What shows
how little
we know?
What can be is
oft far less than
what we expect.
What is now
has never been
what it was.
07/25/2024 j.g.l.
value beyond
Simplicity.
Is there emotion in austerity?
Humanity?
What do you see when attempting
to define your limited visibility?
Minimalism, abstract impressionism
or incorporeal thought.
Less is more, but is it enough?
Texture, tone, and value beyond
your current scene. If you take it to an
extreme, you will question
what it means.
What is really there?
What line do you cross?
Can simplicity be complicated, or
should it even be attempted?
07/23/2024 j.g.l.
Mondays are just young Fridays
Things will not go as planned. Intentions will be disrupted, even overlooked, in the aftermath of an unexpected reality.
Where you are headed will not be the place you end up, undoubtedly or undeniably. No matter how hard you attempt to make each gesture, brushstroke, promise, prayer, or pastime as perfect as you believe it can be, many times you will not arrive at a perceived destination. All too often your endeavors never hit the mark; at times your work may be better than expected (celebrate those moments), but everything (even your judgement) is subjective.
You are not limited to, or by, the colours in your paintbox or progression of your process.
Imagination is as limited or expansive as you want it to be. Give it time to blossom; in certain instances, you may even have to reel it in. This is all about possibilities, no matter which media, method, or style you are beholden to.
You owe your art (or life) nothing but your presence; the value comes from the practice, as rudimentary or spontaneous as it is or will become.
07/22/2024 j.g.l.
I'm like a pencil;
sometimes sharp,
most days
well-rounded,
other times
dull or
occasionally
broken.
Still I write.
j.g. lewis
is a writer/photographer in Toronto.
too far gone
Posted on June 20, 2023 by j.g.lewis
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The street bin around the corner from my condo has become symbolic of the city I am living in: one hot stinking mess.
Stuffed to overcapacity with recyclables and refuse, with tiny bags of dog shit and garbage spilling onto the street, this particular bin is like many I pass by throughout Toronto’s downtown. Some are even in worse shape — damaged and beyond repair — broken; like this city.
We are now in the midst of a by-election for city mayor. Democracy will serve up a new leader in less than one week.
During his tenure, our previous mayor managed to sweep so much under the carpet, hide away secrets and sins, until an apparent $454-million budget shortfall came to light as he was leaving office.
Our new mayor must immediately deal with the budgetary crunch and do what the previous mayor and existing council were obviously not doing.
Garbage collection and traffic gridlock (too far gone now to even call it congestion) are as superficial as a beleaguered public transit system and the homeless and helpless camped out in city parks.
Too much has been ignored for too long in Canada’s largest city.
The new mayor will have the difficult task of increasing the revenue base, eliminating useless (or senseless) spending, and addressing potential cuts to public services.
None of these requirements can be taken lightly.
The street bin in my neighbourhood is an example. You can see how people made an earnest attempt to divide their waste into designated categories until it became impossible to do so.
This should serve as a reminder to the new mayor (and existing city council) that residents will use city services for the intended purposes, but those services must be maintained.
There must be a will to do so or this city will continue to look as bad as it is.
06/20/2023 j.g.l.
