The Mushroom Witch

Deep in the lush forests of Revelstoke, British Columbia where Pine Mushrooms and Chanterelles are found a plenty, another elusive species can be spotted : The Mushroom Witch!

2 months ago, another idea sprouted from the collaborative brain Jessica and I sometimes share. We started our day gathering baskets from the thrift store and charging our camera batteries.

Playing in the woods with friends is one of my favourite activities, and this day was no exception. Black lipstick seemed like the obvious choice for a walk in the forest. We headed off into the rain, wearing dresses and raincoats and got to work making another fantasy come to life.

Moss is a favourite of mine, and there is no shortage of it here in Revelstoke. We could have taken a nap on this bed of moss, which felt more akin to a memory foam mattress, had it not been for the quickly dying light.

This year was my first season picking mushrooms, thanks to a friend of mine who showed me how to pick. Learning all of the different edible mushrooms I can find, and all of their unique properties has been a rabbit hole I have yet to crawl out of. It’s such a fulfilling activity, from the careful search, to the excitement of finding some, and finally, the satisfaction of eating something foraged.

Abandoned in Montreal

The Abandoned Military Base outside of Montreal in the Laurentians has become a popular spot for urban explorers to visit.

Built in the 1950’s as an early warning radar station to alert against possible Soviet attacks, it ceased operation in 1986. The walls have been reclaimed by local tag artists, from top to bottom.

Kingdom in the Sky(e)

Gauche and Ghastly,

The light of day hasn’t touched

my plump violet kneecaps

or any surface of my skin.

I’m beginning to tint cerulean

From the glow of LCD’s and LED’s

Snowboarding in Southern Ontario

Snowboarding in Southern Ontario has been a test of my creativity in recent years, with unsuspecting urban locations quickly becoming my new preferred terrain for expressing myself on board. From loading docks to public parks, my eyes quickly opened to all of the possibilities lying right in front of my face, just needing a fresh snow fall to make daydreams of tricks and spots a reality.

A very special thank you to all of the friends I have met along the way, thank you for pushing me to believe in myself, to conquer my mind and overcome fears, and to trust my body.

Stalefish by Ty Scott, Founder of Puppet Apparel.

Nose Grab, Aidan Squirrell.

This is an ode to all of the busy mornings and late nights. To the butterflies before a drop in. To all of the laughs and friendly hands working passionately to build. From the countless bails and injuries to the sweet victory of landing a trick that cost some blood, sweat, and tears to make.

Front 50 180 out, Ty Scott, Founder of Puppet Apparel.

Stair gap, threading the needle, Chris Savage

It is a passionate and creative pursuit, like a dance on snow and steel.

Feasting on Sunshine

It has been a while since a post on this blog, I think it’s about time to blow some dust off the page. Let me start with a post close to home.

Summers in Ontario harbor a certain wonder that never ceases to make me feel so much love for my environment. The infinite dreamy lakesides have us all tossing our worries to the side, in place of a cold beer. This past summer I spent a lot of time camping throughout the province, discovering new places to love and come back to time and time again.

Sunset dip on the lake, Ontario.

I spent a few days camping and paddling around this lake. The sunshine was warm and constant on my shoulders.

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As the summer begins to wind down, with the breeze becoming chillier by the day, I find myself reflecting a fair amount on the past few months. I am grateful for all of the people and places I encountered, along with all of the new experiences and memories I will carry with me forever.

Kisses from a grateful pup, Ontario

Trees growing from inside the crevasses of rocks, Ontario.

Foggy Mornings Abroad

The Trans Canada Highway snakes in and around the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Northern Ontario is a spectacular sight, one second my small Mazda 5 is surrounded by 30 foot high stone cliffs, the next I am winding down a coniferous dappled mountain.

Rule number one of the Trans Canada: Always make sure your gas tank is full. Sometimes there are no gas stations for 300km stretches.

I think that is part of what makes it so special… there is so much intangible beauty in the surrounding wilderness, nothing can compare to the raw edge nature entrances us adventurous spirits.

“It should not be denied… that being footloose has always exhilarated us. It is associated in our minds with escape from history and oppression. With Absolute freedom, the road has always led west.” - Wallace Stegner

Analogue Emporium : Meeting 1

On Saturday, February 9th, Seneca students joined Fabrice Strippoli and Lorne Wolk for a day of appreciating prints, engaging in the technicalities of SLR cameras, and 35mm film.

From Left to Right : Fabrice Strippoli, Charlotte Presswood(me), Kingsley Wong and Samuel Wong. All photos from Analogue Emporium post captured by Lorne Wolk.

Kingsley with a film camera

We played with different cameras, learned different manual techniques, and developed film in the dark room.

1/2 rolls of developed film

Looking over some of Fabrice’s prints.

It was a really cool experience to look over the physical prints, rather than looking at the photos on a screen. I feel that prints are more fun to look at, and there is something special about having a tangible piece of captured light, especially with film prints. The darkroom is a fun change of pace and I can’t wait for our next meeting.

Strangers

This is an ongoing project, I have been asking complete strangers to pose for me…thank you to all the wonderful people who said yes, it was sublime meeting all of you. Phase One : Hats

Queen Street.

Never a dull moment, or situation unlit walking around the streets of downtown Toronto.👾