BY MATT HARRISON
The Wall Came Tumbling Down
The events of this past’s summer/fall in Ukraine brought to mind a time when there was a definitive east-west divide — symbolized nowhere better than by the Berlin Wall. This iconic barrier came down on Nov. 9, 1989 — 25 years ago. And in remembrance of it and what it symbolized in the context of the Cold War era, the Diefenbunker — a Cold War relic itself — will be hosting 25/Berlin, a trifecta of exhibitions in partnership with the German Embassy: Dictatorship and Democracy in the Age of Extremes: Spotlights on the History of Europe in the Twentieth Century, which features 190 rare photographs, newspaper clippings, and political cartoons from European archives; German Canadian Graffiti Jam: The Bunker Reunion, which — along with Ottawa’s House of Paint— will host a “transatlantic graffiti jam” between Canadian and German graffiti artists; and The Wall, Niederkirchner Strasse, which features an art installation by Ottawa’s Leslie Hossack that simulates a walk along the Berlin Wall today. The exhibitions open on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the bunker; the graffiti jam takes place on Feb. 15, 2015. Admission included with museum entrance fee. More info, visit here.
Diefenbunker is at 3929 Carp Rd., Carp
School of Photographic Art Open House (FREE!)
If you know not to try and eat a Kodak Brownie; if you know that a Rolloeiflex 120 isn’t an expensive watch; if you don’t get confused between a Hasselblad and a Hasselhoff, then perhaps the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa’s Open House is for you.
In celebration of their 10th anniversary, the school’s open house on Friday Nov. 7 from 3 to 9 p.m. allows visitors to see recent works, to be photographed themselves and purchase a print ($5), and to take part in a Robyn McCallum raffle for this print.
SPAO is at 168 Dalhousie St.
Fairly-Traded Xmas Baking Tips
Halloween just ended, and while there’s still Remembrance Day, American Thanksgiving, and Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day ahead, I’ve already seen ads featuring Santa Claus! Personally, I think it’s far too soon to think about Christmas, but I realize that fighting it is pointless. And so, here’s a shout-out to the Foodie Festival on Friday (Nov. 7), at the Ottawa Mennonite Church, where you can begin your Christmas baking by learning — for FREE! — how to create the perfect swirl atop a gingerbread house, plus other assorted baking techniques. This cooking demonstration, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., is part of Ottawa’s 2014 Fair Trade Festival Sale, a fair trade event happening on Fridays and Saturdays during all of November. Visit here for the full schedule and times.
The Ottawa Mennonite Church is at 1830 Kilborn Ave.
What the Rich Read
Want to find out what Ottawa’s rich are reading? Check out the Rockcliffe Park Book Sale on Friday Nov. 7, Saturday Nov. 8, and Sunday Nov. 9 inside Queen Juliana Hall at the Rockcliffe Park School. This is the park’s 53rd annual sale, so they know what they’re doing. Expect thousands of books, CDs, DVDs, games, crafts, records, etc. Dress up as your favourite comic book character — not sure if this is intended just for kids or includes adults as well. Admission is free. There will also be a café. More info here.
Rockcliffe Park Public School is at 350 Buena Vista Rd.
Get Your Pottery On
“He’s stuck, that’s what it is. He’s in between worlds. You know it happens sometimes that the spirit gets yanked out so fast that the essence still feels it has work to do here” — Ode Mae Brown, Ghost (1990)
Feelin’ frisky? Maybe this kind of frisky:
Get all Swayze at this weekend’s 260 Fingers pottery exhibition show/sale at the Glebe Community Centre on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Nov. 7 to 9). Admission is free, the pottery is not. Twenty-six (that’s 260 fingers) renowned artists from across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec are participating. It starts on Friday at 6 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. More info and the list of artists, visit here. http://www.260fingers.ca/
Glebe Community Centre is at 690 Lyon St.