Mother's Day and the Weekend-At-Large

Intense. I managed to schedule a stacked weekend filled with comics, theatre, and a whole lotta queer. Based on the experience, I would advise readers do the same. May is filling out with adventure and transforming itself into quite the social trip for this lil' Moffatt here.

I best get started with the rundown.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

TCAF. Mother-effin'-TCAF, people. If fortune finds you in Toronto at the start of May, you best be at The Toronto Comic Arts Festival. For one solid weekend, the Toronto Reference Library becomes the central hub of the graphic arts scene. Whether you nerd out over classic comics, pursue the latest indie manga, or bookmark webcomics on a regular basis, you will find new artists and established creators to dedicate those dollars to.

2010 marked this blogette's first visit to the festival and I was floored with the talent and the vibrant stories housed in that building. I walked in with two niche markets in mind (queer manga and machinist science fiction) and found compelling titles to suit both tastes. From handmade zines and self-published collections to anthologies and large-scale publisher titles, readers are privy to a wide range of content and original artwork. Oh, the crush of creative energies all brought together...

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Miz Moffatt's Haul:

Kate Beaton's Never Learn Anything From History

I am a massive fan girl for the wonder that is Kate Beaton and her addictive webcomic, Hark! A Vagrant. She takes great delight in rendering Canadian historical figures and international literary figures into tasty morsels of pure hilarity. Oh, and did I mention I got to meet her as well? She signed my book with a picture of the pompous, overwhelming glory of General Brock. Oooh, the War of 1812 -- no one loves it more than Pierre Berton, my Dad, and my grade seven teacher. Kate Beaton will be getting her own post on this blog soon. Trust me. It is long overdue.

Megan Rose Gedris' Yu+Me: dream Vol. 1

Self-described as a "surreal lesbian webcomic," Yu+Me: dream offers a fresh, colourful angle on the girl-meets-girl genre. While the first part of the series adheres to the conventions of manga, the second part finds Gedris experimenting with multi-media layouts ranging from photoshopped images to classic drawn elements. Her artwork gets sharper with each new edition, all of which is available at her personal site for the series. Other fans might recognize Gedris from her other popular, pulp title, I Was Kidnapped By Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space!!! Serious, you need to check that out.

Autobrig's Honeydew Syndrome

The Automata Brigade (or "Autobrig" for short) encompasses the efforts of a group of Vancouver-based artists and appreciators to create the gorgeous Honeydew Syndrome. The project was headed by creators Nuu and Schumie, but I appreciate their nods to close friends and colleagues helping them develop their craft. Readers will find pure shounen-ai/yaoi with this title as a not-so-emo kid (Metis) finds a romantic spark with a not-so-jock jock (Josh) in between high school lectures and a few suckerpunches in the halls. Captivating, queer, and Canadian to boot! Sheer perfection in manga form.

Cloudscape Comics' Exploded View Vol. 4

I found Exploded View at the same table as Honeydew Syndrome, so, it's safe to argue I will be tracking Cloudscape Comics from now on. The group's fourth collective project includes the unique visions of 25 artists exploring the world of science fiction. Camilla d'Errico's exquisite cover caught my eye first and the content and calibre of the work inside held me. It seems I have more reasons to relocate to Vancouver as soon as I can....

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I stumbled out into the streets in the afternoon, overwhelmed with art and on a mission to reach the next destination. I headed over to the infamous 519 Church Street Community Centre to catch the latest details on volunteering for Canada's largest queer film festival, Inside Out.

Now, the gigantic Pride flag is not a regular fixture at The 519, but queers across the city can find a safe, accepting space here in addition to a whole host of community-based programs and resources. In usual Moffatt form, I was there at least twenty minutes before the meeting commenced. I sat and poured over comics until the time came. I was pleased to find the permanent staff of the Inside Out Festival so dominated with women, butch and femme alike. I managed to snag three shifts and am excited to mingle with the other volunteers. All I can say is the May long weekend will be as hectic as it is thrilling. More to follow in the near future.

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After the Toronto trek, I was off to catch Ship Sharp in her one millionth theatre role of 2010 with The Advocate and The Bruce. (Well, alright -- it might not be one million, but she is one busy woman, let me tell you). The absolute highlight of A Year in the Death of Eddie Jester: Ship Sharp wheeled across the stage, pregnant and screaming. Hilarious and aptly-timed, indeed.

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Sunday, May 9, 2010

As for this Mother's Day, it's been a rather low-key affair. We had plans to visit my Nanny and Grampy, however their neck of the woods suffered from severe snowfall overnight. I know, it was sudden and un-May-like. Our cars were de-winterized weeks ago and are not fit for snow-choked back roads. Nope. A phone call would have to suffice. I surprised Mom with her favourite treat, chocolate-covered cherries (or, as I like to call 'em, "creepy cherries").

After that, I spent the day talking finances with the Sister and chatting with the 'rents over tea. It was all proper and civilized fare, perfect for Sundays.

So there -- the weekend-at-large. It's refreshing to find the hustle and bustle of life once again, even if the GTA was plagued with cold weather and rain (and hail at one point!) Here's a tip of the hat to all the lovely mothers out there and I hope all you kids had a blissful, lovely weekend.