Like Ford Prefect said

So there we were, heading towards Vol. 103 no. 3 with all systems set to go - when not one, but two, of our computers went down. Of course this proved immediately and almost ridiculously disabling - but, we are managing. Fortunately, no material for our '70s issue has gone far astray, so we'll just take a deep breath, saddle up our borrowed machines, and, like the heros of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, we won't you-know-what.

(Image: wordpress.com.)

The Newfoundland renaissance

This was the title of Sandra Gwyn's seminal article on the extraordinary energy of mid-'70s Newfoundland theatre, visual art and music, published April 1976 in Saturday Night magazine. Gwyn, who died in 2000 (the annual Winterset Festival and Award is founded in her honour) surveyed the scene and found "the freshest, brashest, most compelling art in the country." The evidence was undeniable: CODCO, The Mummer's Troupe, Gerry Squires' Boatmen series, Mary Pratt's foiled-wrapped domestic still lifes, Figgy Duff's rock-folk fusion, Elliott Leyton's immediately relevant anthropology that stepped from studies to stage. What caused all this? Gwyn, a smart, elegant and observant writer, had a few ideas: some comparisons to the Quebec culture, post-Quiet Revolution; an awareness of what Resettlement had wrought; an unflinching look at the ethics and ethos of the 'happy' province, one generation post-Confederation. On the To-Do list for this week: We hope to revisit this article, and some of the people she talked to, to feature in our Winter Issue.

(Image: www.cbc.ca/history.)

Next, we'll pick up a nice lava lamp

An informal quiz at our launch party last Thursday produced the following suggestions for our 1970s theme: MUN Extension, Decks Awash, The Boatmen Series, CODCO, and, my personal favourite cultural hit of the time, the superb (and underrated) The Rowdyman.
Maybe we'll cast a wider net, and talk about The Me Decade (check out Tom Wolfe's article, from 1976, from whence the phrase), op art, Fleetwood Mac. The advent of the blockbuster film. The groundbreaking TV series a la All In The Family. (And H. R. Pufnstuf!) The sideburns and platforms.
In the meantime, we note that a folklorist who just happens to be a font of 1970s idea, Mekaela Mahoney, is giving a talk at The Rooms this Wednesday, 7pm: Coastal Women of Newfoundland and Labrador. (And I mentioned that Edvard Munch's Madonna is on display there, I think? Until Nov. 18.)

(Image: affordablehousinginstitute.org.)

Interesting Climate + Approaching Copy Deadline = Fall

Well, that's the last time I get flippant about the weather. Hurricane Igor was a bit much, I must say. And lots of people still in dire straits, which is awful. And the army called in. Here's hoping everyone gets clear of this soon.
On the NQ front, we're starting to make some travel plans. First stop, the NLCDA Christmas Craft Fair in Corner Brook (Nov. 26-28). We missed out on this last year, because of the HINI pandemic (remember the HINI pandemic?), but we're on track for 2010 and we'll have our gorgeous subscription prize, Jean Claude Roy's Grand Bruit, on display. We're hoping to bring the painting to a couple more cities before the contest closes. When we have definite plans we'll be letting you know, right here.
And it's a month and a bit until our next copy deadline. Time to start building the new issue. Theme: The 1970s. This is going to be fun.

(Image: www.todayscampus.com.)

Launch par-tay invite

According to the weather reports it's time for some hatch-battening - 150 mm of rain? C'est un deluge!* - but we're engaged in a different kind of prepwork here at the office. Seeing as we're in some new digs here in the Education Building, and further seeing as we have a new issue to promote and a new painting by Jean Claude Roy to show off, we're planning a little 'do, next Thursday, Sept. 30, 4 - 5pm. So if you are in the neighbourhood please do drop by, we'll have coffee and tea and treats for all. And, and, Jean Claude Roy himself will be here.

(Image: farm4.static.flickr.com.)


*Practising for France where they speak French and I hope to visit next year.

103.2 distribution countdown

The Fall issue launch is a go, the magazines soon to be in reader's hands and on their coffee tables all over the province, all over the country, and all over the world.* And speaking of stuff from Newfoundland turning up in potentially unexpected places, have you seen this intriguing website, newfoundlanders aboard? A great way to keep updated on who's where and doing what. Back on the home front, there's a new reading series launched at RCA's Second Space, and I caught Dave Sullivan's** brilliant Bed, Breakfast & Beyond there yesterday. Another dozen or so events are planned; what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon if you're in downtown St. John's? (And it only costs $5.)
This week we'll be doing our retail distribution, an ever-growing network. If you're in Twillingate, we're at the Iceberg Shop and the Museum.If you're in Halifax, check out Atlantic News (great spot; it's also a cafe and they have music performances, too.) Strolling down Bloor Street in Toronto's Annex? Passing by Book City? Why, just turn your head and look in the window and - hey - could it be - the Newfoundland Quarterly, as I live and breathe!

(Image: vintage magazine stand, wordpress.com.)

*Once you see the gorgeous cover you're going to want to view more of Jean Claude Roy's work; he has a show opening at Emma Butler Gallery this week and you can see works online as well.

**No relation, although I do have a brother Dave, and would have no objection to being related to this playwrighting Dave Sullivan also.

Hello again

And we are well met in September, Labour Day weekend behind us and fresh opportunities ahead. The sunlight is taking on that lovely askant, metallic sheen, and sunset is beginning to coincide with a late evening return home. Our plans at the office are gearing up - we're already blocking our plans for our Christmas Fairs, let alone gathering bins and preparing labels for our Fall Issue mailout this Thursday. We can't wait to see the new issues, and especially the new cover, with our latest gift from Jean Claude Roy, going out to some lucky winner in the Spring. If you're near a radio this afternoon, Ted Blades has me as a guest for On the Go, and we'll be chatting about the magazine's theme (Myths of Newfoundland and Labrador history) and Ted's favourite articles (ie. Bert Riggs' Top 10 of same).
Meanwhile I'm recharging the blog, but with a few changes. I'm hoping to post longer pieces, on a weekly basis. Keep you up to speed on the NQ, and maybe a few other events besides. (Did you know you can see Edvard Munch's Madonna at The Rooms until November 28? That the Neighbourhood Dance Works Festival starts arabesque-ing around next week? It's all going on, I tell you.)

(Image: from cache2allposters.com. Some tips for all us writers, and everyone heading back to school.)