Slowcity.ca is a platform to connect and champion community based creative endeavours. We get to kick off 2018 with a new venture, a magazine called Wunderlit. The launch party takes place at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery Friday Jan. 5 with music by Hymns57, readings and pop-up theatre.
In the Spring of 2017 I met Chris Wunderlich. I had issued a call-out for a videographer and Chris answered. Later he told me he had always wanted to produce a magazine celebrating the culture he saw around him in Oshawa/Durham Region, tattoo art, comic-con, illustrators, poetry, graffiti, basement music - what one might call 'low brow' culture. We agreed to work together and finally Wunderlit will be launched.
We have planned the evening around SlowCity.ca's principles so there will be a continuous stream of art and entertainment, all of which can be engaged with at a slow, leisurely pace.
Brew Wizards will be providing the coffee and catering and there will be jigsaw puzzle stations, an idea inspired by my own children who will spend an entire evening working on a puzzle and just hanging out.
Joe Szek, our man-about-theatre, is part of the cast of 12 Angry Men, playing at the Ajax Community Theatre in February. There will be a pop-up performance of the play during the evening so watch for it.
Gwen Tuinman and Jaylen Stark are the featured writers in the first issue of Wunderlit and they will be reading. Candace DeTaeye, a poet I am enthralled by, will be also reading. Her husband Steven DeTaeye aka Hymns 57 will be performing his own unique soundscapes and sonic experimentations. They both live in Guelph.
Kalista Wilson will be performing too, with dancers from the Durham School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.
Chris Wunderlich will be on hand to sign up those who want a copy of Wunderlit mailed to them.