Several years ago my mother’s neighbour and friend, the vice principal's wife, claimed that Canadians had two questionable habits – an overriding concern with road building and talking mindlessly about the weather. She particularly deplored the latter. Talking about the weather she considered to be a poor substitute for small talk – it indicated a serious flaw in the Canadian character – a social awkwardness – an inability to engage in meaningful conversation with acquaintances and strangers. Somehow this tied in with her criticism of road building – we spent such vast amounts of capital on roads there was little left to contribute to ‘cultural or spiritual pursuits’ which made us on a national level irredeemably boring.
Of course in recent times the weather has become a hot topic, huge – it entertains, distracts and worries us to distraction. Linda McQuaig noticed today in the Toronto Star that in spite of extreme weather – reporters on the whole studiously avoid talking about climate change and the impact that excessive burning of fossil fuels has on it – it never gets so much as a whisper this sizzling summer!
The building with the Portuguese pool hall where we draw has central air. Since several days this month the temperature, with humidex has hovered around and exceeded the 100 F mark – nothing could be a more seductive incentive to draw than air conditioning. Below, some short poses from mid July:
carbon pencil and charcoal on cartridge
mcohenlabelle (MCL) © 2012
mcohenlabelle (MCL) © 2012
mcohenlabelle (MCL) © 2012
mcohenlabelle (MCL) © 2012
mcohenlabelle (MCL) © 2012
mcohenlabelle (MCL) © 2012
Each of these models seem to be luxuriating in the air conditioning. Am I thinking this because of your post?
ReplyDeleteI feel your heat--I mean pain. There are many important topics the news folk seem to be avoiding consistently. Wonder why.
There is a little secret about Tucson that others don't usually hear about in relation to heat. When the monsoons hit, we are really no hotter than it is where you are. Your report of temps proves it. Of course, our homes must have evaporative cooling as well as some AC for when the humidity rises. I was looking at your weather forecasts the other day and noticed that your humidity is intense. We start complaining when it is above 30%. Babies we are, but that's why we can handle 100 F with 7% humidity. It's not that difficult.
Glad you tried the wet clothing trick. However, I really love your drawing sessions for cooling and art time best.
Absolutely gorgeous, expressive, poetic drawings.
Dear Melinda,
DeleteIt always astounds me that when I return after a ridiculously prolonged silence and then am so gladdened from reading your exceedingly delightful and humorous comments -why on earth I wait so long to thank you for being such a dear blogger friend! You indulge my long winded detours that bear little or no relation to my images and better still you encourage my art.
Thank you!!!!!
xo, Marcia
Hi Marcia,
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful. The woman was wrong of course. Talk about the weather is one of the ways people join. In the past it was a safe topic. Now in some places it would divide you on political lines. And roads -- God knows the roads around here are some of the worst from here to Halifax! Great topic. Culture? As you found out when you did these beautiful drawings in an air conditioned space, depends heavily on weather and roads. Look at the Romans -- good roads, good weather = good art.
Love,
Barbara
Barbara,
DeleteYou are better read than I so you are likely familiar with these two quotes:
[Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
["Pray don't talk to me about the weather, Mr. Worthing. Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always feel quite certain that they mean something else. And that makes me so nervous.
As for the Romans – yes, imperial Rome - it’s true they were great road builders and colonizers – we canadians for so long – a colony.
Aside from all that, thank you for your faithful visits to my blog and encouragement and for being a dear friend!!!!!
Love, Marcia