LOUBOUTIN

On now at the DX is a retrospective of iconic french shoe designer Christian Louboutin (1963-).  Known to have helped bring back the stiletto in the 1990s and 2000s, Louboutin has taken this form to new heights (literally) and has exercised unconventional and fanciful materials (fish skins and flower petals).  While Louboutin innovates by pulling inspiration from the theatrical, his artistry is undeniable.  He has a sensibility for the classic femininity and has expanded his practice from these beginnings.  Remarkably, Louboutin has only been a business since 1991.  In 20 years, he's established himself as one of the most desirable luxury brands, selling 600,000 shoes annually at approximately $250 million, while being incredibly prolific in his design practice.  This exhibition really does showcase just how  expansive his career has been in such a short time period.  

With all do respect to the beautiful shoes and the remarkable life and career of Louboutin, I did have more than a few criticisms of the curatorial choices made for this exhibition. The signature red soles  were lost against the red display platforms.  Also, the space felt like the set of Moulin Rouge and made me feel claustrophobic with overstimulation.  I also question how progressive the 'fetish' room (featuring photographs of naked women wearing Louboutin creations that contort the feet into oppressive shapes) is to female sexuality in contemporary society.  

If you have a passion for his shoes (and Moulin Rouge), this is a must-see exhibition, otherwise save your $22.50 (the cost of the exhibition ticket) and bank it for a future shoe purchase.

MIGUEL PALMA

Photos taken from a retrospective catalogue-
Miguel Palma. Portugal : ADIAC, 2005.

JEREMY BOXEN

Jeremy Boxen is working on a bunch of top secret projects, one of which is taking him to Korea in the coming days. As a writer and director for film and television, Boxen has become known for his offbeat,  darkly funny, often violent, and always intelligent content. We caught him before his trip and talked film over croissants and grapes while ogling his Gemini Award. (Best writer in a dramatic series for Cra$h and Burn -- great design on that statue!)

With his current projects "in development" and hush-hush, we talked about work already in the can.   The feature Cottage Country that he wrote, directed by Peter Wellington (Slings and Arrows), is set for theatrical release this October and played at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal and will be at the Fantasy FilmFest in Germany.  Filmed near Huntsville, this dark comedy captures the Ontario cottage experience with a bit of blood thrown in for good measure. Boxen also recently wrote and produced on Endgame for Showcase. Created by Avrum Jacobson, this smart and playful series followed an agoraphobic Russian chess master who solves crimes without leaving his hotel.  He was also co-showrunner on the popular series Lost Girl (season 2) which follows the life of a renegade succubus (supernatural energy drainer) as she fights for the underdog while discovering her mysterious origin.

Boxen is flexible about genre and medium yet is choosy about the projects he works on.  Film and television involves slow and gruelling processes and by committing himself only to projects that he believes in, he ensures the many hours spent (often at his laptop) are worthwhile. As Netflix, Hulu, and now Amazon create original content, the whole industry is changing. What hasn't changed is the need for passionate creative forces like Boxen to spark the long chain reaction involved in the making of our entertainment.

AZORES

Living in Toronto's Little Portugal, I've often wondered about the country that many of my neighbours emigrated from.  It seems that a large portion of this Portuguese diaspora came here from the Azores Archipelago, a series of volcanic islands located almost halfway between Lisbon and Newfoundland.  A friend recently took a trip to this region and has shared his photos with us.  I'm quite taken with the overwhelming beauty of the landscape: a magical cross between the moist Scottish highland and a tropical jungle.  To leave such a lush paradise for the bland lowland of Southern Ontario seems like a tough move.  

However, despite the beauty, the islands have been blighted with issues since they were first officially discovered by the Portuguese in 1431. Overpopulation leading to starvation, natural disasters including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and political and economic instability made emigration to the Americas tempting.  Today, tourism is one of the main industries along with agriculture, fishing, ranching and dairy farming.  Many families with ties to the islands return for a visit and (I suppose) can be reminded of the green hills by hydrangeas planted in their Toronto yards.