city inspired: toronto

If art and design are what define you (and all of us are conformed by multiple disciplines, whether we consider ourselves creative entities or not), just being out and about provides fortitude to your muse. There is always something extremely rewarding about wandering around a city. This free roaming becomes an activity of sustenance, the keeper of the inspired spark. Any city (any place, really) will provide this incomparable experience--NYC, Mexico City, Tokyo, Fez, Paris, you name it--and Toronto is no exception, it is rather an exceptional city, and for almost three years now, we have had the privilege of calling it home.

Just this Monday, ambling inside the ROM and the Bata became nourishing, unhurried events. A purposeful walk on Queen Street West, looking for E's perfect low-tops, became simply insightful--mostly because of the ruckus created by the TTC's Queen & Spadina intersection closure. Backgrounds, foregrounds, contrasts in colour and scale, sounds and smells... it was all there, we only needed to open up our senses, and immerse ourselves in it all.

At the ROM, from left to right: 1-Outside, a subdued view of the CN Tower. 2-Turkish tile panel, mid 16th century. 3-Detail of a cat's mummy, Roman period, c. AD 100--I've always admired the beautiful patterns created by the wrappings.

At the Roger Vivier exhibit, Bata Museum. From left to right: 1-Patterned shoes, top one from 1987, bottom one from 1992. 2&3-Turquoise shoes, for Christian Dior, extraordinary detail in the embellishment, silly me forgot to copy the placard.

At the Roger Vivier exhibit, Bata Museum: Definitely, my favourite display, shoes and handbag dating from 1965 (great palette, eh?). All so coquettish, yet brilliantly demure. Evidently, a younger demographic is in mind, however, the sophisticated intention in such a historically charged shoe is undeniably genial--a perfect balance.