Ivan Jurakic's Top 10 List
(In No Particular Order...)
1. Modest Mouse "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank"
Isaac Brock's sprawling epic alternates between cranky and tender. Alongside The Shins "Wincing the Night Away", it was great to hear punk finally growing up.
http://www.modestmousemusic.com/
2. Kent Monkman "The Triumph of Mischief"
Monkman's bookend installations at the Art Gallery of Hamilton and MOCCA are a transgressive triumph masquerading as a sumptuous turn of the century salon. Smart, subversive and sexy.
http://www.mocca.toronto.on.ca/
3. Isaac Julien "Western Union"
One of the most beautifully filmed and choreographed multi-channel videos I've ever experienced. During an overstimulating trip to NYC, this ambitious cinematic installation at Metro Pictures mesmerized me.
http://www.isaacjulien.com/home/
4. Jens Hoffman's "To Curate or Not to Curate"
I've been keen on Hoffman's critique of big biennials since "The Next Documenta Should Be Curated By An Artist", and sure enough his recent article in Can Art didn't fail to provoke my thinking.
http://www.canadianart.ca/art/features/2007/09/15/to_curate/
5. Leslie Feist
Not only did "The Reminder" garner four Grammy nods, but "1234" is in heavy rotation in an iPod ad. Damn the haters. It's great to see a Canadian performer that doesn't suck (that would be you Celine and Avril) reap the rewards.
http://www.listentofeist.com/
6. Kara Walker "My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love"
A disturbing exploration of race, segregation, slavery and American folklore. Alternately frightening, infuriating and spellbinding.
http://www.whitney.org/www/exhibition/kara_walker/index.html/
7. Millie Chen's "Watcher" 6, 35, 39 and 91 D'Arcy Street
With all the hype surrounding nuit blanche, Chen's subtle intervention of projected silhouettes in the windows of several homes along D'Arcy Street could have been easy to miss. The fact that she lived in some of the same homes while growing up cemented how great this piece was.
http://www.milliechen.com/
8. John Massier's "Hallwalls and Elsewhere" blogspot
I'm not that into blogs (sorry kids), but Massier's is one I look forward to every week. Nicely put together, easy to navigate, opinionated, and always linked to all sorts of art news and great music. Where does he find the time?
http://jmassier.blogspot.com/
9. No Country For Old Men
The Coen Brother's adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's hard-boiled southern thriller is a dark gem. Capturing the moral ambiguities of the novel without losing any of its terse energy. Add a superb cast, and you've got their best movie since Miller's Crossing.
http://www.nocountryforoldmen.com/
10. Metalocalypse
Screw Gorillaz. Here's the ultimate cartoon band. Dethklok is not only the most popular heavy metal band in the world but also its 12th largest economy. Turn your amp all the way up to 12 and prepare for mayhem.
http://www.adultswim.com/williams/music/dethklok/index.html/
note: Ivan is in an interesting show opening soon at Gallery 44.
I'm a Millie Chen and John Massier fan.
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Ivan Jurakic's Top 10 List
(In No Particular Order...)
1. Modest Mouse "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank"
Isaac Brock's sprawling epic alternates between cranky and tender. Alongside The Shins "Wincing the Night Away", it was great to hear punk finally growing up.
http://www.modestmousemusic.com/
2. Kent Monkman "The Triumph of Mischief"
Monkman's bookend installations at the Art Gallery of Hamilton and MOCCA are a transgressive triumph masquerading as a sumptuous turn of the century salon. Smart, subversive and sexy.
http://www.mocca.toronto.on.ca/
3. Isaac Julien "Western Union"
One of the most beautifully filmed and choreographed multi-channel videos I've ever experienced. During an overstimulating trip to NYC, this ambitious cinematic installation at Metro Pictures mesmerized me.
http://www.isaacjulien.com/home/
4. Jens Hoffman's "To Curate or Not to Curate"
I've been keen on Hoffman's critique of big biennials since "The Next Documenta Should Be Curated By An Artist", and sure enough his recent article in Can Art didn't fail to provoke my thinking.
http://www.canadianart.ca/art/features/2007/09/15/to_curate/
5. Leslie Feist
Not only did "The Reminder" garner four Grammy nods, but "1234" is in heavy rotation in an iPod ad. Damn the haters. It's great to see a Canadian performer that doesn't suck (that would be you Celine and Avril) reap the rewards.
http://www.listentofeist.com/
6. Kara Walker "My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love"
A disturbing exploration of race, segregation, slavery and American folklore. Alternately frightening, infuriating and spellbinding.
http://www.whitney.org/www/exhibition/kara_walker/index.html/
7. Millie Chen's "Watcher" 6, 35, 39 and 91 D'Arcy Street
With all the hype surrounding nuit blanche, Chen's subtle intervention of projected silhouettes in the windows of several homes along D'Arcy Street could have been easy to miss. The fact that she lived in some of the same homes while growing up cemented how great this piece was.
http://www.milliechen.com/
8. John Massier's "Hallwalls and Elsewhere" blogspot
I'm not that into blogs (sorry kids), but Massier's is one I look forward to every week. Nicely put together, easy to navigate, opinionated, and always linked to all sorts of art news and great music. Where does he find the time?
http://jmassier.blogspot.com/
9. No Country For Old Men
The Coen Brother's adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's hard-boiled southern thriller is a dark gem. Capturing the moral ambiguities of the novel without losing any of its terse energy. Add a superb cast, and you've got their best movie since Miller's Crossing.
http://www.nocountryforoldmen.com/
10. Metalocalypse
Screw Gorillaz. Here's the ultimate cartoon band. Dethklok is not only the most popular heavy metal band in the world but also its 12th largest economy. Turn your amp all the way up to 12 and prepare for mayhem.
http://www.adultswim.com/williams/music/dethklok/index.html/
note: Ivan is in an interesting show opening soon at Gallery 44.
- sally mckay 12-29-2007 9:51 pm
I'm a Millie Chen and John Massier fan.
- L.M. 12-30-2007 1:31 am