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Poorly Drawn Lines is updated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s created by Reza Farazmand, who draws comics and writes things.

Thanks to my friend Bob Roach for the link.

Edmonton, Alberta

I have always hated bus-wrap advertising (as well as bus-bench advertising for that matter)… I consider it to be a crass “mental invasion” and an exploitative, unwelcome form of visual pollution. For this reason alone, I’ll admit to a bit of schadenfreude at the inept “unveiling” of the Alberta Wildrose Party’s campaign bus earlier this week during a pre-election event, what with the “questionable placement” of party leader Danielle Smith’s photo on the side of the vehicle.

As might be imagined, the “far-right” Wildrose Party (who make the Conservatives seem like Liberals, according to some) has more than its share of detractors—this public relations faux pas went viral within hours, sending ripples of mirth across Canada. Below are a few other examples of bus-wrap fails from around the globe…

Winnipeg, Canada

Designer colleagues from across the country were commenting today (on the GDC Listserv) about the wonderful old signage that adorns many of the buildings here in the Exchange District (where CIRCLE is situated). I’ve now spent nearly 36 years surrounded by these fading facades… and I have to admit, they really do grow on a person.

Shown above are a few samples from a Flickr collection by Bryan Scott.  All images © Bryan Scott.

Toronto, Canada

“A series of site-specific, portrait-based works that combines the abrasive charm found in the distressed surfaces of modern cities with the intimate familiarity of the prominent features of the human face. As the walls and surfaces of the city define its physical character and spatial identity, the faces of its inhabitants provide the city with its personality, disposition and magnetism. The fusion of these two entities will simultaneously expose the frailty of urban architecture and to a certain extent human existence, while conversely exploring the idea that beauty lies in the scars, wrinkles and blemishes of places we live and people we meet.”

—Dan Bergeron (aka fauxreel)

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Many thanks to the event’s volunteer organizers and all the folks who have expressed interest in more information about the talk I gave at TEDxManitoba on Thursday. Solace House is the super-insulated passive-solar home I designed and built in the woods of eastern Manitoba in 1980, and that I’ve been living in (without a furnace) for the last three decades.

My talk is now on YouTube; you can watch it here.

You can also access most of the visual resources and notes from my talk in a Facebook album entitled ‘Solace House’ that I’ve set up here. (I’m on FB at www.facebook.com/welcome.change ).

(thanks to Richard Ray for the photograph)

—Standing Bear

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Tomorrow I give my talk about Solace House at TEDxManitoba 2012… I’m feeling a combination of the thrill to be able to share my story about how we can conserve energy and embrace the sun, and the wrenching stage-fright that has haunted me since I was a small child.  :-/

Manitoba, Canada

I received a call from CBC Radio this afternoon… seems like Terry MacLeod wants to interview me on the Information Radio program just after 07:00 tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 7 February) about Solace House, and my upcoming talk at TEDxManitoba this Thursday. If you’re an early riser, you can catch the interview live at 990 AM or 89.3 FM in Manitoba tomorrow…

Winnipeg, Manitoba

You’re invited to the opening this Friday evening of For the Love of Craft, the Manitoba Craft Council’s Annual Member Exhibition and Sale. Take in works by more than thirty craft-based artists (working in ceramics, glass, fibre, metal and mixed media) and mingle over snacks and refreshments… see you there?

The cre8ery : 2nd floor, 125 Adelaide St., Winnipeg

Opening Reception, January 27, 7:30-10pm

Additional Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 12-9pm

Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 12-6pm

Exhibition closes Tuesday, February 7, 6pm

Ev was chuffed that the organizers chose her sculptural piece “Save her for a rainy day” (above) for use on the event posters, postcards, and e-invitations. Another sculptural piece that will be on display is “The Vamp,” which Ev and I co-created a few years back (below).

—Inuit proverb (suitable for the shortest, darkest northern fortnight)