Artists In The 416: Thomas Haskell, Trinbagonian sculptor and proud Caribbean queer

“Much colder and more white people” were the two most obvious observations that the quirky Thomas Haskell, a “Trinbagonian sculptor and proud Caribbean queer”, described when he first moved to Toronto from Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. Just over 10 years later, I met up with him in his rented corner of a Distillery District studio space.

October 26, 2020November 30, 2020

Artists In The 416: Pickles LaVey, sex clown and drag thing

Characterizing themselves as a Satanic Sex Clown and Drag Thing, Pickles LaVey instantly won my heart over when I first witnessed them performing at Oasis Aqua Lounge. It was a burlesque routine with a twist: A sideshow act where they stuck needles in their chest, popped balloons in a state of tranquil lunacy and hammered nails in holes where nails haven’t ventured before.

September 14, 2020November 30, 2020

Artists In The 416: Chris Nevin, fashion illustrator

Chris Nevin is exactly the same as the likeable and goofy kid from Port Hope that I had met nearly 10 years ago when we were both lost in the limelight of Toronto’s queer club scene. I haven’t seen him much since then aside from the odd crossing of paths and maybe the short time working together some years ago serving hot plates at a restaurant in the heart of the village. The dewy glow of our twenties has arguably subsided yet our memories, ever-present, remain an intangible reminder of who we once were. Nevin has since then grown into a resourceful visual artist who keeps a humble disposition when speaking of his work.

Working with clients such as Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfew, painting his signature style on fashion-label pieces such as Herschel and Coach, Nevin is at the forefront of filling in gaps with his unique illustrations. First introduced to Fashion Illustration while attending Ryerson University for Fashion Design, Nevin experiments with his style utilizing novel techniques within multiple mediums and is persistent to “embody every basic characteristic that an artist can embody.”

August 26, 2019February 17, 2020

A Cultured stroll with Tieja MacLaughlin

I first met Tieja MacLaughin, a Toronto-based entrepreneur, in the summer of 2015 and have since then always admired her ability to sell herself as a brand. Founding TIEJA INC. in 2017 she has already bolstered an impressive list of clients ranging from Tic Tac and Kinder Canada to Carls Jr Canada and FERRERO ROCHER.

Earlier this year, I’ve had the chance of working with Tieja on a few projects and I’ve been fortunate to witness the metamorphosis of an amazingly talented women with an incredible expertise in communication and marketing. Initially contacting me for my photography services to promote a side-hustle she’s been working on, I had the chance to catch up with her at one of her favourite Toronto locales, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

May 17, 2019

Muses: Meeting up with Lynx & Chanty

Lynx and Chanty, the bad-girls behind Muses [“The podcast that celebrates the stories of Rock and Roll’s legendary Muses and Groupies!”], have both had the immense opportunity to meet and interview with some of the most influential Rockstar muses and musicians from its early inception in late 2016.

From Bobbie Brown and Jo Wood to Bif Naked and Sass Jordan, Muses have been keen on highlighting the voices and experiences of women behind – and in front of – some of the most prominent songs spanning across decades. While these anthems were made in part to inspire audiences, Lynx and Chanty make a point in promoting those who galvanized the artists who created them.

October 19, 2018

4 Days in Montréal

Montréal, only second to Paris as being the largest French-speaking city internationally, has a reputation of superiority in dining, fashion, and hosting award winning events. Being the first North American city designated as a UNESCO City of Design by the Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity, it doesn’t take much to understand why Montréal is on the travelling lists of so many throughout the world.

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August 1, 2018February 17, 2020

Mark Wilson: Grace in the face of an HIV epidemic.

A few moments after entering Boutique bar, my go-to martini lounge in the heart of Toronto’s gay village, I was instantaneously captivated by a man whose beard of white complimented a thick set of dark eyebrows that every man over the age of 60 would be envious of. I soon began to realize that his distinguished look harmonized well with a humble persona that could be spotted a mile away – or at least a few feet away, in a dimly lit room full of bona fide regulars.

Continue reading “Mark Wilson: Grace in the face of an HIV epidemic.”