#cbc arts

[aeolianblues]

You sort of think of the Tragically Hip as the rock band with the bar-blues hick fanbase, and you might snivel about it until you realise The Stranger and the Downie-Wenjack Foundation are still slowly defrosting Canadians' attitudes towards reconciliation, reparations and the treatment of Indigenous people in general. Perhaps it even stretches out to all the complex lives and stories painted of those people whose lives many wouldn't have started sympathetic towards. Gord Downie, man of the people, amplifier of the voices of the unheard and unusual, the man that you were.

The Gords, Rob and Paul, may people keep listening and learning from the voices you amplified.

(Full CBC special on it here)

[drearydiarycomics]

This year I was part of a five person editorial team who produced and published a brand new comics collection that is now nominated for two major American awards.

Pulping Volume One: Comics on Comics is an 144-page anthology featuring 35 Toronto-area cartoonists making work on the meta theme of comic books, including an original nine page story by yours truly.

Pulping is now up for two Ignatz Awards at the annual Small Press Expo @SPX the biggest/best east coast USA indi-comics show!!

Outstanding Anthology and Outstanding Story for the original contribution "The Happy Art" by contributor Sami Alwani.

If you're not already, I would be so grateful if you would please register to vote for the Ignatz Awards and cast your ballots for Pulping and Sami!

Anyone can register and vote. The awards ceremony is Saturday Sept 14 and voting is open until at least Sept 12.

Once you register to vote via the simple form you will receive a ballot link by email. Then it's just a matter of clicking through and voting for Pulping.

If you do register, please keep an eye on your spam folder for the ballot link email.

Want your own copy of Pulping? Let me know and I'd be happy to sell you a physical copy for the low price of only $20. We are now working on a digital edition and Volume 2.

TLDR: register to vote for the Ignatz Awards and vote Pulping!

AND: Read more about Pulping on CBC Arts

[giannic]

Warrior Cry: Peterborough's first poet laureate Sarah Lewis performs an ...

[marvelgreyson]

Miss Juwanna deWitt is a 77-year-old drag queen on a mission to help us  all love ourselves

[rickchung]

CBC Arts x "How Quebec Made Its Own Hollywood".

Unlike the rest of Canada, Quebec has a commercially thriving domestic film industry. How did that happen?

[keferon]

Mecha headquarters is attacked. The building collapses. Blurr goes in and doesn't come back out. And Swindle's the one that's got to deal with the fallout. As far as nightmare scenarios go, this is pretty high up on Swindle's list.

----------------------------------

Swindle only pulls his phone out of his pocket when he reaches the shadows off to the side of where rescue crews are digging through the rubble of mecha headquarters.  Digging they only started because Blurr, the face of mecha, went into that building and didn't come out.  Digging they are only continuing because they believe they've found signs of life buried in the rock.  Which is why Swindle's phone has been buzzing nonstop for the past several minutes.

He looks at the names next to the missed calls.  Shockwave.  Shockwave again.  Pharma.  Unknown number. (Shockwave?)….  The list goes on.

Swindle doesn't know how Shockwave or Pharma knows already, but they must.  Swindle's first call since Blurr disappeared under that ton of rubble had been to emergency services.  Every call since has been to call in favors, pull strings – exert as much influence as he can to keep the details of what's going on out of the news.  To keep the potential damage this could do to a minimum.

Somehow, it hasn't been enough.  Which means this situation is fast heading towards something more than what Swindle can handle on his own.

Swindle pulls a second phone from his pocket and hits the number on speed dial.

"Hello?" A voice answers within one ring of Swindle dialing.  Onslaught.  He relaxes slightly.

"You watching the news?"  Swindle skips over customary greetings, security measures – there's no time for them now.  He knows it is Onslaught on the other end of the line.  Onslaught will recognize it is him by his voice.  That much, they still have to be able to trust.

What exactly will be on the news, Swindle doesn't know.  But, it's a safe bet that at least some of the basics of the mecha attack will be broadcast.  Beyond that, it all depends on how much Swindle's contacts came through.

"Yeah.  Mecha was attacked.  They're saying no casualties, so why are you calling me?"  Onslaught asks.

"That's all they're saying?" Swindle asks in return. "No casualties?"

"That's all.  No casualties," Onslaught confirms.  "Showed some footage of the fighting.  Pretty standard stuff.  Cut in some impressive footage of Blurr's mech.  What's going on? Not that I'm not glad to hear personal confirmation you're not dead, but this line is for emergencies."

"There is one.  Shockwave."  Swindle says the name as though there's no further justification needed for why he's calling on this line.  And really, there isn't.  They had agreed to that from the start of this venture.  "He's been calling me.  Non-stop."

Swindle thinks he hears a soft curse on the other end of the line then, "Why would he care?  What's his interest?"

"Blurr," Swindle says.  "That footage, of his mech – was the actual fight.  A fight he never should have been in.  But he did it anyways because there was no other option.  He went into the building and he never came out.  He's the reason they're still here digging – the reason I'm still here."

"And the reason Shockwave's calling," Onslaught fills in.

"Yes.  Him.  And Pharma." Swindle adds.

"Pharma is a medic, you know.  With ratchet going more or less of the grid and First Aid and Ambulon tied up with Vortex he's the highest ranked medic in mecha.  It would be his job to supervise pilot injuries."  Swindle can tell even over the line that Onslaught doesn't really believe his own words.  But they need to make sure they've covered everything if they're going to stay ahead of this.

"He shouldn't know though.  I called in favors to delay the news of Blurr's status until after excavation is complete and you said yourself the news only confirmed no casualties yet," Swindle points out. "I've sent no internal communications.  Pharma shouldn't know yet.  He's too close to Shockwave.  Neither of them should know.  But they've both been calling since the collapse – within minutes of each other."

Swindle definitely hears Onslaught swear at that.  "I don't know exactly what the connection is between Shockwave and Pharma – but I don't want Pharma – or Shockwave – anywhere near this, anywhere near Blurr," he finishes.

"Blurr's alive?"  The question is stated matter-of-factly, though Swindle wouldn't have blamed Onslaught for expressing a note of skepticism.  If the man is still alive, there's no way he's walking away from this without serious injuries.  Swindle would bet every dollar in his accounts on it.

"Possibly.  There are signs of life under the rubble.  We paid Blurr to be the part of a hero for the media.  Turns out when it mattered it wasn't entirely an act.  He saved a lot of lives today – including mine."  If Blurr is pulled from that rubble alive, Swindle will give every dollar it takes from his bank account to ensure it stays that way.  They need Blurr.  More than he knows.

"I never told Blurr the truth behind why it was so important that mecha hire him," Swindle's voice drops as he says the words.

"I am not repaying what he did today by letting him find out firsthand whatever it is Shockwave does in those labs of his.  We're not going to sit back and watch the creation of another Vortex.  It was bad enough when we didn't know.  Now…. Right now, I need you to distract Shockwave and Pharma."

"How long do you need?" As Swindle had at the beginning of their call, Onslaught skips the unnecessary validation and asks the question that gets at the point.  It has Swindle breathing a sigh of relief.

"A few hours, minimum.  But I'll take anything you can give me, just stall them as long as you can.  I've got to go."  Swindle hangs up without waiting for Onslaught's reply.  A stretcher is being carried out of the ruins towards a waiting helicopter.

Swindle manages to make it onboard just before take-off.  He rides all the way to the hospital with Blurr.  Handles all the forms.  Tells the receptionists to put the bills on his card.  He knows (hopes) Blurr could do it when the time came (the man certain has the money; Swindle's been writing his checks) – but he shouldn't have to.  All Blurr should have to focus on is his recovery, and what comes next.  Blurr should have friends, family, a partner – someone to support him in this. 

Swindle knows – has known since early on in working with Blurr – that that is not the case.  He's observed enough to see that Blurr asks for help if he truly needs it, but no one just offers it to him.  Because no one knows to.  In this case, Blurr cannot ask, so Swindle manages instead.

In an ideal world, someone would stay by Blurr's hospital bed, simply so the man didn't have to wake up alone in unfamiliar surroundings with no explanations.  But this is not an ideal world.  And Swindle is not that person.  His time runs out long before then. 

Fresh blood has been spilled.  The predators are circling.  Swindle has a show to put on.  The best he can do is leave his card on the bedside table as a reminder and hope Blurr actually calls if he needs anything. 

I. LOVE THIS. SO FUCKING MUCH YOU CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE

Absolutely in love with this conspiracy thing Onslaught and Swindle have going on. Because YES. OF COURSE. Gosh this is why I love Combaticons. They’re on their own side. Whatever system they are forced to be part of - it doesn’t have full control on them. They’re doing their own thing ehehehehhehe

[tearwolfe]

polysho kitty cuddle pile

[thestuffedalligator]

Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice (2021)

Dir. Zacharias Kunuk

A young shaman must face her first challenge: a journey underground to see Kannaaluk, The One Below, who holds the answers to why a community member fell ill.

[howlonomy]

thought tumblr might like these guys :] two customs for rapturous_starlight on th!

[astrajune]

Me when I fuel 🔥🔥🔥 Card redraw of the akito5 event an with muy an kitty B)

[tetrangel]

25ji ship week day 7! getting some well-deserved rest 🎼❄️🎨🎀

[fuka-petals]

my hagane flower design. finishing up a hagane kase then I'll do piko, mayu, n yohio...

also they only use they/them 👍

[tobytheeggo]

Hey guys how do we feel abt double-tailed squirrel Wiggly..

[iguana-guava]

dog of progress

[khozyechna]

meeeowww. i don't post here much but figured i'd post my don quixote cat 🫶 she is literally me i feel insane over her. i love her so much.

[wizardofwoof]

art i did of my kaito and gakupo CBCs!!!!! i love them dearly