Midnight blue

Originally by the Shadows, this cover version of Midnight by Romford guitarist Steve Reynolds (1985 - 2021) was the last song he played during his very last livestream performance just hours before he died exactly four weeks ago.  As in this video from a few months ago, he was using his favourite blue Alan Brason strat:

Video from Steve Reynolds's youtube channel

Thank you!  You made our lockdowns so much more bearable with your comforting music.

RIP

Apocalyptic Lind

Jed Lind's Gold, Silver & Lead at Toronto Sculpture Garden, 2011:

Schmitz-Schmelzer + Mehler

Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer at (the now closed) Lausberg Contemporary, Toronto 2011:

Herbert Mehler at (the now closed) Lausberg Contemporary, Toronto 2011:

Chevrier + Kang

Kyla Chevrier at the (now closed) DepARTment, Toronto 2011:

Laurie Kang at the (now closed) DepARTment, Toronto 2011:

21148363*

During the months of continual lockdowns, I discovered the livestreams by Romford guitarist Steve Reynolds (1985 - 2021), which were dedicated to health care workers.  His music was in the classic style of the Shadows.  Like so many among his growing circle of followers around the world, I anticipated and watched his shows every week, which have become a much welcomed consolation during this very difficult time.  Although most of us have never met him in person, we all feel fondly like we were in the household of this kind soul.  When I heard the news of his sudden death three weeks ago, it was so hard to believe.  I felt both shocked and deeply saddened.  He has been an inspiration and a moral support to many who were experiencing uncertainty and loss in their lives.  He and his music will be sorely missed.

Besides the Shadows, the music of Billy Fury (1940 - 1983) was often on Reynolds's playlist.  I have never heard of Billy Fury before.  One tragic fact linking Reynolds and Fury is that they both died young, both in January, abruptly.  In 1982 just before he died, Fury recorded his version of Bobby Rydell's 1963 hit Forget Him.  Reynolds's guitar interpretation of the song on video in 2014 was his tribute to Fury.  His own video now is my tribute to him.  RIP, my friend ...

Video from Steve Reynolds's youtube channel

Steve Reynolds ... your kindness shall I never forget.

*21148363 is the 1338771st prime number.

Voyce + Davidson

Julie Voyce at General Hardware Contemporary, Toronto 2011:

Michael Davidson at General Hardware Contemporary, Toronto 2011:

She Sparkled

Thrush Holmes at the (now closed) Thrush Holmes Empire, Toronto 2011:

On infinity and time

Adam David Brown from his solo exhibition Infinity Plus One at MKG127, Toronto 2011:

Adam David Brown from his solo exhibition For The Time Being at MKG127, Toronto 2014:

Sundays past

Liam Crockard from his solo exhibition Month Of Sundays at (the now closed) O'Born Contemporary, Toronto 2011:

Quiet night at the duck pond

Remembering someone who died last Sunday, so suddenly and so young.  RIP.  You will be missed by so many, S.  Saturday Night At The Duck Pond by the Rapiers:

From The Rapiers - Topics youtube channel

Abba-Esque

Erasure's very fun covers of four of ABBA's hits ... Abba-Esque, 1992.

Lay All Your Love On Me:

SOS:

Take A Chance On Me:

Voulez-Vous:

All videos from erasureinfo's youtube channel

Feedr + Kontrollr

I first saw Patrick Stäheli's paintings three and a half years ago at Toronto's Wil Kucey Gallery, and I have been following his wonderful works since then.  Glad to celebrate the New Year with this pair of his from 2013, Feedr-1 and Kontrollr-1:

Thank you, Patrick.

Death Is Elsewhere

Is it not appropriate to talk about death on New Year’s Day?

Here’s my favourite artist Ragnar Kjartansson's seven-screen installation Death Is Elsewhere at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto 2020.  I'll go and see it again when the lockdown here is lifted.  I hope I don’t need to wait too long.