URBAN NOMADISM

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It is very interesting to live a nomadic style of life within a city. Acceptance of instability opens many amazing opportunities. In this case, I was given free access to a large exhibit space in downtown Toronto by a man who has been homeless and who is risking to become homeles again by this action. This invitation, provided a possibility to experiment creative interaction outside of rigid schemes. Exhibition of my multi-media work served as a background for what has developed into a neighbourhood community playground where people of diverse economic, ethnic and age groups passed time creatively.

Liberated from the need to pay rent, selling or convincing people of something, writing reports about the work done, following a plan of any sort, I could afford the luxury of being guided by chance encounters.

Within a few days, a vacant retail space was transformed into a local point of reference where people could drop in any time, discuss a wide variety of subjects, make new friends and learn about Reuse of salvaged materials.

Not a penny has been spent on decoration-everything that I needed was donated by my neighbours and many people volunteered to help.

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Ideally my collage "Mari Mossi" needs a bigger space, but I felt that it is time to unroll it.

Boring grey dirty old carpet covered with pieces of silk recuperated from the street looks"cool"and "funky".

Why the windows of the shops always exhibit things? I think that objects of every kind, including art work are just a decoration, main space is for people.

I have discovered that many are inspired to meet people who enjoy simple things such as sharing

and discussing various prospectives and ideas for the pure pleasure of doing so.

Window of the shop is a great study room. This way I can both do my work and observe the street.

Chic Rags

One way of being unproductive creativelly is to exhibit good things one has, which in this case is my wardrobe.

Why should clothing be hung in a closet? It is a great decoration!

When I find interesting objetcs; like toys or musical instruments, I take them home and when a right person comes along, they get "adopted" by a new owner. For me objects are signs which foretell me what will happen in the near future, so I do not really need to keep them. For example, this wooden hand made lamp was found one day before I was invited to visit a Wild Horse Range in Alberta, and there was even a prince with a horse ready to give me a lift. The toy is still waitng for the owner and that trip is still to be made.

Space 2

It does not take much to decorate an anonymous office space, just a few objects "out of context" used in an unusual manner.

A wardrobe placed horisontaly is a great cofee table as well as a wonderful storage space.

Every space needs an altar. Mine is a continuous "work in progress".

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SERENDIPITY :

Usually Stefy stands on her knees on the corner begging for money. Often one can see her sitting under the closed doors of the church, like some abandoned Madonna. "What do you do?" I asked her. "Nothing", she answered, "walking alone, serenading myself..."I When I proposed her to dress like a Madonna for Christmas and sit in the window, Stefy said that she does not want to have children because when they grow-up - they will marry the Internet. She fantasized how she would put 12 empty baby carriages for each child not born in the window, but somehow never got to do it. Instead, she began to make a rosary for me from the beads she has found among art supplies ...standing on her knees, of course.

Stefyalso makes little hearts and flowers from straps of paper wherever she goes.

Materials for her craft are available everywhere.

This sculptor's nickname is "Red", from what I understand he is quite known, but I don't even know his name.

He simply came in and helped me to make frames.

Anne-Marie Boudreau is a musician who plays for dying and sick people (web site: http://www.annmarieboudreau.com/).

Hopefully, she will become an owner of a rareBurnese Arph which I have found on the street and which is currently being restored by a friend.

LIVING WINDOW

The best place in this space is the window area. I work there and discuss ideas with visitors.

Steven is an artisan, who makes plaster statues of Buddhas. We hope to collaborate in near future.

Office in the window.

I came to North America two years ago with a dream to establish "an idea place". Ending in Manhattan I tried very hard to find a place for it, with no results. As it often happens, you get what you want when you stop trying. An 'Idea Place' just happened without any effort from my part.

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