabled’hôte prices range from $22 to $27.There is also an extensive and

interesting tasting menu offeredat $35 per person. For the purposeof this review, the prices I haveindicated are those from the a lacarte menu.

As a preamble to their menu, theowners aptly state the following“Kindly note that our style ofservice is Chinese. This means assoon as servings are ready, webring them fresh to you. Thus, thedishes seldom all arrive at thesame time. May we respectfullyencourage you to share and tasteyour dishes like the Chinese? Afterall, a shared journey is a morerewarding one.” This is a wonderfulcustom and a great way to enjoy a meal, aswell as a very familiar way of eating duringmy travels throughout Southeast Asia.We arrived on a Sunday night and the placewas humming with a lively crowd of all ages.I started my meal with the soup of the day,chicken with lemongrass ($4), absolutelydelicious. I could have just settled for this asmy dinner and been completely satisfied.The subtle citrusy fragrance of lemongrasswas delicately balanced with just a hint ofginger and Thai chilis...so simple, but sosublime! My partner had a plate of mixedsalad greens dressed in a tangy Asian gingervinaigrette ($4) light, fresh and a great wayto begin.

The next dish to arrive was a favourite,Crispy Tofu 'Pockets' with ginger teriyakisauce ($7) delicate squares of soft soy lightlydipped in tempura batter, deep fried andserved with a deliciously reduced sweet andtangy ginger teriyaki sauce. Following thiswas the Crispy Teriyaki Chicken Spring Rolls($6), two crisp spring rolls encasing strips oftender grilled chicken filets marinated interiyaki sauce. Crisp, delicious, with not a

hint of oil on theoutside.

Our main dishesarrived as promised,one after the other,after a short butwelcome pause. Thefirst, Shrimps inBalinese peanut sauce($17), was composedof six large, tendersautéed tiger shrimpenveloped in adelicious velvetypeanut saucemellowed with a hint

of coconut milk and garnished with Thaibasil. It was accompanied by steamedjasmine rice and gai lan (Chinese broccoli).Our other choice of a main dish, SzechwanDuck with steamed northern Chinese bread,cucumbers, spring onions and hoi sin sauce($17) was the one dish to disappoint me. Butmy partner who shared the dish with meloved it. Each to his own, I guess!

The duck was not the delicate pieces of meatthat I expected, but a rather unappealingwafer like serving of fried compressed duckmeat that was tough and hard to eat as oneis supposed to by assembling your own minisandwich with the accompanying steamedChinese bread, cucumber, green onion stripsand hoi sin sauce. We ordered a refreshingbottle of Chateau de Nages with our meal($33) and ended this exotic journey with abaked banana boat filled with a scoop ofvanilla ice cream and drizzled with a sinfulchocolate sauce ($4).

Service throughout was friendly andattentive despite the restaurant being filledto capacity. All in all, a wonderful culinarycruise through Asia. We reluctantly left theseborrowed tropical climes only to trudgereluctantly back out into the snow and coldof our unapologetic Montreal winter.

Our meal, which we ordered as a table d’hôte($25 each), came to $114.98(includingcocktails, wine and taxes, but not including tip)

Restaurant Hours: Monday – Wednesday 11:30a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday 11:30a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 11:00p.m. Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

All major credit cards and Interac accepted5258 St Laurent Blvd Reservations: 514 499-9399Website: www. restaurantsoy.com

The Fickle Foodie - Justin W

elks

Restaurant Soy


Chef Cayennewith Chef Michael Minorgan

They are modern day incarnations and throwbacksto the frolic, mayhem and freewheeling days ofprohibition and the subterranean closed doorspeakeasies that flourished throughout our majormetropolises in the 1920’s They are undergroundrestaurants where admission, like entry to thespeakeasy, is similarly by initiation only and gettingyour name on the guest list is, due to the inherentsubterfuge, sometimes very difficult and reliesheavily on your ability to access and nourish theright ‘connections’.

These cryptic restos operate well below the radarline. All this mystery is not meant to slander themin any way they are indeed an extremely popularand growing foodie fad all over the world especiallyin our larger cities where detection by theauthorities can be much easier to avoid. Theirinherent secretive nature seemingly only heightenstheir appeal of offering the participants a deliciousand exciting high wire dining experience.

Many of these establishments are run byextraordinarily good cooks, very often retired orout of work chefs or great home cooks specializingin a particular global cuisine. Dinner at anunderground restaurant is definitely more than justa place to eat, it is a complete social affair, a placeto meet new similarly inclined food lovers whereeating the food is only one course on the evening’smenu. Many offer the opportunity to discuss theingredients and cooking techniques and quite oftencan actually get involved in the preparation of the

meal itself. Participants are usually asked for a“donation” at the door and they are quitecommonly BYOB events. From my research theaverage “donation” for a 5 course extravaganzais about $85 (wine is at your own expense)

These surreptitious soirees supposedly hadtheir origin in post communist Cuba wherethey were called ‘palardes’. They started toevolve after Castro took over the island and theeconomy bottomed out and unemploymentskyrocketed pushing people to all means toearn money. Many locals opened up their homesand entertained tourists and the like to help manage their family finances and keep theirheads above water. Needless to say this was andis even today a very dangerous alternative incommunist controlled Cuba where thepenalties, if caught, could be life threatening.

The trend quickly caught on and these hiddensecrets started popping up all over Europeespecially in economically starved Spain wherethey where generically called ‘puertas cerradas’.One of the more popular ones located inBarcelona goes by the iconic name LaContrasenya (password).In the UK they areknown as “supper clubs a tag much more suitedto the more refined British taste.

Very soon after, the idea inevitably crossed thepond to North America where today you canfind (if you look hard enough and in the right

places!) many such eateries flourishing in thebellies of our larger cities especially the majordining capitals of New York City and SanFrancisco .They come with many names, TheHidden Kitchen, The Ghetto Gourmet, The RogueApron, The Bite Club etc, etc....you get the idea!

The recent expansion of these eateries canalmost always be measured by and attributed to abad economy and high unemployment situationsthat leave many people struggling to come upwith inventive ways to earn extra money. Handsup for ingenuity and inventiveness albeit asomewhat risky example I fear.

There is however no denying their success andpopularity. So the next time you are trolling theweb searching for these culinary backstreets youmay just come across one these furtive feasts andtheir cryptic marketing message. Get in on thesecret, grab a few friends and give them a try. Theycan, as I am told by my unnamed sources, result ina very enjoyable evening of food and fun and allfor a very reasonable ‘donation’ given what someof the ‘above ground’ restaurants are chargingthese days

2013 Culinary Tour information can be found atwww.globalgourmets.caEmail: [email protected]

Furtive Feasts and Ghetto Gourmets!

This week's art theme gotme thinking. You may bewondering why....and,well, if you aren't, I'mgoing to tell you anyway. Itgot me thinking aboutdecoration, home-staging

and presentation. Whenpeople are trying to sell their home, theyneglect to focus on the importance of howtheir home looks to the casual observerand this is where an interiordecorator/home stager can be very useful.

A gorgeous home that is poorly decorated,with a lot of clutter, will be perceived as lessvaluable to a potential buyer. Having aprofessional come in with special furniture,move items around to create more space,and put subtle touches like flowers aroundthe house, can make all the differencebetween someone buying your house ornot. Remember, perception is reality.

Soon all that furniture will be replaced bythe new buyer's furniture. The room willlook totally different, yet you have

Mortgag

e M

atters

FINANCE & REAL ESTATEconvinced them subconsciously that theway it is decorated is a selling point.

Unfortunately this is an area where mostpeople decide not to spend their money.The cost of the decorator at $80-$120/hour can also save you money whenyou decide to renovate. It is commonknowledge that bathrooms and kitchensare what people look at most in homerenovations. To you men out there....If youhave a perfectly designedbathroom/kitchen in a decent house,how quickly would your wife make anoffer?

Exactly!

Good luck and happy-house-hunting!

Jason Zuckermanw.mortgageratesmontreal.comHypotheca Mortgage Brokers(514) 771-1352 /1-800- [email protected]

Home staging is an art


Science wiz Dr. JoeSchwarcz takes on theprofessionals

‘Eat 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables andmove more.’ That is what Dr. Joe Schwarcz,Director of McGill University’s office for

Science and Society, told a group of dieticians lastweek, at an annual meeting.

Dr. Schwarcz was the invited guest and he spoke about thescience behind artificial sweeteners. After his compelling talk,the 10 dieticians on hand picked his brain for over an hour.We asked questions about the safety of foreign foods, thesafety of canned fruits and vegetables with BPA, alkaline vs.acidic diets, sugar vs. dietary fats, dairy myths, sodium issues,Dr. Oz, Dr. Mercola, coconut oil and on and on. Luckily for us,Dr. Schwarcz was very patient.

The discussion was lively and intense. Dr. Schwarcz supportsevidence-based science, which is really just well-designedscientific studies that do not carry any biases. Dr. Schwarczresponded to our myriad questions using this approach.

Contrary to popular belief, artificial sweeteners will not giveyou cancer. If you do drink about 800 diet sodas a day,however, then you will probably get cancer. If you are aninsulin-dependent diabetic, then artificial sweeteners are agreat choice. If you are trying to lose weight, relying onproducts with no sugar won’t really help. Sometimes, you willfind yourself gaining weight because artificial sweeteners docreate a desire for actual sugar and calories. Diets high inartificial sweeteners are typically low in the good stuff likefruits, vegetables and whole grains.

There is too much information circulating around theInternet and on TV these days. Dr. Schwartz and his team atMcGill do their best to sift through it all for us. You can check

Who

le Wheat R

oll - Caryn Roll

Great Food ~ Great Coffee ~ GreatPeople

1377 Greene at SherbrookeWestmount514.935.0946

In La La Land there is no shortage of hope. In fact you can

d

Shew

out their website athttp://www.mcgill.ca/oss/ foranswers to your questions aboutstuff you saw on Dr. Oz or haveread on Facebook.

By the end of our meeting withDr. Schwarcz, it became veryobvious that there is so muchmisinformation out there. Asdieticians, we want to give thehealthiest possible advice to ourclientele. It is no big surprise thatthe simplest things are often thebest. So, eat more fruits andvegetables and go for a walkevery day!

Caryn J. Roll P.Dt. (514.817.0135)Twitter: @MTRLnutrition Join me on Facebookwww.montrealnutrition.com

Unity Bus QuebecCity-bound:

Bill14 Hearings,March19, 2013

Info at: https://www.facebook.com/e

vents/calendar/2013/March/19

Round trip cost -$35.00 per person

For those who have not yetheard, Hugo Shebbeare willspeak on behalf of the QC

Office of the EnglishLanguage at the Provincial

Legislature (AssNat.qc.ca), atapproximately 8:30 p.m.Tues., March 19, for ½ an

hour, followed by a Q&A session.


Susan Shulman - NDGSusan producesworks in traditionaland digital media,video and spokenword. About herwork, she says:

“I have had a longfriendship with theblues. They are the“sparks” of magicthat ignites myartistic flame. Theblues is anintoxicating, seamlessbackdrop of familiar

notes, and rhythms that make me feel I am home and springboards my imagination tounravel on canvas.

My palette is bright and bold creating tension between images and feeling,” she says. “In mypaintings, I embrace the richness of colour. My magic symbols of fish are a continuous themerunning through my works: Their scales have become my symbolic vocabulary, my musicalnotes, tones of fluid and soft movement, a visual syncopation between colour and imagery.”

Fish are Love: Caressing the soul, the body and the mind. Fish are Faith: Their iridescent colours swimming through the ever-changing tides of life. Fish are Hope: Flowing against the currents, in search of better, in search of more. Fish are Sperm: Future generations, a continuum, and flexible, beautiful creatures rising fromthe depth of the soul.

Susan studied at the Musée des Beaux Arts de Montreal, the Saidye Bronfman Center ForThe Arts, and received a BFA with distinction from Concordia University. As painter andvisual artist, she has been prolific in creating bodies of work in both traditional and non-traditional art forms. Her art has been at the forefront of many unique art projects, notablythe world-wide art movement “A Book About Death”, (her contribution in the permanentcollection of MoMA in NYC, MoMA Wales and many other cities), in the co-creation of thevirtual studio space “Seeking Kali,” at http://www.seekingkali.com. She is also a keycontributor to the ongoing ‘Exquisite Corpse’ “Analogue Narratives”, a global art projectproducing intensive illustrations, digital, video and written work influenced by the blues.

To date, Susan has had nine solo shows and her works have been exhibited locally andinternationally. Her recent works have been exposed in USA, Brazil, Belgium, Croatia, Serbia,Italy, India, Australia and the United Kingdom. She has published two art books, “Miniscapes”and “In Our Memories Forever” as well as co-creating “Kali”, a limited edition printportfolio, a copy of which is housed in the state library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.

http://[email protected]

Carol Rabinovitch –Cote Saint-Luc

My interest in painting was sparked 15 years agoon a trip to the Charlevoix region of Quebec. Thebeauty of the area inspired me to paint with oils andacrylics. Over the years, I discovered other media,including collage, mixed-media, print-making,assemblage and recycled objects. I like to bechallenged while having fun creating newimages. My artworks have whimsy motifsincluding my signature swirls and dots, all in brightcolours dancing on the canvases. Some senda message, others are merely pleasing to the eye,images of my favourite things - butterflies,umbrellas and shoes. I have participated in manygroup exhibitions in Montreal and the UnitedStates.

My upcoming solo art exhibit for the month ofSeptember 2013 is at Gryphon d'Or Tea House,5968 Monkland Avenue, 514-485-7377. My creations can be viewed atcarolswhimsyart.blogspot.com. My e-mail addressis: [email protected]

Local artists paint or draw our world through their eyesby Bram D. Eisenthal (and his artistic collaborators)

Montreal’s West End possesses a plethora of hard-working artists. While the Plateau Mont-Royal is home to many representing the Francophonemilieu, those found in our West End are decidedly Anglo and ethnic. We thought we’d bring a few to your attention in this, our Art Issue. Inaddition to our youngest, 21-year old Alex Callard featured on our cover, these outstanding artists represent varying demographics, all the wayup to veteran Westmount resident Anita Ein Shapiro, who recently celebrated her 94th birthday. We wish them all much career and life successin the future!


Anita Ein Shapiro – Westmount

Anita Shapiro and I have known oneanother approximately six years and,while the 94-year old artist andWestmount resident does notappear to have aged much, I know Ihave. My additional years havetherefore brought increased wisdom,I hope, along with an increasingappreciation for this wizened, savvy,very talented and humble pioneer ofthe local art scene.

The widow of late lawyer GeraldShapiro, Anita Ein Shapiro is themother of three grown men who allreside elsewhere, which actually givesher time to pursue her love of art.She now lives in a lovely residencefor seniors, but is still active, bothcataloguing her life’s work with theassistance of a young aide, makingdonations of her art now and then…and still exhibiting in shows. AW12:Art Westmount 201, held this pastSeptember, featured Shapiro andsome of her work as part of a selectgroup of outstanding professionals.

Shapiro’s parents hailed fromBialystock, Russia, moved to GlaceBay, Nova Scotia and then came to Montreal just before she wasborn. She was raised in a socially stimulating environment – “therewere always people at our house and I liked it that way” – before sheand Gerald carried on that tradition as young marrieds.

Shapiro attended Roslyn School in Westmount, followed byWestmount High. In 2008 or so, she attended Roslyn’s centennialcelebration, where a friend pointed out “that I was probably theoldest person there,” she recalled with a smile and twinkle in hereye.

When she was 17, realizing that the schooling at McGill chosen forher by her father wasn’t for her, she enrolled in the art program at Sir George Williams (thedowntown campus now part of Concordia) and augmented her studies by taking privateclasses with respected artist Herman Heimlich.

The wonder of it all is how long Shapiro has been pursuing her passion and how she startedin her early twenties, more than six decades ago! “I worked at both T. Eaton and HenryMorgan’s (now called The Bay) here in Montreal, as an illustrator in their fashion departments.It was a lot of fun,” she recalled. Shapiro drew images of the day’s hottest styles and actually

handling her own layout for newspaper ads. Remember, thiswas many decades before computers were around to assist

anyone working in thegraphics field. “Theywould give us a blankpage and we would haveto draw within theborders, do our ownlayout and such. I reallyenjoyed that.”

The very best thingabout the work, sheremembered, was beingprivy to the newest,

trendiest hat fashions. “A model would come to thedepartment and pose with the latest seasonal hats, whichthe “milliner” departments would then sell.” The popular,award-winning TV series Mad Men has done a lot to bring

hats and other fashions from abygone era back into vogue (I am stillwaiting for haberdasheries for mento make their much-needed return,however…).

Shapiro has participated in some 25exhibitions to date and is apparentlypoised to attend more, whenever theopportunity arises. Don’t bet againsther doing that: There is muchlongevity in her family – her motherlived into her late nineties, her fatherhis late eighties and her sister CeliaGreenberg passed away not too longago at age 103. “My grandfather wasfitted for a new suit when he was 85,”Shapiro stated.

She has also donated her work to thecollections of many esteemedvenues, including the Museum ofCivilization in Hull, Quebec, CanadaCouncil Art Bank in Ottawa and

many Montreal businesses including Claridge, the Alliancelife insurance company, Queen Elizabeth and Maritimehotels, Loto-Quebec and private collections in Westmount,Toronto, Tucson (Arizona) and Los Angeles.

Anita has a constantly-evolving website, at www.aeshapiro.com.

Barry Blitt – Cote Saint-Luc (and now Connecticut)

We Wagar High students who knew Barry when he was15, many, many years ago, never doubted that he had tonsof talent. But at that age, you never know how far thattalent will take you. In Blitt’s case… far. As thecartoonist/illustrator responsible for most of the covers forThe New York Times, Blitt’s legend continues to grow.Since 1992, then still in his early thirties, Blitt hascontributed over 250 illustrations and more than 70 coversto the widely-acclaimed publication. In 2006, his coverentitled Deluged, snared Cover of the Year honours fromthe American Society of Magazine Editors. Many of hisother covers have been finalists for the same award. InJuly 2008, his cover The Politics of Fear, featuring Barack

and Michelle Obama in the Oval Office, earned himwide renown. The artist, who draws with a dip pen anduses water colours, was born in April 1958 and moved tothe U.S. in 1989. He is not the only member of hisfamily to go on to wide acclaim: His brother Ricky is asuccessful screenwriter in Hollywood. Blitt also playsthe piano and often performs for members of the Societyof Illustrators, as a member of The Half-Tones, a jazzgroup he co-founded with Joe Ciardiello and MichaelSloan. His illustrations can also be found inEntertainment Weekly, Time,Vanity Fair, Rolling Stoneand The Atlantic. Blitt has illustrated many children’sbooks and illustrated a Canadian postage stamp in 1994and designed an animated sequence for an episodeSaturday Night Live in 1996 (information fromWikipedia).

Images courtesy Anita Shapiro


Paint ing expresses your inner se l f

SPIRITUALITYSpiritu

al Seedlings

- Father John Walsh

As a boy, I loved to draw. I would draw bycopying comic book personalities. Oneday I didn’t have school and my father,who was a salesman for General Foods,took me along for the day. I wasexcited to go in and out of stores with

my Dad and learn what my father did atwork. I helped fill shelves with products and I would waitin the store when my father was taking an order from themanager.

One time my father said he wouldn’t be long and askedwhether I would mind waiting in the car. Not at all, Ireplied. In the car with me was a large poster for one ofthe company’s products and the reverse side ideal fordrawing. On my person I had a comic book featuringDean Martin and Jerry Lewis. So I began to draw them.When my father returned to the car I had sketchedboth of them and they were actually recognizable! Ienjoyed drawing.

Later, for relaxation, I began to paint with oils. Lifebecame hectic and I eventually gave it up for manyyears. Then a co-worker, Rosalind, asked me what I didto relax. I told her I was thinking of going back topainting. That Christmas she gave me a set of paintsand a few brushes. Months later I passed an art storeand saw that everything was on sale. I went crazybuying material. That weekend, I painted for the firsttime in many years. I caught the bug again.

Then, a year and a half ago, I met an artist namedHarvey Segal and he introduced me to pastels. A newchallenge presented itself and it has proven to bemost enjoyable. I hope you like the paintings I chosefor this Art Issue of The Local Herald.


ENTERTAINMENTMusicians, like art, not alwaysa definable commodity Music of any kind can quickly be defined (orblamed) as art. Art is subjective, not always withbroad appeal. Different types of music find theirway into the hearts of some, but not all. Some mayeven consider those few starting sentences asmuddying up the straightforward beauty that isrock & roll. Not just the three-chord building

blocks of a good rock song, but theorizing orpontificating to equal an overall 'blah, blah, blah' which wrecks thesimple wonder of it for those who just wanna rock. Therein lies thesubjectivity.

Expression through music may have a similar end result for performerswith a different sonic path. Classical, Jazz, Rock & Roll, Folk, Funk, Rap:Whatever it is takes us on a ride, a shared vision of art creating acollective individual experience. Not bad for the price of the album orlive show.

If opinion lies within the explored concepts, is art a philosophy then?Is music definable? Should a group or artist who claims influencetoward styles other than the one they're perceived to be playingsubsequently be classified by just that one style… forever?

Brit rockers Muse have called themselves the "World's Greatest Band,"and have won awards with similar titles, responding with an 'ifsomeone's got to be it, then why not us' attitude. Good point. There'sa definite progressive quality to their sound, calling on the grandioseelements of Yes or Genesis, with a modern tech tone that is all theirown. Those latter two prog-rock giants left fans changed after jaw-dropping live performances, so I can't help but wonder what theturnover rate for the 'world's greatest' moniker is. They will be inMontreal for two shows April 23 and 24, so you can see them whilethey've still got it.

Liner Notes - Sh

aron H

ylan

d

As far as concepts go, David Bowie has explored many within himselfand his music. As rock has evolved, his characters, situations andescapades have set an example for storytelling during that evolution.Whether narrator, leading man or woman, Bowie seems to be in aleague of his own. He is the artist, the subject and the rock & roll,evolving at every turn, making music that can best be defined (ifwe're defining) as his own. This renders his signature soundsomething to which we look forward to hearing the first time, everytime. The Next Day is his 24th album and his first in 10 years. Theanticipation of this artist's expression is high. It's built on honesty andthe courage to explore and share his findings.

It's trust in the concept of art.

Sharon Hyland is a DJ with classic rock station CHOM-FM in Montreal.

David Bowie's first CD in a decade, due out this spring,is a much anticipated project by a true musical artist.

When did turning 40become the end of theworld? Was it backwhen most peopledied of syphilis ortuberculosis orsomething like that

at 42, when agingwas seen as the approach of the endtimes? Or is it because life expectancyis so long today that it is perceived as amid-point of life, the beginning of thedown-slope? Is it for medical reasons(because 40 is when doctors tell men toget prostate exams and womenmammograms) or does it have to dowith physical appearance, greyingtemples, weight gains and excessive hairencroaching on body parts that werepreviously smooth? I can neverunderstand why a man with a full headof hair is seen as desirable by women,but the same hair on a man’s back isseen as disgusting, but I digress (ED.NOTE: It’s called being shallow,Andreas… and just wait till you’re 55!).

For me, mulling over the idea of turning40 was not even within sensory rangeuntil I started a new job after a traumatic

down-on-my-luck period, having suffered twoyears of severe personal and professional set-backs(none of which being the end of the world, andwhen I realized there wereplenty of people far worse offthan myself, but that broughtme little consolation at thetime). A number of co-workersat the new place had asked myage, and when I told them 38,they’d say something like: “Soyou’re turning 40? What’s thatlike? Are you worried?”Worried? Should I be? Why?With all that had happened tome, I did not even contemplateit until they started asking - itreally was not a big deal to me.

I recall I worked until 9 p.m. theevening I turned 40 and myfriend Nick picked me up at work (his usual 45minutes late) for a steak dinner and somegambling. It was a blisteringly cold January nightand the snow pellets sandblasted our faces as wemade our way around downtown and eventually tothe casino, where I won over three hundred dollarsat blackjack. The party ended at an all-night coffeeshop around 4 a.m. Not a bad time at all.That is the subject Jonathan Goldstein tackles in

his latest book, I’ll Seize the Day Tomorrow. Thebook is a journal of the last year of his forties. Init Goldstein neurotically contemplates his life,

where he is and where he is going,with wit and insight as he countsdown the weeks before hitting thedreaded big 4-0.

The book is a well-paced,pleasurable read to ease thetransition for anyone fearingmiddle age. Goldstein has aSeinfeld-like knack forobservational humour with a laughon each page. Also included arebrief fictional pieces, (myfavourite of which is entitledSoulmates), which, although theydo not blatantly fit in with thebook’s subject matter at first glace,they do enhance the experience.

Similar books of the same genre I would alsorecommend include Me Talk Pretty One Day byDavid Sedaris and Ghost Pine: All Stories Trueby Montreal writer Jeff Miller. I’ll Seize the DayTomorrow is definitely in the same league.

Read on!www.essaysbyandreas.com

Is 40 “The End,” or just a new beginning?

Read On! - An

dreas Ke

ssaris


The Americans portrays ColdWar with nuance and complexity

The smart new FX series The Americans (onFX Canada here), created by former CIAagent Joe Weisberg, is part of a recentmini-trend of movies and TV seriesfocusing on the Cold War and the spycrafts engaged in the 1970s and ‘80s bypersonnel from the U.S. and the SovietUnion.

The fine 2011 movie Tinker TailorSoldier Spy, based on John Le Carré’s novel,

linked the corruption, ennui and suspicions inherent inBritain’s M15 and Russia’s KGB, in a tale that had the Britishsuspecting a mole within their ranks, one who is feedingstate secrets to the enemy. But as good as the film was, itbasically suggested that in terms of good and evil and howwe understand those concepts, both sides were essentiallyequivalent. Le Carré’s point was that skulduggery,secretiveness and ruthlessness - inherent in whatintelligence agencies do - wears them down morally, so thedifferences between them are blurred, even erased. Inmany ways that’s a fair comment, as the so-called goodguys sometimes have to carry out actions that are morallyquestionable. But otherwise there is no comparisonbetween the authoritarian Soviet Union, the ‘Evil Empire,’ asRonald Reagan aptly labelled them, and the flawed-but-democratic United States.

The Americans, fortunately, doesn’t make that mistake. TheFBI, searching out the KGB sleepers who have infiltratedU.S. society, are often hard-assed, even callous, but theydon’t hold a candle to what the KGB agents posing asmarried couple Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, and playedby Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, are capable of andactually do in the course of the show.

The series is based on one huge contrivance: The FBI agentStan (Noah Emmerich), in charge of ferreting out theRussian sleepers, has moved in across the street (unawares)from the KGB couple - but if you can get past that, the showis a gripping and highly original one. It manages to get intothe mindset of dedicated (and sometimes doubting)communists who are scared stiff by President Reagan’soften bellicose language vis-a-vis the Soviets but are also,certainly in the case of true believer Elizabeth, incapable ofactually understanding how the U.S. works despite livingundercover there for nearly 20 years. Thus, when Reagan isshot, her immediate assumption, based partially onSecretary of State Alexander Haig’s unfortunate commentsabout being in charge of the U.S. government, is that acoup against Washington is in the making.

The show is also about Philip’s increasing disillusionmentwith his Soviet masters and beginning infatuation with acountry where the food and freedom are plentiful. As theCold War under Reagan heats up, the Jennings’ marriage istested and The Americans inches further into provocativeterritory. And unlike the present day, with an Islamist threatthat doesn’t exclude martyrdom by its agents, theparameters of the battle are at least clear(er).

It’s not quite nostalgia for those from a more innocenttime, but rather a nod towards an era which, at least,was predicated on the sanity of both sides instead of anihilistic threat emanating from religious extremists.

A graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism,former West End Montrealer Shlomo Schwartzberg is aveteran film critic, has regularly reviewed films for variouspublications and lectures on film and TV studies. He wasthe director of programming for the Toronto Jewish FilmFestival for eight years. He is also co-founder andcontributor to the cultural web site Critics at Large(www.criticatlarge.com)

Entertainment Entre Nous - Shlomo Sch

wartzberg


SPORTS AND FITNESSFrom last to first in onecalendar year

The Montreal Canadiens are easily the surprise ofthe NHL’s shortened season. This is a team that,just one year ago, was in disarray from the topdown. There was discord throughout, from thelocker room to high atop the seventh floor of theBell Centre and the executive offices.

In sports, when a team is performing badly theblame is often laid at the feet of the head coach or

the General Manager. That blame is also often seen as unfair: After-all, themen who play the game are professional athletes not performing up totheir capabilities, despite multi-million dollar contracts. The saying wentthat you couldn’t fire a team of 20 players on the ice, so you do the nextbest thing and change the coach. Buthockey isn’t necessarily a game of intensestrategy… we always believed it to be agame of skill and desire. The team thatwanted the championship more - andwhich group played together best -would ultimately win. But the Canadienshave proven those theories moot. Almostthe entire front office and coaching staffwas let go and replaced. Marc Bergevin,who has never been the boss, took overas General Manager and almostimmediately brought a sense of calm,class and optimism back to Les Glorieux.

He did that by making some key changesto personnel on and off the ice. Bergevin,unlike his predecessor Pierre Gauthier,

isn’t afraid to surround himself with people who are smart andcan help. Gauthier, seemed to want to control every aspect ofthe organization. Bergevin understands that leadership meansallowing good people to do their jobs in a positive environment.His on-ice moves were probably the biggest, bringing in BrandonPrust and Francis Bouillon for leadership and grit. That infectedthe dressing room, which was a disaster last year, with a senseof calm and confidence.

Bergevin also stood up to the contract demands of PK Subban,letting the young star and the rest of the Habs know that noone player is bigger than the team. And that too appears to havepaid off. Subban is playing well and causing fewer waves than lastseason. It really is amazing how a change in attitude from the topdown can turn around a team that has 75 percent of the sameroster that finished last in the conference just a year ago.

This year’s version of theCanadiens plays with heart, gritand skill. The infusion of theyoung legs of Alex Galchenyukand Brandon Gallagher havegiven Montreal something tolook forward to for the future,while still being able to celebratetheir immediate impact, almostevery single game since DayOne.

Regardless of the outcome ofthe season, this has to beconsidered a success for thefranchise. That’s because it’s ingood hands… for years tocome.

Spot

light

on Sp

orts - P

aul G

raif

The Cy

clop

ath - R

OB CA

LLARD

The art of dodgingI am an artist. In fact, I have spent many yearsperfecting my art. It has taken time, I admit, but myart has saved my life many times, and with eachstroke on what I call the asphalt canvas, I make mymark and leave my imprint for all to enjoy.You see, I am the master of the ‘art of dodging,’ andin this town, there is much to dodge. And while I

don't wave a paintbrush, or play an instrument, the art Icreate evolves constantly with the environment that surroundsme.

It first happened one spring day years ago, when I was but ateenager, and I will never forget the impact it had on me. I was onmy way to school on my vintage CCM Marauder (one of thosefunny looking bikes with a banana seat and a front wheelconsiderable smaller than the rear), when all of the sudden, I cameacross a crater the size of a large truck tire. My quick reflexesallowed me to dodge the pothole and avoid serious injury. Thiswas to be the first chapter in my attempt to perfect the art ofdodging.

Later, during my university years, I moved to Montreal and soonrealized the challenges that lay ahead. Not only were the craterslarger, deeper and more numerous than I had ever imagined, butI was now surrounded by a sea of dodgers: Cars, bikes, trucks,ladies pushing strollers, pets on leashes, student rioters out for aprotest… you know what I mean.

We all dodged. Heck, who wouldn't? Those potholes could eat

you alive, empty your bank account due to ensuing repairs... put you ina body cast for months on end. But I wanted to be different. So I createdthe art of dodging.

I'm the one you curse at as I weave in and out of traffic, dodging theholes that swallow the faint-hearted. I'm the one who rides on thesidewalk to avoid the wrath of the street. Yeah, that's me. The Dodger.Will you forgive me? My bike is my means of transportation and I haveperfected my art for basic survival. You see, I don't have a body of metalto protect me from evil. It's just me and my bike. I dodge because I wantto live. I kind of like living, so I dodge you all, especially those of youwho honk at me and threaten to run me over with your eight-cylinderbeasts. One time, a guy opened his door out of spite, forcing me to ejectfrom my machine and flip over his front hood. It all worked out though:A cop was across the streetticketing another biker forrunning a red light and saw thewhole thing. We settled out ofcourt for a substantial sum. Itwas a good day.

And with the money, I boughtmyself a new bike. Faster andbetter.... a real dodgy beast!I amThe Dodger. And this is my art.

Rob Callard is a restaurateur inWestmount who cycles to workfrom Beaconsfield eight months ofthe year. He is married with threeyoung boys. They all support hiscyclopathic passion.

Hockey On De Bullion courtesy of Carole Spandauhttp://carole-spandau.artistwebsites.com/


What is beauty?

Beauty is in the eye of thebeholder....we have heard thatone before. In Yoga, beauty justis. It is neither somethingcreated nor destroyed. It is ofLife, because Life, also, just is.

And Beauty contains far more than what isconventionally accepted as "beautiful."

Artists whose work seems eternal to us are able toexpress and convey such beauty, as something thatresonates deeply within our core. They capturesomething indescribable, even bringing us to tears.

Something of Beauty emerges in silence, as whenwe sit and meditate, drawing our awarenessinward. The silence can be literal, or a "space" ofstillness, where we simply become one with themoment. Artists, too, can gift us with ametaphorical space that releases the beautyinherent within.

Yoga teaches that nothing is separate. When we aretouched by the beauty of Art, not knowing why, ourbody lets us know. Are we witnessing our ownformless beauty, translated into a language of thesenses and reflected in form?

Whether in Yoga or in Life, we can practiceallowing Beauty to emerge. Create, throughoutyour day, spaces for Beauty to show itself. It isoften found in the most unlikely of places. Artimitates Life -- that's another one we have heardbefore. Why not take the time to be opened by Life,in the same way that we let ourselves be opened byArt?

Yoga U

- Chantalle Kud

siThe management of The Local Herald

wishes our readers and their families a

Happy andHealthy Passover

and EasterMay you all benefit from good fortune,plenty to eat, warm lodgings, peace

and the freedom to celebrate thespiritual beliefs of your choice, inwhichever language you desire.

Whether you follow the story ofendless travails in the desert to escape

from slavery, or the wonders of theResurrection...

Many have given their lives toguarantee the freedom to follow

our beliefs.


What’s up next?

As we are in the midst of anicer, warmer spring, our

thoughts will turn inexorablyto vacations. Here at The Local

Herald, Maine is one of ourfavourite vacation spots and

we’ll be telling you about oneof the nicest resorts, locatednot in trendy Ogunquit or

tacky-but-lovable, Quebecois-friendly Old Orchard Beach,

but Portland. This… and muchmore…. In the pages of TheLocal Herald, the West End’s

lifestyles and leisurecommunity paper.

Deadline: Friday, April 12, 2013Published Friday, April 19, 2013

Best,

Bram

Print Advertising – “TheGreatest Show on Earth!”

“When an advertisement firstappears, a man does not see it:The

second time he notices it; the thirdtime he reads it; the fourth he thinks

about it; the fifth he speaks to his wifeabout it; and the sixth or seventh he isready to purchase.”

- P.T. Barnum

Multipleadvertising in TheLocal Heraldworks… leave yourmark on historyand sell like ashowman.

Call 514-975-7745to place yourmultiple ads at adiscount today!

RENATA Swiss watch batteriesReplacement on all makes

done on site ( while you wait )

Serving Montreal and area with expert service in:• custom jewellery remodelling

• Quality watch and jewellery repairsdone on the premises

We’ve been on watch for over 50 great years!

Come see our exclusive line of MURANO jewellery

��


Documents

Local Herald issue 3