I have been in France all winter, but I'll be leaving soon, and it seemed a good time to break my blog silence. Last week, a few of my graduating students asked me to contribute something to their final celebration, notwithstanding that I am still in Paris until later this month. This is what I sent them.
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Craig Walker
About The Title of the Blog
"From this expedition [in 1609] Champlain learned much regarding the geography of eastern North America, and he brought back with him to France, to present to King Henry IV...a girdle of porcupine quills made from the Canadian porcupine..."
—From Pioneers in Canada by Sir Harry Johnston (1912)
I am irresistibly attracted to the peculiarity of this image of a porcupine girdle. Sorry to disappoint those who imagined that it might be something for pudgy porcupines, but it's not even what we would call a girdle nowadays. What is being described is a sort of belt, made by Hurons, in which porcupine quills were woven decoratively. Still, it would have been an odd item to see in 17th-century France. And I guess what I like most about the idea is its suggestion of something strange and somewhat enigmatic created in Canada and offered to the---pleased, peeved or just plain baffled?---larger world.
—From Pioneers in Canada by Sir Harry Johnston (1912)
I am irresistibly attracted to the peculiarity of this image of a porcupine girdle. Sorry to disappoint those who imagined that it might be something for pudgy porcupines, but it's not even what we would call a girdle nowadays. What is being described is a sort of belt, made by Hurons, in which porcupine quills were woven decoratively. Still, it would have been an odd item to see in 17th-century France. And I guess what I like most about the idea is its suggestion of something strange and somewhat enigmatic created in Canada and offered to the---pleased, peeved or just plain baffled?---larger world.
Interesting Links
- Arts and Letters Daily
- Cancerployment
- Confessions of a Young Playwright (Deborah Pearson)
- Daniel MacIvor's Website
- New York Review of Books
- Queen's Department of Drama
- Queen's Drama Student Site
- Sabooge Theatre Company
- Shaw Festival Theatre
- Single Thread Theatre
- St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
- Staged and Confused
- Tarragon Theatre
- Theatre Kingston
- Theatre Smash
- Theatrebooks
- Thousand Islands Playhouse
- Weston Playhouse
- Wrecking Ball: New Political Theatre
3 comments:
"backward Kingston with its dreadful little newspaper..."
Hahahahaha! That was priceless, Craig!
I'd stay in Paris; they've got the Crazy Horse, after all.
I now realize how much our views are really alike my friend! sigh* I'm so very disappointed in this town. I thought it would sustain my needs and interests alot longer.... time to get the hell outa Dodge.
wish I was there! You look great!
be well live life my dear... I think of you often.
I now realize how much our views are really alike my friend! sigh* I'm so very disappointed in this town. I thought it would sustain my needs and interests alot longer.... time to get the hell outa Dodge.
wish I was there!
be well live life my dear... I think of you often.
Brenda
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