…every time we see a VW beetle Kevin has to stop to take a photo
On this trip it was no different. The only other vehicle he likes more is the VW camper van.

…every time we see a VW beetle Kevin has to stop to take a photo
On this trip it was no different. The only other vehicle he likes more is the VW camper van.

…Kevin continues to draw on this trip

…the Austin Mini
Instead of monsters, frogs and Wacky birds Kevin has turned his attention to classic cars. Today I’m going to share his sketch of an Austin Mini that he saw on the street in the neighbourhood where we are staying.





…May 5, 2026
Today Kevin and I decided to revisit an art gallery not to far from our flat, The Estorick Collection. Kevin went on line and checked the hours. We walked to the bus stop to catch bus 73. We got off at Essex Station and after a short walk we arrived at the gallery.
When we got to the gates a very official and beautifully dressed woman informed us the that the gallery was closed to the public because it was hosting a private function. We were very disappointed and I informed her that we had come a long way to see the Alessandro Mendini exhibition. When she asked us where we had come from I promptly told her “Canada”. She asked us a few more questions about where in Canada and we told her that we live in Toronto. Turns out that she’s been there and so had her sons.
I guess she took pity on us and she invited us to join the crowd and help ourselves to food and drink so we looked like we belonged there. It turned out that she was the organizer of the event. For the next 15 minutes we kept hearing her mention the couple from Canada and she even brought over her sons to introduce us to them.






We joined a group for a tour of the gallery. We learned about the history of the place and how the original owners were looking for Italian art from the early 20th century in the futuristic genre.




After this part of the tour, Kevin and I made our way to the Alessandro Mendini exhibition. He is one of Kevin’s favourite designers from Italy. It is a very playful and colourful exhibit. He is very well known for this chair.

Here are several more pieces fr the exhibit.























When we got back to Highbury Islington we did the school pick up for Sevin and took her home. At the flat Sevin and I made more art.



…checking out MaryLou’s show and the art produced by the studio artists at WAAC





…and in the main gallery










–thanks to Judy Dykstra-Brown for hosting the Numbers Game https://judydykstrabrown.com/2026/03/15/the-numbers-game-116-please-play-along/
This weeks number is 238. What photos pop up for you?















…from a visit to the ROM to an art opening at the Abbozzo Gallery and finally to a concert at Koerner Hall to celebrate International Women’s Day
Early in the week my friend and I and her two grandchildren and her daughter spent a few hours at the museum checking out the dinosaurs and the stuffed animal displays before heading to the playroom.




On Friday, Kevin and I joined our friends, Laurie and Phil and our daughter, Andrea and daughter-in-law, Josie at the Abbozzo Gallery for the opening of Richard A. Jacobson’ show, r|age. The theme was on age and aging and embracing the inevitable. It was a very interesting show and being able to meet the artist is always a bonus.













On Sunday, my friend Liz and I went to Koerner Hall to see the International Women’s Day Celebration. The concert featured three indigenous women from Canada. All three are award winning solo artists.
Shawnee Kish was the first presenter and her genre is alternative country.

Amanda Rhéaume was accompanied by a Métis fiddle player. Her music tells stories of Métis resistance and resilience.

Tia Wood was the youngest of the three presenters. In her 20s Tia left her home on the Rez in central Alberta to follow her dreams in Los Angeles. She developed an enormous social following as a creator.
Here are some of the songs put out by these artists.
Shawnee Kish
https://open.spotify.com/track/0D2DxT4D6SLe4a19HlzcgI?si=yccWvjw4SpS8ncEyTAAJxQ
Amanda Rhéaume
https://open.spotify.com/track/71ALgRSQ1neaZmRT2Ivj0P?si=ZqM-pbQjTzOZSsX_zZkpwQ
Tia Wood
https://open.spotify.com/track/6abgej5aQVjWvSFydjqo6o?si=8flK5kM2RU6uUQ-ArW-i1g
…yesterday, February 21, 2026
Yesterday was the perfect day to do some gallery hopping. It was the last day for the Open Type Typography Exhibition on Dundas St. W. It was already extended for an extra week.
When I first met my husband Kevin he was studying to become a graphic designer and for close to a decade he worked in the industry designing catalogues, menus, signage and advertising.








We had a wonderful conversation with the gallery owners. They were very interested in our upcoming show later this year and they gave us some information on their life drawing classes.
Directly across from this gallery was the Stephen Bulger Photography Gallery.










It was a great day. We were both inspired to get busy with our own art projects.