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FASHION The Gold Petite-Purse A combined compact and cigarette-case, this gorgeous item could only have been made in Argentina. Carmelita found it herself in Buenos Aires, long after its construction sometime in the 1940s. $1500. THE BLACK PETITE-PURSE Dating from 1953, this hand-loomed item was found in Lago di Garda on a trip to Italy. $700 Designed by Trini, its needle-point surfaces were made by the Arundo del Statin family business; for over two hundred years, they have weaved and manufactured fine items. Most likely made one of a few dozen items, every one unique, including its fuschia Scarpelli silk lining. 51 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

SPENCER STYLE DIVINE DECADENCE ORIGINALS We are thrilled to provide our Spencer readers with the details of the fashions and accessories worn during this exclusive photo shoot, on location in Yorkville, Canada. Carmelita is celebrating 50 years of providing couture fashion to the world. Not every day do we have the opportunity to have wonderful models from such a beautiful family, including Haley, Henley, Carloline and of course, Carmelita! Caroline Krum Pinizzotto Caroline Krum Pinizzotto Haley Caroline Pinizzotto 1960's Vintage Couture Creeds Lace With Silver Embroidery over a taffeta bodice. 1960's Vintage Emerald & Gold Vermeil Ring found in Marrakesh Henley Carmelita Pinizzotto 1960's Vintage Made in Austria Detailed Filigree with Multiple Orange Crystals Set Brooch and Earrings Carmelita Pulgar-Vidal Blondet 1960's Vintage Triple Strand Jade with a beautifully carved clasp. www.spencer-magazine.com 2005 Alexander McQueen Green Patent Leather with Gold Stilleto Heels Haley Caroline Pinizzotto 1960's Vintage Couture Silk Chiffon and Textured Silk Made in Toronto by Canadian Designer \"Ritché\" 1960's Vintage \"Chanel\" Pearl Necklace 1950's Vintage \"Miriam Haskell\" Guild & Pearl Necklace all entirely Made by Hand 1930's Vintage necklace and Massive Cross Pendant Made in Italy 1960's Vintage Single Strand Cupped Faux Pearl Necklace Made in France 1930's Art Deco 18 K Gold Ring Massive Ornated Maui Pearl Setting, Emeralds from Colombia and Diamonds from Venezuela. Made in Lima, Peru 1970's Vintage \"Whiting & Davis\" Gold Mesh Bag 1950's Vintage Couture Cream Sequin Headdress 1960's Vintage \"David's Shoes\" Gold Stilletos fully ornamented with embroidery and crystals. Henley Carmelita Pinizzotto 1940's Vintage Couture Lace Silk Organza Dress Made in Lima, Peru 1950's Separate Full Slip with crinoline bottom 1920's Art Deco Rosary worn as a Necklace Made in Buenos Aires 1950's Gold Necklace & Pendant with Saphire, Emerald and Ruby. Rare child jewelry. Pendant reads \"Sweet 16\" 1930's Art Deco Silk Peau de Soie Heels \"Daniel Green\" Size 235, so Palais Versailles. 1950's Flapper Inspired Silver Sequins Headdress, and just as with Haley's hat, with a coqettish \"roba corazones\" curl at the end. Carmelita Pulgar-Vidal Blondet 1930's Art Deco Couture Parisian Beaded Silk Crepe, Bias Cut Gown with beaded bow detail. 1970's Chanel Gold Necklace with Guilded Cross & Pearl. 1940's Austrian Crystal Designer Dangle Earrings 1940's 18 K. Peruvian Gold Saphire & Diamonds Chevalier Ring 1920's Art Deco Peruvian 18 K. Gold Ruby & Diamonds 1990's Italian designer Gianvitto Rossi Silk Gold Stilettos. 52

Carmelita speaks glowingly of her visits to Argentina. The different priorities there, the focus on family, the central role of art on life, the best shoes & leatherwear in the world. All discovered on a recce in search of items for Divine Decadence. Life, even business, can be so much more than money. That is the force that drives Di- vine Decadence. Might we all make such sound decisions in our lives. IN THE PICTURES Carmelita's Daughter and Granddaughters... Caroline Pinizzotto (Daughter) Haley Pinizzotto (10 years old) Henley Pinizzotto (5 years old) Creative Directors: Wanda Ryan, Dan Walsh Photographer: Jonathan Levy Stylists: Dev Ramsumair, Marcia Reid Personal Hair Stylists: Ranya Hatzis (Mom) Maria Hatziz (Daughter and Children) Makeup Artists: Sharon Hansen, Terry Tomlinson 53 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

SPENCER STYLE Introducing Juan Sebastian Aragon JARAGON By Harlen Troost Jaragon is the first & only International Trophy sell them in local barbershops, beauty salons, and door Footwear Design Maison in the world. Born in the to door. It didn't take long for him to build a network city of Milan, Italy, in the year 2016. of high-end clients that demanded his luxury designer Juan Sebastian was born in Cali, Colombia. At the goods. His business grew so much that Juan says he age of 5 his family immigrated to Miami, Florida. When literally became the \"Uber of Fashion Kid\" within the he turned 15 years old, his parents decided to move city of Toronto. again looking for a better future to the city of Toronto, Not surprisingly, as a young, entrepreneur, Juan Canada. Starting from square one in the year 2008, Sebastian studied International Business at the Uni- Juan Sebastian’s family arrived at a family shelter in versity of Ottawa. While being abroad in Milan for the city of Mississauga, Ontario — A moment and place his international exchange semester, Juan had an of which he claims to be the origin of his destiny. epiphany that allowed him to connect his life-long One day across from that family shelter, Juan Sebas- experiences into one single passion: Designing Luxury tian and his parents found a store that sold designer Trophy Footwear & Deliverin g Unique Experiences. garments such as Valentino at a discounted price. Juan began to purchase these designer pieces and started to Above: Juan Sebastian Aragon, Founder & Creative Visionary of \"JARAGON\" 54 www.spencer-magazine.com

FASHION While being inspired abroad in one of the world’s most influential fashion cities, to begin, Juan drew some rough sketches of shoes. He wanted to start his luxury fashion Maison from the ground up. “I didn't know how to draw a shoe lace,” says Juan. He presented those drawings to his business professor in Italy, Fabio Papa, who later on introduced him to some of the world’s most prestigious footwear manufacturing facilities in Italy. “Jaragon is an aspirational brand,” says Juan Sebastian. “I want to give people a platform, through my brand, to share their life stories of persistence, and sacrifices made, in order to achieve success. My logo is an 'A' shaped Arch of Triumph, which allows people to identify the brand from a distance, and at the same time feel inspired by the unique stories expressed through the particular colours and taste of each Jaragon Trophy withholder.” 55 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

SPENCER STYLE presenting DRAKE with his first one-of-one exclusive Trophy design, paying homage to his career’s sacrifices and achievements (such as Billboard’s Artist of The Decade). Jaragon is also designing Trophy heels for Jennifer Lopez and expanding to the United Arab Emirates market. “Jaragon sounds a lot like the word Jargon: reason for which my slogan is: ‘For Those Who Know®,” says Juan. “We don't make shoes, my team and I create Tro- phies.” This brand is not only for those who know about premium quality, but also, For Those Who Know what it takes to achieve success. The ultimate goal of Jaragon is to recognize all the unseen steps of sacrifice and persistence made from successful individuals, and share their triumphal life stories through the Arches of Triumph. Therefore, inspiring others to achieve greatness. Jaragon's one-of-a-kind creations have graced the feet of celebrities such as three- time Grammy award winner Marc Anthony, and international super stars J Balvin and Maluma. Currently, Jaragon is preparing their debut Trophy high heels collections with Giordano Torresi — a renowned Italian shoe designer who's manufacturing facilities and creative team also produce footwear for brands such as: Chanel, Prada, and Maison Alaïa, amongst others — a place under which Juan Sebastian did an internship, and also where the Jaragon vision was given birth to in the summer of 2016. Following projections for Jaragon include representing Canada internationally as a signature Trophy Footwear Design Maison, based in Toronto and handmade in Italy. On behalf of the city of Toronto, Jaragon will be 56 www.spencer-magazine.com

1 2 Pictures of Juan Sebastian Aragon presenting trophy shoes to the following celebrities: 1. MALUMA 3 www.instagram.com/maluma 2. J. BALVIN www.instagram.com/jbalvin 3. MARC ANTHONY www.instagram.com/marcanthony “I want to encourage and inspire anyone with a burning desire to achieve a dream, to dream bigger! Don't be afraid to take risks, and make mistakes. In the beginning you don't need to have a lot of mon- ey, connections, or be a natural born anything to be able to manifest your vision. I didn't know how to draw a shoelace when I started. I had just a single Euro in my pocket when I decided to risk it all and go meet Giordano Torresi — and now, Jaragon is pioneering the future of elevated luxury experiences through Trophy footwear designs in the world. All you need is to identify your passion, and lock your dreams down with ink, faith, and persistence. The rest will come naturally. There are no limits,” says Juan Sebastian. 57 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

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Spencer Arts & Culture Ann Shin's A.rtificial I.mmortality, Heidi von Palleske, Defining Moments by Stephen Wallis, Rosita Stone, Alyssa Rubino, NFT BAZL Miami Event, Eric McKinnon's Broken Cage Gallery: Featuring Todd Monk, Greg Benz, Fanny Rice, Steep Daniels, Logan Ford and Sonny, Transform Exhibit: Painting The Way Forward Canadian Indigenous Artist, Joseph Saga 59 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

Spencer Feature Article DIRECTOR ANN SHIN A.RTIFICIAL I.MMORTALITY Ann Shin’s latest documentary, ‘A.RTIFICIAL I.MMORTALITY’, has already seen success at this year’s HotDocs festival, and will be widely available in autumn, 2021. By Steve Pryce An established documentary filmmaker, Ann humans could ultimately transcend the mortal, recently launched her first novel, “The Last replicating their consciousness in a computer Exiles”, inspired by her previous documen- world, perhaps even adding a robotic and lab- tary illustrating the flight of North Korean refugees grown physical entity to fully achieve physical through China. She is based in Toronto, working with immortality on earth. a like-minded team at Fathom Films. Ann leads us through the history of her research into the notion of It’s an appealing notion, but I couldn’t help think- perpetual life, airing the representations and opinions ing that the process of beta-testing the migration of others without bias towards any conclusions of her process would necessarily involve migrating the con- own. She appears as herself, talking to those she met sciousness of the created representation of the self on her journey through the subject matter. would need to be evaluated by migrating its experience of its own life back into its progenitor. Will the clone be First, she explains her original motivation. A able to run multiple logical and emotional programs critical birthday, the recent loss of a parent, and the simultaneously, some relating to ongoing interface gradual, ongoing loss of the other one to demen- events and others to development of the inner self tia invoked the heightened awareness of mortality in the processing of memories and thoughts of the that seems to be a rite of passage for us all. Ann’s future, syncing them at will and randomly, and then trans-humanist friend brought up her belief that interfacing the experience of the automaton back 60 www.spencer-magazine.com

to the host human for evaluation. Which brings neuroses about the power supply and the possibil- up the subject of how much the human subject ity of someone issuing an rm-r command on my knows about himself or his own experience of life, home directory. Cheating human death to meet and his qualification to make decisions about the my fate later at the hands of a Rimmer seems an experience of the automaton. And it’s always unspeakable prospect. Most likely those pesky a good idea to back up your data, so if there replicants on the overseas servers, running amok are multiple entities of me running around, the with the new friends they’ve made for themselves. issues around whether this is a real replication of a human consciousness grow exponentially. And if I’m replicated in a silicon brain, will I develop 61 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Interview with Deepak Chopra. Photo Credit: Zackary S. Grant Ann visits with a guru who’s delighted with the avatar mentions that his profession acknowledges it knows very little indeed about what the mind and humanity built to interface with his clientele, dispensing simple is, accepting that its research is primitive. Given that science has established memories are retained as elec- solutions to simple questions the interface can be pro- tro-chemical ciphers, his points seems plausible. It has me thinking about whether our minds are continuously grammed to accommodate. Artificial intelligence? More looking for new memories, whether they replicate them physically, and whether the process involved uses an al- like hiding from intelligence gorithm akin to the magic-number logic that database systems use to look for available recording space. I’m go- \"Cheating in an artificial delusion. ing to try to avoid thinking about that in future, and so should you. human Next step is the Krembil NeuroScience Centre. I was This writer worked for twenty years as a comput- er programmer and systems analyst. In all that time, I death to a lot more confident in the never once met anyone I would have any confidence words of their researcher. at all in entrusting with the management on a database of my consciousness and persona. Or anyone elses, for meet my fate You can see it’s difficult that matter, including their own. later at the for him not to laugh at the suggestion of transferring Ann collects a box full of computer files, images and videos to be collated into a mindful that can represent her hands of human consciousness into through an avatar. It’s quite a process to connect a computer; he is the only the files in some manner as a database that her avatar can use to bring particular files up in response a Rimmer person Ann speaks to who to predictable questions. A good deal later, she shows seems an knows enough about his the results to her children. They’re initially shocked subject matter to know that by the avatar’s resemblance to their mothers’ appear- ance and actions, but see through it all within seconds. unspeakable he knows very little about it. His explanation of how the prospect.\" mind polishes memories in their recall and subsequent re-encodement for storage is illuminating, and you have to be paying attention to notice his fleeting referral to the reality that his profession uses analysis of memory and recall to learn about the mind, and bypass the reality he 62 www.spencer-magazine.com

FILM & TELEVISION For them, the avatar is clearly nothing more than a pain of losing that partner, would you want to share it? superior version of Siri, a pretty tool to steer the user Should you? I suppose I could have recorded a journey to access computer files. How could it possibly com- with my parents, home from my home in London to pare to being twelve, thinking a hundred thoughts theirs on the Scottish Borders. A camera might have simultaneously? They take the avatar in their stride, captured our stupendous progress north, almost en- the way kids always absorb the new. tirely above one hundred miles an How could their experience of life in \"Life is so much hour, and our conversations about that moment ever be recorded, for more than we the past, present, and future, but it the mindfile, so much of it going on would not have caught even a nu- inside, just for them? might ever record, ance of their absolute confidence and the most in the man whose development Even if we were somehow to record they had initially set in motion, the every moment of our lives in some way profound moments unspoken hopes for the future and adequate to provide a diary, it leave no trace anticipation at the questions yet would be from the outside alone, behind, except to develop. Life is so much more completely missing the things un- within us and than we might ever record, and the said and not visibly responded to - most profound moments leave no usually the most profound things in between the closest.\" trace behind, except within us and life. How could a you ever record the between the closest. Do you really moment you realise you’re talking to want to be remembered for what the one & only, whose very presence you might manage to blurt out? changes everything? Would that camera catch you grasp the reality I’m going to speculate for a moment that way the most important thing in here, to share an inner thought while life is the next thing she says, not even what she says I write. If there was a mindfile for Lewis Carroll, would but the way she says it? Even if you could capture the it adequately illustrate the thought processes that went Ann Shin animating the face of her avatar during a facial mapping session. Photo credit: Stephen Chung 63 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Bruce Duncan packs up Bina48 in her suitcase. Photo Credit: Stephen Chung into the total development of Alice and her compatri- engaging to see so many people talking about Artificial ots' story. And would it help scholars finally establish Intelligence, none of them sharing any real, common whether it was merely sophisticated entertainment understanding of the term; one hundred and fifty-five to encourage children to develop thinking processes years after Alice first met him, the Mad Hatter’s for themselves, or also biting social assertion that ‘words mean whatev- satire on the Disraeli adminis- \"If enough er I want them to mean’ is alive and tration. If you really must inflict people pay enough well in the world of IT, and my limited your photos and videos on others, experience of working in Switzerland a few hours of work with Explorer attention to this indicates that’s true for German and or Finder, renaming files, adding French languages too. The documenta- comments & tags, and so on will documentary, ry ventures into the concept of artificial be a lot more cost-effective than intelligence becoming an entity unto it might provokepaying someone else to do it. Shift- itself, in conflict with humanity, and Click, and Control-Click, are the magic them to begin that has me thinking about the reality words to group your files for update, that “artificial intelligence” is never and take this step towards immortality. thinking about going to rise above the neuroses and such things, limitations of the programmers writing Should you see the movie? Yes, not the logic - and if the coding is handed least because you might disagree with rather than the over to computers, they’ll disseminate my evisceration of the subject matter, shallow avoidance the evidence of that exponentially. I’m and I may very well do so myself in of thought that is not worried about Artificial Intelligence due course of time. Ann’s filmmaking destroying the world. I’m worried about is well worth seeing, and she presents the usual use of Artificial Stupidity combining with the the material for the viewer to form technology.\" analog version to achieve the same end their own opinion. You may find the in some vainglorious search to assuage “trans-humanist church” as hilarious as the delusions of a few. I did, watching people old enough to be allowed to vote and drive cars substitute My hope is that Ann’s documentary their misunderstanding of technology will be widely seen, and deeply consid- for the old-fashioned invisible, omnipotent friend ered. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I will be seeing her in the sky in the futile search to cheat death. It was next film, too. Still, I would have been unable to refrain 64 www.spencer-magazine.com

The child robot, Ibuki, takes a walk at Osaka University. Photo credit: Iris Ng from including a reference to the line “Pinnochio is broken, its strings are cut.” Twenty years after science fiction explored the concept of representing humanity within a machine, the world has learnt nothing about the absurdity of such a proposal, nothing about just how far the technology is from any possibility of addressing it, and how little we know about ourselves, those around us, human thought and emotion, and the limitations and possibilities of human language. If enough people pay enough attention to this documentary, it might provoke them to begin thinking about such things, rather than the shallow avoidance of thought that is the usual use of technology. Perhaps this movie, and the technologies it portrays, may lead in time to a deeper understanding of what it is to be human. The avatars that Ann’s children take in their stride may improve access to information in ways that expand may actually function productively - as the unspoken definition of what literacy and memorabilia amounts to expands to include the digital archives we already build, the interface they constitute may enable humanity to better understand ourselves. In time, these ludicrous proposals of artificial immortality and artificial life might even lead to better lives for our descendants. Sit down and watch the movie and form your own opinion. Don’t pay any attention to mine. Think for yourself. Ann Shin with Erica the robot. Photo Credit: Iris Ng 65 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

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FILM & TELEVISION Special to Spencer Magazine Acting & Writing PAINTING WITH WORDS By Heidi von Palleske It was never about fame, attention or notoriety. If someone could write such beautiful words, then I It was always about the word and the images that had no choice than to be an actor so that I could be words can paint. I have always been a great admirer a conduit between the written word and those who of visual arts, in fact if there is one leitmotif throughout should hear the written word. my writing, it has to be the inclusion of visual arts or the visual artist. Full disclosure, I cannot even draw I was never meant for the stage, as much as I love a stick man. And so, instead, there exists in me the the classics. The interior thought process has always desire to paint with words. meant too much to me. The stage requires a larger- than-life performance. Emotions and movements are It was the play ‘Antigone’ that changed my life. exaggerated in order to reach the back row. And while Fifteen years old, in a cast iron bathtub in an old the stage is about ritual, film is about alchemy. It is farmhouse in rural Ontario, happily away from the intimate, honest, and personal in performance and noise of my many siblings. And there, reading Anti- storytelling. A medium that requires honesty and gone for the first time, I had a lifechanging epiphany. truth. The camera catches every lie. 67 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE When I was asked to write a blog about being an actor, I have for my entire life, at least since third grade, and how that affected the writing of ‘Two White Queens been an actor and a writer. But in the end what I am and the One-Eyed Jack,’ I was somewhat miffed. Why really? I am storyteller. Sometimes in an interpretive not ask about my life experiences and how they trans- way and sometimes in a generative way but, either lated into the imagery in the novel? After all, there are way, through fiction I endeavor to expose the truth... no actors as characters in ‘Two White Queens and the Painting with words. One-Eyed Jack!’ I felt that my life as an actor and as a writer were complimentary, but quite separate. Then, P.S. – And of course, there is a nod to ‘Antigone’ in ‘Two as I reflected, I started to draw some uncanny connec- White Queens and the One-Eyed Jack.’ tions. As I said, I am a film actor. As an film-actor, I am an interpretive artist working in the field of storytelling. Reviews for Heidi's book: If film were a painting then an actor, or the character the actor plays, is neither the painting nor the painter, \"Well, I loved it. It captured me and I couldn't put it down. but rather one of the paint colours. As I writer I am a generative artist, also in the art of storytelling but, Great original storytelling.\" instead of the paint, I Jeremy Irons become the painter. \"A life-changing childhood accident, one that is forma- A film actor often is shot out of sequence. tive of the adult lives to follow, is a testimony to D.H. What you see may be a linear story, but it Lawrence's view of the novel as 'the highest complex of is not linear for the actor. And so from subtle interrelatedness.' How the characters in this story the start of the shoot to the end, you wear are interconnected is a marvel of storytelling. This is a that character all day, ready to call upon novel about the calamitous changes in history, in both any moment of that character’s existence. The camera penetrates past the flesh in order to capture the very personal and national history.\" thoughts of the character. Film-acting takes place in the mind, in the thoughts behind the eyes. When I write, I John Irving get to penetrate the flesh of my characters and live in their thoughts. See beyond what the characters do and \"Quirky and meticulous, Two White Queens and the One- say to reveal the workings of their minds. Eyed Jack is a literary novel of substantial merit.\" Although acting is not represented in the novel, The Forward Book Review the camera is. Jack loses his eye and is monocular but, when he takes up photography, naming his single lensed friend Cyclops, he is able to see things in a more in-depth fashion. And in the end, although I did not become an actor in order to be seen, this book is about sight. One character makes glass eyes, another is a visual artist, a middle-aged women feels invisible to her family, and a younger woman’s truth is not seen by those closest to her. And, of course, Jack loses one of his eye and the Two White Queens, identical twin girls with albinism, have only 30% sight and, yet, they see far more of the world than their contemporaries. 68 www.spencer-magazine.com

FILM & TELEVISION Special to Spencer Magazine DEFINING MOMENTS Defining Moments is a highly comedic film about that one single moment in time that changes you from who you were to who you'll be. By Stephen Wallis It’s been 17 years since I wrote this funny, unique along the way. Her passing mirroring one of the main little script called Defining Moments. Literally, I characters in the story. completed it over a period of six days. Tucked deep into my Sunset Blvd office. Barely eating. Remem- Over the years, the film has had a tremendous bering little but the fact that my fingers would cramp up amount of tragedy attached to it. Peter O’Toole, Michael from the constant tap-tapping. Only leaving the office to Clarke Duncan, Mickey Rooney were all attached to go to my apartment two hundred yards away for the odd be in the film before their deaths. We thought we had shower. Six days, little sleep and I never had a rewrite. Leslie Nielsen before he died and we had Jerry Lewis No second draft. It was almost like I was channeling the literally about to board a plane before becoming ill and story. The words poured out of me in a way that even passing away a few weeks after. One of our producers now surprises me. A unique moment in time. Like a Roy Collavino and Canadian acting great Sean McCann meteor passing overhead. There and then gone... both passed away shortly after filming was completed. I based the script on something my mother said And finally, as you all know, Burt Reynolds became about death. Not long before her passing. The pure our final and only Chester. We sadly have the honour depth of her comment stirred my creative juices and of being his final film. I’m not sure that I’ve ever had a so I wrote this funny, sad, unusual piece with an urgent script that was so well loved that had so much trouble purpose. How little did I know that it would take so long in making it to the screen. But, life as you know tends to complete the journey. Or how painful it would be to go in the direction it wants you to whether you like 69 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Burt Reynolds with Director Stephen Wallis it or not. You can forgive me if at times we all didn’t There are moments that I’ll always remember. think we were cursed. It seemed like there was always From Peter O’Toole reading the script while at a roadblock or something that came up that made it the pyramids and then signing his contract while difficult for us to get it made or to get it finished. commandeering a boat in the Mediterranean to Jerry Lewis saying that it was one of the most beautiful I think we forget that sometimes you really have to scripts that he ever read. Or meeting Burt Reynolds work at life to be successful. Whether that’s in your job every morning as we were shooting by getting a kiss or your kids or as in my case with my art. No one ever and a pat on my cheek with a “What are we doing promises you a simple journey. Or that it will all work today, Chief?” To having my long time hockey buddy out as perfectly as you see it when you start. I vividly Christian McKenna in the film to having some of remember so many of my friends and family telling me my best friends in the business like Polly Shannon, how foolish it was for me to try to something this crazy Sienna Guillory, Shawn Roberts being there as we with my life. To follow the dream even when the dream make yet another film. To having one of my favourite seemed more likely to be a nightmare. Remembering people, Tammy Blanchard fulfilling a promise to the reaction of people I knew when I failed at moving each other from ten years before about doing this forward sometimes. The glee they somehow got in the film together no matter what. And working again “I told you so.” I know that they probably didn’t mean with such wonderfully sweet and crazily talented it. I understand that most people never understand people like Eric Peterson, Graham Greene and Ron the drive of people in the arts to be seen and heard. I James who bring joy to every film set to bringing on get that. I know that over the years many of the naysayers became my biggest supporters. And for that I’ll be forever grateful. Without an army of people dreams rarely happen. I am so glad that so many people I grew up with are involved in the film. From producers to actors to shooting in my home town. When the journey is over, it’s humbling to look back at all the good that happened along the way. It’s important to always look back with clear eyes and see what you achieved and more importantly, who you achieved it with. 70 www.spencer-magazine.com

FILM & TELEVISION so many younger actors like Connor, Kelly and Katie who showed so much promise in their journey as actors. We sometimes forget that life is a journey. No two are ever alike. But, the destination is only part of it. And it’s important to always remember that. The lessons along the way are the most important part of that journey. Without it, there is little value. There’s little real achievement without struggle. Hard to remember, but it’s important to do so. There are too many people Behind the Scenes with Sienna Guillory and Stephen Wallis to thank in regards to the film. Whether that’s crew, cast or our investors. For those who were there, you were all so important. Without you, the journey wouldn’t have been completed. I thank you for the gift you gave me. Whether you realized that you gave me one at all. My best friends in mylife are my producing partners. there. To my wonderful crew, with special nods to my Susan, Jim and Mike. Without them, I am just a lonely DP Russ and composer Alain. A director without his director looking for a path home. Never underestimate crew is a like a man on an island. You can’t understate the people behind you. They’re the ones that get you the importance of every single crew member when you do something like this. Together, we’re the world’s coolest transformer. So, on behalf of the best producing team this side of border, I am very pleased to tell you all that Defining Moments will have a US theatrical release in August of this year. A feat in this current world that’s a very hard thing to do. More to come on all this. But, thanks for all the support over the years. It’s never gone unnoticed. I will be forever grateful to have shared this journey... From left to right: Nikki Filipelli, Roy Colavino, Burt Reynolds, Stephen Wallis, Susan Ilott, Nathan Street. 71 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Sharing Love to the World The Universal Appeal Rosita Stone By Wanda Ryan Rosita Stone is Canadian of Mexican and Russian Ukrainian decent, a unique award-winning and prolific artist, songwriter, producer, and dancer (Pop, Soul & Latin). She resides outside of Toronto with her daughter, who is the crowning jewel of her life. The essence of her music is emotional, the appeal universal, the delivery inclusive and unforgettable at this time, when the voice of the people roars for change, Rosita Stone comes through with her sensational single \"Love to the World,\" written by Rosita Stone and acclaimed Producer Big Chris Flores. 'Love to the World' is an anthem for our times, no matter our race, culture, gender identity or spiritual beliefs; we are all born to bring love into the world, with unity. As an avid lover of Brazil, the video features Capoeira, an incredible blend of acrobatics, music, and dance, developed by Brazil's African people to create community and unity. Rosita has been featured in Mexico's largest media, radio and TV networks across the world, Rolling Stone Latin, MSN Latin, from Google News to Canada's Maple Music Café. She's a self-starter and recipient of a Latin American Achievement Award, an award from CityTV Latin for weeks on top rotation, a Harley Davidson Colombia endorse- ment, and honourable guest singer at the Sony premier of the late Jeff Buckley's worldwide release. Her song \"Mother to Child\" was a chosen soundtrack for multi award-winning film \"Figment\" and she's performed alongside Michael Bublé, The Canadian Tenors and was the opening act for Grammy winning Latin superstar Carlos Vives. Rosita also has a background in Natural medicine and Nutritional Biochemistry and saving animals is her passion. 72 www.spencer-magazine.com

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ARTS & CULTURE Spencer Feature Interview ALYSSA RUBINO RALUYSBSIANO The Canadian singer/songwriter shares with us her experience as a young Pop/R&B recording artist, leading up to her current success By Joseph Edward Schur Breaking into the music industry at a young Alyssa found herself quickly emerging as a age, Alyssa released her first single “Keep on young recording artist and made traction with Dancing” in 2011. The single quickly climbed her music video “Keep On Dancing” in Germany, its way up the charts and peaked number 6 on the Austria, Switzerland. She also performed at J-14’s Billboard Dance charts just at the age of 12. Alyssa InTune concert in NYC with teen stars Grayson was deemed the youngest Canadian to grace the Chance and Allstar Weekend. Attending the cover of Billboard Magazine and appeared in J-14, Grammy Awards and Juno Awards, she has shared Twist, M magazine and Cashbox. the Red Carpet with major celebrities. 74 www.spencer-magazine.com

MUSIC Emerging into 2021 with her most recent single will be collaborative among some of the best “Mutual”, Alyssa returns with her magnetic and producers in the business, some of whom in- infectious energy. Gaining traction for her talents, clude Emile Ghantous and G1. “Mutual” continues to gain numerous streams and is currently being supported and played on We caught up with this amazing artist for an Toronto’s biggest radio station, Z103.5. exclusive interview. Alyssa is presently penning her album which 75 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Joseph Edward Schur: How old were you when you unhappiness. It didn’t matter what I had accomplished or pursued, nothing fulfilled me the way that music decided to pursue music as a profession? did. I missed performing for people, spending hours and hours in the studio and being able to do what I Alyssa Rubino: I have been influenced by music my loved, every single day. entire life. Growing up, my father was in the music industry which definitely molded my love for music. This encouraged me to now, at 23 years old, begin I was 4 years old when I first entered a studio and ac- pursuing music as my full time profession, once again. tually recorded a song. I was visiting my dad at work, but I knew I wanted to sing and fell in love with it from What’s the best advice you have there. Beginning at the young age ever received from a musician of 5 years old, I began taking pro- or producer? fessional vocal lessons. At 10 years old I started ex- The best advice I have ever re- perimenting in the studio and ceived was to stay true to who I immediately felt comfortable. It am as an artist and to always be felt like home at such a young authentic. For me, it’s all about age. It was that summer that I allowing my music to reflect turned to my dad and said “I what I truly feel and believe in. want to go into the studio and make my own song.” Who are your biggest influences in music? In 2010, I released my first Many artists and music genres single “Keep on Dancing” which inspire me, mostly Pop and R&B. gained recognition and I began My biggest influences are Mariah getting approached by reputa- Carey, Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, ble executives in the industry. In Beyoncè, The Weeknd, and Kehlani. 2011, I was featured in Billboard magazine and graced the front After high school, which univer- cover. During this time I had sity did you attend and what was got on stage for many live per- your major, and why? formances, one being in NYC for the J-14 Intune concert. I studied and graduated with a Psychology degree from York After three years of a busy University in Toronto. I chose schedule filled with live perfor- Psychology because I was curious mances, recording, interviews, to understand the complexity of photoshoots, video shoots and meetings and back and the mind and why individuals behave the way they do. It forth flying, I had decided to return to Toronto at 14 to also was the first stepping stone for one of my goals of attend high school and take a break from the industry. either practicing music therapy for children or clinical psychology. I didn’t realize at the time that this decision would ultimately create a sense of emptiness inside me and How was it juggling your studies with music? unfulfillment. Although my parents wanted me to experience normality within childhood after working Going through university takes an immense amount at a young age and being away from my family and of dedication and because of this, It was difficult divid- friends, I grew to know that it isn’t what I wanted. ing my time between music and studying. Music was the outlet I needed when I became overwhelmed or Although music never completely left me, as I main- frustrated. Although completing my studies inhibited tained vocal lessons, writing songs on my spare time my ability to devote myself to music full time, it was and joining my dad in the studio from time to time, always still something I pursued along the way. I struggled for many years with a loss of identity and 76 www.spencer-magazine.com

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ARTS & CULTURE I wanted the song to reflect how I was feeling and the story I intended to narrate. From there, we wrote If you didn’t become a singer/songwriter, what would the whole song within an hour over zoom. Personally, you be doing now? the writing process is one of my favourite’s when creating a song. Fulfilling another one of my dreams of becoming either an entertainment lawyer or working in music The process for most of my songs starts the same; therapy. I'll record different ideas to the beat and write down lyric ideas, whether it’s a full sentence or words that What was your favorite live performance? could inspire the song. In NYC, J-14 InTune Concert with Grayson Chance and All I have a journal that I write Star Weekend. It was in Times lyrics in when thoughts and Square at the Hard Rock Cafe. feelings come to mind, as well It was my first large live per- as a folder on my notes app on formance and I remember my phone that I will write words going to my team after I came and lyrics that could inspire my off stage and said “I want to next song. do a lot more shows.” The feeling I get while performing So, what’s Mutual about? is magical and unmatched by anything else I do. Not one specific situation or one specific person inspired Your latest single, “Mutual” this song. I wish there was a has been grabbing a lot of simple answer for this but the attention and streams. What truth is that so many different was the inspiration for this experiences inspired this record. song? What was the creative It reflects the uncertainty, broken process like for you? commitments and confusion that we all may go through in rela- I am so grateful for the rec- tionships. Tell me if it’s mutual ognition Mutual has received really means what it says… is it since being released on March mutual? 19. My single has reached 100,000 streams and count- What are the 3 most important ing, which is unbelievable to things to you? me. Toronto's biggest radio station, Z103.5 has supported the single and it has been played frequently. I am grateful to Matt Wreggitt, 1. Family The Hammer, for being the first to support and play 2. Happiness my song. I always dreamed of being played on the 3. Success radio, especially in my city, it still feels surreal. What’s next for you? The creative process began when I heard a beat that my producer G1, who also happens to be my dad, I am writing, recording and working on new music. created. I gravitated toward the sound and immediately I have plans to release an album that takes listeners on began singing potential melodies to it. I set up a a journey and what they can relate to. writing session with Demetri James and G1 and the first thing I said was, I want the title to be called Mutual Thank you, Alyssa! From all of us at Spencer Magazine, and I want it to start with Broken Promises. we wish you continued success! 78 www.spencer-magazine.com

MUSIC NFT BAZL The \"first-of-its-kind\" NFT Exhibition in South Beach, Miami 79 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

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ART EXHIBITIONS Spencer Feature Article NFT BAZL The Future is Here By Will Bartlett So, what exactly is NFT BAZL, you may ask? NFT-BAZL is a new type of art gallery, designed to revolutionize the business of art. Breathing new life into an antiquated market, artists will be able to exhibit physical and digital masterpieces side-by-side, welcoming collectors to an exhibit where onlookers can view artworks across a variety of mediums and bid by simply scanning a QR code. Blockchain technology will automate transactions and recording of provenance on artwork; an electronic gallery allows viewing and purchase 24/7. Without waiting for exhibition in a physical gallery or the time-consuming legal process of processing a transfer of ownership, purchases can be made and transfer set underway from the moment the gallery has committed the piece to its digital gallery. \"We made this possible by digitizing the deed of ownership of a physical piece, and tying that to a unique verification code that is permanently associated to the physical art,\" states Ori Ohayon of GDA Capital. \"This allows us to track ownership across the secondary market, making valuations and authentication significantly easier than with the current market infrastructure.\" In addition, a royalty system will be implemented to allow for secondary trading. When a piece of art, physical or digital, exchanges hands the creator of that masterpiece will receive a royalty, and a record of transfer is permanently established. 81 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE What Are NFTs? Unlike crypto currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, where each token shares the same value and properties, NFT tokens are distinct from one another, each representing completely different and even unique values that cannot be duplicated. From digital artwork to domain name ownership. to trading cards, the applications of NFTs are wide-ranging and promising. NFTs can fundamentally be used to represent or prove ownership of any unique asset, both digital and physical. They possess unique identification attributes that hold all the asset’s characteristics, as well as all rights associated with owning the asset. These are secured via cryptographic encryption; and are recorded and monitored on blockchain networks. Speaking simply, NFTs are used to prove ownership history and thus are a digital deed of ownership. NFTs can only have a single owner at any given time, and are immutable in that their ownership record cannot be modified nor can a new NFT with identical attributes be produced. In time, these blockchain records can be expected to provide provenance on artwork. 82 www.spencer-magazine.com

ART EXHIBITIONS So, an NFT is not cryptocurrency? Fungibility is the property of a good or a commodity whose individual units are essentially interchangeable, and each of its parts is indistinguishable from another part. As per their name, NFTs are “non-fungible,” in contrast to cryptocurrencies which are fungible. You can buy and sell fractions of an Ether token, for instance, from anyone anywhere in the world. However, you cannot replace a part of a digital artwork with part of another digital artwork. NFTs that represent ownership of digital artwork are, thus, non-fungible. NFT BAZL? GDA, Elitium, and EO Art Concierge have collaborated to transform a seemingly confusing and intangible technology into something much more understandable. Armed with extensive financial experience, including stints at Goldman Sachs and TD Securities, Ori Ohayon is the ideator behind the GDA venture and now serves as the head of corporate development. He has set out to bring the digital world into antiquated sectors and his first target is the art market. Also part of the project is Raoul Milhado, who has been a tech entrepreneur for the last ten years, and is the mastermind behind Elitium. This platform is a next-gen wealth management application that is capable of helping people discover a life of independence, value, and growth by leveraging the blockchain to their advantage. 83 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Where Do NFTs Come From? The origin of NFTs can be traced back to around 2012 with Colored Coins. Colored Coins were fundamentally very similar to NFTs. Their intent was to utilize the Bitcoin blockchain to represent assets such as coupons, collectibles, shares of equity, commodity certificates, and more. These coins were released as a set of coins that were “colored” to differentiate them from the rest. They had special properties set by the issuing agent or similar mechanism, and values that were independent from bitcoin. In 2017, John Watkinson and Matt Hall developed a set of 10,000 unique characters on top of the Ethereum blockchain network, which would come to be known as Cryptopunks. These characters were rapidly acquired and traded online among those in the cryptocurrency space. Cryptopunpunks created the foundations that now serve as the basis for much of the current art movement. 2017 also saw the advent of CryptoKitties, which was centered around breedable, collectible, digital cats that were unique and entirely owned by their holders; they could not be destroyed, confiscated, or duplicated, like traditional NFTs. CryptoKitties received a lot of attention from the mainstream media, and even led to the spinning-out of the venture-backed startup (i.e., $12.5M USD) Dapper Labs. Alongside CryptoPunks, CryptoKitties would set the standard for the current state of NFT projects. Lastly, 2017 also saw the emergence of Decentraland: a decentralized virtual reality (VR) platform based on the Ethereum network that enables users to purchase parcels of three-dimensional virtual space in the metaverse (i.e., VR world). Via Decentraland, users can explore, create, play various games, collect items, and engage in many more activities. Like CryptoPunks and CryptoKitties, Decentraland has helped set the stage for the application of NFTs to virtual real estate in the metaverse. 84 www.spencer-magazine.com

Current State Of The NFT Market Few would have thought that the adorable little Crypto Kitties of the early crypto days would become the building blocks for the future world of Decentral- ized Finance (DeFi). The NFT market has evolved dramatically since 2017 and we are seeing the digital art market expanding exponentially. Digital sport collectibles and memorabilia are going mainstream and replacing the physical playing cards that most Millenials and Gen Z-ers were so used to. Although NFTs have had a few mainstream encounters, such as the story about digital artist Beeple selling a piece for approximately $69 million, most people don’t know about them yet. However, with Christie’s managing some recent NFT sales and the idea quickly iterating into sectors that include real estate, collectibles, digital identity, and supply chains, we expect that this is about to hit global consciousness very soon. This is a pivotal moment for the NFT market as this digital technology starts to transition into the physical world. As we begin to look at NFTs more as a deed of ownership and less as a digital image or collectible, we start seeing a new world of opportunities that can apply to a range of different industries. This is w hat led to the id eation o f NFT B AZL. NFT BAZL is the love child of GDA and Elitium. Leveraging the best in both decentralized finance, art, and crypto economics, we were able to create the world's first physical art gallery capable of showcasing both physical and digital art using NFT technology to bridge the gap between the physical and digital art world. Ori Ohayon of GDA Capital “NFT BAZL is not here to recreate the wheel, it is here to prove that we can make the wheel run faster. Proof that traditional and digital assets are not so different after all!” ~~ Ori Ohayon, GDA 85 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE BROKEN Spencer Feature Interview ERIC MCKINNON UN By Joseph Edward Schur Eric McKinnon's enthusiasm for art is undeniable. He's travelled the world seeking enlightenment in the arts, returning to Toronto as the owner and curator of his Broken Cage Gallery. I first met Eric at his gallery during an event when he teamed up with Julien Lutz, AKA Director X to help raise awareness and money for 'Operation Prefrontal Cortex.' I was immediately impressed with both Eric and his gallery, and knew that I had to share it with our Spencer readers. The gallery is located in the heart of Toronto's Entertainment District, at 548 Richmond Street, West. I encourage you to drop by and check out his exhibitions! 86 www.spencer-magazine.com

Joseph Edward Schur: Thank you for this interview, Eric. I'm very interested in your gallery, and what got you started. What was your experience like studying first at UBC and then at Emily Carr in Vancouver? Eric McKinnon: Emily Carr was a very great school. It was an intense program where it forced you to constantly do better. It felt like a 'survival of the fittest' situation. Literally in class we would have multiple people tear apart your work before we were allowed to compliment it. It was very focused on the final result and quality of the work which was unique. I say this because the UBC program was mainly focused on theory and the message and meaning of the work. The artist statement and power behind the work. Emily Carr focused on the quality of the visual outcome of the work. UBC focused on the work behind the art as they believed you had your whole career to master your medium or style but the theory and intent behind the work needed to come first! 87 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Getting sent and accepted to the New York Solomon R. Guggenheim was amazing. It was nice being closer Upon graduating from Emily Carr and UBC, you left to home but it was also an even larger “Giant” to tack- for Venice, Italy to work at the Guggenheim Museum. le. At the New York museum everything was multiplied What motivated you to accept that opportunity? by 100. The responsibilities, the attendance, the art collection, and the overall magnitude of what I was Right away I wanted experience in the art world. doing. I still can’t believe I got to work in NYC at the During my studies one of my favourite professors gave Guggenheim Museum. There I was part of the Special a lecture and told us to look to our left and to our right Events and Visitor Services department. I worked in the classroom and said maybe one out of the 3 of under some amazing people who had their hands in us would be a successful artist, and he stressed MAY- almost every detail of the museum. I got to work on BE. This sat with me for a long time and caused me to everything from regular guest attendance and service, open my eyes about a career in Art. Maybe I wouldn't to the collection cataloging and documenting, exhibi- be a full time artist but I soon realized how many other tions that were both current and upcoming (while see- positions and careers there are in art aside from a full ing and helping with their plans) and the prestigious blown artist. And those roles are super important to special events such at the Picasso Exhibition which was artists and art! I was recommended trying to apply to the biggest event I was able to take part in. I helped the Venice Peggy Guggenheim internship by a family organize, set up, invite, serve and run this even along friend and was overjoyed when they accepted me. It side an amazing team. It was a massive collection of art became my first step towards a career in art that didn’t that circled the world. Private collectors, temporari- directly involve me being a practicing artist. It forced ly, donated their own Picasso pieces to the New York me to work on art lectures, guided tours of the muse- exhibition. NYC installation was the biggest group- um, special events, and event the regular day to day ing through out its travels to various other museums operations at the museum. around the world. The sheer amount of work and their power they had on everyone viewing them was enough And then you were transferred to the Solomon R. for me to wipe my hands and say well that’s as about as Guggenheim Museum in New York City, closer to good as it gets for me. home. 88 www.spencer-magazine.com

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS I understand that during your time in NYC, a couple allowed to ride the train as we had to go back to the city of life-changing events happened. Can you tell us where we were all living. Everyone else was asked to about that? stay or go home. While in NYC a few major events happened. Hurri- Both experiences were a shock to the system. One a cane Sandy was the first. A massive storm system that natural disaster that shook the world but also brought flooded almost all of Manhattan. Half of the city was a lot of people together. The other a man made trage- out of power for months including dy that sucked the joy out of all my apartment. It was a frightening \"Getting accepted of us. So my time in NYC was time as there was water every- amazing in both positive and sad where and the southern hospitals to the ways. were evacuated due to the need for New York power for some patients. But it was Solomon R. And you decided to take a break also an amazing time to be there and travel. as everyone was helping each I was offered a position and other. Businesses were offering Guggenheim extension to stay in NYC but I free food and drinks and even had gone from school straight to shelter if they could to strangers. Museum was work, and really wanted to travel I had friends stay at my apartment amazing. There I and experience art through oth- as my power came back before was part of the er countries and cultures. Plus theirs. in the wake of the Sandy Hook The second event was the in- event many people including famous Sandy Hook Elementary Special Events myself wanted to get away. So I shooting. A group of my colleagues and Visitor went home and bought what was and I took a day trip to upstate Services called a “Circle Ticket”. Basically New York by train to see anoth- the way it worked is I was allowed er art museum, the DIA BEACON department.\" to board any plane I wanted to as Museum. This was an hour away long as it went in the same west- from the school by car. We left erly direction or destination. I very early and spent the entire went from Toronto to Vancouver, day immersed in the never ending to Australia (where I traveled to indoor and outdoor art collection; several different places both east and the massive scale exhibitions they had on display. and west coast by buying separate tickets) the Philip- This was before everyone’s phone was a direct link to pines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Italy, Germany, the news and we had no idea what happened that day. Switzerland, France, England, and then back home to We proceeded to head back to the train station which Toronto. Within this trip I was able to take part in my had been shut down by a full platoon of soldiers from favourite sports and see a lot of my friends along the the US army. We immediately became concerned and way as many of them from home or working in Italy asked what had happened. None of the officers would or New York had ended up in one of the countries I tell us. They said until further notice every station stopped at. So I slept on lots of couches and got to see had been shut down for everyone’s safety. We then ran some of these countries through the eyes of my friend to a near by coffee shop to try to find a television and who were locals. This was done so by visiting amazing get updated with the horrific news of the elementary museums in Manilla, or climbing the ruins in Thailand, school shooting. Instantly a wave of sadness fell over or taking a river trip down the River Thames. So... I all of us. And we waited hours until they opened the accomplished what I set out to do. Circle the globe and train back up so we could go home. No one really knew experience art in each city I stopped in. what to say or do. Our day came to a silent and cold halt and no one spoke during the entire ride home. Our Would you encourage artists to take the path you train was almost empty as we were only a few people took, to travel and explore the world? 89 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Galleries should want as many people as possible to come in. After all isn’t the goal to promote, sell, and get I would fully recommend artists and those working art in the hands of collectors? in an art career to travel and take advantage of every kind of cultural opportunity available. You really don’t Broken Cage is a gallery first but we are also a experience it unless you’ve lived it and been there. live art event venue. We host live music shows, stand Seeing art and culture is way more emotional and up comedy nights, Film screenings, and even yoga inspiring when it’s right in front of you. classes. Each of these in unquestionably art in its own right. AND… maybe a visitor to our gallery doesn’t want You returned to Toronto with the intention of con- to purchase a painting but maybe they want to experi- ence a live comedy show and laugh with other artistic tinuing your work in an art gallery environment. How people. BCG aims to be a positive artistic environment and to promote local and international art in all its did that go? mediums: visual, performative, musical, or experiential. Coming back to Toronto I planned to jump right What was your goal in opening up the gallery? back into my art career. And I had my sights set on working in a gallery as I have a lot of experience in the To inspire, promote, sell and house art and its art world as well as retail sales experience from all my experiences. Broken Cage Gallery wants to inspire other jobs growing up. This was a tough pill to swallow. new collectors to purchase their first piece as well I thought I had a name on my resume that would open as sup p ort those with extensive collections to add doors for me right away. I thought working at two more to their own. We want people to invest in art that Guggenheim museums would be enough to get me will appreciate or retain its value. We don’t want people into a gallery position almost instantly. This proved to wasting money on an over produced print from a massive be way more difficult and frustrating than I envisioned. A chain store that once you leave the building is worth lot of the galleries I applied to were family run or were less then the stretched canvas it’s printed on. We also set for staff and had a lot of potential staff submis- want to support artists! Art is essential. It drives the sions and already waiting in line. I was applying and world and makes every day better. Try walking down interviewing all over the city and couldn’t seem to crack the street without seeing it. Art is proven that when into a role I wanted. After several years of trying I said viewed by an individual it causes neurons in the brain enough and risked it all to start my own gallery with to fire. Literally cause sparks in my imagination and a new outlook and vision then some of the galleries I creativity. This causes an emotional reaction and can grew up visiting. bring forth joy and positivity and happiness through inspiration. We see this in the visual arts, auditory, and The Broken Cage Gallery. I have to ask, how did you performative. come up with the name? Besides promoting and showcasing art, your gallery also hosts live artistic events. The name of the gallery had some influence from other international galleries I am a fan of. Such as Live music, stand up comedy, film night, and even “Stolen Space Gallery” in London, England. I wanted yoga classes! These are no doubt strong areas of live the name to kind of stand out and demand people to performance art. And we cannot neglect them. Musi- ask what does that mean. Broken Cage Gallery’s name cians, comedians, instructors are all artists. And the is pretty much another way of saying out of the box audience is kind of like their canvas. Being in an audi- or breaking away from what you thought a gallery ence for a live show is almost like being part of a per- was. Growing up and visiting galleries and museums formance piece. So you become a part of the art. through my youth and studies there was an intimidat- ing side to art that I wanted to stay clear from. Not in A few of the Exhibitors at the Broken Cage every gallery but in some when I visited it seemed like Gallery are on the following pages... an attendee had to be quiet, dress appropriately, have money, or move along. Again not all are like this but I strive to stay away from this side of the art outlook. And in my opinion that’s not what art should be. Art and art institutions should be welcoming and inviting. It seems like most are moving in this direction now! 90 www.spencer-magazine.com

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS Artists Featured at the Broken Cage Gallery TODD MONK Toronto Artist Todd Monk @toddmonkart uses a new and unique style called Pixilism. Creating meticulous and mi- nuscule detail to make his works extreme in focus from far and almost topographical up close. He works with exotic subject matter bridged with contemporary ideas and a beautiful tonal colour pallet. The details of this exotic subject matter is very shocking, sensual, and relatable private life. Working out of Toronto, Monk’s work is defined by dedication to detail and recreating luminous feminine figures, not afraid to bridge sensuality with elegance. Monk’s large scale and miniature works are painted with hundreds of Pixelated textures before achieving human-like tones. Meticulously rendered, his acrylic pieces employ his signature and realistic style to give the viewer the impression of a living, breathing, and sensual figure. Monk explores beauty while presenting emotions of tranquility, and sensuality. He evokes excitement, inviting the spectator into a somewhat private envi- ronment, such as a woman swimming nude in her own privacy, eliciting a meditative juncture. Best known for his seductive figures, the viewer is captivated by the unseen, inner life of the subjects he portrays. Todd's paintings have been exhibited in Toronto, Miami, New York and has been in galleries in New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Palm Springs, Laguna Beach, Collingwood. He has been a part of the Riverdale Art Walk,The Artist Project, Queen West Art Crawl, Spectrum Miami Art Fair 2015, Affordable Art Fair NYC 2016 and The Brain Project 2017. Chosen as one of Art Business News' TOP 40 ARTISTS TO WATCH 91 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE FANNY RICE Quebec artist Fanny Rice. @fannyricearthas forged her own particular style through a lot of experiment- ing on mixed media and abstract mediums. Her works are flowing with living colour and one can relate to each of her pieces whether it be through a visual memory or mental and emotional interpretation. Travel is an extremely important influence on Rice's work and definitely her life and the audience can truly see this in her paint- ing. Each piece gives off a surreal or kind of exag- gerated landscape. It's an aerial view of a coast line, a topographical map, or dis- tant natures-cape exploding with colour. She has mastered and created her formula for art resign and acrylic. And we love its \"fluid textured movement\". It's easily recognizable. Rice's work has developed over time too. Starting off early in her career with darker shades and tones then developing and defi- nitely blooming into these gorgeous / attractive collections of colour in more recent pieces. 92 www.spencer-magazine.com

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS GREG BENZ London, Ontario artist Greg Benz. @gregbenz_artwork is a Canadian artist who creates fascinating work using acrylic, polymer, and resin. Benz has been practicing for over ten years. Working primarily with abstractly and mono series mixing acrylic and different colours of polymers while finishing them off with a high glossy resign. These pieces allow their audience to experience different reactions for each individuals own imagination. His more recent work focuses on his landscape series. A new look at horizons through natural tones and actual texture. The spark different seasons and draw different emotion from each different viewer. His highly accalimed work in resin is more explosive. The images are pri- mordial, with the mash-up of colours and patterns giving the impression of acts of violent creation in deep space as plasma entities collide. Having worked in other media - in- cluding digital prints - since graduating from Ontario's Bealart, Benz has also had a rich career as a DJ and Producer of Elec- tronica. This has allowed him to travel a great deal and be a player in a wide range of creative endeavours. \"With my latest work I'm trying to push the boundaries of the abstract landscape idea. Using acrylic paint and mixing it with different polymers and resin to push how we look at landscapes and nature. My smaller series focuses on a representational horizon line but is still semi abstract and has a more texture and earthy feel. It started off based on our Canadian winter landscapes here in Ontario and has grown from that idea.\" 93 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE LOGAN FORD Born in 1985 in Calgary, AB. As the son of a professional artist, Logan has been painting and studying art independently for most of his life. His work is inspired primarily by the natural world, depicting pristine, ethereal landscapes, seemingly untouched by the hands of mankind. Since moving to Vancouver Island in 2007, Logan has drawn a great deal of inspiration from the west coast landscape. His work is featured in public and private collections across North America, Europe, and Australia. Logan has a hyper-realistic style of painting. His work is dedicated to nature. While his pieces depict a natural location he paints strictly from memory with no visual reference. Ford is no doubt influenced by the natural world around him. And it really shows in his pieces. The works he creates make the audience think they are stepping into a forest, walking across a beach or climbing a mountain. These aren’t your every day locations. They’re works that require an adventure to witness. His skills are those of super attentive detail that most cameras cannot capture. He's almost over focused. And this shocks the viewer into thinking they are a part of the natural landscape. His subject matter all revolve around Mother Nature and its pure raw existence. He captures beautiful land- scapes in their true state and “untouched by mankind”. Almost suggesting their innocence and beauty standing alone. These are frozen moments of nature that can never be disturbed or impacted by an unnatural event. Beauty in its greatest form. 94 www.spencer-magazine.com

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS STEEP DANIELS Daniel Sidorowicz also know as STEEP Daniels, is an artist, director, fashion collaborator, and filmmaker whose work and life have crossed the border and can be found in several collections throughout North America and other countries. He is a graduate of the New York Film Academy Cinematography program. He has produced and directed international film projects in NYC for cultural icons such as The Wu Tang’s Method Man, and Zombie boy (Lady Gaga- Born this way). Daniel grew up through nature, hard work, and the grunge of North America. He found inspiration from what other’s usually pass by and support from person’s of all backgrounds; whether that be his family, collectors, celebrity friends like Zombie Boy, or one of his most supportive acquaintances a houseless profit from the streets of NYC; who told him that one day his projects would inspire the children of the world leading to 777ov \"Where Art Meets Fashion.\" 777 OVERCOMING: Over the course of 777 days, artist Steep Daniels has been working towards the goal of raising $777,000 to put towards established charities that work with children and youth to overcome adversity through arts, film, and athletics. Daniels spent much of his early childhood in the Toronto Sick Kids hospital as he battled a rare intestinal disorder. He suc- cessfully founded 777ov and launched a children’s initiative through this fundraiser using 7 original paintings from his “Purple Frames” collection directly inspired by the spir- it of Prince, who Daniels shares a June 7th birthday with. On April 21st, 2016 when the American Icon passed away, Daniels’ came up with this project, deciding to name it 777 while listening to Prince’s Purple Rain. As the launch of June 7th, 2018, national prince day approached, Daniel’s realized this date fell the 777th day of the project unknown to him when the number first inspired him. In 2020 his current collection, \"Pollution Luxury\" is the artist’s most recent series. It is on display as part of the 15-year retro- spective amalgamation of multimedia works with despotic and industrial motifs. Daniel's work can be described as a pastiche of the pop art movement where everyday objects, such as cau- tion tape are centered in his art and fashion as a backdrop to the monstrous beauty of contemporary society. His work is a resurrection and mix of discarded mixed media materials and destruction. Only to find a new zombified existence. He's Doctor Frankenstein and Pollock, combining a blend of the past to shock the future. We find materials such as caution tape, electrical cables, staples, circuit boards, and even different pigmented drywall. His subject matter touches on important issues, celebrity characters, as well as influential symbols. It's chaos and order, debris, and beauty, as well as caution and celebration. 95 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE SONNY @sonnysundancer is currently one of South Africa's newest and most exhilarating artists. Exhibiting all around the world and also pro- moting the reality that our planet's incredible animal population is in danger! Much of his subject mater directly relates to this issue as well as raises money for this cause. His over- whelmingly beautiful pieces are eye catching and moving on each of his mediums: painting, prints, and gigantic street murals. “Tiptoeing between reality and fantasy”, the animal portraits in Sonny’s paintings are painstakingly rendered in great detail, with part of their flesh stripped down to the bone to reveal colourful patterns inspired by tribal art from the animal’s natural habitat. Depicted with golden horns and teeth that allude to the reason they are targeted by poachers, their haunting faces allow viewers to look directly into their eyes and fathom their dire predicament. The collection is the culmination of an ongoing worldwide tour that has Sonny creating large mural paintings from the streets of Amsterdam, Miami and London, to those of Vladivostok in Russia. 96 www.spencer-magazine.com

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS Transform Exhibit PAINTIWNAGYTFHOERWARD By Rose Marie Bresolin Evelisa Natasha Genova began her work on identity as a painter was in fact more of a desired gift to Transform LA in 2019, after the initial proof of build bridges, trust, and connect across generations. concept was developed in Canada between 2017 Together with community members she struck up a and 2019. Partnered with the Canadian Consulate of peace-building arts program. Los Angeles, it is scheduled for Nov 2021, to coincide Mindful that Arts and Culture is an area rampant with Los Angeles’ Heritage Month in November. in misrepresentation and misappropriation, the Transform, as the Art and Business exhibit has program encouraged students to approach art with a been named, is purposed to showcase how mutually connection to homeland, and self. As a painter herself, respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with Evelisa was able to connect the practice of artmaking tribal nations across cultural and economic sectors with personal identity, and relationships to the sur- benefit everyone. rounding landscape so that what they painted would After working internationally in community-led begin with the truth of who they are. This approach programs in Fiji, India, and Costa Rica, and achieving helped her to build trusting and longstanding rela- a Master’s Degree in Education at Harvard University tionships, the program carried on another year, and in 2013, Evelisa Natasha Genova made a commitment she went on to work with a First Nations Advocacy to serve Indigenous communities and Indigenous- organization, continuing to put community perspec- led priorities in the most appropriate way. Working tives and priorities first. Wanting to expand on these in government relations was one of those avenues, but relationships, she was keen to understand what would in 2016, after volunteering with Six Nations educators be appropriate in supporting those communities. and community members on a local peace-building initiative with non-Indigenous neighbours, her Above: Evelisa at the Gallery Exhibit 97 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE “The fact that I was a painter helped to build bridges between both adults and children, First Nations and Cana- dians. There’s a lot of talent in communities, and those that want to be visible with those gifts should have an opportunity to share them in a meaningful way” says Evelisa. Whether through coaching youth in the arts or in helping them to develop skills of problem solving and leadership, Evelisa’s vision is to combine these creative gifts as a way to create more understanding, compassion, and a better world. With that vision, Evelisa began curating art exhibits that told that story through merging art and business; art that is founded on a grounding of who they are, and how “honouring” Indigenous perspectives, truths, and reality is to mutually respect each other. From there Evelisa began creating art exhibits to take the story of our relationship to each other beyond the community. The key through-line for Evelisa in exhibits has been the relationship com- ponent; relationships will only last on a foundation built on truth. For todays’ virtues of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” to meaningfully thrive, the first relationships on this land must be healed and transformed. This sets the tone for how we treat anyone. Evelisa sees a lot of hope in getting that understanding out there. Since the Art and Culture has had some of the worst offenses of cultural Evelisa Natasha Genova appropriation, Evelisa’s key goal is to amplify the artists’ work in their authentic sense of self, in the context of our complex and shared landscapes. That ultimately led her to Transform LA. The exhibit evolved from her work in the government sector and her search for a meaningful way to support diverse economic development within tribal nations. 98 www.spencer-magazine.com

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS Curator of Art Is Life, Evelisa with The Canadian Elder Danny Beaton Charter of Rights and Freedoms signed in April 1982 did not in fact lessen She came up with the idea of supporting joint discrimination and in equality because ventures, with a view to building best practices the rights allowed for a distinction across cultural and economic sectors. Evelisa began between groups, such that only likes were working with the Transform LA Art and Business to be treated alike. It took another Exhibition at the LA Consulate in 2019. Through 3 years before the clause for likes was her appointment by the Consulate to co-curate the interpreted to include everyone, Transform LA Exhibit, she is officially co-curating with and with each revision through the years local Indigenous curator and LA American Com- it has been reinterpreted with a missioner Dawn Jackson this year. A long-standing Commissioner, having worked with Disney corporate greater sensitivity towards for over 20 years, and being an artist herself, Dawn disadvantaged groups. brings a lot of creative maturity and insight to the project. After being postponed in June 2020 due The name of the exhibit Transform was developed to the pandemic, the exhibit has been rescheduled in partnership with heredity chiefs Toby Williams and to Nov. 2021, with media partner ABC, and kicking off Arnold Jacobs of Six Nations. Through ongoing discus- of Heritage Month November 2021. sions with Indigenous artists and leaders, Evelisa, Toby and Arnold would have ongoing discussions about the Since Evelisa’s work was in Ontario communi- need for communities to exert control over their own ties, the journey to seek support for the initiatives economic development. That’s where communities began in Canada. She established partnerships with began to visibly thrive. This opens a door to the beginning the Toronto Dominion Bank and the Canadian of authentic transformation. Council for Aboriginal Business among others. However, the strongest support to drive her vision The Trail forward ultimately came from the Consulate in LA. Through ongoing conversation with the leaders “When a community experiences and teachers, they came up with the idea of putting that they are able to enter into great together something for the artists themselves: A plat- business ventures, whether it’s in form that would give them the opportunity to do their Tourism or as creative entrepreneurs own art and to organize it. At that point, Evelisa’s in the arts within their communities, painting skills intersected with a sense of business they begin to diversify their own and they decided to go for it. economic development. This is amazing when it is taken beyond land and An idea that evolved through mutual respect resource development, and the ideas for and consciousness among the artists, has since the ventures come from the artists, progressed into a way that has the communities the creators.” thriving. It has blossomed beyond the attempt by government to fund programs for Indigenous communities continuously sprouting up in the effort to begin to make retribution for atrocities that would have the culture extinguished. This opportunity in the arts supports them in creating sustainable business partnerships. It gives them a way to advance their own goals and missions. The initiative clearly begins to shift power into their hands and has gone on to include the staging of Aboriginal art exhibits. 99 Spencer w Volume 2, Issue 2 w 2021

ARTS & CULTURE Evelisa’s experience in the LA Tranform evolved Canada already has Aboriginal Rights written into from her work with Mitch O’Farrell, a member of the the Constitution, and Section 15 in the Charter of Los Angeles City Council representing the 13th district Rights and Freedoms to lessen discrimination. Evelisa and also the City Mayor. An outcrop of the alliance was has taken an opportunity to make us heal the relation- the renaming of Columbus Day to Indigenous Native ship in appropriate and meaningful ways, giving us a Day in LA. in 2018. model to take us forward. She is passionate to have it The aim of the joint effort that resulted was to put underscore the importance of collaboration for ensur- together a celebration for Indigenous Heritage Month ing that truths are communicated clearly and are used in LA by showcasing Indigenous and International to advance awareness. Inherent in the experience is artists in mutual respect with each other, building the potential to unify and enrich society. relationships with local decision makers, the Native If we trace the gains achieved through the work of American Commission of LA, and community Artists Evelisa, it would seem that they happened in leaps. In to establish a meaningful collaboration to make an truth, it all began with one small step. Evelisa is part of exhibit possible. a unique breed of people with the inquisitiveness and The event in November, 2021 will invite Tribal lead- courage to question what makes our world go round, ers, delegates from Canada, Mexico, and the appro- and to look it squarely in the eye and do something to priate local representative into the discussion to have change it. It’s the optimism and drive like hers that fuel them informed of what the event could or should look our planet to become a truly better place. When add- like. She’s also been collaborating with a woman who ed to the other adventurers and trailblazers among us, works at First People Cultural Council in BC to invite their lens take us into a vision that would transform some of the businesses and artists in BC. our world into one that is inclusive and just. The exhibition provides a tangible example of what this collaboration between business and the arts looks like. It moves away from the abstract of the recommen- dations in the treaty, to what’s actually being done. It provides a model so that no that one has to reinvent the wheel. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Dawn Jackson - curator of Native American Peoples ((RCAP) was established exhibit at Los Angeles City Hall And Co-curator by Order in Council on August 26, 1991, and in October of Transform LA at the Canadian Consulate 1996 it submitted its Report. The Commission was formed in Historical Fact: response to concerns over the state of the relationship The Royal proclamation of 1763 proclaiming colonial between Indigenous domination stated that immigrants who had been living peoples and Canadians and and fighting with Indigenous nations, could not take land to investigate injustices directly from them. The land could be sold only to the and propose solutions. Crown which would mediate settlement on the land in question. The 1867 Confederation established the Indian A relationship that evolved from the persistent Act, a policy that made Indigenous peoples wards of the state effort to establish it as a long-standing one is the and as such controlled them. first of its kind on the planet. Coming out from behind a hypocritical stance that we care about Truth and Reconciliation; without truth there diversity and inclusion, the initiative represents can be no reconciliation. the first relationship appropriate model based on the political relationship, the social relationship, and the legal. 100 www.spencer-magazine.com