(event, photography) Toronto's 1st Ninja Parade

 

Just over a month ago Toronto had it's first Ninja Parade.  Unlike the zombie march, where people dress up and participate, the ninja parade was more spectator oriented (although dressing up was not discouraged).  Martial arts masters Ayumu Ishikawa, Daichi Takahashi, Hayato Shimabukuro, and Isamu Yamamoto flew in from Japan to oversee the other ninjas involved in the parade.  They arrived a week in advance to see some sites and get to know the parade route.  

The day came, and over the coarse of an hour and forty-five minutes ninja descended from the rooftops at Dundas and Shaw.  Each ninja took an average of fifteen minutes to maneuver between traffic and pedestrians along the parade route, all while showing off their stealth tactics.

The hired photographer, Brian Muller, had fallen ill shortly after the parade ended, and was hospitalized and then quarantined for two weeks.  His widow has finally allowed me to see the pictures taken and after going through the nearly four hundred pictures, these are the most promising.

 

Photos by 

BRIAN MULLER

1983-2012 

(painting) Another Painting For Mr. Fuks Birthday

Last year my roommate Alon was very specific in his birthday artwork request.  This year he gave me no feedback when I asked him about it.  Seeing the he is Jewish and into motorcycles my first idea had him sitting on a chopper spinning the back tire on a Nazi's head while blowing more away with a machine gun, there might have been a sexy lady on the back of the bike.
As I started to sketch that idea out a conversation we had before Christmas flooded back to me.  "You know what you should paint me, Deadpool and Wolverine, you know from marvel comics.  But I want Deadpool holding up Wolverines head after a crazy fight or something."  I had already gotten him a gift, and was thinking of breaking it into 8 pieces to get into the Chanukah spirit.  So I told him it was too late and then completely forgot the request.  That is until I was sketching his present.
I turned the page and began loosely laying out the image.  The next thing I know he is saying goodbye off to New Orleans for a week.  Now i had enough time not only to paint the painting but frame it, wrap it in a ribbon, and have it waiting for him when he walked in the door.