Kathleen Hamilton - Botanical Perfumery

Kathleen Hamilton, an artisan perfumer, gave last Tuesday's talk on botanical perfumery, taking us on a thorough tour of the subject, so dense in information that I would hardly know how to summarize. Fortunately, for those who attended and can't remember all the facts or for those who missed the lecture, Wikipedia has a nice, detailed article at this internet address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfumery
It covers much of the subject matter that Ms Hamilton spoke to us about.

Dr. Hans Moller introducing the speaker

Perfume making is dense in science, human labor and, of course, the poetry of fragrances. Below is a scent laboratory, and the blotter strips used to test scents.

A fragrance pyramid which shows the complicated "structure" of a perfume

A Fragrance Chart

Enfleurage is a technique developed in 19th century France, to capture fragrant compounds from plants. A large framed plate of glass is smeared with a layer of fat and allowed to set. Petals or whole flowers are then placed on the fat and their scent is allowed to diffuse into it. The process is then repeated by replacing the spent flowers with fresh ones until the fat has reached a desired degree of fragrance saturation.

Grasse, the French perfume capital

Distillation vats in India

Flower pickers

The Indian marigold market. These "ropes" of marigolds are draped over everything.

Since antiquity, perfume bottles are their own art form

After the talk Ms Hamilton set up a table with blotter strips and samples of the scents she has created

John Fox at the Klinkhoff Gallery

I'm a bit late with this posting, but it's definitely worth getting these images up.
The first cultural outing, organized by Shirley Cohen, was our annual visit to the Walter Klinkhoff Gallery on Sherbrooke Street. This year's retrospective exhibit featured paintings by the late John Fox. Well known art historian (and wife of this marvelous artist), Sandra Paikowsky, spoke to us about Fox's artistic trajectory, his studio practices, his teaching and enthusiasms. A true portrait of the artist.

Gallerist Eric Klinkoff introducing the speaker

Shirley Cohen making some opening remarks. Behind her, one of the large paintings from Fox's abstract period

Sandra Paikowsky

John Fox had a deep passion and abiding love for the city of Venice which he visited and where he worked for several months every year. He died in Venice, suddenly, as he was about to return to Montreal, and is buried there. Below is a painting from one of his early visits in the 1950's, followed by a painting from a later period.

Ramo di muti, Venezia

Montreal, home for most of the year, was a frequent subject for Fox

The Cleaners

His late period featured a lighter palette of ravishing colors

Sandra Paikowsky speaking with members after the talk

You can see more of John Fox's artwork at: http://johnrichardfox.com

Other web references:

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/insight/story.html?id=692c95e0-fc54-43de-86c9-e07b77cc9d74

http://www.klinkhoff.com/canadian-artist/John-Fox

Cultural Outing -- Chinese Lanterns at the Botanical Gardens

Josette Wecsu was kind enough to provide photos of last Tuesday's cultural outing, along with this note: "The cultural outing to the Botanical Gardens yesterday was great fun. We saw the magnificent Chinese lanterns and I took a few pictures for WASM. Although only 5 women attended, we had a very enjoyable lunch there and we were very impressed by the beautiful lanterns.
In the photo of our group: Audrey Hanf, Josette Wecsu, Jane Wigglesworth, Annette Wolfstein-Joseph, Jackie Rae.

Philip Szporer talk on Canadian Dance Films

President Leslie Cohen opening the new season

The 2010-2011 season began with the Jean Ford Memorial Lecture, this year delivered by dance writer and filmmaker Philip Szporer. Titled "Northern Exposures: The Development of Canadian Dance Films", Mr. Szporer treated us to a history of dance filmmaking in Canada, explaining the complexities and nuances of both media, dance and film, and showing us, through a series of film extracts, how the interaction between the two create a new art form. His website is: www.mouvementperpetuel.net

Pas de deux by Norman McLaren, one of the pioneers of dance filmmaking

Lodela by Philippe Baylaucq, an experimental dance filmmaker

Amelia by choreographer and founder of La La La Human Steps, Edouard Locke

Philip Szporer and Marlene Miller's The Greater the Weight

Shirley Cohen speaking with Philip Szporer before the lecture

The beautiful day was celebrated by everyone, including old James McGill who I passed on my way to the McCord Museum

Musique! exhibit at the Mile End Gallery

The fall art season is just firing up and several of our members participated in the exhibit titled Musique! which opened this week at the Mile End Gallery. The show runs until September 26th at 5345 avenue du Parc in Mile End.

Annette Wolfstein Joseph with the print she is exhibiting

A highlight of the vernissage was a performance by Nathalie Cora. She takes her name from the west african instrument she is playing, the kora, which has a beautiful harp-like sound, and her playing enchanted all of those in attendance.

I loved this piece by Raymond Furlotte, entitled Maria Callas et le miel du toit de l'Opera de Paris. Apparently beehives are maintained on the roof of the Paris Opera and one can buy small jars of their honey in the gift shop.

Raymond Furlotte with his work

Cultural Outing: Violins Etc.

On a cool Thursday April 8th 2010, there was no better place to be than at VIOLONS ETC... 2129 Saint-Urbain street, with a dozen members of the WASM, just as eager as myself, to learn more about this wonderful musical instrument wich is the violin. Our host Mr. Gilles Blouin welcomed us with open arms in his small shop and studio. All morning, he talked about the beginning and evolution through the ages of the violin and demonstrated how he proceeds to make it. Mr. Blouin is a highly skillled craftman who has had "pignon sur rue" for about 30 years. He is a passionate and generous man with a deep love of woods, violin, people and languages . Here are some of my souvenir pictures of this memorable outing.

Louise G. de Tonnancour