Akwantu: the Journey, a New Film about the Maroons

Akwantu: the Journey, a new documentary film by writer/director, Roy T. Anderson, a Maroon, answers the question, Who were the Maroons?

Akwantu: the Journey

Akwantu: the Journey documents the struggle for freedom of the Maroons of Jamaica who were able to flee the plantations and slave ships to form communities in some of the most inhospitable regions of the island. Poorly armed and outgunned, the Maroons faced down the mighty British Empire led by such brave warriors as Cudjoe and Nanny. Cudjoe who has historically been described as a “short almost dwarf-like man” fought for years to maintain his people’s independence and freedom. However, Cudjoe also held the belief that the only way to secure a stable future for his people would be to negotiate a long-term peace with the British. This way of thinking, some would say eventually lead to the signing of a peace treaty with the British in 1739. Nanny, a spiritual leader skilled in the use of herbs not only managed to keep her people healthy, but safe as well by utilizing effective “guerilla warfare” tactics to defend against the vaunted British firepower. More about the Maroons.

Watch a preview here.

 

More Art From Toronto’s Streets

I love art and have worked in the art world for several years. But nothing excites me more than finding art in ordinary or unexpected places, where the general public can experience it. I also love to see designs that push the envelope or shake things up a bit.

Take the Sharp Centre for Design building. An expansion of the Ontario College of Art & Design, it’s fun and whimsical and was totally unexpected. It’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but for a design school, I think it works.

Finding Art on Toronto's Streets
More Art From Toronto’s Streets – Sharp Centre for Design

I liked the juxtaposition of these two buildings. There’s nothing unique or surprising about either but there are design elements that echo in both.

More Art From Toronto's Streets
More Art From Toronto’s Streets

I did make it to a few of the galleries on Morrow Avenue where I took these photos of the exterior of the building.

Finding Art on Toronto's Streets
More Art
Finding Art on Toronto's Streets
More Art
Finding Art on Toronto's Streets
More Art
Finding Art on Toronto's Streets
More Art

Still on Morrow Avenue, I spotted this piece.

Finding Art on Toronto's Streets
More Art

This 500,000-tile mural at the first Trump International Hotel and Tower to be built in Canada was created from two photos of Torontonians, one taken at an Air Canada Center and the other at Roy Thompson Hall. The photos were superimposed to create the image for the mural.

More Art from Toronto's Streets
Trump Tower Art

The Bay Adelaide Centre, which is directly across from the Trump Tower, features an impressive public art piece which was designed by American lighting artist, James Turrell. The lights are set against what looks like granite walls. It’s pretty cool to watch them change colors – from green to pink to blue to beige, etc.

Finding Art on Toronto's Streets
Bay Adelaide Center Art

What’s the most unusual piece of art you’ve come across in your travels?

#TPThursday: Toronto’s Street Art

Toronto’s street art. New York is considered the center of the art world but whenever I visit Toronto, it’s their art scene that I’m most interested in experiencing.

This time around, I was taken by the amount of street art I noticed mostly on the sides of buildings. Here in Toronto, graffiti is legal provided it is approved by the property owner or occupant. It must also enhance the surface it covers and add to the general community surroundings.

The city has even implemented a graffiti management program called StreetARToronto. Its mission, according to its website, is “to counteract graffiti vandalism by developing, supporting, promoting and increasing awareness of street art and its indispensable role to add beauty and character to neighbourhoods across the city.” You gotta admit, that’s pretty progressive, right?

Here’s a taste of the street art I was able to photograph.

Toronto's Street Art
Street Art
Toronto's Street Art
Street Art
Toronto's Street Art
Street Art
Toronto's Street Art
Street Art
Toronto's Street Art
Street Art
Toronto's Street Art
Street Art

My friend and I happened upon a rock balancing artist at work. We joined the crowd and watched as he painstakingly placed small and large rocks, and cinder blocks on top of each other without them toppling over. It was my first time seeing rock balancing done and it was fascinating. You could see the concentration on his face, like he was willing the rocks to stay in place. When he finished a piece, the tension in his facial muscles relaxed ever so slowly.

I overheard him tell someone in the crowd how centering the work was but he can’t do it if he’s angry.

Toronto's Street Art

 

This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday series. Be sure to check out their website for other travel photos from around the world.

 

Fast Facts About Canada

Canada was a great place to live in the 70s — it still is. And though there’s been a lot of talk in the US about Canada’s health care system, it’s only a small part of what Canada is.

Fast Facts About Canada, Horseshoe Bay, BC
Fast Facts About Canada, Horseshoe Bay, BC

Here are some fast facts about Canada:

  • Canada was founded on July 1, 1867. Its population, according to the 2011 census, numbers 34 million.
  • At 3,855,103 square miles, Canada is the world’s second largest country. (Russia is the largest.)
  • Canada has two official languages – English and French.
  • Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon. Ontario and Quebec have the two largest populations, the territories have the largest sizes but the smallest populations.
  • Ottawa is Canada’s capital; Toronto its largest city. Both are located in the province of Ontario.
  • Canada’s largest island, Baffin Island, is larger than every US state except Alaska and Texas. The 5th largest island in the world, it more than doubles the size of the UK and is just slightly smaller than France.
  • Canada’s highest mountain range, Mount Logan, stretches from Alaska to the Yukon. Because of tectonic activity, the mountain continues to grow at an average of a few millimeters a year. Currently at 6,050 meters (19,849 feet), it is the second highest mountain range in North America (behind Mount McKinley), sixth highest in the world.
  • Canada’s 151,600 miles of coastline makes it the longest in the world.
  • The border between Canada and the US, officially called the International Boundary, is 5,525 miles. It is the longest border between two countries and includes 1,538 miles between Canada and Alaska.
  • Canada’s $1 and $2 coins are called the Loonie, and the Twonie. Both have the figure of the loon, a Canadian bird on one side.
  • Canada has the 10th largest economy. It exports motor vehicles and parts, machinery and equipment, aircraft, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, fertilizers, wood pulp, aluminum, timber, telecommunications equipment. The US is its largest trading partner.
  • Canada has a long list of famous entertainers, sports figures, authors and inventors. Among them: Alexander Graham Bell, John Kenneth Galbraith, Seth Rogen, Mordecai Richler, Peter Jennings, Lorne Michaels, Oscar Peterson, Margaret Atwood, Guy Lombardo, Alex Trebek, William Shatner, James Doohan, Justin Bieber, Wayne Gretsky, Keanu Reeves, Shania Twain, Drake, Jim Carrey, Joni Mitchell and Paul Anka.

Which of these fun facts were you surprised to learn?

Photos from Photo Dropper.

photo by:


mararie

Happy Canada Day!

Today is Canada Day, the day of Canada’s birth and for the first time in many years, I’m here on July 1st and plan to celebrate. No, I’m not Canadian but I feel a special affinity for Canada as it is here that I came of age.

It is in Canada that I learned to appreciate the changing colors of the leaves in the fall, the rebirth and flowering of plants and trees in the spring. It is here that came to I understand how to live in a multicultural and multiracial society, and to appreciate the need to respect differences. For the most part, Canada matched me philosophically, spiritually, politically and morally and, for a time, I shared in the pride Canadians feel about their country.

In addition to my many relatives who call Canada home, I have an extensive network of friends, most of whom I met either at university or after through the various jobs I held.

I learned a lot in Canada but I never did learn to love the cold — the sun was too deep in my bones — or embrace winter sports but I so love a glass of ice wine. Sometimes, I’ll even add a touch of maple syrup to my pancakes, just for old times.

I’m glad I was able to spend some of the best years of my life in Canada. It has given me wonderful and enduring memories.


photo:

motoyen


So on this Canada Day, I salute Canada and Canadians, at home or abroad.

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! 
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux.

Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix.

Ton histoire est une épopée,
Des plus brillants exploits.

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Happy Canada Day!