Long Weekend

This past weekend was the Civic Holiday weekend. The government wasn’t even polite enough to give it some false grounding in religion or praise of some long gone individual. They simple gave people and extra day off in summer and we are expected to accept it. If I was working I probably would be immensely grateful but since I have been on a long weekend since October it makes very little difference to me. But because everyone else I knew was off too I made good use of the time to hang out.

It was a busy weekend in the city anyways because of Caribana. Visitors poured into the city to take part in drunken debauchery accented by the colourfully scantily clad. I, being the fool that I am, forgot my camera at home and got no pictures of all of this. But I got my brother to take some shots for me. Here is his best shot.

Ugh…I know. But check out the Toronto Star. They have a crap load of pictures that are waaaaaaaaaaay better than this one.

Anyways, we walked endlessly that day up and down the parade route taking in the sights and sounds. I have to say I was a little disappointed because everything seemed to be watered down. The music wasn’t as loud, the people less rowdy, everything was spaced out, it all seemed less festive. But I had fun just the same.

I also hung out with a girlfriend of mine. She made amazing mohitos, had Chinese food, had way too much fun playing Sing Star, walked about the city, and went to the underground cinema. We saw a film called Exit Through the Gift Shop. It is a really intriguing documentary about the street art movement.

The movie was originally supposed to be about the faceless epic artist known only as Banksy. But as soon as the movie starts it is explained that it isn’t actually about him, it is about Thierry Guetta, an eccentric Frenchman who films everything and falls into this interesting subculture. Banksy turns out to be the actual documentarian while Guetta provides him with an excessive amount of footage.

Exit Through the Gift Shop is an amazing film about art, neuroses, and exploitation. It is funny and sad at the same time. It begins by following street artists and them explaining what their vision and the purpose of their work. Their pieces are/were all over the world. What made it so poignant and beautiful was its incredibly short life span. Because it was on public property most pieces were removed within days of being created and the privileged few were able to see and capture it.

As the film goes on it becomes clear that Guetta was not making a documentary but simply fulfilling is obsessive compulsive need to film all his experiences and he later exploits this. Creating his own alter ego “Mr Brainwash” and becoming an “artist” himself.

It is really an interesting and compelling movie if you get to see it. Exit Through the Gift Shop is not just for the art crowd. It is a well put together documentary filled with footage and interviews taking you deep into this borderline-criminal world. Even if you know nothing about the street art movement this movie will open your eyes and you will appreciate it.

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