As I was walking through Kew Gardens, the sight of this wee door at the base of a tree astonished me!
Who made the door? And why?
Who arranged the offering of twigs and leaves?
To thank the tree, I placed two quarters on the spontaneous shrine, still marveling at the fairy-tale door.
By the time I saw the chamber again more than a year later, the story of its magic had evolved. Astroturf now covered the dirt floor and a new vision of the world outside the door had been created.With a sturdy vehicle, a stone wall, a compass, a sign, and a campfire, this self-sufficient village can confidently weather the challenges of a busy Toronto park.
Smalls Creek, Williamson Park, TorontoSmalls Creek, Williamson Park, TorontoHollow tree on bank of Taylor Massey Creek, ScarboroughHollow tree on bank of Taylor Massey Creek, Scarborough
Between Eric’s penultimate and final letter, an entire decade passed with a new millennium folded inside. Further correspondence by e-mail followed, but I missed his distinctive handwriting. To honor the last letter, I decide to embed a photocopy of the letter in layers of paper and then uncover parts of it in a décollage process.
Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014
Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014
Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014
My eyes teared up when random paper-tearing revealed the L-O-V of Eric’s letter.
Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014
Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014
Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing, Catherine Raine 2014Quantum States Collapsing (the Scraps), Catherine Raine 2014
Eric, I miss you and wish I could ask you if you liked the memorial art. With all my heart, thank you for eleven beautiful letters and the loving friendship contained within them.
Eric’s tenth letter, the only one not written by hand, reached me in Glasgow in the summer of 1992.
“Rooting for the Monster” by Catherine Raine, 2014“Rooting for the Monster” by Catherine Raine
Ferrini, Vicki and Shillington, Donna. (2013). Near-bottom bathymetry data (2m resolution) from the Hess Deep Rift. Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). doi:10.1594/IEDA/100267 (Thank you Stewart Russell for map research)“Rooting for the Monster” by Catherine Raine, 2014“Gray Moist Liberty” by Catherine Raine, 2014“Gray Moist Liberty” by Catherine Raine, 2014“Gray Moist Liberty” by Catherine Raine, 2014
“Gray Moist Liberty” by Catherine Raine, 2014“Gray Moist Liberty” by Catherine Raine, 2014
“Rooting for the Monster” by Catherine Raine, 2014
A pink sink appeared on a neighbour’s lawn, and I took a picture of it.
Two weeks later, I noticed some changes in the rejected sink’s appearance, and its new look inspired a short reflection.
Pink Sink Reflection
The weight of the pink basin is no match for the power of grass. It only takes two weeks for hundreds of green blades to hoist their pastel burden high and tilt it to one side. In a similar show of strength, dandelions find outlets through the three holes, pushing aside ghosts of faucets past.
Where hot and cold water once rushed through pipes, new stems flourish wild, breathing spring into the openings that people once controlled. As fluffy seeds unfurl with defiance, they celebrate the natural disobedience of plant life.With insouciant flair, these so-called weeds seize every opportunity to grow, and they do not apologize for it.
Dandelions, thank you for challenging human assumptions. By threading yourselves through a discarded basin, you teach us what matters: surviving, finding a purchase, and overcoming obstacles that seem crushing at first. Your genius and grit create beauty in unexpected places, inciting resistance to perfect lawns policed by frowns.
This poem enjoyed an open mic outing (my first) yesterday afternoon at the Urban Gallery. I am grateful to Brenda Clews for organizing the event and to Stewart Russell for making the recording!
Life at the Roots
By Catherine Raine (2013)
One fall day,
I walk the ribbed bedrock of a dry creek.
Between old dreaming stream and Flack Lake,
a carpet of fresh moss and brown duff.
My steps disturb a creature
who runs away under the cover of leaves,
pushing up against its shelter as it flees.
The unknown animal
creates a living ribbon of movement,
drawing a flight path with its body.
The tree litter shifts and rustles in its fast wake,
evidence of life unseen but more real than this poem,
fusing threads of instinct without pause.
One summer day,
I bike home from work,
thoughts distracted from the simple path
that curves by the banks of Taylor Massey Creek.
I pass a tall gathering of yellow grasses
that erupts with startled birds.
They fly straight up from the reeds,
rising all at once in a mass of flapping.
Birds of hidden presence,
you are birds of poetry and vision.
All the beauty that lies unknown within us,
waiting for a sudden movement,
a whoosh of wheels and wings
to reveal life at the roots,
a wild frightening freshness that we cage with lies.
One spring morning,
Dark green shoots
grow from my breasts, pushing up, pushing out.
I tug a shoot from my left aureole
and a large curly leaf comes out.
I tug more shoots and yet more shoots,
shocked by the secret depth of my roots.
My right breast overspills with greenery, too.
Dirt mixes with the leaves,
and one last tug
makes an onion pop out and roll on the grass.
Onion, I know you.
You promise food, the push of streams,
breath of reeds, and the soft spring of moss.
I believe in your hidden roots.
Underground, you listen to famished souls
who trace desire lines on the waiting earth.
Several years later, I entered the poem in a contest and it was selected as one of four winners:
When my students make presentations about their artwork, I love the natural wisdom which emerges. I hope you find their collages as inspiring as I do!
Sunny’s Collage
This is my collage. We can see we have two mouse in here. On the right, we have one, oh, just so terrible. He just in the cleft and he (is) afraid the other animal will eat it. On the left, this animal can enjoy the sunshine and can in the farmland eat the rice. It’s so freedom. Oh, it’s relaxed, fantastic.
The meaning is like us. Why? Because we can in here have many rich people or people who come from the worker family. But we are the same. We are all human. So if you want to get success, you have to change. Maybe in this time, you are very relaxed or maybe in this time you are very afraid, but never mind because you can change. You can do it yourself and change your surroundings. You can get what you want. . . . . If you want to change, you have to work hard.
Paul’s Collage
First, why I choose cat? Because the cat look like cute and look like a little lazy. Traditionally people say “The cat have nine lives.” Why cat have nine lives? Because cat is very very vigilant and focused for everything. Even though they look lazy and they don’t care about anything, cat is very focused for everything. If a mouse passes his eyes, he can be very focused to get it, to take the mouse, and eat it.
Traditional Chinese master say, “You’re safe in the danger, but you die in the good life.” What’s the meaning? Does anyone read the Bible? Have the story about a Jewish king named David. When he (was) younger, that last Jewish king want to kill him. Then he run away and don’t do any mistakes for God because he’s very focused on the dangerous life. But after this time passed and David become the king,, he have a mistake because his life is so good.
For everything you need a focus. Does anybody play League of Warriors? Do you know, for this game you need a lot of focus so you can win. So everything in life you need to play like this game. Everyone need a focus. Don’t relax for everything. You understand?
Lauricelly’s Collage
My collage is about the art. And this art is by Frida Kahlo. She was born in Mexico, and she was important painter in Mexico and other countries. She was a sick woman all her life because she suffered life-long health problems because of a traffic accident when she was a teenager. She stayed in the bed all the time. She had a problem with her spinal column.
You can see the picture. She is Frida Kahlo. She had one eyebrow. In the middle, you can see arms and legs. The means the inspiration of this woman was influenced by her illness.
She did different self-portraits because she paint about her problems. She paint about her physical problem, emotional problems, and personal problems. And she has problems with her spinal column and her sexuality.
In this corner, you can see the man flying with an umbrella. He has wings, like Frida who said, “Because I have wings, I can fly.” What is the meaning? It’s impossible to fly, but you can fly with your imagination. You can fly with your dreams.
I choose this collage because I like her story. Frida Kahlo is my superhero. She is immortal.
Lee’s Collage
Today I want to talk about Chinese history. Chinese history have about 5,000 or more years. You can see the three pictures. When you first see the three pictures, you think the three things have long history. In China, there are many museums, and there are many Chinese things in museums all over the world, for example, in the Royal Ontario Museum.
On the top left, is a bell. You can put it for ding, ding, ding. It’s a musical bell. On the right, this a jar to put some food in it. On the bottom, this is a picture of some jade.
Raymond’s Collage
At the top of my collage are two pictures, a tornado and a ship in a calm sea that is about to go over a waterfall. These two pictures tell us that in our lives we have some troubles. Some trouble will come to our lives, but don’t give up.
The bottom half of the collage has two pictures. This one is a picture of a drop of water. This one has a path and boat. You can feel very relaxed when you see these pictures. You can see that this is very calm. So every time you have troubles in your life, calm down is the first step, and you will solve it. You may have many, many bad days, but it’s not a bad life. You will believe that solve your troubles is a good choice. Give up is a bad choice. So believe in yourself and believe in ourselves!
Joyce’s Collage
My collage is about my future. At the top of the collage, there is a wooden bridge. All you you can see is that it is a long way. The weather is hazy. To the right of the bridge, there are many colourful clouds. In the lower right corner, you can see a house with five children and two old people inside.
The collage means a lot to me because it’s like my life. Maybe in my future I will be like that, from the hazy weather to a colourful world. I came alone here four months ago, but maybe in my future I will have many granddaughters and grandsons. They can begin to call me Grandma. So the future will be better.
Finally, here is the text from Jerry’s presentation. (Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of his collage because he made it a few days after the other students).
There are only three pictures in this collage. Here is one cat. What is he doing? He’s a sleeping cat, and he is dreaming. The question is, what he dreaming about? Many people will think he’s dreaming of gold. It’s so exciting. But if you want to understand the truth, he isn’t dreaming of gold. He’s dreaming of freedom. Animals and humans dream of freedom. Gold is cheaper than freedom. Freedom is what all humans and animals want.
My students enjoyed writing stories inspired by Dixit cards last week, but we ran out of time to share them with the whole class. An illustrated blog post seemed just the thing to capture the stories for later viewing and discussion!
My collage bag and I paid a visit to a colleague’s ESL class this morning for a guest lesson. In forty minutes, sixteen fantastic collages emerged, creating a buzz of creative excitement!
Joey’s Collage
Joey’s Collage
Joey’s Collage
Cassie’s Collage
Celia’s Collage
Rick’s Collage
Salman’s Collage
Shen’s Collage
Guillermo’s Collage
Jose’s 3-D Collage
Ryan’s Collage (Background print by Carlyle Raine)
To follow up a recent textbook unit on healthy lifestyles, I asked the students to make collages on the theme of relaxation. The resulting collages made me proud of their individuality, creativity, and colours!
As a graduate student in Scotland, receiving letters from home was cause for rejoicing. I still remember how happy I was to receive an aerogramme from Eric in January of 1992.
CATHERINE
I sit a stone’s throw from the house where you lived in Liberty (“your house?”, “your parents’ house”?) — where better to start a letter to you? I came with my dad up to Jewell because I was bored . . . . . By the way, I’m sitting on the steps up to Jewell at the corner of Jewell and Franklin so I really am near The House. I’m sure you yourself sat here occasionally.
Your House Isn’t Like Other Houses, Catherine Raine, 2014
Your House Isn’t Like Other Houses, Catherine Raine, 2014
Well, I’ll have to continue this back — Wow, I see your mother [I feel weird] — home. Your mother got out of a white car and walked up to your house. Your mother is back getting something out of the white car. Well, I’ve got to leave. I’ll just take one last look at the house and get out of here. Your house isn’t like other houses.
I love how Eric wrote letters like a playwright, setting the scene and including dialogue and interior clues.
Signficant break in time, place, and mood
Setting: back at parent’s house
What is going on in your psyche?? Would you like me to come visit you sometime? [Some friendships are firmly “rooted” in place and time and have no meaning outside of a given context. Is ours? I think not; what do you think? Anyway, I will probably come if you want me to.] What exactly are you studying? Do you have to eat a lot of haggis? Well, enough questions.
Rooted in Place and Time, Collage by Catherine Raine, 2014
All I did this X-mas was sit around and read. Why did I just write that? It is not true. I did lots of things including: ski, go to a country bar in Denver, . . . . see several movies, try to call you. However, for the last 5 or 6 days I’ve mostly been sitting around reading. I’m reading Discipline and Punish (Foucault), a study of how the power to punish has evolved in the last several hundred years. Extremely good. I think my parents are wondering why the fuck I would choose to read such a book for no particular reason.
Your House Ins’t LIke Other Houses, Catherine Raine, 2014
What else? I went out on a ship for the first time (only 3 days). I may be going out for 6 weeks this spring — I haven’t decided. It was weird being out on a ship even for a few days. I think I could deal with 6 weeks though. It would certainly give me time to reflect on confinement as a form of punishment and to read Moby Dick.
Rooted in Place and Time, Catherine Raine, 2014
Rooted in Place and Time, Collage by Catherine Raine, 2014
Notice that the density of information has the text has increased down the page. However, I’m fighting a losing battle and must wrap up this letter. I could use the “additional message area” but I would prefer to wrap up the letter on this page and put an “additional message” in the additional message area. LOVE, ERIC
— Random Thoughts —
What’s going to happen to Salman Rushdie? . . . . . Do you like bolo ties? I have one now. I like it. How does the thought of a half-Catherine, half-other parasite growing inside of you, sucking your blood, and finally ripping you open on its way out strike you? You write the best letters of anyone I know so write back.
Your House Isn’t Like Other Houses, Catherine Raine, 2014
Last semester, I tried using Dixit cards to encourage students to speak in class and the results were so inspiring that I repeated the lesson this term. The cards prompted the students to access deep stores of wisdom, insight, humour and personal meaning. Their presentations affected me significantly, and I was so proud of them.
Dixit card illustrated by Marie Cardouat
In this moment, I choose this card. In this card, we can see the clean sky, and the weather is sunny. And the umbrellas have all colours of the rainbow.
I think this card is like me because the different-coloured umbrellas are like how I use different attitudes or different faces to protect my tender heart. My heart is a little weak. So I have to use the different ways to protect me because I (am) afraid to (get) hurt.
The temperature is so high, and the people have to use the umbrellas to keep out the sunshine and protect their skin. The people will think, “This weather is too hot and I have ice-cream or iced-tea.”
Everybody uses different ways to protect their tender hearts because this tender(ness) cannot face the sunshine. I chose this card because it is same as me, so I love this card. (Sunny)
We can see this picture has a white candle on the table. In this picture, it is mostly dark. (The candle) is the only light in this dark. When the smoke goes up, the candle goes down and he dies.
The picture made me feel hope and made me feel a little sad because time is cold. (It doesn’t care) if you are a rich man or poor man, a teacher or student. Time doesn’t see you or feel you.
I think this picture is very important for us because I think we are like candles. We just have a short life, but we can be a light in this world. (Jerry)
This is a picture of a boy and a white horse. The boy (is) riding a white horse who is walking on the dry ground. He comes to eat and drink on the cliff. There is a beautiful oasis on the other side of the cliff. There is blue sky, sunshine, clean air, and a lot of trees.
The boy wants to go the oasis, but in front of him is a bottomless chasm. He thinks, “How can I follow the rainbow across the cliff?” Finally, through hard work and wisdom, he arrives on the other side.
The picture made me think, “When we (are) in trouble, don’t give up. We should think of the ways to solve it.” Rainbows come after the storm. The same is true of life. I chose this picture because it give(s) me a positive outlook on life. (Mandy)
This is my picture. My picture doesn’t have any people or animals, but it has many eggs. You can see small house(s) near the grass. Living in this house are very small animals like the ants. I like ants very much because they very work hard. They are small animals, but they can work hard and make these houses.
We have an opportunity to come to Canada. In my country, many students don’t have money and their parents can’t afford to send them to Canada. They are very poor, can’t go to school and can’t eat too many foods. We are not very rich, but we have a choice. We can eat two eggs for dinner. We need to use this opportunity to study in Canada to work hard.
In China, if you finish the high school we have a final exam. That exam is very important. We call it “Gaokao.” If you get good marks, you can go to a good university. If you maybe have a little mistake, you get little marks, so you lose. Maybe you can’t go to university. For me, I did not work hard enough on my studies, and I got very little marks. I think we need to work hard for the life.
My superhero is my classmate Sunny because I think Sunny very work hard for English. Not just for study, but for everything we need to work hard, like for jobs and even for getting a girlfriend. For example, why does R. have a girlfriend and why we don’t have a girlfriend? It’s because R. works hard for clean his face and clean his body.
Why did I choose this picture? I think this picture is very important and very good for me. If I watch this picture, I can think I need to work hard more. (Paul)
This picture is talking about the desert. Someone put this anchor in the desert. I don’t know why, but I think it wants to explain to us how to survive anywhere.
The picture makes me feel afraid because there’s no life in the desert, no water, no food. When I see this, I remember my country because we have a lot of desert. (Anas)
This is a merry-go-round. There are four kids playing on the merry-go-round. When I saw the picture, I recalled my grandmother. A very long time ago, I went to a fairground with my grandmother. Now my grandmother is dead. I very miss her.
When I saw the picture, I missed her. I believe each person has a special childhood. This time with my grandma, that was my best time. When I saw the picture, I missed her so much. It’s a very beautiful picture. (Haiking)
Joey’s Card “Enjoy being love. Love makes the world go around.”
Joey’s Card
Last week I facilitated a Valentine’s Day art workshop at the college where I teach ESL, and the students’ work delighted me with its playful quirkiness. The natural creativity that surfaces when people sit around a table covered with pictures, glitter glue, thread, markers, stickers, scissors, and ribbon is a joy to behold!
Shirley’s Card (with messages inside)
Kamilla’s Card
Shirley P.’s Card
Shirley P.’s Card
Shirley’s Card
Shen’s Card “I and my little good buddies are shocked.”
Jesse’s Card
The day after the workshop, I decided to utilize the leftover materials to repeat the activity with my class. Like the workshop attendees, these students made beautifully imaginative Valentine’s cards with messages both sweet and funny.
Letter number eight was postmarked July 20, 1990 and arrived on University of California, San Diego letterhead:
Catherine,
How are you? You’ve got to write me and tell me what the hell’s going on in your life. As you no doubt concluded from the letterhead, I am working in San Diego this summer. I will be starting my Ph.D. program this fall.
Just Kidding, Catherine Raine, 2013
I want to know (how) Europe was. How have you changed Catherine? Not just in Europe, but in the last few years when I’ve seen you less and less. What are your long term plans — graduate school, job, get married and pregnant (just kidding), or something more original like mercenary, jewel thief, sex therapist, talk show hostess.
Just Kidding, Catherine Raine, 2013
Just Kidding, by Catherine Raine, 2013
Sex Therapist Career Option, Catherine Raine 2013
Are you looking forward to your senior year? Are you dreading it? Write back,
Love Always,
Eric
Mercenary or Talk Show Hostess, Catherine Raine 2014
Mercenary or Talk Show Hostess, Catherine Raine 2014
Mercenary or Talk Show Hostess, Catherine Raine 2014
Mercenary or Talk Show Hostess, Catherine Raine 2014
“In the middle of the picture, you can see a girl. She is very beautiful like the flowers. She has a boyfriend. He is very poor. In the top left corner, you can see him. They love each other. One day, there is man who looks like a frog. He’s in love with the girl, too. He’s very rich. He has an expensive car. That girl finishes with her boyfriend. She chooses the rich man. What do you think of this story?”
Annie’s Collage
“This collage is about my dream of having a house in nature. You can see the lakes, flowers, and butterflies are part of nature. I can have my breakfast by the lake and go fishing. It’s very important to enjoy life.”
Wayne’s Collage
“My collage is about art. This piece is about an Impressionist’s picture. Maybe it’s Monet, but I’m not sure. It’s about colour and sunflowers. On the left, this is a (purple flower) mountain. I made it.
Art is about what you think. Like this pink flower, I think this is for a sun. What you think, your opinion, is important (see the ideas coming out of the top of the head). Art is about music and dancing, like when the people copy the animal action then make a dancing. Nature is my artist.”
Karen’s Collage
“First, my collage it’s about me. . . . . It’s about what I like and it represent me. This part (the map) means I want to travel all over the world. My favourite flower is roses. My best friend’s favourite animal is the tiger, and it’s my favourite one, too.
I am a woman. I am very proud of that. I love dance. I’m a mysterious person. I’m very friendly. And I love art.
Karen’s Collage
The most beautiful place I ever saw before is Niagara Falls. My favourite food is salmon, chocolate, and ice-cream. And I really like fireworks. My favourite movie is Beauty and the Beast. The angel right here, all my friends in Mexico tell me I have an angel inside or something. I don’t know why. My favourite sport is swim. It’s really easy for me to love somebody. I like to draw. And this butterfly in the other hand of the lady swimming is me, too, because it’s in a jail, and when I come here I feel like I am a free butterfly.
Karen’s Collage
This part says, “Home is where one starts from.” Everybody tells me your home is with your family, but I changed my mind. I think your home is where you want to stay, where you want to live.”
Teo’s Collage
“My collage is about the universe. I like the universe. It is so charming and so mystery. People want to explore its secrets. You can see the small solar system that includes eight planets. . . . The earth is a beautiful and magic planet.”
Jerry’s Collage
“Ladies and gentlemen. Next one is Jerry. Jerry’s showtime! Enjoy my presentation . . . My main idea is the ocean and all of things about blue. . . This guy is Poisedon. He has a gold arm and a trident, his weapon. This one is so cute, Luna. Very fashionable with sunglasses. I think this is angel about the ocean. She has wings and an oar. Her shoes look like boats. The penguins follow the goddess to catch sardines. When I was younger, I had a dream. I really wanted to become a marine biologist. Maybe the little boy will become a new Captain Nemo. And the broken ship is maybe the Titanic, and the big diamond is the heart of the ocean.
In my life, I really like water and the sea or ocean everything about blue or water. When you are in the water, you feel very freedom, very calm down, and very clear. The ocean is very clear in our planet. God and humans and animals and nature are very balanced. They protect or keep each other.”
“In my opinion, we need four things to be happy: friends, family, dreams, and smiling. Whether we are children or seniors, we need to enjoy time together with friends.”
Shirely’s Collage
“In my opinion, we need four things to be happy: friends, family, dreams, and smiling. Whether we are children or seniors, we need to enjoy time together with friends.”
Sergi’s Collage
“In the right corner, you can see a shark. He seems to represent fear. In the top left corner, this is a cute dog. It’s something kind, something good, something positive. You can also see the butterfly. And there’s a man who try to reach the stars.
This collage is about my thoughts about my life. Sometimes we hear a noise and we think that it is something dangerous. We try to turn back and looking what it is, but usually it’s something cute like this cute dog who want to play and make a noise. Fear pulls you back. If we release our fear, we can reach to the stars.”
Amber’s Collage
“This is a gift for my best friend. We live in different countries, but we talk by phone and internet. We have a dream. When we one day have homes of our own, we will be neighbours, a big family. Our hearts will be together forever. The bird and the butterfly are very different, but we can fly together.
Amber’s Collage
We have been to many different places together. Different colours mean different cities in China we have visited together . . . . Our friendship like the tree will be more and more thick.
The picture is for my best friend. And she said, ‘Oh, I am crying. You are so sweet.’ So I am so happy. I know that’s not very beautiful and not very well but that’s special for us and that’s our memories.”
Joshua’s Collage
“When you have some trouble, you must be like this woman and go ahead and keep going. Don’t stop. Sometimes when you get in trouble, your emotions is very dead. But sometimes in your life you can find little beautiful things that will encourage you, like a flower or a cup of cappuccino. They will let you have power so you can just keep going to face the trouble.”
Michael’s Collage
“He is a little potato. He is a normal people. He has a good dream, but he don’t have a chance. He don’t have money. No car, no house, no wife. He’s single for many years. He’s very depressed, very sad. He thinks God never help him.
One day he want to give up his life. He found a old house. This house nobody live here, is not used. He want to over his life for here. But he’s very lucky. He found a pot of gold. This is his first pot of gold in his life. He’s very exciting. This gold will change his life. It give him confidence, power, and hope. For this day, he very hard work every day and learn more knowledge about his business. One day he become a good businessman. Finally, he’s successful. He find his angel girl. This girl is his wife.”
Jian’s Collage
“This is a story. A man is at the Kansas City Zoo. He’s a hunter. He wants to shoot the cat, but the cat shouts, ‘Help’ and the elephant protects the cat. Then the dog goes to fight the elephant because he wants to help his master. The dog gets hurt and the man feels sad. He change his mind and decides to never shoot another animal again. He now understands that protecting animals is our responsibility.”
Jian’s Collage
Yang’s Collage
“This collage is not good. I think I’m not artistic, so it’s just a simple story. One day the girl is so boring so she’s just thinking about some things and animals. First of all, the girl is thinking about a pond. The pond have some lotus leaves. The frog’s drinking on the leaves. Near the pond have an elephant. The elephant is gonna come here because he wants to drink water. This girl is thinking about why rabbits don’t swimming in the pond. She thinks good things. She’s happy. I think her smile is very funny. That’s all.”
Fernando’s Collage
“The woman in the picture is my mother. She’s in her house in Brazil where it is very warm (see the sun). The bird represents my travelling to Canada, and the hearts are my love for my mom. The man is me in Canada. The leaf is a symbol of Canada, the country where I learn English.”
Han’s Collage
“I don’t know how I made that. This collage’s meaning is balance and change. Sometimes in life we need balance . . . Also, sometimes we need change. When you change, you will find your life will be interesting. It doesn’t matter bad or good. Even if it’s bad, you can enjoy this. You can get something interesting.”
Edward’s Collage
“First, a salute to Mr. Jobs since he give us a wonderful machine, wonderful technology, and lots of high-tech things we can use.
The background of the picture is past to future. Our earth is such a beautiful planet in our galaxy. Importantly, here have life. Long ago, the humans not have language and not have a lot of things like today’s high-tech. But they found fire. They should eat and have life.
Humans need war and mythology. Mythology story tells people, ‘You should be brave.’ But sometimes some king is like the tiger and so bad and always hate the people. The people don’t like him, so they throw him out.
Edward’s Collage
Some countries exclude themselves from the outside world. But one day they open the door, and they see it’s a wonderful world. Another country is so strong and have high-level culture and have high-tech. Even though humans need to go to war and development, sometimes I think war is not a must, so Olympic Games show us we can use another way to show the country’s power. Finally, I hope the world can peace.”
Who made the door? And why?
Who arranged the offering of twigs and leaves?
To thank the tree, I placed two quarters on the spontaneous shrine, still marveling at the fairy-tale door.
By the time I saw the chamber again more than a year later, the story of its magic had evolved. Astroturf now covered the dirt floor and a new vision of the world outside the door had been created.
With a sturdy vehicle, a stone wall, a compass, a sign, and a campfire, this self-sufficient village can confidently weather the challenges of a busy Toronto park.
