Our kitties seemed skeptical, to say the least. We'd been gone two months almost to the day. Damage from the storms all around, a tree half over, roots upturned, branches littered. Their bowls, empty. Wednesday Gord got up early to play his first Rusty Cranks hockey since Virgil. In spite of my fatigue, I lay awake - still on Toronto time. Thursday, my first pick-up game, I moved on lead legs. Now the mountain of receipts, reconciling budgets, paying bills. We're home, the exhibit dismantled, but Paintings Below Zero lives on!

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Text message from our docent, Cara -" Where are the pictures of the paintings taken from the exhibit?" Photos of Paintings Below Zero pieces "confiscated" prior to The Strike. Coloured icebergs in cityscapes - If you see them, Send! and I'll post here! Above is one of my favorites, taken by Paddy Parr.


The many, many photographers who went through the tent clicking their cameras have posted their photographs of the work on the internet. All you have to do is google Paintings Below Zero. These are more of Al Burns photos.

Pascale and JC took some interesting ones, here's a torch shot I've pasted from their url.

Visit her page on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30886471@N00/

Running through my mind are again, some of the people who helped - but haven't yet been thanked. Donald Ziraldo, whom we met at Piazza Valdo Fusi at BC Canada House during the Olympics, and who was responsible for our invitation to the IceWine Festival in Niagara on the Lake, thank you. Here we are in a Doug Hulley photo, taken at the opening night gala at The Sheraton in The Falls.

And once again, our VIPs - Eric and Vizma - ( last seen at a Sunday Books and Brunch at the Oakville Club - where Vizma hosted Anita Rau Badami, Margaret McMillan, Lawrence Hill - a rooomful of guests -- and us!). They've believed in and supported us, were our first cornerstone in the Turin/Olympics project, and now they've become friends. It's been easy, as they are generous and fun.

Thanks to Denise Ing, who put up the prints exhibit in the Rotunda while we were still in Niagara on the Lake.

Then, there's Eliya, who like Zorro, came and went on his own time but was known to be helping in and outside the tent - and last seen holding a camera. In December, he fed our kitties, moved our furniture, sat guard through the storms.

There's Roger Handling and Kera McHugh, (valued advisors amidst their own busy careers); there's Duane Burnett of The Local, who always seems to be there on the other end of the email with encouragement and interest. There's Ann, John and James Law, our neighbors who have kept our kitties fed and cared for. There's Nancy Cottingham Powell, our Production Manager at home, whom we dearly missed on site; there's Charlotte, who sent info to contemporary galleries for us, necessary background work.

There's Cat of Cat PR, a fireball upbeat publicity professional.
And Doug Hulley, who shared his photos with us.There's Lisa Kurtz, whom you've met here, so joyous and available, esp accepting of the in-Toronto stressed-out me. John, the hockey player from Virgil who presented Gord with his own creation: a candle holder made from a wine barrel. The woman at Jet Ice who called the cab for the extra paint cans Gord needed Pronto! Mary and Bernadette, my sisters, who have sent treasured emails and notes of encouragement and love throughout. Mary, I remember, sitting at the foot of our father's bed. We walked out of the room together that last time his heart was still warm, more connected than we'd realized, more sisters than ever.

There's Donna Schmirler, my friend, our friend, whom we have counted on for support and love for years.
For richer or for poorer, in sickness and etc, she's been a fan, a board member, a confidante, with me, with us, at home and abroad, in our lives and work, making salads, taking tickets or messages, or hosting us or sending us off on our various adventures, sometimes feeding our kitties, checking our temporary tenant, or driving us or picking us up; whose number & name I have memorized and put on the form to contact in an emergency. She takes our trust along with the weight of the world on her shoulders, she's tested by it, and keeps looking for redemption. For this, we are both, Gord and I, grateful.

There must be more, whose contributions will surface in a dream, or keep me awake in the morning, not yet acknowledged.

So send your photos of your piece of Paintings Below Zero still frozen -- where you have placed your artwork - on the curb, your front lawn, wherever. (paintingsbelowzero@dccnet.com) I'll post them here. Check back. (In April, we're going to Eastern Canada to screen our film, Singing the Bones -- and I will perform (at last!) readings for three audiences in Nova Scotia).

Next, we go with Paintings Below Zero to Chicago . . .

We left - it felt like escape. The bitter cold, the demise of our efforts. Tim, Mariel and Jaz stripped the tent, a well-planned mission headed by a determined JC. We were happy, but guilty, that we didnt' have to return to Niagara on the Lake. Overstuffed bags, farewells in the lobby. Mike & Cheryl picked up their Tui Tui print. Jordan posed for a photo. We tipped the bellman, sat in the back of the cab. This time, no conversation.

There was some joy. We'd passed the word - anyone who wanted a 'live' piece of artwork from the exhibit was welcome to take it. The tent was coming down around our ears and I snapped Marek getting his piece, and a couple who worked in the hospitality tent next door.

The night before, we'd supped with those fabulous docents at Queen Mother, our favorite restaurant and frequent hang-out. Here's Lisa, the barmaid who sparkles from within. Yuri Dojc (photographer & longtime peer/friend of Gord) and wife, Eva, discussed art, patriotism, hot water and lemon.


At the other end of the table Jaz and Tim held court.

Now we're off to hockey, my first since the rink in Virgil. More to come, a wrap up, more people to thank and feature.